This message it for people selling Beta machines on E-bay. Please post your actual e-mail address for people who are locked out of E-bay because of E-bay requirement that you hand over a credit card number to even e-mail a question. Some of us don't trust e-bay's ability to safeguard credit card number or simply don't want to hand it out etc. . . Also enough with the cutsey auction page designs that slow loading or crash your computer with hinky java script. just show a picture and some text. . . .

Well, I buy a Sony Betamax model F -30 or F-60. Thanks

I am looking for a SL-HF 1000 Betamax VCR. working only with manual.

For sale - not mine I post all I see....

Sony SL-c35AS, with remote, owner will deomonstrate, with option of upto 150 tapes, in south australia.

Drop me an email if your interested, but hurry, I might pick this unit up formyself, looks like a nice one for my growing collection ;) (its a fair price)

I hope this is of some help,

John

I live in the USA in Oklahoma and I wanted to know if any of you out there know of where I can find a good, maybe used, Betamax VCR for sale (No higher than $50 please). I need one because I have a rather large number of Beta tapes to use with it and I cannot find one around my area. If you have any information please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks.

Just found your great web site, which reminded me that I have a 950 with worn heads. Can you tell me what the chances are of getting a new upper drum these days? For what it's worth, I always felt that the 950 produced results just as good as low-band umatic (by contrast VHS - Very Horrible System - always was a non starter). Cheers!

The chat page was unavailable earlier today, for system maintenance. Normal service has now been resumed.

Query: Does anyone know if beta-sized storage boxes can be found anywhere? Or does anyone have any extras? I have some loose tapes and I'd like to find them boxes for better protection. I guess the clamshell (video store) type would be just fine. All of the new boxes I've seen for sale ("library cases?") are for VHS tapes only.

The Untied Ad Label Company http://www.ualco.com sells new blank cardboard betacam ( good for betamax ) tape boxes at about $78 for a carton of 500 or 22¢ apiece if you don't need 500 of the damn things. If you opt for plastic cases, the Absolute Beta company at http://www.videos.net/betamax/ sells used cases at about a buck or so each

I'm looking for a head and drum that is not warn out for theSL-2500 betamax, Please E-mail me if you have one.

Thankyou, Adam

Betamax's (all NTSC, North American) FOR SALE;

TWO Sanyo VCR-7150 Beta HiFi [black] betamax vcr's: A step below the 7200, these machines foretold the future of VCR's; HiFi stereo, but no level controls or meters. It is otherwise nearly identical to the 7200. Good looking machines for their era, good cosmetics, good operation, tested in BII&BIII record & playback.I have both original remotes and one manual. I'm asking US$220 for the pair plus shipping, or US$125 ea plus shipping.--------------------

ONE Sony SL-HF300 Beta HiFi [silver] betamax vcr:

A nice, solid betamax. Has one obvious scratch on front panel, but is otherwise cosmetically good. As with most 300's the clock/counter display is looking a little faded and uneven in intensity, but all segments are working. Good operation, BII&BIII playback & record tested. I have a copy of the manual, and the original remote, which is in horrible shape, looking like an animal chewed it (at least I hope those are not human bite marks!)I'm asking US$150 plus shipping.----------------------

ONE Zenith VT-9775 Betamax mono [brushed aluminum/chrome & gray] vcr:

A beautiful example of one of the last Zenith betamaxs. This unit is actually a slimline Sony SL-2500 oem'd for Zenith. All the features are same as the 2500, including camera connector, swing search, audio dub etc. Unit is cosmetically excellent (I also think the styling of the Zenith is superior to the Sony version) and playback & record are fine in BII/BIII. Comes with the original remote, but no manual.I'm asking US$110 plus shipping.-----------------------

Shipping from Michigan, USA

For more info, or to make an offer, please contact me at:[email protected]

Deas anybody have a WORKING SL-2000 portable VCR for sale at a reasonable price? I'm also looking for a full width (17") superbeta Hifi unit( or just a Hifi unit). My budget limits me to a $250 ceiling on either so lowest bid for working cosmectally intact units gets it. I can't shop on E-bay unfortunatly so if anyone has an SL-2000 or Hifi unit they don't want anymore please let me know.

Just purchased a Sony Sl 2710. What info can anybody give me. How does it compare to my SL HF 300 that died (still in my cellar) years ago.

Thanks

To all the Betacam fundis..... can you give me some advice on DV Cameras. I am looking at buying a Canon XL1 as it looks the business but need advice ? Also is it possible to broadcast live from these cameras ?...... any help would be appreciated.

I have a Betamax 220 movie camera with the LC 710 Carrying case. Camera & case are like new. I have all the accesseries that came with that camera, including two rechargeable batteries. What could I expect to get for it?

To Larry Webb; I'd like to get that unit if it's an American NTSC unit. E-mail me at [email protected].

Hello. I just saw something very intresting on ebay. There is a Sony vidimagic projector with a built-in Betamax, model number FP-60. Is this a common thing or as rare as can be? Here's the URL: cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=187808176

I'm looking for a faceplate for a Sony SL-90, please email me if you have one or know where I can get it.

