jlp@inmet.UUCP (02/18/84)
#R:hou2a:-24700:inmet:9700002:177600:511
inmet!jlp Feb 17 19:48:00 1984
In the NTSC system, the maximum number of resolution lines is 525.
( A monitor of 700 lines would be overkill for us, ok in France, though ).
However, synchronization and other information occur in that dark band you
see when you turn vertical hold, called the blanking pulse(or some other
buzzword). This limits usable information to a maximum of 484 vertical lines.
HDTV is proposing to have something on the order of 1150 lines.
The Organ Keyboard of
Jerryl Payne
{esquire,harpo,decvax!cca!ima}!inmet!jlpdwhitney@uok.UUCP (07/05/84)
#R:mhuxt:-18400:uok:9100001:37777777600:1307 uok!dwhitney Jul 5 13:43:00 1984 No, not specifically the 1530, but I do have experience with the 1220. It may not help, but I can give you my two cents worth. Generally, the unit is not very different from all the other video recorders. As you may or may not know, all VHS recorders sold in the US are made by one manufacturer, Mashushita of Japan. Industries here in the US purchase them, and place their own labels on them, sometimes rearranging buttons, and the like. But the nuts-and-bolts are all the same. My big complaint with ALL vcrs is that they are way too volatile to power-outages. Even if the power clips off for just a split-second, the timer and clock will start blinking 12:00 and erase all memories. It would seem that for the price they could wire in a little memory circuit like those found in some GE alarm clocks to retain the time for five or six seconds when the power goes out. So, thats basically it. Just remember that while a Curtis Mathes VCR may cost $700, you probably can find the exact same recorder at another video store for $499. Of course, the stores will say they are all different, but believe me, they are all the same. I hope that helps; the basic thing to remember is that underneath all the buttons and labels, the machinery is all the same.. David Whitney ctvax!uokvax!uok!dwhitney
dwhitney@uok.UUCP (07/05/84)
#R:pyuxhh:-63600:uok:9100003:37777777600:601 uok!dwhitney Jul 5 13:52:00 1984 Although I don't know about the specifics of that machine, I can tell you that "cable ready" doesn't necessarily tell you the whole story. For some reason, some cable operators put garbage in their signals that only THEIR converter can clear out, thereby requiring YOU to use their converter. Consequently, the "cable ready" vcrs will indeed give you the picture, but often of very poor quality. Also, with "premium pay services" you have to have a converter box, anyway. So if push comes to shove, don't forego a good buy just because it isn't cable ready. David Whitney ctvax!uokvax!uok!dwhitney
andrew@orca.UUCP (Andrew Klossner) (07/09/84)
power-outages. Even if the power clips off for
just a split-second, the timer and clock will start blinking
12:00 and erase all memories."
Someone is generalizing from two little data. My 20-month-old VHS VCR,
made by JVC, has battery backup; I can unplug it, haul it to a
different room, and plug it in, without losing the time-of-day or any
of the eight timer settings. I don't know how long it will last, but
the longest I can remember unplugging it was about three minutes.
"I hope that helps; the basic thing to remember is that
underneath all the buttons and labels, the machinery is all the
same.."
This is just one person's opinion. Another person's opinion [mine] is
that they aren't all the same, there are some real differences out
there.
-- Andrew Klossner (decvax!tektronix!orca!andrew) [UUCP]
(orca!andrew.tektronix@rand-relay) [ARPA]raan@hp-pcd.UUCP (07/10/84)
There are several errors in David Whitney's response (sorry, I don't have the base note any more). My sources for disputing his claims are articles in Video Review and Video (sorry, I don't have the specific references), my experience as a videophile and repairing tvs, etc for 15 years. >> As you may or may not know, all VHS recorders sold in the US are made by one >> manufacturer, Mashushita of Japan. Industries here in the US purchase them, >> and place their own labels on them, sometimes rearranging buttons, and the >> like. But the nuts-and-bolts are all the same. My big complaint with ALL >> vcrs is that they are way too volatile to power-outages. There are at least 3 VHS manufacturers who build all the available recorders (no, I don't remember the names of the others). While the machines built by one manufacturer are similar, they are NOT all the same (ignoring cosmetics). Each machine is built to the specifications of the company contracting with the manufacturer. One company may specify higher qualilty parts with tighter control on specifications than another. Also, the features included in the machinge will vary with the specifications. All of my recorders retain the clock and programming for at least a minute and some up to 10 minutes. Raan Young (hp-pcd!raan)
yamauchi@fortune.UUCP (07/14/84)
#R:pyuxhh:-63600:fortune:12100003:000:652
fortune!yamauchi Jul 13 14:11:00 1984
Too little data is right!! I wonder how many different VCR's
this person has seen or checked into before the conclusion was drawn
that all American decks ( I'm assuming he meant American label VCR's )
sold are made by Matsushita? Was this just "a line" that some jerk
sales person fed him? I've got a VCR with someone else's label on it
that was built by North American Phillips. Now, do you beleive NAP
buys their VCR's from Matsushita??!! Not too likely!
