Hi, someone can tell me if the IC : SONY 186 804714, it's the IC1 on the AS3 panel on the SL-C7, is also known as CX186 ??? i suspect is fault, beacause he have a bad drum speed regulation. the picture is moving fromm left to right very fast and i can hear a "bzz bzz bzz" noise in the motor drum. but i don't have any technical documentation on this model. i do some test on this IC and i found a disturbed voltage on the pin out 13 and 17, so i think this IC is dead.

excuse my english i don't speak it very well.

Thanks :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Toshiba-V-S36-Betamax-Beta-HiFi-VCR-VS36_W0QQitemZ280037059193QQihZ018QQcategoryZ39830QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Actually, this is a very nice looking example of an excellent beta machine - one which I think is better than all Sanyos and any Sony except the so-called "dream machines." Whoever wins it should be pretty pleased, provided the final price doesn't go much higher (it's $71 now) and provided the seller puts the original box in a bigger padded box. That might be a problem though because the seller is offering to ship it for under $20 - that's a 28 pound VCR, keep in mind. To either coast from Texas you're looking at a minimum of $32 just for the freight cost. The part that gives me a bit of a chill though is this line in the description: "No remote, but all functions available from front panel." This may cause the buyer a lot of grief once they read the manual because it is significantly incorrect. I forget the precise list of features involved, but IIRC, the following features are not accessible without the remote: 2x playback, slow-tracking, vari-speed cue/review. The V-S36 was many things, among which it was one of the first "without the remote you're screwed" machines that are so common now. Another surprise that I believe is true is that no other Toshiba remotes work on this machine - not even Toshiba beta remotes, and the universals that I tested did not have a code that would allow the universal remote to operate any of the functions on this unit. This is one of the best machines you can buy and is often available at a decent price because it's a relative unknown. But for it to be a successful deck for you, a lot of stars have to be precisely in alignment!

Another neat beta fact: this one concerns the Toshiba V-S36 (a favorite of mine): If you try to insert a tape while the machine is off, it goes in only only part way. But when you turn the machine on, it will pull the tape the rest of the way into the machine by itself with no need to give it another push.

Remember - the V-S36 (and similar models V-S46 and the Sears proFormance model) are severely handicapped without their original remotes. Without the original remote, you lose the variable-speed Cue/Review, 2x Playback with Audio and other functions.

Oops. I was wrong on the quick timer issue. The SL-10 faceplate does accommodate the feature on the 30. That took a eye-straining re-examination because the images I was working with aren't that good, and I have no paper on the SL-10.

So the seller may be correct that the SL-10 faceplate (with modifications) will in fact properly operate all available functions on the 30. I haven't verified it function by function, and I think it's time to give this issue a rest.

More on the "Hi-Fi Ready" SL-10: here is the most telling image. Check the previous two posts on this for background. On the far right, you'll see the HFR30 has a slide switch for input control; the faceplate is so labeled; in the auction item("Frankenbeta"), you'll note a hole that the seller said was the input switch that you would need a screwdriver to manipulate (always a great feature on a $ 200 used, low-end beta :P). However, the faceplate says "remote" and not "Input Select" as it does on the HFR30.

Verdict - an SL-10 faceplate was modified by cutting out the plastic that contained the remote jack. Removal of that plastic also involved leaving a hole to access the input switch.

The seller's revised description is also incorrect in that, contrary to his claim that the SL-10 faceplate is functionally an exact match for the 0 (screwdriver technique notwithstanding) the Quick Timer feature would not be available on an HFF30 with an SL-10 faceplate.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8269/modelcompareqc9.jpg

Someone with an SL-10 can contribute to this by checking whether that little box under where it says "SONY" is opaque or whether it would allow an IR signal to pass. That would go to the issue of whether the seller even tested it with an IR remote.

I love a mystery!

Betamax obscure features: with many Betamaxe models, if you press "Play" and "Rewind" at the same time, the machine will automatically go into "Play" mode once it finishes rewinding. This feature cannot be invoked with the remote though.

Of course, I am understandably fed up with this nonsense, as are we all. Longtime Listener originally posted the nonsense about the SL-10, now he's posting under my name. Just to clarify, let me add: 1. Anyone can look up on eBay that the real "doctor1024" is in VT, the psycho's posts are not. 2. Longtime Listener is not in VT, so it doesn't seem very likely that we are all the same person using different computers. 3. Grace, K.Lambert, Olive, Boby, Noel, Harold, and I are true Beta enthusiasts, not hateful, cowardly sickos who will ultimtely end up in jail. I have personally e-mailed the administrators of this site and as many members as I could to clear up this mess. Is it any surprise that the sociopathic sicko is too cowardly to give a real e-mail address?

Okay, one more, regarging Charlie/Colin's exchange of a week back - on the Sony/Sanyo threading/unthreading thing - I believe that two NTSC Sanyo models kept the tape threaded until ejection: the VCR-3 and the VCR8700GM(?). Not surprisingly, the VCR-3 was made mostly by Sony and the 8700 was made entirely by Sony (it was a clone of the SL-300 or SL-330).

Conversely, and again this is mostly vague recollection, the SL-50/55/66, rather obscure Superbetas with very limited function (e.g. two channel tuner) might have retracted the tape when not in Play mode.

I have examples of all three units but they're buried in the stacks now and for the foreseeable future. The only documentation I have is a SM for the SL-55, but it's scant and doesn't give me enough much info to determine for certain.