Thanks,

Bob

SL-C30 Hi, I have the above PAL vcr which has a fault with the audio record level, I have adjusted the level which has helped slightly. What I really need is a circuit of the appropriate area or some suggestions of the likely components to replace. The playback audio on pre-recorded tapes is OK.

Thank you....

To Larry Webb; Id like to buy that BMC 220 camcorder but AOL won't let me E-mail you.

Have some UK Sony stuff for sale, plus 75 pre-recorded + 11 blank tapes for sale. Anyone interested drop me e-mail and I'll send list.

I try to buy a copy of the VHS Pal Video:THE REAL BUDDY HOLLY STORY, published 1987 by Paul McCartney.Columbia Tristar Home Video?I am a German Buddy Holly fan. If anybody knows where to buythe video please send me a line.Thank you very much in advance.Hans Werner Finking

Hello who hase in his ownership 2 or 3 secondhand NP-11 battery'sthis is for the SONY BMC-500P Betamovie Camera ??????????

Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Before you completly screw up that poor vcr I hope you've at least have a service manual or wiring diagram. Better yet, you better give Sony Service a call before something like the the great Northeastern Blackout of 1965 happens. Trust me, I've had many a VCR and camcorder go to an early grave trying to "improve" them. And I wasn't trying somethimg nearly so drastic.

A few points:-

1 : Andy (message a few above) is right about going on and on about this Y/C thing. I posted a message a few days ago, and mentioned to use E-mail, NOT this chat page as I dont check it often (normally once a fortnight), so what do you do? you use the chat page? DOH! If thigs go to a personal level, why can't people use personal e-mail? Eh? When one of us solves this Y/C problem, then fine, put the solution on the chat page, end of story.

2. It's not so easy to do the mod to get NICAM on the 950 (or the 100) but it can be done, as martin says, you use the IF out of the tuner, send it to a nicam decoder box out side of the VCR (make that from the NICAM board of a scrap VHS) and then you get FM mono audio, and L/R stereo audio. Feed these back IN to where the wires came from the original tuner and sorted! Oh, the only other things are power to the Mod box, and you have to chage the I.F. S.A.W. filter to a NICAM compatible one - there happy?)

3.) Is anyone looking to buy an SL HF100 (PAL) in pretty good nick, with handset and new heads(1998) for 100 quid.

4.) Does anyone need any PCBs IC's or mech parts for the SONY front loading series BETA's as I've got loads (prices vary)

PLEASE IF YOU DO, USE THE EMAIL ADDRESS!

Thanks, Steve

The SL-HF 1000 does not have a y/c output as far as I know the only SuperBeta deck to have it released in North America was the SL HF 2100.

The Japanese Beta decks do exist have been trying to get one for a year or so but no luck. One place in Japan which had beens ending them to the US was contacted and I was told they can't send anymore over here since Sony told them they'ld stop selling them merchandise if they continued to do so. (they sort of work here- they dont get all of our channels and the Japanese sereo broadcasting system in the tuner is superior and incompatible with ours) Last I checked their (Sony Japan) website a year or so ago the pages with the Beta decks were the only ones that did not have the translate to English button on them.

Have had a couple friends who dont have the internet but are in the Uk where is the best (least expensive) place to get NEW blank tapes- sources seem to be drying up.

Alan

SL-2700 (Silver) for sale: (NTSC, North American, USA & Canada)

Unit comes with original box, remote, and manual. This model was the flagship of Sony's Beta HiFi offerings until SuperBeta arrived.

It is the last of Sony models to use two independent reel motors (instead of the clunky and slow pendulum drive) giving beautiful "swing-search" action.

Unit has many features, such as 4 RF in/outs allowing cable desrcambler box loop through, a camera connector (HVC-2xxx series?),tape indexing, microphone jacks, F&R slo-mo, 4 video heads and separate slow & regular tracking controls.

Easily the most advanced VCR on the market when introduced.

I have replaced the entire loading mechanism on this deck. Otherwise, it neede no repairs, and works perfectly. (loading mechanism has the metal gears, in case your wondering).

This is a great collector / user HiFi Betamax. I'm asking $240 US plus actual shipping costs UPS ground.

any questions, contact me via Email at [email protected]

Mike

Interested in buying one or more NTSC or multi-system quality Beta VCRs. New or used.

Can someone tell me how to get an adapter for Beta Videocassette HG L-750?

I don't know a great deal about the way beta or vhs work, I suck at circutry. I just saw a message that says you can wind svhs tape into a beta cassette shell, this sounds kinda stupid, can someone explain to me how this can be done(if possible) Thanks

Hi there beta fan's! Please does anyone know of or have a SANYO VTC M40 for sale in good cosmetic and reasonable working condition I.E NO WORN HEADS, that they would like to part with? I would be ecstatic if somebody could enable me to end my quest for this elusive machine,thanks in advance .....kevin

Finns det någon i sverige som har en betamax-maskin till salu som fungerar. Min gamla Sony SL5E har lämnat in.

hi

anyone on line

RE: Looking for advice on quality PAL vcr for use as video playback into video capture.

