Problem with store bought VHS tape > anyone?

[cooljoe666]

I bought a VHS movie from the store. When my vcr plays it I get bands of lines through the video. It does the same in my daughters vcr as well. It is definitely the tape. I tried adjusting the spindles but that just adds lines over top of whats there.

I do notice while playing the video, if you forward cue the lines clear up somewhat. It's almost like the tracking being off. Is there any way to adjust my vcr to get it to play the video, at least to copy it to a good tape?

Thanks.

PS. I have a 1995 Orion 4 head vcr.

[Megahurts]

cooljoe666,

You could probably align the tape guides to play the movie but that would screw up all the other tapes you play.

I suspect the tape is recorded in SLP which is critical to tape path alignment. If so, take it back and try again or get a refund.

Chas

[cooljoe666]

Hi,

I cannot return the tape because I bought it many miles from home. The tape is in SP mode. The picture is clear and the audio is perfect except it looks like the tracking is way off.

[Megahurts]

cooljoe666

If it is truly a tracking problem then the only thing you can do is to misalign your vcr to the vcr that recorded it.

If you wish to do this, loosen the set screws, not too loose, that lock the takeup and suply guides that wrap the tape half way around the heads.

If you have an oscilloscope then conecect it to the envolpe test point and while the tape is running, adjust the guides for a flat response. When done, lock the set screws.

With out an Oscope then while playing, watch the pic and adjust the guides for best pic. Then lock to screws.

Of course you will have to realign the guides to a good standard tape. Usually a standard commercial tape will do.

Other than that, no hope.

Regards,

Chas

[cooljoe666]

If you're talking about the two things that pull the tape around the head, I turned those while the tape was playing. It basically added more lines but never fixed the present ones. It took awhile to get it back to normal though. I wonder what else it could be?