Broken SVHS deck?

[HidenSeek]

Hi! I'm in the mids of capturing my vhs collection when this happen! I get almost no color except for some blue vertical lines and some faint colours. Is my SVHS deck broken? I've tried cleaning the heads, but it didn't help
my deck is a Panasonic 4700

here is a link on how the picture is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXNjLnvpczY

[themaster1]

nice special effects man , you could win a prize with these i'm sure

seriously check the cable and/or socket also try with dscaler if your card is compatible

[HidenSeek]

It's not the letterboxing that is the problem :P it's the colors. I tried to connect it to my TV with a scart cable (I used s-video when I did the capture on the computer) same problem. I've also tried different tapes but it's the same problem on all of them.

[vhsman]

Looks like hearingbone noise. Does the vcr play the tape properly when connected to your regular tv? Does your vcr have rca (composite) outputs?

[vhsman]

If the vhs plays fine on the tv, vcr is not the problem. Try composite out to your desired captured card. If the color loss is visible on your tv, try another tv. If there still no improvement. Then prepare to hit ebay because there are failing components within your vcr (i.e. power supply, mother board, video section of the vcr). Just to name a few.

[HidenSeek]

I tried with scart on my TV and S-video on my capture card. It's the same problem.
Actually this problem occured after the power went out in the room where I keep my vcr, could this have had something to do with it? The power didn't go out because of lightning, it was just a blown fuse because of to much power consumption. But the vcr wasn't running when it happened. It was just in stand by mode.
There is a local TV/Radio repair shop not too far from here. Should I try to repair my vcr or is it a lost cause?

[themaster1]

if it was in stand by i'd say it's unlikely, just try another wall outlet in another room to make sure

[vhsman]

I'm afraid the vcr power supply is fried. There are steps you can take. Involves a soldering iron and a capacitor tester. Are you up to the challenge? An alternative is a repair shop, but they are not cheap. Also, look here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PANASONIC-PV-4700-VHS-VCR-VIDEO-CASSETTE-PLAYER-RECORDER-/2611...item3ccf9f0e45

[johns0]

Looks like a head,head amp problem,not a power supply problem.

[vhsman]

For $150 I can go through the entire machine.

[HidenSeek]

Thanks vhsman, but shipping to the US and then back again would be to expensive. Shipping overseas is insanley expensive for some reason. I would be cheaper for me to just buy this instead
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-AG-4700EY-4-heads-PAL-S-VHS-Professional-Video-Cas...#ht_3076wt_907

but BIG NEWS
my vcr is working again! don't know how. It's been unplugged for a couple of days, but I decided that I wanted to do a new capture. I thought that a source that was letterboxed probably wasn't the best example to show of my problem, but now the colors are magically back again.
Could this mean there is a bad connection in my vcr some where?
I'm afraid that it might happen again, keeping my fingers crossed that it wont!

[vhsman]

There are very few parts available for the unit you intend to buy. Make sure you ask the seller plenty of questions in an attempt to have a positive buying experience. Going back to your old unit: it will be guesswork to point to a specific problem via these postings. However, there were problems reported regarding the power supply on your particular model. That needs to be ruled out first. Also, could be scattered, failing component somewhere else too. I came across vcrs that needed work in three areas: power supply, video section, and display section. Once, by repairing a dim display it actually fixed the picture to some extent. Many times the problems are releated to leaky/dry/high esr capacitors in the power supply or scattered on the mothered board or both. Other times are cold solder, cracks on the printed circuit boards. Just to name a few. Still would want to know of the condition of the power supply before testing further. With the aid of the internet you could learn basic checks yourself. However, in order to do a component level diagnosis, a dvom and a service manual for the model would be required. It is a nice hobby to have if you have the time and patience to put into it. The problem you are experiencing could be a bad electrolytic capacitor in your power supply, but not a 100% sure. I may not be able to tell even if I open the power supply. I have to check voltages against the ones listed in the service manual. Needless to say, and depending on the parts availability might not be repairable at all.