Hi All, Title says it all. What sort of players are there out there and what sort of features and/or price am I looking for? I have some live concert footage that desperatly needs to be moved to a more stable medium and I'd like to get the bestaudio capture quality I can out of it.

Thanks for your time.

For sale Sony SLC9 (DC to DC Fault and tape tension problem) heads and loading mech ok.

Have Sony HF-750 in need of power supply. Is it worth repairing? What is worth broken? What is it worth repaired? Have been offered $150 for it and the remote? Is that a good deal? Where could a buy a power supply and is a possible for a non-video guru such as myself to repair it? Any thoughts. Please e-mail me. Thanks.

Hello! I have a small problem. I need an AC-M110 for my BMC-550 as soon as possible. My NP-11's only last about two minutes. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marcus.

To Alan Morton - while not helpful in our search for S-video (Y/C) output, you have illuminated another corner of the standards war which must have helped to screw Beta up in the first place. Up to now I thought that NTSC was NTSC was NTSC. Now I learn that Japanese stereo sound isn't compatible with US stereo sound. What a mess. It's as if the undoubtably best format was designed to fail in the marketplace before it had hardly started.

Oh well - the search goes on.

BETA MOVIE - Batteries. I now use a VHS 9.6 volt battery to power my camera. I have used velcro and the battery sits snuggly on the back of the camera and I have used a jack into the external power port. (Just mack sure you chack the polarity. These bateries are cheap and available anywhere. They power my Sony BMC200 for at least an hour.

To Karen; That particular VCR commands a high price on E-bay and if all that's wrong with it is a broken PS than by all means get it fixed or sell to the highest bidder. You might want to check and see if a local repair shop can lead you to someone with Beta experience Absolute Beta at http://www.videos.net/betamax/ does VCR repairs . The Ultimate Betamax Info Guide at http://home.earthlink.net/~videoholic/ has a list of trustworthy local repairmen sorted by region. A call to Sony Service at 1 -800 -488-7669 might get you a brand new power supply if they haven't totally abandoned Beta by now. (I was able to get a BMC-660 battery lid last winter though a call about a cassette door lid this last August turned up nothing)

Re Y/C debate. Why is it Y/C and not L/C? What about RGB output instead of Y/C on the HF950? is this technically possible? My DVD has RGB output as does my TV have input. It's apparently the best connection for the uk, only beaten by US component. By the way the HF950 works beautifully with the proline DVD player I have, and it can be coded for multi region. Just another note the HF950 manual does state 280 lines for super beta pro (the C9 manual quotes 260 for the C9 ) .Does anyone know if the 950 manual is wrong?

ok here's the deal, i can get a BMC100 sp betamovie camera for about $120AUS (about $80US). it's in good condition, everything works. now the problem... i went to see a "video professional" about the betamax format, and he thinks if i'm going to shoot short indie films, it's a totally useless format. tell me about the quality. editing functionality... i.e. can you hook it up the camera to a regular VHS vcr? what kind of support is there for the betamax format? please, i was enthusiastic about the format... but now i've been disillusioned... please tell me something positive... if possible :D

Hi to all (Y/C),it is difficult to make SL-HF950 reddy for (Y/C). Many circut modificasion needed. I had spend a lot of time with the service manual. I found no easy way. An (Y/C) input is not so complicat, but also a lot of modificasion must be done. RGB is imposibel.Sorry for my bad englisch.

Alan, When is the next update?????????????????????Don't delete this message!!

Hey everybody, hows it going? I bet someone here could tell me something about a Sony Betamovie BMC-220. I was looking at one but I have only heard that beta has a nice picture. Does anyone know anything about this cam?

I'm looking to buy SuperBETA Hi-Fi VCRs for recording purposes.

I'm also looking for some of the first prerecorded tapes that came out in the 70's, old B-movies, and Adult Hardcore videos from the 70's and 80's.

If anyone can help, please email me, with what you have.

I'm in the USA, but if the PAL/SECAM BETA players run at the same speed, I have a conversion VCR to convert signals to NTSC. The reason I ask is that the VHS machines seem to equate PAL/SECAM SP as LP speeds, and LP as EP/SLP, but the NTSC machines won't play them as LP/EP. I've read that the BETA machines will play the tapes with a B&W picture, so I assume the tape speeds are the same as I see PAL tapes listed as L500 L750 L830, but on the VHS side, A T120 is an E180, etc..

Thanks in advance.

Hi. I'm looking for a Sony Betamovie NTSC camcorder at a reasonable price, preferably a BMC-550, but will consider any model. Must have charger and batteries (though if the batteries do not hold a charge that is ok). The camera and charger must be in good working condition. Also looking for a good working capstan motor and led volume meter for a Sanyo VCR7250. Part number for capstan motor is 4527V52600, I do not know the part number for the LED volume meter. I am located in the USA (Texas) and would prefer to buy from someone in the USA. E-mail me at [email protected] with information on what you have and your asking price. Thank you.

