Connecting and tuning a Betamax to a modern TV

[techmot]

Hi, does anyone know how to tune in the signal from a Betamax VCR using a modern TV?. I a Sanyo VTC5000 Betacord, and in the past I've been able to connect the machine upto a few TVs, one was a 14" Daewoo CRT TV, the other was a 60" Sony LCD (can't remember the model I'm afraid as I no longer have it), and a Sharp 40" LCD which I currently have but the remote is broke so can't switch it on without it, all of them I was able to manually tune or scan the signal in to the TV from the Betacord recorder. But for some reason doing this on any other modern small size TV it can't seem to detect the signal in even when doing an analogue scan. I tried doing this on a small Bush TV but nothing.

[dellsam34]

What do you mean by tune? Just use the composite ouptut and connect it to the composite input of the TV, If the TV lacks the composite input use one of those composite to HDMI converters. You do need this cable that converts BNC to RCA:

[jagabo]

I think some old beta vcrs only had RF out, no composite. Many modern TVs don't have RF tuners and will require a standalone RF to composite tuner.

[techmot]

What do you mean by tune? Just use the composite ouptut and connect it to the composite input of the TV, If the TV lacks the composite input use one of those composite to HDMI converters. You do need this cable that converts BNC to RCA:

I mean that I had to manually tune the signal in from the machine to the TV. I didn't use a special cable like a BNC to RCA cable mentioned just a regular aerial type cable that connected to the "ANT Out" on the Betacord to the input of the TV. I then went into the settings on the TV and looked for the analogue manual scan setting, and after a few seconds of searching it was able to detect the signal from the Betacord. If it isn't supposed to do that it then certainly did with the TVs I was hooking the machine upto. As I said, I was able to do this with an old early 2000 14" CRT TV (which I no longer have), a Sony 60" LCD TV (which I no longer have) and on a large (46" I think) Sharp LCD TV.

[Cornucopia]

Modern TVs will receive digital RF transmissions (ATSC, DVB, etc) via antenna, rf cable, but almost NONE of them would support old analog RF transmissions (NTSC, PAL, SECAM, etc). For the simple reason that they no longer include the chips to receive, demodulate & decode, which they removed because there are no legit analog transmissions since ~2015, and this way they can save money.

Do not use the RF out on your Betamax! It loses a bunch of quality anyway that way. As already mentioned, use composite out (BNC or RCA).


Scott

[dellsam34]

I mean that I had to manually tune the signal in from the machine to the TV. I didn't use a special cable like a BNC to RCA cable mentioned just a regular aerial type cable that connected to the "ANT Out" on the Betacord to the input of the TV. I then went into the settings on the TV and looked for the analogue manual scan setting, and after a few seconds of searching it was able to detect the signal from the Betacord. If it isn't supposed to do that it then certainly did with the TVs I was hooking the machine upto. As I said, I was able to do this with an old early 2000 14" CRT TV (which I no longer have), a Sony 60" LCD TV (which I no longer have) and on a large (46" I think) Sharp LCD TV.

Why would you want to do that when you can just connect a composite cable and an audio cable? better quality, no tuning needed, All you need to do is get the cable I posted above and another straight RCA to RCA cable for audio since you VCR is mono.

[Alwyn]

@Techmot, what exact model is your current TV, the one you're having trouble with?

[techmot]

@Techmot, what exact model is your current TV, the one you're having trouble with?

Hi, the model is a LC 40U17352k (a Sharp)

[Alwyn]

The specs indicate it's got an analogue tuner, so you should be able to tune it to your VCR. If you don't have the manual, click on the "Document" link in that spec sheet to get a PDF manual. Page 24 mentions the Analogue Tuner option. Also, have a browse through this topic; you might pick up some tips. Try flicking the "test signal" switch to On for the tuneup. Maybe adjust the channel adjustment too?

You would get better video quality by using cables though. Connect the outputs from your VCR to the TV using the TV's A/V cable (3.5mm on one [TV] end, 3 x RCA plugs yellow, white, red on the other). You'll need an RCA>BNC adapter for the video (yellow) and by the looks of it, an RCA splitter for the audio (you have only one "audio out" socket on your VCR?): single male on one end and double female on the other to go into the cable from the TV.

[jagabo]

Yes, forget the tuner. After seeing an image of the Sanyo VTC5000 it appears to have a BNC connector for composite out on the back. Use a BNC to RCA cable or a BNC to RCA adapter and an RCA to RCA cable.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Connector-Compatible-Security-Surveillance-Switchers/dp/B08L6KNFFW