man@bocar.UUCP (M Nevar) (05/14/85)
I just purchased a VHS Hi-Fi VCR -- Hitachi VT-89A. What is the opinion out there on head cleaners ? Which is the best one ? What other maintenance can I do ? Also, what is considered to be the best tapes for recording ? Are T-160 tapes just as bad as C-120 audio tapes in terms of breaking ? Thanx, Mark
reza@ihuxb.UUCP (Reza Taheri) (05/15/85)
> What is the opinion out there on head cleaners ? > Which is the best one ? > What other maintenance can I do ? This is a very confusing issue. The manual for my GE 5014X says I should have it cleaned by a professional about once a year. It especially warns against using the abrasive type cleaners. The guy who sold me the VCR (and is rather knowledgeable about video technology) told me to use the wet "Allsop" brand as it is non-abrasive. The instructions with Allsop recommend cleaning the heads every 20-30 hours. Now, I did that and twice the VCR went blank. Something (apparently a particle) got caught on the head(s) which caused the a lot of snow on the picture. I took it to the salesman and each time he spent a half hour re-cleaning the heads with alternative doses of the wet Allsop and dry Scotch cleaners until the particle went away. Interestingly, changing the tracking would temporarily correct the problem, i.e. at certain tracking positions I would start to get some picture. Of course this taught me a lesson not to try to clean the heads until I take the VCR in for its one year service. What is weird is that the owner of the video store I go to says that the problem is with Allsop and recommends using the "Discwasher" brand cleaner every 10 hours! Now who do you believe? I think the best preventive measure is to use a $7 dust cover. *********** The question is, "ARE YOU right for Grape Nuts?" *********** H. Reza Taheri ...!ihnp4!ihuxb!reza (312)-979-7473
frodo@wcom.UUCP (Jim Scardelis) (05/16/85)
> > What is the opinion out there on head cleaners ? > > Which is the best one ? > > What other maintenance can I do ? > > The guy > who sold me the VCR (and is rather knowledgeable about video technology) > told me to use the wet "Allsop" brand as it is non-abrasive. The > instructions with Allsop recommend cleaning the heads every 20-30 > hours. Now, I did that and twice the VCR went blank. Something > (apparently a particle) got caught on the head(s) which caused the > a lot of snow on the picture. I took it to the salesman and each time > he spent a half hour re-cleaning the heads with alternative doses of > the wet Allsop and dry Scotch cleaners until the particle went away. > Interestingly, changing the tracking would temporarily correct the > problem, i.e. at certain tracking positions I would start to get some > picture. > > What is weird is > that the owner of the video store I go to says that the problem > is with Allsop and recommends using the "Discwasher" brand cleaner > every 10 hours! Now who do you believe? I use the Allsop cleaner on both my GE 4012x and my Quasar VP 5435.......when the picture starts tearing at the top, or the quality fades....personally, I feel that it is very, very possible to overdue cleaning. By the way, I wouldn't believe anybody in a video store. Like most retailers, their recommendations are based upon the margins offerred by the manufacturer, and not necessarily quality. Jim Scardelis -- uucp: {vax135|ihnp4}!timeinc!wcom!frodo ARPA: 1891@NJIT-EIES.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA "The opinions expressed herein are those of my computer, and not necessarily those of myself, Warner Computer Systems, or any other computer or company along the line. "
brown@nicmad.UUCP (05/17/85)
> Also, what is considered to be the best tapes for recording ? > Are T-160 tapes just as bad as C-120 audio tapes in terms of breaking ? Preferrably video tape. Seriously, T-160 tapes work great. I use Fuji and JVC T-160s without any problems. I like the Fuji better, but neither T-160 give me any trouble. That length comes in real handy when taping things longer that 2 hours, like Dallas/Falcon Crest tomorrow night, as I will be on a plane to Phoenix, AZ. Total length tomorrow is 2.5 hrs. (I don't like the EP/SLP mode!!!!!!!!!!!!) -- |------------| | |-------| o| JVC HRD725U Mr. Video | | | o| |--------------| | | | | | |----| o o o | | |-------| O| |--------------| |------------| VHS Hi-Fi (the only way to go) ({!seismo,!ihnp4}!uwvax!astroatc!nicmad!brown)
nose@nbires.UUCP (Steve Dunn) (05/17/85)
I bought an allsop wet system cleaning cassette. It jammed in my machine and I had to partially disassemble the VCR to get it out. I have since bought a manual head cleaning kit. There is a certain risk of screwing things up in a big way if you're not real careful but this method probably does the best job. Also on T160 tapes - I don't know about breakage but the recording quality it generally not as good as T120 and the tapes tend to stretch after time causing nasty picture distortions. The only situation I can imagine that T160 might be useful is if you want to record more than two hours unattended and if you do not intend to save the tape for long after it is recorded.
copp@petrus.UUCP (05/18/85)
The makers of head cleaners urge you to make routine use of a head cleaner. On the other hand, the maker of my VCR (Panasonic) says NO head cleaning. Whom should I believe? OK, I'm not naive: let's figure out what is good for the vendor in each case. The cleaner maker: it's pretty simple; he likes to sell cleaner. The VCR maker: hmmm, guess what, he probably wants the VCR to look good for a long time and preserve his reputation. So while Panasonic may be just as selfish as Alsop, it happens in this situation that what's good for Panasonic is good for me.
jeff@wjvax.UUCP (Jeff Albom) (05/20/85)
.
I've used the Allsop head cleaner and found that the audio portion of the recording
was seriously mangled. I don't know why. I now use surgical grade cotton
applicators and ethyl alcohol; haven't had a problem since. It seems the
Allsop cartridge would smear dirt and grime all over the rotating metal wheel
that covered the heads (probably smeared the grime onto the heads, too).
jeff@wjvaxalbert@ucbvax.ARPA (Anthony Albert) (05/20/85)
I have 2 video recorders, 1 for over 7 years, and the other about 5. I have used the older one at least 2 hours per day average for the first few years, and maybe 2 hours per week since. The other one has been used probably 2 hours per day average for 5 years. I have taken each one apart to fix it about 3 times each, and in the process cleaned the heads with a cotton swab and alcohol. I have never noticed any problem which might be caused by dirty heads. I think companies which try to get you to use head cleaners every 10 or even 100 hours are just trying to sell head cleaners! The rapid rotation of the head drums tends to spin the heads clean. -- Anthony Albert ..!ucbvax!albert albert@ucbvax.ARPA
dwl10@amdahl.UUCP (Dave Lowrey) (05/23/85)
When I was an AV tech at Ohio State (many moons ago), we used Sony
1/2 inch reel-to-reel video recorders. These had all of the works on
top of the deck, as you had to thread the tape by hand.
We cleaned the heads between every reel (one hour). I am sure that this
was due to the fact that all of the critical components are out in the
open, and that the tape is exposed to alot more atmospheric
contamination than today's VCR's.
To clean the heads, we had these flat plastic sticks, that had chamois, or
something like it on one end. We would dip this thing into liquid freon,
and rub it against the heads, as well as all other parts that touch the
tape. It seemd to work well.
I don't know if these are still avaliable, but I would highly recomend
them. I would think that cotton swabs get cotton fibers stuck in the
heads or other parts.
P.S. I use tha ALSOP on my VCR about once a month, and take the machine
into the shop once a year. Still going strong after 4 years.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Lowrey
"To vacillate or not to vacillate, that is the question....
....or is it?"
...!(<sun,cbosgd,ihnp4}!amdahl!dwl10
[ The opinions expressed <may> be those of the author and not necessarily
those of his most eminent employer. ]