Strange JVC DR-M10 purple picture problem

[nathanaa]

I sent my JVC DR-M10 in to the factory to get the dreaded LOADING error taken care of. I got it back, but it's been sitting for about 6 weeks (busy with school stuff) since I got it hooked back up. I turned it on and used it once right after I got it, it worked fine.

I went to try and use it this weekend, and everytime I turn the DR-M10 on, the TV screen displays the colour bar test pattern as all purple, shading from light to dark. If I then turn on the VCR (a JVC HR-S9911U) the picure breaks up - some snow, an occasional horizontal hold slide, jagged vertical black and white slashes across the screen, etc. The audio stays fine though no matter what. If I turn the DVD writer off, the picture quality for the TV or watching a tape is fine, only when the writer is on do these problems crop up.

I've turned everything on and off, unplugged/replugged in everything, tried turning the TV, VCR, and DVD writer on in different orders. I bought a little wire shelf to put the VCR up above the DVD writer (instead of sitting on top of it, where I used to have it). I have the TV sitting right next to the VCR and DVD writer (the shelf is barely wide enough to hold them both).

I cannot play a tape in the VCR and record to DVD as I can't tell if it is working properly. I tried it, and it seems to transfer fine most of the time, but every now and then (about half a dozen times in the 90 minute tape I transfered) the picture gets purplish and breaks up really bad.

I found the below comment, the only thing remotely similar I could find to my problem, written by LORDSMURF about 5 months ago. Anyone have any ideas as to what my problem might be? Or if the below *is* the problem? Or run into/heard about this before?

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Posted: May 08, 2005 17:24 <by LORDSMURF>

emlsnws wrote:
I doubt the amount of EMI escaping the unit will be increased by removing the 'inner' shielding.


This may or may not be the same thing you're talking about, I'm no engineer, but I have noticed a strong magnetic pull on the bottom left (or was it right?) or DR-M10S and DR-MV1S units.

Placing them directly on top of a tv set will cause the image to go all haywire, where that part of the machine comes with 5-6 inches of the tubes.

So, if this shielding is to prevent this, it's not very good. I have my DR-M10S sitting on top of a wooden desk. Compare this to an Apex DRX-9000 or a LiteOn 5001, both of which I have had sitting directly on the tv set, with no adverse side effects, each for prolonged period (6+ months).

If that is of any importance...

To be fair, my alarm clock and discman have the same affect on the tv. Cannot set either of them on top of the tv set. I actually ruined one tv from leaving an alarm clock on it for about a year. One day I moved it, and the picture turned completely purple on part of the screen. I have to leave the clock where it is, in order for the picture to look normal. I had no idea, one more lesson learned the hard way.
***

Any and all help greatly appreciated![/i]

[trhouse]

It is not the same problem. What Lordsmurf is describing is magnetic field leaking out of the M10 and disturbing the magnetic deflection circuit of his TV. Typically this type of leakage will not affect the entire screen but a corner of the screen.

What is the source of your color bar pattern, a color bar generator or are you playing a dvd with a color bar pattern? When you say the audio is fine, are you playing a vhs tape and passing it to the M10 via its rf or composite input and then out to the TV? Does turning the dvd writer off mean putting the M10 in standby mode or just that you are not recording with it?

[nathanaa]

The test pattern must be coming from my AVT-8710 TBC, I guess.

The set up I have is this -

VCR S-Video out -->TBC S-Video in
TBC S-Video out -->DVD Writer S-Video in
VCR audio out (red and white) -->DVD writer audio in (red and white)
DVD writer audio & video out-->TV audio & video in.

All of these items are plugged into a whopping big surge protector, which is plugged into a standard North American wall outlet.

When the VCR is on and the DVD writer is off, no test pattern shows. When the DVD writer is on, but the VCR is off, I have the test pattern. When both are on, I have the miscoloured test pattern AND the messed up "noisy" video.

When I say "turn off the DVD writer" I mean hitting the power button. I guess that means putting it into standby mode. However, as I mentioned, I have tried cutting the power totally and letting everything reboot (turning the surge protector off, for varying lengths of time - seconds to overnight).

Anything sound like a problem?? Any help greatly appreciated folks - Thanks!

[trhouse]

I would think the TBC designer would arrange to switch off the VCR input while the test pattern is up and vice versa so the two signals do not mix. Try disconnecting the TBC from your system and going directly into the M10 from the VCR.

[mikel]

The AVT-8710 will output colorbars when not being fed a video signal.

[trhouse]

Will it auto disconnect the color bar if video input appears? If yes, then the TBC may be the problem,

I have the miscoloured test pattern AND the messed up "noisy" video.

since the two seem to be mixing.

[nathanaa]

So perhaps the problem is the TBC and not the DVD writer? I don't want to just output the VCR to the DVD writer, as that pretty much defeats the purpose of having a TBC after all.

But I could give it a try I suppose, to see if the video signal cleans up. If it does, perhaps I've got to get my TBC repaired? Or replaced even. Hopefully not.....

Any other thoughts folks, please, shout 'em out. Thanks for the input thus far.