The difference in US and Japanese stereo is one that exists for all formats VHS / Beta and TV's. They invented thiers in the 1970's ours came about in the mid 1980's- MTS was invented here in America and is not as good as the japanese stereo broadcast system although tapes recorded here will play perfectly well there and vice versa. It was however invented here and adopted by the FCC for that reason (it took a extensive noise reduction system being added to it to make it meet minumum standards something the Japanese system easily did all on its own) we did not want the Japanese showing us how to do things! We after all set them up with NTSC standards after WW II since we won!

Alan

to "rennt kid" RE betamovies and the such....

tried to email you a few times...yahoo says the provided addy doesnt exsist...

hope to catch you round...

Hope this is of some help

John

Several SLO 1700P vcrs for sale. Superb "professional" duplication machines. Stereo hifi and linear tracks; separate level controls; large VU meters; test points readily available. Anyone out there interested? I'm in London, for info.

Boy, what a bummer. Found out why an SL 2000 I'd just bought doesn't work. . . seems it'd been dropped at some point and has a cracked PC board. Was able to solder some joints-can get sound & a B/W picture and can power up my video camera but I can't get or record a video signal from the camera. Anybody got a working SL-2000 cheap!

To Pelle Johnsson: prova att annonsera i "Ljud och bild". http://www.ev.se

And now for something complete different:I Just got some new info about the D-VHS system. HM-DR10000 from JVC issupposed to hit the stores around Christmas at a price around 20.000 SEK (ca 1500 UK £)Now featured with built in analogue tuner that converts the signal to MPEG2, record on the tape.Can also convert any analogue videosignal into MPEG2.It's equipped with i.LINK,(IEEE1394) input for DV-camcorders and converts DV to MPEG2.Can play and record tape in both VHS and SVHS mode, with digital wide TBC.It's equipped with two digital speeds, STD & LS3 (SP/LP). The STD mode use 14.1 Mbps data rateand that ´s far superior to anything else currently available to consumers, even DVD!In the LS3 mode you can record an amazing 21 hours (PAL version) of video in DVD quality on a single DF-420 cassette.For people who frequently timer-record this must be a great choice. Imagine if you're awayon holiday, then you could easily programme recordings for at least one month on the same tape. The price of a D-VHS tape should be around what you paid for a S-VHS tape today, as they are made of thesame material, according to JVC.For more information take a look at: http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/products/vcr/HM-DR10000.html

WANTED BADLY ...SANYO VTC M40 HI-FI Beta vcr ,must be in good or servicable condition,cash waiting for the right machine!Also i currently own three SANYO Beta vcr's in excellent condition :v :VTC M20 ; VTC M30 & VTC 5000. HOW COME THE VTC M30 is NEVER mentioned ,this was Sanyo's ONLY three head 'perfect still frame' video with 'colourful' tape remainder indicator ,does anyone out there remember this model?

Does SONY still make ANY sort of SuperBeta machine? I have an SL-HF2000 and would like another. Can anyone suggest a USA site that I can contact?

Yes Sony still makes the SL-HF 2000, thought you'dd have to special order it. Radio Shack has something they call "Radio Shack Unlimited" which lets you special order stuff not normally sold at their stores. Local and chain electronics stores may allow special ordering as well, provided they are Sony authorized dealers.You could also try calling Sony directly for a dealer near you. They ARE still available though there's apparently a heavy enough demand for them to be in short supply. Be prepared to pay $1000 for one.Or you could go on E-bay and find a better machine at a third the price.I got 4 betas for $250. Even if only one ends up working I'm still ahead of the game.

I would love to downlaoda from somewhere game named Incredible mashine 3 unfortunately don't now any address could somebody help me. I'm not going to pay for this.

Name: MarkEmail: [email protected] 29th October 12:39 pm U.K. Time Re Y/C debate. Why is it Y/C and not L/C? What about RGB output instead of Y/C on the HF950? is this technically possible? My DVD has RGB output as does my TV have input. It's apparently the best connection for the uk, only beaten by US component. By the way the HF950 works beautifully with the proline DVD player I have, and it can be coded for multi region. Just another note the HF950 manual does state 280 lines for super beta pro (the C9 manual quotes 260 for the C9 ) .Does anyone know if the 950 manual is wrong?

anyone intereted out there i have a complete portable system for sale,sony SL100OUB system,lookingfor £150,also a rare sonybmc200 portable video camera compete £ 200. IF INTERESTED either e/mail me or phone 0208-743-4394.thanks Maria,i also have a quantity of tapes for sale,i am in west london.

