kolling@decwrl.UUCP (Karen Kolling) (10/22/84)
I have an ancient beta vcr. A few months ago it developed a problem
starting tapes in play mode; the tape motion would stutter and take quite
a while to get up to full, smooth speed. Putting it into pause mode and
then releasing pause helped for a while, but after a while, it wouldn't
move tapes at all. There was no problem with tape motion in record mode,
or once it managed to get up to full speed in play mode. The repair
shop "replaced a belt". It worked for a while, but now it's failing in
the same way. Is it time to put old paint out to pasture? What kind
of problem would effect play but not record? Could it be that there's
some incompatibility between this ancient vcr and the new tapes? (It
uses only up to L750s, and I don't buy el cheapo tapes.) Any light
on this would be appreciated.
Karen {ucbvax, ihnp4}!decwrl!kollinglauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (10/24/84)
When VCR's are experiencing motor problems in play but not in record, it is probably that the motor or circuitry involved in the playback tachometer is failing. Video playback requires that the capstan motor be locked onto the previously recorded timing track. Any failure of this system will result in erratic or slow tape speed, at the very least. In record mode the same motor essentially runs free, or at least is not tied to the tape timing track. --Lauren--