DVDs "shake" in standalone player through VCR

[jimmalenko]

To explain the situation fully, my brother has an old tv which only accepts coax input. I have the rabbit ears hooked into the VCR and then the VCR into the TV via coax. I then have a dvd player hooked into the AV2 on the VCR.

I've told him a thousand times that he should stop being a tightass and buy a new tv but he won't listen. Anyway, his problem is that some commercial DVDs are shaky - as if the tracking is a bit dodgy. The same discs are fine on my DVD-TV combination and my PC.

I think it is because we are running it through the VCR. I do not wish to hear anyone who says "buy a new tv" because I know there's a 99.99% chance this will fix the problem. What I am after is confirmation that the VCR is the cause and if anyone has worked out a fix.

[Bob W]

Get a DVD modulator (they sell them everywhere) and don't run the DVD through the VCR. BestBuy and RadioShack has one for like $20 that automatically senses when the DVD is on and switches to that device.

[johns0]

You can buy a video stabilizer at your nearest electronic store to get rid of the macrovision thats kicking in when you run the signal thru the vcr to tv.

[wonderuss]

yeah macrovision seems to be the problem here, macrovision is a copy protection thing put on dvd's so when the disc has macrovision if you hook it up through a vcr the macrovision causes the picture to be distorted (to stop piracy). You could also try looking for a macrovision hack on the net that will disable it on the player.

[Bricktop]

Yep macrovision. If you cant find a hack for your dvd player, you could try backing up the dvd to a dvdrw or a dvdr if you are not bothered about using up the discs. This removes the macrovision protection then you should get a somewhat improved picture.
I have 2 dvd players one hooked up through the vcr so i can back up to tape if i want to and the other just straight to the tv which i use just for viewing.
If you dont have a dvd writer it will also work as an svcd or vcd if your dvd player supports these.

[jimmalenko]

Thanks for the replies guys. It has only happened as far as I know with originals so I will back them up for him to DVD-R. Probably a good option too so he doesn't scratch his originals !