Interesting topic, that's for sure.

Solving the mystery of the "Hi-Fi Ready" SL-10, the seller revised his description with the solution I had suspected. If you didn't check the link the first time it was posted here, this won't seem so dramatic, but it was originally listed as a "Hi-Fi Ready" SL-10.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290080468921

Seller's explanation: "Somehow this unit has the front face from SONY SL-10 beta. I don't know why that as I got it. This front face fit prefectly this SL-HFR30 beta and all controls works flawlessly. The only problem is in the very right lower corner. There is a missing knob that goes on Tuner / Line-in switch selector ( you can use a screwdriver or some other stick to flip this switch). The rest of this beta is in excellent used cosmetic condition."

Of course the pics of this Frankenbeta are gone now. If someone so requests, I'll up a couple to freeimagehosting.net.

Nice scan of a spec sheet for the SL-HF300:

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/0d2a9aa203.jpg

Hello all, I tried to get my 'owned from new' toshiba V8600B betamax recorder working yesterday after a long storage period. The capstan drive belt was stuck and I have now replaced it, but the machine is stuck in CUE. When turned on the Cue light comes on and all other controls are dead. I have no circuit diagram so please can you suggest any fixes for this problem? All belts seem ok, now.Thanks

Hello all.Just purchased a Sony SL-HF950 a couple of weeks ago.In very good condition - all working well.Very happy!Tonight I plugged it back into the AC - I leave it unplugged in case of power surges etc:The display flashed a couple of times - a soft "click" was heard - no more power!Very unhappy.I'm hopeing its just a fuse of some sort as it was playing well when I first got it.I took the lid off but no fuses are visible....Any help to get it back online would be greatly appreciated.

Christian, This gets a bit technical.

The SLC6 has some design problems relating to the servo circuits. The light blue electrolytic capacitors on the drum and capstan servo boards dry out and have increased internal resistance. You may however still be able to adjust the unit to get a reasonable picture.

Take off the bottom cover and look for adjustable potentiometer control RV3. Put the tape into play mode and adjust the control to see if you can get a stable picture. Set the control to the centre point of the extremes of adjustment where the picture goes into vertical roll. If you have a multimeter, adjust for 5.5V (+/-0.3V) at test point TP5.

The drum servo adjustment is at RV9. If you have diagonal picture problems then again adjust for best picture between extremes. Service manual says to adust RV9 in record mode to establish 5.1V at TP2 as viewed on a CRO ( cathode ray oscilloscope)

Hope you could follow all that.

regads Noel

Answr christian swain tracking problem

FIRSTLY, I personally have bought on eBay way over 400 betamax's ranging from NEC to toshiba's to the Top of the line HF900 that I got for a song from the training camp of the Football Cleveland Browns.

Each unit that I own has a slight tracking problem from each other.

What I have done is catalog the different tracking features of the 30 working Betamax that I have at this time..

The other 370 Betamax in piles thru my home and basement dont work quite right. Sure they just need a simple tune up or a good cleaning.

Mildew is a problem in Vermont and a damp basement , Well that's not a perfect place to keep them. I have them on pallets covered with carpet, so the dampness kept to a minimum.

Let me not regress, I catalog the tracking features of the working 30 Betamax.

I also catalog the tracking features of the thousands of tapes to match the remaining 30 working Betamax and this works out perfectly..

What I do now when I want to play lets say a peewee herman tape, I look on the back of the cover and there is a model number of the Betamax that will play the tape almost watchable and its working out pretty good.

To sum this up YOU May want to buy a few Betamax and do as I did with the tracking situation.

It could be a nice way to start the Beta Hobby as I have done.. Just dont tell your wife. WEEEEEE

The Doc @ the old BAY

Hi everybody again. I've got my SL6-UB sending a signal through to my t.v, however the tracking would appear to be knackered. Is it possible to repair this?. Any advice greatfully recieved.

Ta

Christian

THIS IS TO YOU, LISTENER;Do you want to tell the world that you are a lowlife loser with nothing better to do than abuse this site?

If all you are is a pimple on society’s ass, and all you have to do is spend your life looking at (and then idiotically reporting on this site) what folks buy on eBay then all you have to do is sign on using this moniker.

At the same time, you can delude your psychotic self that the good folks on this site care. Remember, the only requirement is that you are a no life loser.

Be sure to use CAPS liberally while you write your ebay sociopathic text, and then be sure to sign it LONGTIME LISTENER... thanks in advance,Alan.

PS: My wife thinks im sick, But you have surpassed me by a mile..

Great looking deal on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130077770151

SLHF900 nonworking (tape load) - $58.

Might be able to help others who ran into the same problem as I did with their OLD beta movies.

I was getting ready for bed and popped in the old Cinderella tape.

Six minutes into the film, my heads clooged on my NEC betamax.

I uses my concoction of paint thinner and denatured alcohol and a secret ingrediant, cleaned the heads with a Qu tip.Put the Betamx completly back together, made a warm glass of milk and by golly 6 minutes later the heads glogged once again.

This went on for an hour, cleaning the heads , putting the Betamax completly back together and making sure that all the screws were back in the proper place. I nearly snapped off the door doing this. That would have been a catastrophe.

I decided to make a copy of this movie on a NEW blank tape that I purchased off ebay.

One problem was that the movie stated that there was a copy right and the film could not be reproduced. The second problem was that every 6 minutes the Betamax heads would clog.