Alan Yamauchi
UUCP: {ihnp4,ucbvax!amd,hpda,sri-unix,harpo}!fortune!yamauchi
DDD: (415)595-8444 x 436
USPS: Fortune Systems Corp, 101 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065jrb@wdl1.UUCP (07/14/84)
#R:pyuxhh:-63600:wdl1:15100002:000:195 wdl1!jrb Jul 13 22:28:00 1984 It wouldn't surprise me in the least if North American Phillips's VCRs were made by Matsushita. John R Blaker UUCP: ...!fortune!wdl1!jrb ARPA: jrb@FORD-WDL1 and blaker@FORD-WDL2
thom@hpfcrx.UUCP (thom) (02/15/85)
I have also been happy with the HiFi selections I have been able to find, but I haven't been able to find two of the tapes I think would be really exceptional in HiFi (please no flames on my taste in films or music): Flashdance and Footloose. When I inquired about the VHS HiFi versions of these tapes for purchase at a few of my local stores they said they didn't have them and would check. What they found was that the manufacturer for their label (which escapes me right now) has only just begun re-recording their tapes in HiFi and it won't be until early summer (if I'm lucky), before they are available. Such is life. Anybody heard anything different about the VHS HiFi version of these tapes? Tom Morrissey hplabs!hpfcla!thom
lief@hpfcrs.UUCP (lief) (03/09/85)
Digital TV has been around since around 1981, over in Europe. However,
its only been recently introduce in the USA. In fact, I believe that the
first commercially available digital TV in the USA just started selling last
month (a Toshiba model). Panasonic plans to introduce theirs in April.
Zenith also plans to introduce one this year.
Virtually every digital TV is using the ITT digital chip set. This chip
set samples the composite video input at 14.3 MHz for NTSC (17 MHz for PAL),
digitizes the data into pseudo-8-bit resolution, and then procedes to process
it. It does fancy things like noise inversion to get rid of specking due to
interference. The luma data and the chroma data are then digitally seperated,
with the chroma data in the form of R-Y and B-Y. After processing, the digital
R-Y and B-Y data (each 8 bits), and the 10-bit luma data are all put through
D/A converters and then fed through the RGB matrix to drive the monitor.
The low bandwidth of chroma data allows it to be multiplexed on a 4-bit wide
bus. Likewise, the luma data is actually transferred on an 8-bit wide bus,
with the least significant bit of the 8-bit path modulated according to the
least significant 2 bits of the 10-bit word (understand what I mean?). In
otherwords, they make good use of time averaging (rather than numerical
averaging) to save on circuitry and connection pins. Real slick.
The Toshiba set is really a little disappointing in the picture quality.
Either they are not using all the available capabilities of the chip set, or
they don't have the latest revision. It's probably a function of both. ITT
just started shipping the latest rev. of their chip set to the TV makers
and so I don't think they could possibly be implemented in the Toshiba model
yet. The latest rev. allows more features and corrections, allows 2 video
input sources, uses a new clock design (to eliminate RF interference which
their previous clock circuit is hampered with), etc.
Personally, I am very exited about these chips. If used correctly,
they should really enhance the quality of TV. However, don't expect these
chips to perform miracles on the already bandwidth limited video input.
About all you can expect is that your picture quality will be precessed to
the limit of the carrier bandwidth. In fact, Zenith plans to sell their unit
as a 'high res' TV, where they double the number of scan lines. Actually,
all they are doing is interpolating between actual scan lines.
Yes, I believe it is worth the wait.
