Anyone familiar with Hitachi VT-F99EM Multi System VHS VCR?

[digicube]

It plays PAL tapes fine but NTSC tapes is recognized as PAL60 and SECAM tapes is recognized as PAL.

I can't find the operating manual but I did find the service manual.

[hech54]

That's because it's a PAL VCR.....nothing more.

[digicube]

No. It's a multi system vcr like Panasonic AG W1.

[hech54]

No. It's a multi system vcr like Panasonic AG W1.

No. It's a PAL VCR.
You see the price of a REFURBISHED Panasonic AG W1?
http://www.porterelectronics.com/panasonic-ag-w1-vhs-world-wide-hi-fi-vhs-vcr-recorder/
$549.99

[digicube]

Did you google this VCR? http://www.hifi-review.com/150299-hitachi-vt-f99em.html

[hech54]

Did you google this VCR? http://www.hifi-review.com/150299-hitachi-vt-f99em.html

Nowhere in that review are the words "convert" (between PAL, NTSC, SECAM) or "World-Wide".

You don't listen:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/382377-How-to-tell-a-PAL-and-SECAM-VHS-signal-apart...=1#post2476096

[digicube]

But it is a multi system VCR that can play NTSC, PAL and SECAM tapes. It does the same thing as Panasonic AG-W1.

[hech54]

It does the same thing as Panasonic AG-W1.

No it doesn't.

[digicube]

Both Hitachi VT-F99EM and Panasonic AG-W1 can play NTSC, PAL, SECAM tapes.

[hech54]

So does every PAL VCR on the planet.

[digicube]

So does every PAL VCR on the planet.

Can someone in Europe verify this? All PAL VCRs can play NTSC, PAL, SECAM tapes. This is news to me.

Anyway so there is still the question, what causes a PAL VCR to no longer play NTSC, SECAM tapes when it once can?

[hech54]

So does every PAL VCR on the planet.

Can someone in Europe verify this? All PAL VCRs can play NTSC, PAL, SECAM tapes. This is news to me.

Anyway so there is still the question, what causes a PAL VCR to no longer play NTSC, SECAM tapes when it once can?

I am in Europe(PAL). Been here for almost 13 years. Grew up in America(NTSC).
Just captured some PAL60(NTSC tape in a PAL VCR) today.

[hech54]

Anyway so there is still the question, what causes a PAL VCR to no longer play NTSC, SECAM tapes when it once can?

You answered your own question.

It plays PAL tapes fine but NTSC tapes is recognized as PAL60 and SECAM tapes is recognized as PAL.

[digicube]

NTSC when played as PAL60 only plays in black and white, same goes for SECAM when played as PAL. This is what my Hitachi VT-F99EM is doing. I'm connecting it to ADVC110.

[digicube]

It sounds like you are not familiar with Hitachi VT-F99EM Multi System VHS VCR, it has indicators for MESECAM, PAL60, PAL, NTSC 4.43, NTSC 3.58. It display these indicators when it detects them. An American tape should be detected as NTSC 3.58, French SECAM tapes should be detected as MESECAM.

[hech54]

Everything this "Hitachi VT-F99EM Multi System VHS VCR" is doing is exactly what every PAL VCR on the planet does.
PAL VCRs DO NOT CONVERT between NTSC and PAL or between different flavors of SECAM.
You wasted your money because you do not listen.

[digicube]

Everything this "Hitachi VT-F99EM Multi System VHS VCR" is doing is exactly what every PAL VCR on the planet does.
PAL VCRs DO NOT CONVERT between NTSC and PAL or between different flavors of SECAM.
You wasted your money because you do not listen.

I wasn't expecting it to convert different signals but I was expecting it to decode different signals. This VCR is not decoding NTSC and SECAM tapes anymore. You don't understand how this machine functions. Here is the service manual for Hitachi VT-F99EM, read the specifications.

[hech54]

I wasn't expecting it to convert different signals but I was expecting it to decode different signals. This VCR is not decoding NTSC and SECAM tapes anymore. You don't understand how this machine functions. Here is the service manual for Hitachi VT-F99EM, read the specifications.

What are you talking about?...."decode"? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

An NTSC tape, in a PAL machine, is output as PAL60(exactly what the Hitachi is doing). This PAL60 signal CAN BE viewed on a PAL television in color, but is VERY DIFFICULT to capture in color AND will show up as Black And White on an NTSC television.
A French SECAM L tape will ONLY play in Black and White on a PAL VCR. Even a PAL VCR with MESECAM playback abilities.
I understand perfectly how this machine functions, I have two PAL VCRs right here in front of my keyboard, right next to my computer monitor.

