Very Strange DVD/VCR Problem

[powerhouse45]

Hey guys, I really hope I can get some help here as this problem is really annoying me.

I bought a very nice Sony DVD/VCR combo (silver) a few months ago and everything is fine, except when it comes to ONE thing. This VCR refuses to clearly play back any video's that I have recorded myself. When it comes to a store bought tape it plays perfectly, but if I try and pop in a movie I recorded from TV, they ALL don't work! What happens is it will play fine for about 3 seconds, then it will go scrambled, and it will repeat this pattern over and over and over.

Well heres the strange part, I actually shouldn't say ALL my videos have this problem... if I playback a video I JUST recorded let's say the night before, it will work, but as far as my WHOLE collection of VCR tapes, they all have this problem!

Here's the STRANGER part. I pop in one of the non working video's on another regular VCR in my house and it works fine! What in the world is going on here? any idea's at all? The bottom line is that it seems that this VCR will NOT play back any old VHS tapes that have been recorded from television.

[DB83]

were those tapes recorded in Long PLay or even ELP ?

Some decks have problems with LP recordings from other machines and some(maybe all) combis will not handle ELP's

[Krispy Kritter]

Definetly sounds like a SLP/ELP issue. Many VCR's don't even offer those recording choices any longer. My JVC S-VHS unit, for example, will only record in SP (2 hour) and LP (4 hour).

[loster]

Definetly sounds like a SLP/ELP issue. Many VCR's don't even offer those recording choices any longer. My JVC S-VHS unit, for example, will only record in SP (2 hour) and LP (4 hour).

Are you sure? I haven't seen a 4 hr record mode for a very long time 10+ years. Do you mean SLP 6hr mode?

Yes this seems like a record mode problem this happened in the early days of VHS when decks would only play some of the three mode. But I thought all VCRs now support all three speeds for playback.

[guns1inger]

Long Play modes have always been fraught with playback issues when switching decks. Even mini-DV has issues with playback of LP recordings on cameras other than the original recording camera. And that is without even going into the low quality of most VHS LP recordings.

[classfour]

Powerhouse45: When you said Sony, you answered your question. I have a Sony (NV55 or something like that) that plays commercial VHS tapes fine.

It absolutely refuses to play any tape recorded on a VCR, others and itself included. I could understand it being picky on tapes recorded on other VCRs, but when I recorded a TV show on it - then tried to play it back and it was CRAPPY - I gave up on it. And yes: It was like this new out of the box.

Needless to say, I refuse to purchase Sony equipment at all.

FYI: A coworker has a Sony VCR that is the same way. He was complaining about his acting this was one day - and was quite surprised when I asked "Is it a Sony?" It is.

If you bought it somewhere with a sympathetic return policy: Take it back!

[scasewell2]

powerhouse 45 I got the same problem with a samsung vcr dvd combo also does the exacxt same thing if anyone got any ideas let me know cheers!