I decided to pull out all the stops and brought in a bunch of Betamax from the piles in the back room and see if one would play the tape wihout clogging the heads. I did this for hours.

Half the Betamax I pulled from the old pile didnt work (Guess they need a tune-up) and the best I could get was 7 minutes 6 seconds on my SL-HF900 that I got for a song from the training camp of the Football Cleveland Browns.

I decided to break the law and copy the tape (HEE HEE).

My kid suggested that I not put the Betamax back together with all screws and clips as I had been doing and to just leave it open. This way you I could save a lot of time. What a great idea!! the kid is a chip off the old block.

Took me a total of 18 hours and 36 minutes to achieve the Cinderella copy tape. Now I have a procedure in the event that my 1500 + beta collection start to glog heads.

Peace and love. The DOC@ebay

Oops. Here's the link to this rare, rare, "Hi-Fi Ready SL-10."

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290080468921

Here's a little puzzle for you all to test your Betamax model skills:

Analyze this "Hi-Fi Ready" "SL-10." I think I figured out what's going on here.

Christian,

Re the Sony SLC6UB. If you have a monitor with AV in and out you can check the quality of tapes on playback. If you are going only to your TV by the TV cable then you will have to set the TV to view the VCR. In Australia the output is adjustable from UHF channel 31 to 38. The control is at the back and you need a special plastic screw driver.

There is a cover on top on the machine top left hand side. Take it off and set the switch closest to the centre and front to test. This brings up the test signal which may already be on by your description. Next tune your TV in for best picture tone. You don't need a tape in to do this. When tuned in to your TV put the test switch to off.

Without a tape playing you can set up the tuner channels using the adjustments under this same top cover. Play a tape and see how you go now. Adjust the external tracking control to give bets picture. A common fault with these machines is loss of vertical (capstan "tracking") and horizontal sync (drum control).

See how you go.

regards Noel (betaheaven.com)

Hi guys.Since last Sunday (4th Feb).I have become the proud owner of an apparently fully functioning SL-C6UB recorder. It doesn't have any problems with switching on, lighting up, playing forwarding and rewinding tapes or any of that stuff. I just can't actually get any kind of picture from it on my telly. I managed to bring up something that may have been the test signal (I can't be sure) but actual playback pictures have been conspicuous by their absence so far. If anyone has any idea what I might be doing wrong. Please let me know. All advice greatfully recieved.

Ta

Yours

Brand new inexperienced betamax owner

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160054941726

Placed a bid on the above baby to bake my shedding beta collection, but as you can see others had the same idea..

My wife Grace told me after the fiasco with melting Beta tapes in her oven to stop this nonsense with theses filthy piles of Betamax's and grow up and find a healthy hobby.

She really let me and my kid have it and said that its sick enough that you made my home into some sort of Beta shrine for these Piles and piles and piles of Beta machine, now your destroying my kitchen... Boy was she wound up, the kid and I were laughing inside as she scolded us..What does she know about these piles of beautiful Betas..

I went to one of the many Beta rooms and contemplated what I have done to my family and my home because of this sick fetish with buying and storing old Betamax's. Many are the same models..

I looked deep in my soul and tried to think of what I have done to our lovely family because of eBay and buying Betamax's and honestly I could think of NOTHING>.Enough Said!! I feel better now!!

I went on with thoughts of repairing my shedding Beta tapes. I turned on one of my many computers, went to the old bay and typed in the search ( Beta oven). I was surprised that nothing was listed. I tried cooking VHS tapes, Baking Beta and so on..

Finally my kid said (HELLOOOO)dada , Put in the ebay search for incubator dad.. BINGO!!! I found one on ebay!!!!!!!!

As you can see I was the FIRST to bid on this baby and then a bunch of others who probably have shedding tapes came in like a bomb and bought this ( BETA OVEN) to over $700.00 bananas.

As other who bid on this Tape oven, I now know that this particular incubator is the ONLY type that will do the job and will bid on the next one that is listed on eBay. Money will be no option..

Will keep you all updated on this situation Doc @ the BAY

Colin,

As far as I know there is no Sony beta (ntsc) that unloads the tape during rewind, perhaps this is a Pal only feature. I have a Sanyo made Sears beta from 1980 and it stays loaded during the rewind but this is the only Sanyo I've seen that does this. The NEC betas are kinda rare here in the states and since NEC I've heard doesn't deal with consumer products any longer you're pretty much on your own if you own one (like all Betas) I'am not familiar with any of the Pal models but I'am sure your correct in your evaluations . Thanks for the input. Charlie

Hi Noel, the guy who worked on my slc9 said the can had been removed from the dc to dc in a previous repair and not replaced. He was unsure if that repair had been successful or not. As for removing it myself, I don t even know where in the vcr the converter is located. I am currently feeding the c9 through the av inputs from my freeview digibox and have a panasonic nvhs1000 connected also to freeview and analogue tv as well. Just a shame my c9 isn t fully working. The c9 gives better picture and pause frame than the panasonic!

Regarding "Charlie 19th January 2007" posting:

Some Sanyo machines stayed laced during rewind, whereas some Sony machines could unlace. Just as with VHS some machines unlace fully, some unlace partially, and a few don't at all. It's not really a format thing, but rather how the individual machines were designed.

I agree that some Sony models do sometimes outperform Sanyo for the ultimate in picture quality, though given some worn tapes I occasionally find a Sanyo will give a better result than a Sony. Toshiba on the other hand were not sold in large quantities here in the UK. Any you find these days nearly always have worn heads. What did they make them from?! They were hopeless. Here in the UK, very few machines of other brands were sold (NEC, Aiwa etc), so few I've never even seen one.

