Question re. Elite BVP4 vs BVP4+

[Standard Definition]

Just picked up a what "looks" to be in very good condition (tested and working) BVP4+ off of eBay and am curious to know what the difference is between the two units. Also, anyone know what did these units went for when sold new decades ago? I paid approx. $210.00 for this one. Snagged it quick because it seems they are getting tougher to find. Does this sound about right for one in good working order?

Thanks

[lordsmurf]

I don't remember the different offhand. Something small. Maybe the DV switch on back?

These days, the units rarely work properly. Some of mine have failed.
Values have drifted.
Noise has added.

I've not actively suggested these in years as a result. I know dplomaki at the digitalFAQ.com forum sold one last year, good unit he had. And I have one left in good condition (that I'll probably eventually sell). I rarely use it now, as I have other better SignVideo units in minty condition.

Unless you come across an actual original user (rare now), you're buying from a recycler or estate seller. And those people don't know their ass from the elbow, in terms of video gear, and what truly "working" means. It's not lights, it's not random video/audio output -- aka eBay "tested" and "working".

[Standard Definition]

Thanks lordsmurf,

Hmmm....not sure if I should try to cancel the order now. Though I was looking for the SignVideo gear as well, it seems even tougher to find online for sale.

I take it from what I have read that the BVP4+ was / is a good performer if working according to spec.? Wish these things came with an expiry or "best before" date

Cheers

[johnmeyer]

You'll find the same question was asked a LONG time ago on Lordsmurf's DigitalFAQ site (so long ago, he forgot about it ):

https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-restore/3088-bvp-vs-bvp.html

Scroll down to post #11.

[Standard Definition]

Thank you much johnmeyer - I appreciate the the link & further info..

[lordsmurf]

Hmmm....not sure if I should try to cancel the order now.

Hard to say. It mostly depends on who the seller is. Feel free to share here, or let me know via PM.

Though I was looking for the SignVideo gear as well, it seems even tougher to find online for sale.

I know somebody off-loading gear right now. We'll PM.

I take it from what I have read that the BVP4+ was / is a good performer if working according to spec.? Wish these things came with an expiry or "best before" date

Gear like this was made to last about a decade ... several decades ago. Longevity wasn't a consideration. I try to refurb gear so it'll last another decade. Some of my oldest refurb work is now 7+ years old, and I've improved my methods since then. So in the right hands, right are, right users, right refurb/repair/maintenance, the "best by" date can continue to move a goal post.

so long ago, he forgot about it ):

Sometimes breakfast is so long ago, I forgot what I ate.
10+ years is definitely a long time in forum/online years.

[Standard Definition]

Tried to reply to you via PM...not sure if you received it.
Would be interested to know what gear is being off-loaded by the person you know is.
The BVP4+ will be enroute to me tomorrow and you are correct, it is from an estate seller - theestatekings
Good to know that your methods ands techniques for restoring this type of equip. have improved over the years. I may be in need of it someday ! Hopefully not for a while though. PM me or reply when you can.
Thanks, SD

[johnmeyer]

If the unit needs refurb, it looks to me like it would be the easiest refurb ever. Here's a pic I found of the interior:



All the processing is done on the ICs and they, of course, do not degrade. 98% chance that, if it doesn't work, or doesn't work well, that all you need to do is replace those electrolytic capacitors (the tall "cans"). At $2/cap the parts cost would be about $20, if that.

[Standard Definition]

That's great to hear! Thanks, johnmeyer

Hopefully I will be able to tell fairly soon how well the unit is working as I test it out. As I have no experience with these units I may not know how far off from proper working condition it could be when I start using it. Fortunately, I at least have a very good eye for color, contrast, black / shadow levels, detail and noise etc. from my many years in photography / editing.

Appreciate your help. Cheers

[lordsmurf]

it looks to me like it would be the easiest refurb ever.
all you need to do is replace those electrolytic capacitors

Nope.

On this unit, the electrolyte caps rarely fail. Not it. The issue is value drift. While you'd think e-caps fix would correct it, it never does. E-caps replace doesn't affect it whatsoever. But to any who try, I wish you luck, and I hope it is that easy for you. The non-electrolytic caps seem like the next likely culprit, but even that hasn't worked on units.

Chips do go bad. And that is the more likely culprit here. I was watching a Youtube video about the Apple IIe common chip fails last night.

[johnmeyer]

On this unit, the electrolyte caps rarely fail. Not it. The issue is value drift.

I'm not familiar with that term, other than it's usage by the Brits who call vacuum tubes "valves." Obviously no vacuum tubes here.

I wanted to see if this was a term I didn't know about, so I Googled

"valve drift" electronics

and didn't come up with a single hit.

I can't see everything on the board, but the only thing I see that could drift -- and this is certainly possible -- are the potentiometers. They can get very intermittent as the contacts inside corrode, and the result of the bad contact can be a shift in resistance.

Chips do go bad. And that is the more likely culprit here.

Most definitely true, but the symptoms of a bad chip are usually pretty severe and not simply "drift." Also, in my experience, chip failure is almost always related to power supply failure, line surge, or massive overheating due to lousy cooling design.

Of course, anything is possible.

I was watching a Youtube video about the Apple IIe common chip fails last night.

Was that from the 8-bit Guy channel? YouTube has been insisting on sending me every one of his videos after I watched one. The channel is somewhat interesting to me, since the most active part of my career was from the Apple II (late 1970s) through just after the iMac (late 1990s). However, the guy's presentation is pretty "rambly" and I got tired of watching them after the first two.