Hi,

I recently purchased a Sony BMC-100P for low bucks. Unfortunately it s missing the - yes you re right - battery pack. If anybody can help out, please contact me. I really would like to see it working again. Many thanks,

-Stefan

Listen up! I'm on the look-out for the following items for my Sanyo Beta vcr's Model no's M,series M20,M30 ,M40: 1x reel motor:1x capstan motor :1x black cupboard door for M40 must be intact and undamadged,any advice you Betaphiles can give is appreciated............thanks

PLEASE HELP!

DOES ANYONE HAS any info about SONY HVC 3000P (technical, pinouts, system information?) I already have VERY OLD SONY HVC 3000P TRINICON camera.

I'm lookin for ANY INFO!!!!

PLEASE REPLY AT: [email protected]

950 is around 280 lines in Pro mode

Sanyo motors - try a long established repairer, Sanyo have none, the trade suppliers have none, my local repairers had 1 - now in my M40.

Any more Y-C news?

Hello BetalandTwo questions regarding the HF950

1. Should the still frame be perfect? (I've tried several tapes and fiddled with tracking and frame tracking and still get at least one line) if it should be is there an internal adjustment to achieve this ?

2. Even new tapes seem to have noticable dropout although picture quality is excellent. The plastic shield aove head is fitted and I've tried edit and pcm switch. Is there an internal dropout compensator adjustment ?

Thanks in advance

I am looking for side or bottom load see through [preferably clear]plastic sleeves for both sizes of beta sp.If anyone knows of a source please contact dino at dubmax. Thanks.

I am seeking a HiFi-Stereo Betamax (maybe a SLO-1700 or SL-HF series).

Can anyone help me where to find a Machine? I'm sick of VHS!!

Robert

To all BETAPHILES!!!

If you are thinking of switching to the DVD format, you might want to think again, the unit plays CDs! All of ya know how bad CDs skip when they get dirty or scratched! On tapes, when there's a bad place on it, it just passes through it in a couple of seconds! On a CD however, it DOESN'T--it just keeps skipping--Think you people--tapes last a lot longer than Compact Discs! I believe that DVD will go out just like BETA, although beta rules, DVD's skipping problem will probably wipe it out too!

Have anyone of you known of a format called "BETA S.P."? I was at a high school football game and noticed the news people from NEWS25 and CABLE CHANNEL 8 using BETA! Yes you heard right, BETA!!! It is a thicker tape magnetide and only plays for 20 minutes, but at least there are still BETA USERS!!! Just wanted to pass along that info!

Hi Mark,

As the instigator of all this I'm beginning to feel responsible for it!

Y/C not L/C? Not a clue. It is because it is, there can be littlelogic in the way techspeak goes. What about Digital Video Disc/DigitalVersatile Disk. Herz instead of the cycles per second I grew up with?

RGB. If workable it should be much the same or even better than you would get with S-video, i.e pretty good. But I think access would be equally as difficult as with S. I'm not even sure that there is that degree of fully separated colour channels within a VCR as there is in a monitor - someone enlighten me? RGB is intended to produce independent video colour channels, as directly and as effectively as possible for driving the colour circuitry in a monitor direct, with as little destructive processing as possible,

As I've said before, the search goes on.

Your address didn't work, please update me.

Can anyone point me to a Betamax repair facility in London UK..I have a much missed C9 with a broken transport mechanism..would love to have it running again...my region is West London UK. Cheers.

To Kevin and Martin,

motors for m40 etc, well...weird, I live in Australia, Sanyo wont sell them to me direct but tell me to go to "Speedy Spares", who have them in stock, and simply want to know how many I want, and also "RS Components" who have the same response, I am told they are not official sanyo parts, but are an equivalent. If I can access them so easily to keep about 15 decks a year going here how come you cant there?Kevin, Im happy to send you a reel motor, but by the time it gets there, postage is paid and I put 2 bob on for my time, I bet you can buy a BRAND NEW one cheaper than the unknown condition but working second hand one I would send.

Also the following VCR's for sale in Australia, not mine I post all I see, sanyo vtc-m20, vtc-6500, sony hf100, sanyo 5400, sony sl-c9.

I hope this is off some help,

b2

DVD won't die out as it already has a high market penetration, so what are we supposed to buy films on? vhs? I don't think so. I have never had any CD skip problems beyond my first player having a worn out laser, just keep your discs clean and don't scratch them.

I have both Beta and DVD so I know whats happening.

PS both best Beta and DVD are Sony.

I have a SONY BetaMovie camera outfit for sale.

Model BMC-100P (Pal)

Takes standard Beta tapes. No need for transfer or copying tapes. Just film away, then insert tapes into Beta player for playback in the usual way.

Pristine condition, complete with SONY strap, integral mike, auto-zoom lens, battery, battery charger/static supply unit. strong aluminium SONY case.

Offers over £ 200

Also have approx 50 pre-recorded (not off-air) Beta tapes (PAL-UK only). Various titles. Some brand new, some ex-video shop hire. £2 each plus postage E-mail me for lists.

Hi, I have a Sony C9 and I'm looking for some tapes either to swap, buy, keep, whatever but if there is anyone out there that can help let me know it will be appreciated.