If you like different machines, it's a shame that stateside you don't get to play with V2000 machines too. Now they are different. The first time I saw one, I thought it was not so much a different format as made on a different planet. But I've grown to almost like them now.

Colin.

Stuart,

I can repair the DC/DC convertors. It is just a matter of whether you want to sent it this far (Australia) for a repair. (just the can module that is.) See betaheaven.com.

The SLO 420P would work OK in UK because it does not have a tuner and thats the main issue difference between the UK and other PAL TV countries.

regards Noel

I have a HVC-1000 camera and Recorder SL-3000, and ac power adaptor AC 300C and would like to sell.

Hi people, I just got into betamax late last year and it really is better than vhs! I bought two sony machines on ebay, a non working c9 (dead dc to dc and chewing tapes as well as uneven play speed, and refusal to stay in ff or rw) Sent this away to wolverhampton for repairs and now has perfect tape transport and play record, but was not possible to repair the dcd to dc. Second purchas was a fully working hf100. Thing is I have seen a sony SLO-420P on ebay in hong kong and this looks identical to the c9 except for the camera connector on the front. But...is it the same and will it work on uk pal? Any help appreciated. Cheers.

Hi ColinWell,it's funny you mention that as after your excellent 'Betamax the future' feature i had a lot of trouble in getting a copy in the shops , knowhere had them.WHSMITH and the like always had them monthly but strangely never seemed to stock it anymore , as did'nt the other places i knew usually had one.I found the mag very helpfull and interesting at times and will miss it too.Maybe the unavailability caused the collapse.Sad but probably true...............Kevin

You may well know of the trade/hobby magazine called "Television and Consumer Electronics", formerly Practical Television or just Television magazine, which has been in publication for over 50 years. Over the years it contained heaps of useful info on servicing video equipment, and still had fault repair reports on Beta and V2000 models in recent editions.

Well I'm afraid to report that the magazine has collapsed. It had wilting sales recently and perhaps a few too many changes of editor and style. The last edition published was January 2007 (sold in December 2006), and there was no warning of impending doom at that point.

Television magazine will be sadly missed.

Hi my name is Ivan from Mexico and i,m looking fo the operating manual of the SL-5800 betamax NTSC VCR If anyone have this manual please let me know via email by cliking on my name on the list

Thank you

Yeah that would be a fair price. LOL!!

SHOULD ANYONE BE INTERESTED, I HAVE FOR SALE, A REMOTE COMMANDER FOR THE SONY HF- SL950 VIDEO RECORDER. IT IS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER ALBEIT, WELL USED. CONTACT ME BY EMAIL WITH AN OFFER SHOULD YOU BE RESPONSIVE. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I WILL PLACE IT WITH E-BAY; BUT I THOUGHT THAT BEING A MEMBER OF THIS WORTHWHILE WEBSITE, I'D GIVE ITS MEMBERS FIRST SHOUT. I COULD BE WAY OFF LINE, BUT I RECKON £45/50 WOULD BE AROUND ITS VALUE.

Re Sony C5 Take the bottom cover off and you ll see a huge pcb that covers the whole of the bottom of the machine. This board is roughly split 40/60 into two separate boards. Look at the presets on the smaller (servo) board and one will be labelled "PB LEVEL". I can t remember the number of it but as I said it s labelled so you ll soon find it. Tweek that one untill the get the audio output that you need. Regards Kevin

Roderick, Thanks for your input -I have cleaned the heads, all are nice and clean. I know you don't have one, but any thoughts where I might get circuit diagram? Kind regards, yt.

newbie

hello everybody, may i know how to manually clean video tapes and get rid of fungus.Do we need chemicals for this, water, alcohol or what.thanks, edwin

Mark: Transferring Beta tapes is no different from any other videotape. Get yourself a decent Betamax machine, connect the 'Video out' (you may need a BNC->RCA adaptor) to the DVD recorder or computer capture card 'Video in', connect 'Audio out' to 'Audio in' of the same and off you go.Yellow: Can't help you with the schematics for a C5 but have you tried cleaning the audio head? With a drop in level of 6-12dB I would check the head first before adjusting anything. Audio heads can normally be found on the left hand side of the head-drum.

Hi, I hope I haven't posted in the wrong part of the forum. I am undertaking a long term project to transfer my old Betamax collection to DVD - I'm using Pinnacle Studio 10 to input/edit/burn etc. My problem is that the audio level coming out of my Sony C5 is too low on the RCA audio line output. I'm sure this must be adjustable inside the machine but I do not have a circuit diagram. Can anyone help me out on this? can anyone tell me which pot to adjust (on which board) to increase the audio line level output (I need to increase it by 6-12dB, quite a fair bit!! I admit). I am a professional electronics engineer and am quite at home repairing video equipment so there is no need to fear I may be getting in over my head - I just don't have the info I need. Many thanks for any comments/instructions. Kind regards, yt.

Hello, My father gave me a project to transfer all his BETA tapes of my childhood to something more compatible like DVD or directly to my new IAC computer. Who know's how to trasnfer BETA tapes to either DVD's or to computer.