[digicube]

What are you talking about?...."decode"? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

An NTSC tape, in a PAL machine, is output as PAL60(exactly what the Hitachi is doing). This PAL60 signal CAN BE viewed on a PAL television in color, but is VERY DIFFICULT to capture in color AND will show up as Black And White on an NTSC television.
A French SECAM L tape will ONLY play in Black and White on a PAL VCR. Even a PAL VCR with MESECAM playback abilities.
I understand perfectly how this machine functions, I have two PAL VCRs right here in front of my keyboard, right next to my computer monitor.

It means Hitachi VT-F99EM can play NTSC and SECAM tapes in FULL COLOR. Can your PAL VCRs do the same?

[hech54]

It means Hitachi VT-F99EM can play NTSC and SECAM tapes in FULL COLOR.

That's not what I said. Read it again.

An NTSC tape, in a PAL machine, is output as PAL60(exactly what the Hitachi is doing). This PAL60 signal CAN BE viewed on a PAL television in color, but is VERY DIFFICULT to capture in color AND will show up as Black And White on an NTSC television.
A French SECAM L tape will ONLY play in Black and White on a PAL VCR. Even a PAL VCR with MESECAM playback abilities.

[DB83]

Well a service manual is hardly going to help you.

The 'spec' does mention various outputs. Possibly only over the RF output into a suitable tv.

I do not know about a ADVC110. My ADVC300 can, theoretically, accept PAL,NTSC and SECAM input. Yet all inputs must be 'pure'. That is to say not NTSC over PAL ie PAL60. NTSC and SECAM will appear as B&W from a PAL vcr.

[digicube]

That's not what I said. Read it again.

I got what you said but I'm telling you this Hitachi VT-F99EM is different than a regular PAL VCR, it is Multi System. It supposed to detect American NTSC tapes as NTSC 3.58 and French SECAM tapes as MESECAM as the indicators on the VCR indicates. And it can play them in FULL COLOR.

My problem is that this VCR detects an NTSC tape as PAL60 and SECAM tape as PAL. If everything is supposed to play as PAL, what are the other indicators for then?

[DB83]

BTW is this the first time you have used this vcr?

In the past, any vcr that has been powered down has to be re-configured. Menu selections etc.

[digicube]

BTW is this the first time you have used this vcr?

In the past, any vcr that has been powered down has to be re-configured. Menu selections etc.

Yes first time but I have powered down and reset this VCR. Same problem still exists.

[hech54]

I got what you said but I'm telling you this Hitachi VT-F99EM is different.

How is that working out so far?

It supposed to detect American NTSC tapes as NTSC 3.58 and French SECAM tapes as MESECAM as the indicators on the VCR indicates

Detect....not magically make them play in color in NTSC-Land.

And it can play them in FULL COLOR.

MAYBE on a PAL television(and only for VIEWING....NOT capturing or recording)....but certainly not on NTSC equipment.
PAL on an NTSC television is Black And White.

[hech54]

I've said it before and I'll say it again....PAL (especially VHS) in the U.S. is a hole that you pour time, money and tears into.

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/382374-Importing-European-VCR-from-Europe?p=2476468...=1#post2476468

[digicube]

How is that working out so far?

Badly. What does this tell you about your listening skills?

It supposed to detect American NTSC tapes as NTSC 3.58 and French SECAM tapes as MESECAM as the indicators on the VCR indicates
Detect....not magically make them play in color in NTSC-Land.

I'm not in NTSC land. My ADVC110 accepts NTSC, PAL, SECAM inputs.

MAYBE on a PAL television(and only for VIEWING....NOT capturing or recording)....but certainly not on NTSC equipment.
PAL on an NTSC television is Black And White.

I'm not using any standard signal equipment. I use a ADVC110, it accepts NTSC, PAL, SECAM inputs. Hitachi VT-F99EM should be playing NTSC and SECAM tapes in FULL COLOR through it.

[digicube]

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/382374-Importing-European-VCR-from-Europe?p=2476468...=1#post2476468

What has that thread got to do with this thread?

[DB83]

Not sure if you understood what I was saying. Connect the vcr to a tv (if you can) and go through the menu options. You might also be able to see the menus in your capture window. There may be something there about output.

But assume you are connecting the vcr to the advc via composite or a scart/composite adapter and that could default since you have a pal-sourced vcr

[digicube]

Not sure if you understood what I was saying. Connect the vcr to a tv (if you can) and go through the menu options. You might also be able to see the menus in your capture window. There may be something there about output.

But assume you are connecting the vcr to the advc via composite or a scart/composite adapter and that could default since you have a pal-sourced vcr

Thank you. After going through the menu while a tape is playing, I manage to display it in FULL COLOR. This is why an operating manual is so useful.