VCR: weird flickering and squiggly chroma noise

[Brad]

The two captures from the "problem VCR" were made with different S-Video cables and different capture devices. I've attached a 30-frame snippet from one of them since the luma flickering is only visible in motion.

Other tapes have the same issue in this VCR, this tape isn't Macrovision-protected, this tape is normal in other VCRs, and the VCR's generated blue background is unaffected.

Any ideas?

[JVRaines]

Looks like the deck is picking up RF from somewhere.

[Brad]

I was gonna ask how I might attempt to do something about that, but since I bought it because I thought it has a TBC and it clearly doesn't (just 3DNR), I'll leave it be.

For what it's worth, I passed through some DVD test patterns via composite and confirmed that regular video display is operating normally. Only actual tape playback is affected.

In case some LaserDisc fan someday sees this thread and is curious: the 3D comb filter is pretty good at eliminating rainbows, but very bad at reducing dot crawl.