I have many tapesand a state of the art computer with lots of nifty video media Programs

who can help by telling me wha I need and how I need to proceed with this project?

thanks MARK PENNIMAN

i have an sl-3000 the image is very good, but i hav to maintain pressed the play key with my finger or it stops. if the power is off the play key remains pressed, but whn the power is on the key jumps to the stop position if i not maintain it pressed with my finger.

i also have an sl-s570 with the heads worn. where i can purchase this heads?

Hi Noel,Thanks for the information. I wish your home was closer to where I live. I would ask you to take a look.Thanks Again,Jeff

To Jeff with the Sony SL300 which wont unload sometimes. The NTSC machines are similar mechanically to the PAL machines I work on.

Capstan rollers do not cause that problem, they affect tape path in forward and review modes and cause creasing of the tapes. I am not familiar with that models age. If it is an early model with rubber belts then replace the belts associated with the cassette load and lacing actions. A later version with a nylon drive belt often has problems becuase they crack a nylon drive gear which then sometimes spins on its metal drive shaft if the friction is high. If so, it will have to be repaired or replaced.

regards Noel (betaheaven.com) in Australia

Excellent, thanks for that. I'm starting to prefer to sanyo front loaders too. I got my amazing Sony C6 back tonight and hooked it back up to the 1972 Sansui AU 505 model amplifier and huge 1969 wharfedale speakers and it's back to it's bestJust a new drive belt and a general clean required.

There's a group of four beta/tv collection videos on you tube. I watched them the other dayhe has the NTSC model of my C6, a working SL HF100 hi fi and five or six other machines one video shows him loading an old tape in his SL 100 and playing it. The super mario bros super show is on that tape

User name is speedyc395

Hi Ron, thanks for your response. It's all further confirmstion that Beta equipment was built to last, unlike many of today's string and plastic devices! However, there is one quibble I have, thought it's scarcely life-threatening. We live in an area EXTREMELY prone to power cuts, and I wish my SLHF950 didn't have its clock knocked out even by cuts lasting a matter of seconds!

Regards, Bill

Hello,I have a Sony Beta SL HF-300 and sometimes the machine will not eject. I'm guessing "pinch roller" is sticking. I cleaned it several time with alcahol. Where can I buy a new roller?Thanks,Jeff

I to like the Sanyo Betas but not for the picture quality. I use a VCR-7200 (NTSC) Sanyo to rewind my tapes because they don't wrap the tape around the heads upon tape insertion.This makes them an excellent rewinder. As for picture quality I have to say the Sonys and the Toshibas have that area sewed up. My Toshiba VS-36 has a very nice and sharp picture and equals my HI-FI Sonys. The Sanyos on the other hand has a nice picture but not a super sharp picture like the Sonys and Toshibas. I do agree the Sanyos are very easy to maintain but so are the Toshibas . The Toshibas are in my opinion ,true Betas because they wrap the tape around the heads when loaded -- like Sony intended for Betas to do. On another note I have a NEC VC-65EU Beta ( the one that records in B1s ) and if your familiar with the Sony Beta under the hood layout you'd swear you were lookin at a Sony. The drum assembly,guides,etc are exactly like a Sony . I have a old MCM Electronics catalog that lists the same video heads for the NEC as the SL-HF-450 Sony and although I've never tried it I have no reason to believe they wouldn't work. The NEC beta has a nice picture but the Bll picture is just as clear as the B1s,I swear I can't tell the difference except the tape counter goes faster! I really like the NECs way of showing the payoff spool running by using the little mirror and light - pretty neat! I have a NEC -VHS recorder that has the mirror setup also. Someone left it at my shop around 10 years ago and never came back so since it was different I kept it. Although I'am partial to Betas I like all VCRs and the NEC betas and early VHS models are truly unique!

Yes it most certainly is.You just need a good Beta machine that prefferably has had a good thorough overhaul and a DVD recorder.You will also need connecting leads with a scart at one and and probably a BNC connector and phono connection ( for the Beta) at the other.They are all widely available.You place the connections on the Beta machine to OUTPUT and the switch on the scart of the DVD to INPUT, press PLAY on the BETA and RECORD on the DVD and away you go...................Hope this helps....................Kevin

i have several hundred old betamax tapes, how does one go about converting them to dvd. is it possible? thankyou

HiDefinetley not in a negative way.Like i stated before it's less of a strain on the video drum/mechanics/heads and your valuable tapes unlacing for the fast wind modes.I prefer it and that's another reason i only touch Sanyo machines.A lot prefer Sony because they state the pictures on their machines are slighly better ( sharper) and because of the over featured /complicated design.Judge for yourself.Sanyo are far easier to sort out/overhaul and parts are not as hard ( although maybe getting that way ) to get hold of.Enjoy....................Kevin (UK)

Thanks for the infoI just hooked it up via RCA to my Panny DMR ES35 V DVD recorder/VHS combo and widescreen 100hz TV and loaded in my absolutely mint condition original of Seems Like Old Times from 1980's and the picture and sound is great. The owner has really cared for it over the years

The tape loading/eject path is fantastic also. Different from the C6 though. The C6 laces up the tape once only and playing starts almost immediately. However the sanyo laces and unlaces it every time you push play or stop. Would this have an effect on reliability of the components.

