JVC DR-M100S Issue

[jesse217]

I am having a problem with my JVC DR-M100S.

My chain is as follows:

JVC HR-S9900U> Datavideo TBC-1000> Elite BVP-4> JVC DR-M100S> Monitor

I am using Maxell DVD -r 8x media.

Everytime I try to transfer my wedding VHS tape to the JVC recorder, the recorder resets and the picture turns black and white. I am able to record perfectly anywhere from 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours but then, the recorder always resets itself.

Do you guys have any idea what may be the problem or should I just take the recorder back? Or could the problem be related to the media?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[lordsmurf]

Probably wiring issues.
What are your wires? What goes into what?

[jesse217]

I am using Acoustic Research Pro cables.

S- video and audio out on VCR > S- video and audio in TBC-1000 > S-video out TBC-1000 to BVP-4 > Audio out on TBC-1000 to JVC recorder in > S- video out from BVP-4 to JVC recorder in> JVC recorder out to monitor.

[lordsmurf]

Have you tried direct from VCR to DVD recorder? How does that work.

Do a process of elimination.

[FulciLives]

Everytime I try to transfer my wedding VHS tape to the JVC recorder, the recorder resets and the picture turns black and white. I am able to record perfectly anywhere from 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours but then, the recorder always resets itself.

That is rather odd behavior.

You say the DVD recorder "resets" itself. What exactly does it do? Does anything "flicker" on the front display of the unit or the on screen display to indicate that the JVC is doing something aka "resetting" itself?

Does it instantly go from color to b/w or does it slowly fade from color to b/w and when it does this is there any "indicator" like a "glitch" on the original video or the JVC "doing something" like making a noise etc.?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

Are there any power surges?
Is the DVD recorder on a surge suppresor/protector/UPS ?

[jesse217]

Ok guys, thanks so much for your intelligent replies.

Just after my original post I decided to go to the store and buy different quality media that is recommended on lordsmerf's website. I wound up purchasing Sony DVD -r media because Comp USA did not have the other top recomendations. I am happy to say I was able to transfer my entire video using Sony media the first time.



I now have about a dozen Maxell brand coasters for summer bbq's.

[divuer]

Are the DR-M100S and DR-MV5S DVD recorder side ot the unit the same? I mean, I realize that M100S is a single DVD recorder while the MV5 is a combo unit, but are the DVD recorders the same?

[trhouse]

I have the service manuals for the predecessors to the M100S and the MV5, namely the M10S and MV1. They share the same dvd drive, p/n QAL0551-001 from the parts list.

European units do not use the same drive. The manual does not give the p/n for the European unit's drive but the schematic shows that it uses only a +12 and +5 V supply where the non-Europe units have a drive with +12, +5, +3.3, and +1.8V.

[divuer]

Are the DR-M100S and DR-MV5S DVD recorder side ot the unit the same?

Going through the user's manual I've answered my own question; no. The DR-MV5S is able to play DVD+R and DVD+R/W unlike the DR-M100S. The MV5 seems closer to the DR-M70S.

[lordsmurf]

My DR-M10S and DR-M100S are both able to play DVD+R, DVD+RW and even DVD+R DL.

[JAB285]

My DR-MH30 plays DVD+R media with no problems.

[divuer]

lordsmurf wrote:

My DR-M10S and DR-M100S are both able to play DVD+R, DVD+RW and even DVD+R DL.

That's good to know because according to JVC's own specifications on the units user manual and website neither of these units support playback of +R media. Did you make any modifications to the original unit or do you have prototype units?

[lordsmurf]

No, the manual states it cannot write to those formats. I don't believe it makes any mention of what it will read, beyond forum specs. It follows the official DVD FORUM specs, so it will not officially read anything but DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM. But the drives inside the unit read RW Alliance media just fine.

[divuer]

According to the JVC website:

DR-M100S Features Tab ( http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027381&pathId=115&page=2 )

Playback Formats: DVD Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW/-R, CD Audio, SVCD, VCD, CD-R/RW, MP3, JPEG Digital Still Playback (CD-R/RW)

DR-MV5S Features Tab ( http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027400&pathId=116&page=2 )

Playback Formats: DVD Video, DVD-RAM, DVD±RW/±R, CD Audio, VCD, CD-R/RW, MP3, JPEG Digital Still Playback (CD-R/RW); VHS and SQPB

[FulciLives]

The JVC website is notorious for having inaccurate information as well as less-than-complete information.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

Yes, what Fulci said. JVC documentation is known to be flawed sometimes. Then again, so are most electronics manufacturers.

Most of the time this stuff is written by a Japanese engineer (usually a lowly lackey) and translated into poor English by a Japanese person. It's not really checked for facts.

Web sites are pamphlets are created by marketing departments. Again, not checked for facts, and marketing people tend to know even less than the lackey engineer did.

This is why I rarely waste my time reading these materials. I only refer to them if I cannot figure out how to use a feature like the timer. Most of the time using these electronics is obvious, no need to read. And a lot of things are better to just have faith in your own tests, to hell with what the book tells you.

[trhouse]

Most significant products have two manuals. An operating manual and a service manual. The operating manuals are usually put together by the project leader and a tech writer. The project leader typically defines and promotes the product within the company. For that reason, they know the overall behaviour of a product better than most team members.

The organization of the operating manual is almost entirely the province of the tech writer and his or her superiors. The technical team rarely has any input.

The service manual is created by the engineers assigned to the project with a tech writer. This manual requires the detailed expertise the project leader does not have.

Of the operating manuals for recorders I have seen, Pioneer is the best in terms of content and organization, Panasonic's are next but not as well organized, JVC is pretty well organized but does not do as well in terms of content.

For example, over the Xmas holidays, I was looking at the JVC MH20 manual. The comparable Pioneer 531H manual has very detailed descriptions of dubbing from hdd to dvd in video or VR mode and the consequences. The MH20 manual describes how to dub from hdd to dvd without mentioning the mode or consequences. It can actually do much the same as the Pioneer.

The service manuals are a different story. I have three JVC, two Sony, and two Panasonic service manuals. They are all comparable in content and organization and very good.