Sudden Blue Screen

[atomant2015]

Hi, thanks for letting me join the forum.
I've searched for the problem but couldn't find it and I hope this is the right thread.

Basically, I have a Panasonic DMR-EZ45V. I've been using it successfully for the last couple of years to transfer VHS to DVD.
I have it connected to an old TV\Video player.

Suddenly tonight, it now no longer displays the tapes.
They play (I can see the counter running).
The tapes play on a different VCR.
However, multiple different tapes now only show a blue screen.
I have swapped the Scart cable
I have switched from AV1 to AV2
I have changed sources on the tv.

They worked perfectly well before and I have changed nothing.

The only thing I can think of is that the Panasonic has got cold?!
I use it in the garage and the temperature tonight was minus something.
Could the cold affect the device?

Many thanks for your help.

[hdfills]

maybe just end of life!

[dellsam34]

Did you try cleaning the video heads?

[atomant2015]

maybe just end of life!

Possibly, however, it doesn't 'feel' like it.
It's as if something has switched.
It's not making any mechanical noises like it's stuggling.
My feeling is that this is something a little more technical.

[atomant2015]

Did you try cleaning the video heads?

Not since this happened, however, I did so about a month ago.
This has happened pretty much overnight.
Wouldn't dirty heads be a more gradual issue?

I WILL give them another clean however.
Thank you

[Skiller]

I use it in the garage and the temperature tonight was minus something.
Could the cold affect the device?

Not ideal but as long as you do not bring it from the cold into the warm without letting it get acclimated before use (which takes hours!) that should not be the cause.

[atomant2015]

I use it in the garage and the temperature tonight was minus something.
Could the cold affect the device?

Not ideal but as long as you do not bring it from the cold into the warm without letting it get acclimated before use (which takes hours!) that should not be the cause.

Aaah, it lives in the garage and that is where I use it.
Would cold be able to affect the video link to the tv then?

[dellsam34]

You need to test all your outputs in the workflow one at a time and see which one is not outputting the signal to locate the culprit component, preferably use a TV or video monitor, Using the capture card adds a layer of difficulty especially for non tech savvies.

[atomant2015]

Thanks, I'm not using a capture card though. No signal leaves the unit.... it plays but it plays a full blue screen.
I'm not even sure if there is audio

[Brad]

Does the TV have an option to turn off the "blue back"? It may be receiving a garbled signal from the VCR that it's muting. If you could see the actual output, you may be able to troubleshoot further.

The UK manual for DMR-EZ45V refers to a Grey Background that can be turned on or off, not a blue one. Maybe the VCR side has its own blue screen that can't be disabled, but it sounds like it's being generated by the TV.

[atomant2015]

Does the TV have an option to turn off the "blue back"? It may be receiving a garbled signal from the VCR that it's muting.

The UK manual for DMR-EZ45V refers to a Grey Background that can be turned on or off, not a blue one. Maybe the VCR side has its own blue screen that can't be disabled, but it sounds like it's being generated by the TV.

Good point.. I didn't think it could be the TV faulty as it natively played the videos but I'll take a look

[atomant2015]

I've moved the DVR indoors and connected the same way but to a newer tv.
I have the volume up on this one and can hear that the audio is there so no problems on that front, but this time the picture is black.

I'm going spare!

[dellsam34]

Read your TV's and VCR manuals to make a successful connection, It sounds like wrong display settings to me. Just take it easy, this kind of stuff can be frustrating but with a step by step approach I mentioned above you will figure it out.

[atomant2015]

Read your TV's and VCR manuals to make a successful connection, It sounds like wrong display settings to me. Just take it easy, this kind of stuff can be frustrating but with a step by step approach I mentioned above you will figure it out.

Thanks... that was the first thing I did, but as I said, it was working perfectly fine one night, the following morning, without moving or changing anything it broke!

[atomant2015]

I am now wondering if it's a tracking issue as whilst watching a completely black screen and listening to perfect audio, the screen started to flicker and glipses of a picture flicked on the screen.
It didn't get any better than a flicker but would this lead me in another direction when troubleshooting?

[atomant2015]

RESOLVED: Pressed the "Input Select" button on the DVR.
I was on "1" which was audio only.
Every other selection (AV1, AV2, DV etc) worked.

I feel foolish but hopefully this will help someone else!

[Brad]

I don't get it. You're talking about the external input selection of the Panasonic DMR-EZ45V? But you're using it to play the tapes, so the Input Select should only change what's shown before you hit Play on the VCR side.

And you said you'd already tried AV1 and AV2...

I have switched from AV1 to AV2
I have changed sources on the tv.

[atomant2015]

Well thats what I thought so I'm not second guessing it.

I thought the INPUT to the DVR would be irelevent to the output onto the TV, however, changing it worked!