HiI have a Sanyo m20 and it's a very fine machine.This particular model is farely rare too.(released in 1984)Make sure though the reel drive idlers/belt are in top shape as if not you will get your tapes chewed.Also the one way clutch under the left spool can get sticky(as on all Sanyo's) and this together with a dirty pinch roller will cause tape damage in reverse picture search.Other than that they are excellent.I offer this service/overhaul to a very high standard too so if your interested let me know.Remember too the Sanyo's (from the 5000) unlace so your tapes and video heads will last a lot longer.Congratulations on obtaining a fine machine.............................Kevin

OOPS I meant M20's

What are people's thoughts on sanyo MC20 machines (1983/84)I won one of them on ebay from a lady who lives 10 minutes from my placeOnly 50 bucks. I've never liked VTC 5000 top loaders but this is a front and hopefully will at least give my C6 a break for a while

Missed out on 2 SLHF100 's as well. Way too high for what I could afford at the time

The Swedish Chef was nice enuff to translate my page for Swedish Betafans...

http://www.tiffman.com/bork.cgi?url=http://uk.geocities.com/olive_e_thomas/Olive_Garden_of_delights.html

Had him do this page as well. B¿rk, B¿rk, B¿rk!

http://www.tiffman.com/bork.cgi?url=http://www.chat-page.co.uk/betamax/

To Bill

Re; SLHF100

regarding the retention of the settings on your Sony would indicate that the lightning strike on your machine probably caused no further damage than to knock out the power source to your vcr.

I have recently rescued a SLHF100 that had not been powered up for between 10 - 15 years and like your's it still retained it's channel settings

regards

Ron

Original Betamax films in original picture cases on Ebay. 97p each. Auction number: 280069982218

Can I add a bit of cautionary to the above. My original power supply was terminated by a lightning strike, I had left it on to record while on holiday. My message is this - surge plugs aren't a luxury!

I realise the debate over survival of Beta equipment is now past its sell-by date, but this might still be interesting to someone. My SLHF100 was off the road for the best part of six years pending finding a replacement power supply. When I was eventually able to boot it up everything worked, but the really amazing bit was that all the stored channels were still there! I'd be interested if anyone could tell me if this was freakish or to be expected!

Aivars,

Your C9 most likely has a fault on the SS11 board. Components age with time and the electrolytics dry out. You may be able to adjust RV109 to even up the Pulse width modulator waveform to the motor during playing a tape. The snow is from when the capstan loses lock and tracking control is lost at the same time. You will need an expert with a CRO and service manual to help you probably.

regards Noel

Here is rare beta on ebay a SLO-1800under the number 120017097846

Just ended on ebay is a SLO-323 I think person who got this could be in for a surprise, I believe that this model ONLY plays BI and not the other speeds. I have the SLO-325 wish does play all speedshhttp://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130064511497&rd=1&rd=1ere is the link

My SL-C9 works fine but sometimes appears wow and flutter on sound together with white horizontal lines (snow) on picture. Is it only a pinch roll problem (cleaning; repalcement) or it is in electronics?

There's an access panel on the bottom that hides the usual culprit bad belt. It's runs the capstan so it's most likely to be the failure.

Thanks for the reply. Any idea where the belts are in this model? I'm new to all this I'm afraid. I've taken the case off and had a look around and everything seems fine but that's without knowing where to look.

The Toshiba likely needs a new drive belt.

Hi Everyone, I bought a Betamax player this weekend but it's got a problem which I hope you can help me out with.It's a Toshiba V8700B and everything works fine except it won't play tapes. The guy I bought it from said that last time he used it the tapes started to "run slow" and now they won't play at all. Pressing play gets a response like it's about to turn the reel but it quickly cuts out.All the other play functions are fine; the tapes load perfectly, it FFs REWs etc and visual search even displays a picture. It's extremely clean on the inside and was recently serviced (well 1995).

Any ideas on the problem and possible solutions? Thanks!

Spug,Try this man for repairs. Alfie Carnisotti, The Audio Centre, Croydon. Telephone: 020 8681 1964. He will charge you £100 for inspecting the machine; the amount to be deducted from the cost of the repair work should you proceed.I have experience with this man and he is very fair and knowledgeable.Good luck.HAROLD KOSTER

Spug,

The problem is the drum motor. See http://www.palsite.com/pcat_hmotor.htmlThough on Palsite they say the hall effect sensor glue is the problem in my experience it is nearly always a faulty hall effect sensor. You can salvage old sensors from Toshiba drum motors ( V31 / V33 ) or sony capstan motors (late model front loaders) but you would have to add a bit of wire to each the hall effect components 4 legs and bend them appropriately to make them fit.

Good luck getting a UK repairer. regards Noel

5 minutes after my posting, I turned my C9 on again and it played :-)) But then 5 minutes later it wouldn't play again :-(( I've noticed though that the tape does actually move when I press play, it's just the head that doesn't spin and it stops after 2 secs.

I can't find anywhere in the UK that repairs Betas now and it's a little far to send it to Noel in Australia!

I have a Sony SL-C9 which has been working perfectly until a few days ago.

Now if I try to rewind it stops after 2 seconds, same with fast forward. If I try to play the drum does not rotate but power is getting to the drum motor as it moves a third of a rotation then just vibrates. The tape takes up but never actually starts moving in play.

I have limited technical ability but have checked the fuses on the SL-11 board as suggested elsewhere on this site and they're all ok.

Anybody seem this problem before and got any ideas on what it might be? Being a Yorskhireman I'm reluctant to spend a fortune replacing it for the sake of completing the transfer of a few old tapes. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi - I need some help with a C9 b ought on eBay. I've gone through the technical pages but the problem isn't there. The machine power up (the disply that is) but nothing else. I've looked inside and tried putting a tape in but absolutely nothing happens. No whirrs no clicks - no nothing???