Hi: I have a SL HFR 70 which will not accept a tape on which the erase tab has been broken off. This is not only on record but from the moment the tape is inserted in the machine for playback. I'm currently scotch-taping closed the security tab before playback but I'm paranoid whenever the three year old grabs the remote. Speaking of remotes, the remote for my SLHF860D was dropped once too often and no longer works. Can anyone fix this or should I buy a new one? Thanks in advance to all.

Anyone looking for Beta movies rare or otherwise in the NTSC format should check out Absolute Beta at http://www.videos.net/betamax/ . They sell all sorts of Beta stuff including movies, VCRs, rewinders, blank tape and tape cleaners. They also do repairs from their Remington VA store. You can get cheaper VCRs from E-bay but they do offer a club discount and a 30 day warranty. Their movie prices are the best I've seen though. PAL/SECAM users might want to check in as well - they buy equipment and may have some PAL stuff in stock.

I was pulling parts from the carcass of a dead Sanyo 7200 to send to someone in England for his dead Sanyo M-40 when, just for the hell of it, I swapped it's cable ready tuner module for the non-cable module of my "flagship" Sanyo 4400. While I'll lose the ability to tune UHF channels, I now have the world's only cable ready Sanyo VCR-4400. I only get up to channel 37 but as there are only 12 presets and 6 of them go to local channels, I'm sure I can find 6 cable stations from the rest. For any demographers out there, the six channels are; American Movie Classics, Comedy Central,TBS,TNT,Discovery and CSPAN (because CSPAN is the pass through channel for all the other VCRs in the queue)

Hey Betafreakz (well I'm one, anyhow [ ¶:¬) ])...

I've been lookin' for a beta copy of "Cinderfella (Jerry Lewis)." I've seen enough of those el-cheapo EP-recorded VHS copies, but beta would suit me fine. Anyone seen or have a copy for sale (NTSC/US).

There was a previos message where someone inquired about the HF2000. I saw 2 new-old-stock's listed on eBay just recently for a minimum of $899 each. Although I wouldn't mind having one, I'd much rather purchase an older and better model for that money or less. I'd happily take another HF-900 (I own 1 already and it's my pride & joy!), an HF-750, or (if I was VERY lucky) an HF-1000.

My even bigger dream would be to purchase a brand new Japanese model. However, I haven't found any grey-market importer who either sold or could get me one. My 1st call was to the dude from whom I bought a high-end Japanese minidisc deck. I phoned him international asking if he could get me a Betamax (4-head superbeta hi-fi). He tried, but couldn't. :(

I'm still open to suggestions, tho.

Hello. I have a Sony SL-HF300 that has a minor problem, and I'm hoping someone here can help me figure out what it is. When doing recordings, it looks like there's some interference on the very bottom of the picture. It moves back and forth along the bottom, and is sort of "colorful." This isn't easy to describe, so I'm hoping someone understands this description. It does it especially when I record BII over BIII on the same tape or vice versa. If I record on a blank portion of the tape it will usually go away after a second or two, but sometimes stays for the whole recording. This started to happen when I put new heads on, and I did re-align the tape path as necessary, so I'm guessing it may have to do with some adjustment I missed. Other than that minor problem the VCR works excellent, with a great picture (better than the picture on my Sanyo 7250 also with new heads), but if anyone can help me with this problem, I would greatly appreciate it. E-mail me at: [email protected]

Thanks,Chris

Hi Guys,notice here you all seem to be looking for spares or someone to repair our lovely old beta buddies,the are alot of places listed inthe pal site, http://www.palsite.org/directory.htm, i did a search using google,and typed in betamax repairers in uk and arrived there,hope this will be of use to someone, STILL, have Sony BMC200P FOR SALE its in very good condition,cmmplete in hard case ect, looking at offers over £ 200.

Hi all, I am looking for the person, that awhile back mentioned something about being able to take apart a Sony NP-11 battery? Seriuosly, outside of using a hacksaw, how do you take one apart? I've got two that I'd like to recondition. Also, where is it that I can get the batteries that go inside? Thanx. Pepse.

I need an answer on this one people, I have an Orion VHS vcr which I bought from a guy who runs his own buisness, its an early 90's model. When I bought it he said everything works perfectly.Shortly after I started using it I noticed that when you press play the picture is "wobbely",it moves horizontaly. After watching something for a few minutes it stops doing it.I also found out that if you push the tape down with your hand when it is wobbeling it immedietly stops but just recently even when you do this it still moves but not as much, this also happens to a program you record.What the hell is going on? someone help me out here!!!!!!!!

I have a portable SL-2000 Batamax Recorder with the Timing and Tuner Deck. I may sell this for the right price so send me an offer and I will consider it.

Hi There! Is there anyone that can supply me with an instuction manual for a Sony Trinicon Video Camera that comes with a SLF-1 Betamax Video Recorder. Willing to pay.

HELP HELP - My SLF30 plays, rewinds etc perfectly. However when I record it starts to chew the bottom of the tape. This is only on record! I can play tapes for hours without a problem. Any Ideas?