Lief Sorensen
Hewlett Packard Co.ajs@hpfcla.UUCP (ajs) (03/19/85)
> After recording on SLP speed, I found the Scotch tape to have the worst > dropout problem I have ever seen... even when compared to cheap generic > brands ( you know, the kinds that sell for about $4 without a sale!). > Was I just unlucky enough to get a hold of a bad tape or is this a > chronic problem with Scotch brand. Just bought a couple of Scotch standard T120's here ($7.39 each), and they work fine. They look just a little better than the Sony 120's I already had, and the cases are nicer. Alan Silverstein
jeff@hpcnoa.UUCP (jeff) (07/31/85)
> Is there anybody out there who has a "canonical" > list of VCRs and their features ? I think Stereo Review has a tape buyer's guide which has VCR specs. Also you might check out back issues of Consumer Reports, though their listings might be outdated. -- Jeff Wu
keenan@inmet.UUCP (10/07/85)
Here is a summary of the responses I received from my query about High-End TV's, often called monitor/receivers. Thanks to everyone who replied, especially for the use of mail rather than posting to the net. The original request: > I'm looking for a TV receiver-monitor with these characteristics: > * 19" color * Remote control > * Quartz tuning * "cable" ready > * comb filter * Stereo > * RGB input * various VCR etc. inputs > Basically everything. Consumers Digest recommended the Panasonic > CTF2075 ($1050/$783), a 20" monitor with all the above features. > What are the other makes and models should I look for? Is there > anything wrong with the Panasonic? I ended up buying a Panasonic CTF2077 for $750 and am very pleased with it, supposedly the 2075 didn't have sterio. It sports the same variety of features listed below for the other manufactorers. Now for the recommendations: From: ihnp4!ukma!david (David Herron, NPR Lover) There's this Hitachi that I have. It's a 19" monitor. Has 3 direct video inputs, 2 using rca plugs and another using a squarish plug that's supposed to be a standard plug for rgb. It also doubles as a high-res monitor, with 400 lines resolution. It is cable ready. Has a fancy tuner. etc. It costs $550 or so. I don't think the model I have is still on the market though. Y'see, I bought it last april, it was a demo model at Circuit City at $300. But I'd think that would just mean they have a better model on the market now. And, no, I don't remember the model number, and I can't look at it right now because it's in the shop having the tuner replaced. --- David Herron --- UUCP-> {ucbvax,unmvax,boulder,oddjob}!anlams!ukma!david --- {ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!cbosgd!ukma!david From: ihnp4!otto!carl (Carl Shapiro) WAIT! Before you buy, check out the Sony XBR models (KV-20XBR, KV-25XBR). These two (20" and 25") are by far the best consumer units I've seen. They both have all the features you mentioned, and more. In particular, they have many inputs and outputs - including 3 video inputs and 2 RF inputs. One of the video inputs has a separate external audio input, useful for a tuner input for simulcasts, or for a laser video disc player with a separate external CX decoder, etc. One of the video inputs is on the front of the unit for easy access. Not only does it come with a remote control (a great one, that allows changing inputs, hue, contrast, bass & treble, balance (yes, it's stereo) and more) but two other remotes are available as options: 1 has a clock in it to turn things on and off at preset times; the other uses the IR to provide wireless headphones (any of the current small headphones can plug into it). Resolution is 330 lines/inch with the RF inputs, and 400 (genuine) with the video inputs. I bought the 25" model for $1050; we just ordered 200 of the 20" units for our videotex system and got them for ~$650 apiece. Demand is such that they may be hard to find, but believe me, they're worth waiting for. Of course, all current TVs will be obsolete in a year or so when vertical line interpolation hits the market. Short of adopting the Japanese 2000-line HRTV standard, unlikely in this country in the forseeable future, scan line interpolation and full frame buffering are our only real hope for improved video picture quality anytime soon. Full frame buffering is better, but both look very good in demonstrations. Both have been developed to counteract the effects of the interleaved scan broadcasts; interpolation looked good because it eliminated the need for storing an entire frame, but as memory costs plummet, manufacturers have been delaying its introduction with the hope of incorporating entire frame buffers at an affordable price. The technology is complete; the timing is now a marketing decision. Last year it looked like interpolation might make the Christmas market, but it didn't, and this year I've heard nothing. This makes me feel that they are expecting 1M memory chips to appear soon enough to relieve the price pressure on the 256K devices, enabling them to be used in consumer TVs either next year or in '87 at the latest. I'm sorry that I can't give you any good references on this stuff, I have come by it in bits and pieces. To get the real story, you have to read Japanese, which I don't. Carl Shapiro {ihnp4,sdcrdcf}!otto!carl From: ihnp4!hplabs!atd!tra (Ted Asocks) Before purchasing the Panasonic, I would look at Sony Monitors, especially the latest model with a "scan doubler". I have yet to see it but I understand it doubles the amount of horizontal scan lines by interpolating a new line to fit between the original 2 lines. Of course this cannot double the resolution but it must make for some very good color balance and picture improvement. We use an industrial model of a Sony, here at work, with a 'Trinitron' tube and it makes the best pictures. If you plan on buying, or already have a VCR why not just use the tuner on that? That way you don't duplicate tuners. Ted Asocks UUCP : {hplabs,ucbvax,turtlevax}!atd!tra From: ihnp4!tektronix!zeus!hercules!billh Stereo Super Stores has had the Panasonic CTF2075 available in the Portland, Oregon area for ~$500. I bought one and it's a real nice set. tektronix!teklds!billh From: harvard!seismo!utah-gr.UTAH-CS!utah-cs!utah-gr!thomas (Spencer W. Thomas) <thomas@utah-.UUCP> I've looked (but not too hard) at both the high-end Sony (I forget the "initials") and Fisher TVs. Both of them seem to have the features you are looking for, and are in the same price range. A friend who repairs TVs for a living strongly recommends Sony TVs as needing little repair. =Spencer ({ihnp4,decvax}!utah-cs!thomas, thomas@utah-cs.ARPA) Thanks again for the replies, --keenan ross UUCP: {bellcore,ima,ihnp4}!inmet!keenan Intermetrics, Inc. INTERNET: ima!inmet!keenan@CCA-UNIX.ARPA 733 Concord Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 PHONE: (617) 661-1840
lef@nlm-vax.ARPA (Larry Fitzpatrick) (10/10/85)
Some of the comments in this article bring a question to mind. Could someone describe, or supply refs to descriptions, of digital TV ? What are the advantages ? Thanks,fitz
root@Clio.Uiuc.ARPA (11/25/85)
berger@clio.UIUC.EDUC VCR heads are NOT sealed. If you don't know how to clean them properly, then you should leave them to a professional. But dirty heads are the leading cause of VCR failure. Smoker or not, oxide particles from tapes will cause problems if nothing else does.