I payed 50 bucks for it eight years ago and only replaced belts so it's had a great runThat kind of fault should not require much repairStill loads fine just won't play for more than two seconds

Howdy guys

I had my precious C6 playing good guys wear black pre recorded movie last night and once it had finished, rewound it 3/4 of the way and pressed ejectTape film got caught and so the machine re loaded it which meant that film got tied upI cut it and pushed eject and it came out.

Decided to put the best condition pre recorded original tape I have in there to see if the machine was ok.

Problem was two seconds after it loaded fine, it was like I had pressed stopThis has happened to me once before and I remember manually re winded the loading mechanism back into the right spot and it played fineI'm wondering if I could try this again, wind it around again and see if it clicks back into place

However I'm taking this as the perfect chance to send it off to our beloved pal noel and let him do a good service on it and fix any probs. The belts and capstan lock could be checked again too as that is a weakness of this machine. To me it seems like a small mechanical fault. So I'll see how I go tonight but if no good, will unplug it from my system which is full of rival formats, box it up and send it off to ya.

Noel - the power on/off button needs fixing. It's broken and locked onto ON.Hoping it's fixable or if not, a great excellent condition unit as spare parts for you and advice me of a reliable mono player to replace it with.(i'm only playing original tapes)

Hi all, thanks for your time i looking for a manual for the sony SL-c35as PALplease email me @ [email protected] thanks

There are 41 ex rental Beta films in original picture cases for sale on Ebay. Item number: 280066438276.

Hi, appreciate your help if you can (anyone !)

I'm trying to fix up a Sony SL C30 for my grandfather so he can play his old Beta home movies to copy them to a Sony DVD recorder. We bought it on ebay and after about 2 days it stopped playing / ff / rw etc. All power etc is fine though. I now assume it is the drive pedulum 9from the comments on this site). did try some advice I got about "removing the excess glue on the Hall sensor Unit" but made no improvement. where can I get a replacement pedulum ?? Otherwise, a recommended repair centre in the UK appreciated.

Thanks

Brian,

Re the SLC20. It sounds like a capstan roller problem. If you look at the top of the tape as it goes between the capstan and capstan roller when you press play, you will probably see the tape ride up and even crease against or jump over the edge of the guide. This most likely is caused by the capstan roller not pressing the tape evenly against the capstan post which cause the tape to distort and move up or down. The machine loses the tracking pulse hence no picture and the sound. (because the tape sides are not aligned with the tracking ans audio heads.) Replacement of the roller is usually necessary though sometimes removing assembly and cleaning the roller can help. It depends how worn and or perished the rubber roller is. The bearings can also be worn which is fixed only by replacement of that assembly.

regards Noel

To the above person try different video cables , I find hard to believe they both have the same problems or try direct with a cable tv cable and see what happens, I know thats not the best way to do it, its just trail & errorDave

HI FOLKS-I HAVE A SONY SL-HFR70 AND A SONY SL-560 AND OVER 350 MOVIES.ALL HAVE BEEN IN STORAGE FOR 11 YEARS. RECENTLY I CONNECTED EITHER BETA TO A TV AND GET "VERTICAL" BLACK AND GRAY LINES.I GET AUDIO BUT EVEN IF I RECORD [WITH A NEW TAPE] SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME. I ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN HEADS ON BOTH MACHINES,NO CHANGE--ARE BOTH MY MACHINES IN NEED OF NEW HEADS? ANY TIPS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. TIM IN SAN DIEGO CA.

Hi. I have a Sony Betamax SL-20. I've had this unit for roughly 20 years without a problem. Recently, though, I find that with any tape I pop in, the following happens:

1) For about 5-10 seconds, the video/audio will play fine.2) After that time, noise "bands" will appear (as if bad tracking).3) Finally, both picture and audio fade down, and the screen turns black with no audio. 4) If I shuttle FF or rewind, picture/audio will come back for another 5 seconds, and then fade out again.

I consider myself pretty technically talented, so I have no problem cracking open the machine to try and repair this problem myself. Please let me know if you can identify the problem, and how I would go about repairing it.

Thanks so much in advance.

-Brian

Mark,

I should be able to help you with those problems. At least I am fairly close. Check out http://www.betaheaven.com/

regards Noel

i've got a sl-c6 and a slhf100as with problems

the SL-C6 has a picture bounce about every 3 seconds. it's as if it he drums stops and restarts ie bioung...bioung...bioung, and during this the picture goes to b&w then returns. I'm not sure if it's the "Poor capstan lock" fault. i tried the c7 and c8 replacements to no effect and the "Drum speed variations" fault withthe resisitors without effect. i haven't checked the Drum or Capstan IC's for faults yet. the Video Head has just been replaced for wear and the possible cause. i've also got the Srevice Manual.

The SL-HF100 had a worn head which i finally found a replacement (pure luck!!!).One or two the LED Meters has gone out posibbly the far left Right Channel segments if i remember.Then one night the tuner just died like an AV picture, the VCR still powers up, and the panel which allows you to tune the channels the LED which inicates to you the channel (and bandwith) you're tuned is is 'tuned in' for every 'tuned' channel.I've also got a problem with one of the tape path loading mechanism, any modes it starts for one second then stops. a newly designed pinch roller by Sony i had do transfer to the original arm because of an alteration to where the spring sits in a groove is now absent.I don't have a service manual.