I have the following Sony VCR manuals.SL-HF-300 instruction/owners, BMC-220 owners, SL-5600 quick start guide and HVC-2500 trinicon camera manual. If anyone is interested in having me run off a copy e-mail me at [email protected]. I'll run 'em off for cost and postage.

Nick Dalzell, you are talking a load of rubbish! Discs are far more durable than tape. Any format will have problems if you do not treat it with respect. Tapes can be damaged by heat, moisture, magnetic fields and tape chewing VCR's. I have had three disc formats, Laser Disc, Compact Disc and now DVD and apart from some early Laser Discs suffering from Laser Rot, I have no problem playing any of these formats. No skipping, jumping etc, but I do not eat my dinner off them or throw them across the room when I cannot find my "frisbee". However my old Beta, and to use a dirty word, VHS tapes, do suffer from drop out, despite being stored fully rewound, vertically, in a cool dry place and away from magnetic fields. They are also all good quality brands such as Sony, TDK etc.

Martin (Imber), I agree with you that Sony made the best Beta VCR's and I and the video press thought the best Pal Laser Disc Player (MDP650), but I disagree that they make the best DVD's. I did not buy Sony or Pioneer, because of the reported problem with "Lip Sync" on certain titles of discs. I believe the later manufacturer has sorted out this problem with their 525 model, but I do not know what Sony are doing about this. I have a Toshiba, modified to play all region discs and I have not experienced this problem.

By the way my Beta hardware is a SL-F1 and a SL-HF950, both in working order.

DVD will not go out like Beta. It is already too popular, especially in the US. Nothing in this fast moving hi-tech world is guaranteed a very long term future, but I think DVD will be around for many years, The format will be given a further boost when a recordable version is released onto the market.

I am trying to emailAndy Pidsley who posted a message on 26/SEP advertising a mint condition Sony PCM -F1 for sale. Tried toemail you on [email protected], but it got bounced. If you can contact me via [email protected], and let me know your contact details, I'll get in touch. Here's my original email regarding the pcm -f1:

F.A.O. Andy Pidsley.

Dear Andy,

I work for Sony Pro Audio R&D in Oxford, and have recently been tasked with finding a used Rec/Playback combination of the original PCM -F1 units.I'd be interested in making an offer for the units you advertise, provided that:1. Both units (Rec/Playback or ADC/DAC if you prefer) are in good condition & working order.2. Leads/Adaptor etc. all present.3. Do you have the documentation for these units ? i.e. Manuals.4. Could you let me know what sort of price you are looking for(as I have to make out a justification for our Dept. Head) and include carriage costs.

Thanks & Regards,Rod Mansell.

Sony Pro Audio R&D.Unit 11, Oasis Park,Eynsham, Oxford.OX8 1TP.

Tel. (01865) 887517. Fax. (01865) 883742

Can someone direct me to a site or tell me the difference between Beta and Beta Hi-Fi recording formats. Also do they both use the same recording tape? Finally I would like to get a technical spec on the recording tapes for these applications. Thanks.

Hello, I am in the seventh grade, and this is probably not that formal. I am doing some research, and if you don't mind telling a little bit about yourself politically,that would be a great help.

Hello, I am in the seventh grade, and I'm sorry if you're dissapointed that this letter probably isn't very formal. I did the best I could at being formal though. I am doing some research,and if you don't mind telling a little bit about yourself politically, that would be a great help.

Hi Betamax lovers!! I have a Sony SLHF100 which is still in regular use (in addition to a Sony VHS machine of more recent vintage). My wife and friends consider me to be an anachronism but so be it!! I also collect and use pre war wireless sets too, invariably tuned to either Radio 4 or Virgin. Betamax is still the best system and I do find VHS frustratingly slow in response time compared to the permanently interlaced Beta system, not to mention the superior picture quality. So there we have it in a nut shell, but I am not a man of cliches, I avoid them like the plague!!

The difference between Beta and Beta Hifi... Ordinary Beta records the sound portion of a video signal onto a norrow strip at the edge of the videotape. Hifi signals are recorded with the video signal at an angle that works out to a 5 inch strip with each pass of a video head. Given that the 2 heads on a Beta VCR rotate at 30 times per second you get (2 X 30 X 5 ) 300 inches per second of video. Consider that in that same second the linear audio track has move only 2 measly centemeters at Beta II speed and only 1 centimeter at Beta III - well suffice to say you get near CD quality. Best of all it works on ordinary plane jane Beta tape. You shouldn't use tapes that have drop-out problems as it will affect the sound as well.One minor fly in the ointment though, some of the older non Hifi Betas tend to "see" the HiFi signal as a bunch of light wavy lines in the picture, though newer non hifi's can filter that out. This is important to know if you only have a non HiFi unit and want to play HiFi tapes.Some specs from an SL HF-300 unit;Frequency response Beta Hifi OFFBII 50 - 10,000 HzBIII 50 - 7,000 HzBeta Hifi ONBII-III 20 - 20,000 HzWow & Flutter Beta Hifi ONLess than 0.005% WRMSDynamic range Beta Hifi ONMore than 80 dB

Note when buying a HiFi VCR remember to look for one with an MTS stereo tuner. Many of the first Hifi units didn't have a stereo tuner because the FCC hadn't adopted a standard for stereo broadcasting in the US till '85 or '86 (the first Hifi units came out as early as '82-'83. One of the prices one pays for being the first.