rick@ea.UUCP (01/10/86)
During my sojourn to Tulsa, OK the other day for our company, I
happen to recall seeing a request on the net for who makes Emerson
VCR's. Since I was in a video store and visiting with a sales type,
I asked.
ZOT!! The local guru pulls out the table listed below. I was so
so suprised that I asked if I could get a copy and shur 'nuff,
Cheerful Charlie had a copy machine and obligingly made several
copies. Astounding! It's hard to find people these days selling
relatively high tech stuff with actual product awareness and a
willingness to help.
VHS Format
Manufacturer: Matsushita (Currently Holds Approx 51% of the Market)
*VCR Brands Manufactured
Magnavox
Sylvania
G.E.
Curtis Mathes
J.C. Penney
Quasar
Panasonic
Philco
Canon
Olympus
* Most of the above units are probably manufactured to specs supplied
the selling firm and are therefore *NOT* identical less cosmetics.
Manufacturer: JVC Manufacturer: Hitachi
VCR Brands Manufactured VCR Brands Manufactured
JVC Hitachi
Tatung RCA (Recently acquired by G.E.)
Zenith Pentax
NEC
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Manufacturer: Sharp
VCR Brands Manufactured VCR Brands Manufactured
Mitsubishi Sharp
Emerson Montgomery Ward
Manufacturer: Akai Manufacturer: Sanyo
Manufactures Akai only VCR Brands Manufactured
Radio Shack
Fisher
Sears
Manufacturer: Sansui Manufacturer: Samsung
Manufactures Sansui only Manufactures Samsung only
Manufacturer: Gold Star Manufacturer: Teknika
Manufactures Gold Star only Manufactures Teknika only
Manufacturer: Toshiba
VCR Brands Manufactured
Kenwood
Toshiba
BETA Format
Manufacturer: Sony Sanyo
Manufactures Sony only Manufactures Sanyo only
NEC Aiwa
Manufactures NEC only Manufactures Aiwa only
Manufacturer: Toshiba
VCR Brands Manufactured
Toshiba
Sears
Hope the above list is of some help. If anyone finds errors, please
post to the net.
Rick Beckenhauer
Environmental Control Laboratory, Inc.
UUCP: ihnp4!okstate!ea!rickjib@prism.UUCP (01/14/86)
I think your friend's VCR is unusual if it works as you describe it. My
RCA VKP950 Hi-fi machine, and most of the others I have looked at have a
3-position switch: Hi-FI (which automatically switches IF there is a hi-fi
signal), Linear (which always picks up the linear tracks) and Mix (which
mixes the hi-fi and linear tracks -- for sound-on-sound, dubbing of music
onto a recorded hi-fi tape, etc.)
Note that my machine does NOT tell you visually that it is using the hi-fi
signal -- although you can certainly hear the difference. Other VHS
machines do have indicator lights.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Block {cca, ihnp4!inmet, mit-eddie, wjh12, datacube} !mirror!prism!jib
Mirror Systems, Inc. 2067 Massachusetts Ave.
(617) 661-0777 Cambridge, MA 02140jimb@tekcbi.UUCP (Jim Boland) (01/16/86)
> > BETA Format > > Aiwa > Manufactures Aiwa only > Seems to me that I heard that Aiwa also manufactured the Sony SL-2700 for Sony.
gant@convexs.UUCP (01/25/86)
i heard a rumor long ago that aiwa was a wholly-owned subsidiary of
sony. can anyone confirm/deny this?
Alan Gant, CONVEX Computer Corporation
{uiucdcs,allegra,ihnp4}!convex!gant