I'm in Hobart, Tasmania

any help would be appreciated.

thanks.

I have a SL-8000, and I think the S101 switch is faulty.

Where is the S101 switch?

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!!Get those Betas utilised for the xmas films e.t.c it's what they're best at....................Kevin

Merry Christmas and happy New Year for everyone in Beta land! (My correct address is without 'dot'.)

Hello all,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the "Palsite crew" and many thanks to the sponsors.

Just thought I would let you know there are some SLHF950 owners manuals going on eBay but they are the multi-language versions and not in English.

The first is Sony SL-HF950 Beta VCR manual in German/Swedish/Italian at http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180065745667&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

The second is Sony SL-HF950 Beta VCR, manual in French/Spanish/Dutch at http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180065747086&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

cheers - Noel

Harold, the inability to play back recent recordings can be a symptom of a tired control head recording a weak signal. This would be easier to troubleshoot if the HF100 had a real time counter as it would either advance erratically or not at all. You may otherwise confirm my theory by trying modes that don't use the control track such as betascan or pause, where you should see a fairly decent picture.

Noel,Thanks for your reply. It would seem that there is merit to you diagnosis, since the first intimation I had of the fault, was the recording 'sticking' for a second or two, and then continuing to record on.I then ran a cleaning tape for 10 seconds in record mode. It was after this that the playback failed. I did wonder whether I had damaged the heads, but since I can play back previously recorded tapes perfectly, I am at a loss.The compliments of the season to you and again, my thanks.Kind regards, HAROLD

Harold,

Regarding your question about the SLHF100UB, the same video heads are used for record and playback. As far as what the problem might be in record, you would need to trace the signal path with an oscilloscope while recording to find what is happening to the record signal.

The line in connectors sometime develop dry joints around the connector pins due to mechanical action.

regards Noel

Ron and LadyM:Well, i've serviced plenty of Sanyo 5000's and have never come across 'sticky motor'.They do slow down if contaminated with debris from the brushes and can fail to pull the tape in on stop ( for which there is a Sanyo mod to over come this ), if getting on a bit.There is also the chance you have a 'dead spot' where the wiring inside the motor has burnt out and if the motor stops at this point it will not start unless you move it by hand.I have only ever encountered this twice.From what LadyM is describing it could also be a worn ,dry belt or the older upper idler making contact with the cassette door and not engaging play.I would think the 'noise' she's hearing is the motor spinning and the belt or idler not engaging due to both of them being old or worn.This is USUALLY the case and easily remedeed with new replacements.I have contacted her by E-Mail to offer my assistance but have yet to hear back.These machines are getting on now and i've found quite a few with failing capacitors in the power supply effecting the clock,tuner and in one case the whole vcr.Good luck LadyM

To Ladymadonn1

Re: VTC5000 - sounds to me as if you have a sticking reel motor [ providing all belts/tyres are in good condition]. The reel motor really needs replacing - however it's sometimes possible to coax more usage from the machine by loading & unloading a tape a few times & switching the machine on & off a few times until the reel motor kicks in - this is only a short term way of getting the vcr to function and will not remedy the problem which won't get any better until the reel motor is replaced.

I've had several 5000's with this problem & reel motor replacement is the only remedy hope this helps you out

regards

Ron

boby, I asked a similar question months ago but never got an answer. I wanted to know about a minimal operation requirement in order to keep a machine going for the longest time possible while avoiding problems arising from long term storage. I would say rubber parts an chemical capacitors may dry but this would also happen while in use. I sure would like to know more.

I have acquired a Sony Betamax SL 100 UB. It plays tapes back perfectly but will not record.All I get is a screen full of flashing lines across it. Does anyone know whether there is a separate recording head when in record mode; to that of the playback head when in playback mode? In other words, are there two separate heads?

Help!!I have a betamax sanyo VTC5000, im trying to play tapes, but the tapes will not play, when the tape plays it makes a funny noise, then stops, is it anything serious, can it be mended quickly, im trying to play/convert betamax to dvd for xmas for friends. thanks

Hi,

I've got a Sony C9, Sony C6 and a Sanyo 5150 currently stored in my loft in need of a good home. They all worked the last time I had them down but the heads on the C6 are either worn or need a good clean.

Didn't want to put them in the loft but wife and kids won the battle for space in our house! Due to the storage in the loft I won't guarantee any of the players and they come with over a hundred pre recorded films and probably the same amount of blanks so I'd like to see them go to someone expanding their collection and using the players for spares if they no longer work. If you're interested I'll sell the lot for £50 but downside is you would have to collect them from Gravesend, Kent and you'll need a lot of space in your car!

Let me know if you're interested!

Keep Beta warm;

Has anyone found a faulty condition after a long time from storage of Beta Machine......(?)

Hi, just found this page. I have a SONY SL-7C with a defect video head. One of the two coils are defect. Anyone having a spare coil? I will transfer my old betamax-videos to DVD and need to repair my old Sony. Any advise where to get spares to a resonable price?

best regardsGoranSweden

I have a Snayo NTSC 4300 that had belonged to my parents that is no longer working. My repair guy did a once over and could not spot anything obvious that was wrong and I did not figure it worth a lot of money to invest in repairing. I plan on having it tossed in the bin but if there is someone who wants it they can have it gratis, it is located in Central IL so you will either have to arrange to pick it up or pay for having it shipped to you. I f I hear nothing it will get tossed, the owneres manual for it is stall around as I beleive is the wired remote.