Need S-Video VCR

[fubar]

My S-Video VCR just died...just as I was getting ready to begin transferring some home videos to digital. I've looked all over and have come to the conclusion that the high quality VCR is on it's way out...there's just not much out there.

Mitsubishi was the only brand I could find that is still producing models with the S-Video, but they're kind of expensive and I don't want to pay a lot for something I won't be using that much. What I'd really like to find is a VCR/DVD combo unit, but all of those I could find only had the S-Video for the DVD output.

So I have two questions...is S-Video really that important for transferring to digital. It seems to me that it would be in order to keep as much quality as possible during the transfer process and, does anybody know of any inexpensive units out there?

Thanks for any and all inputs...Fubar

[Tommyknocker]

Have you looked at eBay? They may have a used VCR with S-video at a price you can afford. I would also like to suggest upgrading your composite (RCA) plugs to see if the video quality improves enough for you.

[Will Hay]

My S-Video VCR just died...just as I was getting ready to begin transferring some home videos to digital. I've looked all over and have come to the conclusion that the high quality VCR is on it's way out...there's just not much out there.

Mitsubishi was the only brand I could find that is still producing models with the S-Video, but they're kind of expensive and I don't want to pay a lot for something I won't be using that much. What I'd really like to find is a VCR/DVD combo unit, but all of those I could find only had the S-Video for the DVD output.

So I have two questions...is S-Video really that important for transferring to digital. It seems to me that it would be in order to keep as much quality as possible during the transfer process and, does anybody know of any inexpensive units out there?

Thanks for any and all inputs...Fubar

Where are you on Planet Earth, exactly?
Will

[curryman]

Jupiter, I reckon - small villiage just outside leicester

[fubar]

Where are you on Planet Earth, exactly?
Will

LOL...that's pretty funny. I forgot that I had that set in my options. Guess I'll need to change that for future posts such as these. Anyways, I am in San Francisco.

Tommyknocker,
Thanks for the tip...I always seem to forget about eBay. I don't really understand your intent in the second part of your reply, about upgrading my composite plugs. I have been using a VCR that has S-Video, but as I said it just died on me.

[The village idiot]

JVC still makes several models.

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/Attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101333

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD4602000

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL026794

I have the last one, and it is OK, you should be able to find it for about $125.00. Check at Sears of all places.

[fubar]

Thanks VI for the info. I have decided to look into having mine repaired, but I fear that may not be cost effective, in which case I will probably check out the less expensive JVC model you posted. All I really need it for is to transfer my tapes to digital, and maybe watch a rental every now and then, which only happens when we can't get a movie in DVD.

BTW, how's dssug these days?

[kiki]

Quite the quandry.
I spent many years repairing vcr's for a living.
98% of all problems were mechanical, not electronic.
If you are mechanically inclined at all, you might be able to do your own repair.
Do a google search for your make and model and include "problems"
in the search title.
Replacing slipping belts or rubber capstans requires very little skill.
Nothing has to aligned or recalibrated with the majority of mechanical repairs. And the replacement pieces are very cheap.
Another option is to contact vcr repair places and ask if they have used units. Often, a customer would not come to claim a vcr if the estimate
was too costly. I would keep these as parts units. When I had enough
bits and pieces, I would assemble a working unit and sell it off with a
short warrenty or, an as is unit.

Hope this is of some help to you

kiki

[The village idiot]

BTW, how's dssug these days?

Not sure. I haven't been around over there since the dark days began. I'm still currently a "No TV'er", hoping that will change by the end of summer. I do stop in at SFS, but it isn't quite the same.

[fubar]

Kiki,

I am a mechanic by trade (not VCR's) but I have repaired a few VCR's in my time, and yes, the problems were always mechanical. But this time it is different. The problem I am experiencing with this unit is a loss of color and the picture goes in and out a lot...lots of noise, like the tracking is off. I've tried manually tracking, to no avail, and I've tried cleaning the heads several times hoping that they were just dirty, but the problem persists. So I believe the problem may be electronic...possibly the head gone bad, which I am told is the most expensive part to replace.

So I thought if I could find a shop to professionally clean the heads as a last resort, and it wasn't too expensive, I might give it a go.

Any ideas, thoughts or suggestions?

The unit is a Mitsubishi HS-U746...only about three years old. It was a nice machine, one of the best quality pictures I've seen from a VCR, and I really loved the high speed rewind.

Thanks alot for the help...Fubar



VI,

Sorry, for some reason I thought you were one of the ones that hung around over there. Anyway, it's nice to hear from one of the old gang again. I stopped in over at SFS for a while at first, but haven't been there in a while. Like you said, just not the same, but I think I'll check in again and see what's going on. See ya around over there, and here as well.

Cheers...Fubar

[Will Hay]

Where are you on Planet Earth, exactly?
Will

LOL...that's pretty funny. I forgot that I had that set in my options. Guess I'll need to change that for future posts such as these. Anyways, I am in San Francisco.

Great place, I have a pal in Sebastopol.
Mark he's called, you know him?
San Francisco...
....no good me recommending a store then, being in England!!!
S-VHS came up in my post here.
Good luck
Will

[fubar]

Great place, I have a pal in Sebastopol.
Mark he's called, you know him?

Yep, know exactly where Sebasatpol is...up by Santa Rosa, in the wonderful wine country.

Yes, I do know Mark...I ought to, he's my son LOL ...sorry, couldn't resist.

And thanks for the link to your other post, but I had already read it before I posted my situation.

Cheers...Fubar