Faulty TBC-1000? Pics Inculded

[CaZeek]

Hello,
I recently bought a TBC-1000 off of eBay. Before people start knocking the seller, he has been very friendly and is working with me still to solve whatever the problem is. The unit was less than 6 months old, and the seller still has the warranty, but from the information he's giving me, it seems as though it was never functioning in the first place (but he was unaware of its potential). It performs virtually no correction at all. My JVC-SR9911u's line TBC is doing "much" more. Just to make sure I'm not crazy, this is a faulty unit, correct? I know stills are not so indicative of a TBC's functions, but they should provide enough evidence (I think).

This is just one example of a pretty bad video. I've tried all ranges from crap to very minor errors on retail VHSes. The unit does actually still remove macrovision.

[Capmaster]

The TBC-1000 grabs look like you have an interlace issue/field order problem.

This is a shot in the dark: Have you tried it with a different power supply with the same specs?

[CaZeek]

The errors occur when outputting to a TV too, though. I see where you're coming from with that second pic though. That one was grabbed when the entire frame was bobbing up and down (and thus out of focus).. unless I'm wrong, I don't think that's an interlace issue?

[lordsmurf]

Does the image ever look perfect? The tapes just look like toast.

[CaZeek]

The image was pretty bad on that tape, but here's another comparison. The TBC-1000 does do something, but the JVC is doing far more. You can't tell from the stills, but the image is still moving around a bit w/ the TBC-1000 (and not nearly as much w/ the JVC).

[CaZeek]

This is the response I got from a guy at Datavideo:

<<<
Based on the test results the TBC-1000 is working correctly. Macrovision removal is definitely not the goal of a TBC, however, a working unit will remove this information from the sync. signal. A working TBC strips out sync. and replaces it with new sync. pulses, so if the unit was not functioning correctly macrovision would continue to be present.

Tape problems can usually be reduced with a TBC but it does not guarantee that all issues will be corrected. A TBC does not correct tape tears, creases or drop outs.

Based on your screen shots, the TBC on your VCR, seems to be handling the video in almost the same way.

Best regards
<<<

The "test results" were that I told him that it still removed macrovision. I sent him the same pictures you're looking at. I don't see how he can tell me that the outputs of the JVC and the TBC-1000 are the same. Secondly, shouldn't the TBC-1000 be outperforming the JVC in this resepect, not vice versa?

[Dr_Layne]

I have a TBC-1000 and a JVC HRS9800U. On some tapes, particularly hi generation tapes, using the TBC-1000 makes the image worse. Try the TBC-1000 on a brand new first generation tape. See if you still get the waveyness on the top of the image.

[lordsmurf]

Your error is more severe than simple sync. Those tapes are probably dead.

[CaZeek]

I'll post a cap of a retail VHS tape soon. My friend actually owns this same model, and I've seen it work on tapes similar to mine in the past. In the mean time, does anyone happen to have any before and after pics of their TBC-1000 in action?