Attaching DVD to VCR (then to TV)--intermittent screen

[AnnieN2]

We set up a DVD player to our VCR because the TV only has a co-axial cable input jack.

So when we watch the DVD player, first the video is quite dark, then light, then dark again, then we go to a blank screen for Several seconds. (We watched an entire movie like this!!)

My husband thinks it might be the memory loading up, could this be it? (If so, where is the memory loading up to?) and what can we do about that?

Or it could be something else?

Thanks very much!!

[Mouseman]

That sounds like a classic macrovision problem. It messes with the automatic gain on VCRs to prevent you copying DVDs (or anything else!). For more info see wdln.tv/Info.htm

What DVD player do you have? There may be a software or hardware hack available to turn macrovision output off.

Alternatively... get a TV with some sort of AV in - it's a shame to force lovely DVD pictures & sound down a crappy RF connection!

[AnnieN2]

OK. I think that what is being described is what is happening, except that my screen turns blue, which is the color it always turns when the cable goes out or the video stops playing. But the description of what happens when the color changes and the fact that it was pretty regular and would definitely interfere with taping it seems right in line with what you are saying.

It is a DVD 221-KHL. I wouldn't have the First Clue how to change the software involved, even if I knew what to change it to, so if there are instructions for doing this, I would need the very basics.

I really appreciate your explaining what is happening and the options I have! Thank you very much.

[JJamez]

It doesn't appear there's a macrovision hack for that DVD player, so you may be outta luck.

You'll probably need to either get a TV with RCA/S-Video/composite inputs or pick up a new DVD player. There are set top boxes that supposedly remove macrovision, but in my experience they don't work very well.

The KLH 221 is a very cheap player, so picking up a new one is probably the best option. Click on DVD players to the right and you can pick one that will do what you need. Pioneers are a good option - plan on spending $150-200 for a good, basic player.

[AnnieN2]

Thanks everybody!

As the player was a gift, I don't want to replace it right away, but I did find out that I can get a converter for about $30 at Radio Shack. Since the *main* point of this particular machine is to be able to play movies in different languages for educational purposes, we are not as concerned with the quality...

I must say that listening to Apollo 13 in French was really weird!

This is a great place! Thanks for your help! : )

[statuspending]

DON'T GO TO RADIOSHACK!

they will rip you off and charge you too much probably.

try circuit city or even best buy first...

and before i'd try them, i would try BIG LOTS of all places. they actually do carry some quality surplus merchandise @ cheap cheap prices!

get the box at big lots!

[Mouseman]

If you're talking about a convertor which will take the composite, S-Video or component output of your DVD and create an RF signal to go straight to your TV, bypassing your VCR altogether, then $30 doesn't too bad a price. My quick search at Circuit City found one for $39 (although maybe there are better bargains to be found hidden in there).

[Greg12]

Did you know some old VCR's (mine included) bypass macrovision when hooked into a TV via the coaxial cable.

That's why I could watch movies on my old TV using my VCR as a tuner.

However, I can't copy VHS because the other VCR we have is new and picks up macrovision.