Can someone identify this problem ?...

[JoseD]

Can someone please help me with this one, been thinking about this for way too much time and can't figure out what it is. This is with a Pana FS200 (AG1980):
http://rapidshare.com/files/90293615/VTS_01_1.VOB.html
Look at the noise at 3s and 9s. It happends randomly at different places with various different tapes, including new ones. The frequency varies, in general can happen in say with 3 minutes intervals but can get worse. How bad it is also varies (3s is just a bit 9s is huge!).

Some of my considerations:
1- Doesn't seem like digital tracking instability cause if I disable it the same happens. It's also way to intense to be a tracking problem I think
2- Dirty heads ? I tried to clean them 3 times with wet/dry cleaning tape device. Allways completely lose the image after that, even if I let dry for more than an hour! Only way to get back the image is to allow playing indefenitly with 3 hour tape, it gradually and very slowly recovers, weird...
3- Maybe it's just some other parts of the transport mechanism that are bad ? I remember there's supposed to be some place reading sync signals or something, maybe it got dirty too...

Has this happened to you ? Hope it's not bad...

Thanks

Cheers

[aedipuss]

even in "good" frames there is a lot of horizontal banding. either the heads are still dirty or are weak/dying. start looking for a replacement is the best if can suggest.

[JoseD]

You mean like edges are not straight/stable ? It was recorded from analog broadcast transmission and the reception has some problems maybe that's the casuse. It's an SVHS recording by the way.

Damn, I was sold this unit as "almost new like"

[NightFire]

Those cleaning tapes are apparently garbage and cause more harm than good. If you play a new VHS tape and it helps to clean the image than you have dirty heads. The best way is to actually open the VCR and clean the heads manually. There is risk in doing this but I have found that using non-cotton swabs (I use makeup remover swabs, chamois is the recommendation) and 99% alcohol works very well. Hold the swab against where the heads are and spin the cylinder back and forth gently (don't move the swab). Let dry for an hour or 2 and it should help if dirty heads. I have done this a few times and works very well.

[Video Head]

Those cleaning tapes are apparently garbage and cause more harm than good. If you play a new VHS tape and it helps to clean the image than you have dirty heads. The best way is to actually open the VCR and clean the heads manually. There is risk in doing this but I have found that using non-cotton swabs (I use makeup remover swabs, chamois is the recommendation) and 99% alcohol works very well. Hold the swab against where the heads are and spin the cylinder back and forth gently (don't move the swab). Let dry for an hour or 2 and it should help if dirty heads. I have done this a few times and works very well.

If you are going to do this make sure to unplug the VCR and let it sit for a while. When you have the cover off do NOT touch anything inside. Those big capacitors can hold and deliver a death blow.

[classfour]

I've used denatured alcohol (in lieu of Isopropyl - it can cause rust) with good results on my JVC HRS7500 which was flagging the top of the video.

[JoseD]

@videohead
Thanks for the tip on the capacitors, I'll try not to kill myself... Didn't knew the current was so big, I though it was only the case with CRTs.

@classfour
Right, and did you try to use a cleaning tape before that ? I'm holding it on till I exclude other possibilities but it looks like that's gonna be it..
Ordering new video heads would also be expensive and probably require a qualified person since it would be a waste of money to risk doing it myself...