Here in Australia DVD is not a popular format, no one I know has a DVD or is thinking about getting one and I go to a rich school with rich kids and rich parents. Personaly I don't like CD technology, CD's are cheap plastic crap that DO damage easier than tapes, I don't respect my tapes or CD's and often they are left on the ground in my bedroom which has carpet flooring, When I watch a tape that I have left on the ground for a while(up to a week sometimes) there is not a hint of lost audio or video quality. When I play a CD that has been left on the ground for the same time it is a skipping mongrel and it is not the player's fault,I only bought it a year ago and it is a good brand. Example 2- I once dropped a brand new sony blank cassette tape on a tiled surface and the tape guard at the front broke off, I still used the tape to record a movie and the quality was excellent, I have this tape in it's cardboard box on my shelf, I have used it more than 10 times since then and the quality has not changed.My uncle has the CD soundtrack of Top Gun, it has fallen a metre and a quater from the top on the sound system about 25+ times on to flat carpet and this CD is now so stuffed that you can't even here one full song despite a proffesional clean.The bottom line is that tape as unfortunate as it is,will fall in the next 1 or two years but that does not meen that it is a bad source of veiwing so to the A$$ Hole that was going on about how tapes are easily damaged and that DVD is the greatest I say shut your mouth,this is a video cassette site not a digital site.

Ullo!for sale not mine I post all I see: sony slc40 - no tape loading mech, no tuner, am told worn heads.sanyo vtc-m20 with remote - looks like it could do with a good clean

the sony umat I posted a few posts back has been sold...please no more emails :) I will post more if I see them

PLUS I have been collecting pics from various places, mainly ebay etc, of various beta and related units, now if I put up a small archive of pal units and there NTSC equivalents will that stop a few of those" whats the same model in ntsc?" questions I get in email?wont be anything fancy...just plain html with smallish graphics...

keeping out of the dvd debate, its getting a bit childish ;)

Hope this is of some help

John

For sale - not mine I post all I seeToshiba front loader in good working order with a short warranty, in Adealiade South Australia.Sanyo 9300 's as well.Also, I know is the wrong board, but a sony v0-5850 u-mat as well.

Hmmm bit of a raging debate about DVD I see? I personally dont feel its going to be the format of the future...they have crack the encryption code on it all ready...lets all copy dvd's...yet the materials they use have a lifetime of 200 years if looked after, but my main concern is with portability, now playing a dvd I suppose it could be buffered or something untill the laser gets back on track when the unit it bounced around alot, like in say a camcorder, but when recording, this would become a great problem wouldnt it? I dont know Im not claiming to be an expert on the subject ;) as for the brands, its funny, Ive been told by quite a few people th 670 dollar toshiba one is better than the 1000 dollar plus models from sony etc.....sad...but I do think DVHS is a great looking format for its young age, but then again when I get my hands on a unit I might feel otherwise, I have nothing but praise for miniDV.

hope this is off some help,

John

Now DVD has taken off can anybody think of a reason to use a vhs deck?

I use my 950 every day, my M40 every other day, and my vhs deck about once a month, I use it mainly to pass M40 output to TV, or temp loan Ondigital tuner output to 950.

When I get my CAM, do I?

a) enable Scart in on 950 and put on Scart 3 so I can record DTV off TV.

b) enable Y/C on 950 and leave on Scart 2.

On tests apart from the occasional masked dropout I couldn't tell the difference between a pay TV channel via composite or a recording on 950. 2 foot from 32" Wega

FTA channels on TVs tuner are excellent (when BBC get it right)!

What the heck are you on about martin imber?

950 AKA Sony SL-HF950 best UK Vcr

M40 AKA Sanyo VTC-M40 HiFi Sanyo vhs deck has 2 Scarts, 1 has Ondigital loan box on it other has M40, as I use no rf apart for TV reception.

I can also route out of vhs deck composite and stereo, through my amp back to the 950 - so I can tape DTV.

CAM CONDITIONAL ACCESS MODULE

a) The 950 has a Scart but its out only, but its choppable to in, my IDTV can output DTV when on Standby

b) Y/C see other messages, Most Scart 2s are Y/C compatable

The dropout compensator is quite effective but leaves a very small picture disturbance.

pay TV channel - one of the Ondigital channels my TV can't decode

composite - standard video link not as god as Y/C or RGB

2 foot @600mm

Wega - Sony Flatscreen tube

FTA channels - Free To Air - eg BBC

look on uk.tech.digital-tv and uk.media.home-cinema for more information