Hello!I´ve got a Sony SL-C5E betamax, and the sounds contains a lot of WOW and flutter!It does it in playback and record.... even on prerecorded tapes!The record/playback picture is fine!Anybody can help?

Best Regards

Emil Jensen from dk

Hello, I'm looking for a reasonably priced Sony SL-HF860D in the US. I will pay shipping or pick it up if you're near Houston. Email me at [email protected]

WE GET IT LUCREZIA BORGIA! YOU HAVE AN SL-C9 AND OTHER BETA BITS FOR SALE! YOU DON'T HAVE TO POST EVERY THIRD TIME...

AND QUIT WITH THE ALL CAPS!

Emil,

Wow and flutter in record mode ????? Do you hear it while in e-e mode or when you play back tapes you just recorded ?? Maybe you'll want to check the source.

Otherwise, look for a worn pinch roller or something wrong with the capstan motor / servo section. But I'm pretty sure it would affect the picture too, unless it is very slight.

THEREFORE I REPEAT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SERIOUS COLLECTORS AND USERS OF BETAMAX AND V2000 THAT...

I HAVE A SUPERB SONY SL-C9 UB FOR SALE.

I ALSO CAN DO REPAIRS FOR SONY SL-C9 AND I HAVE EVEN THE VERY HARD TO COME BY DC/DC CONVERTOR AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PARTS.

I ALSO AM ABLE TO CONVERT BETAMAX, V2000 (AND EVEN SECAM) TO VHS AND HAVE A LOT OF SECOND HAND BLANK TAPES AND PRE-RECORDED MOVIES.

I HAVE BOTH FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION V2000 VCR'S IN EXCELLANT WORKING CONDITION.

MY WEB SITE ADDRESS IS http://members.aol.com/lucreziagalaxy/index.html

LUCREZIA

I have a Sony C30UB Betamax VCR for sale, needs minor attention because it refuses to stay in play mode! Comes with at least 40 tapes including pre-recorded editions of Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back and Beverly Hills Cop, a bargain at £15 for the whole lot!

Allright Lucrezia!We get your point now!

Regards

Emil Jensen

Serious Betamax and V-2000 collectors pay great attention to where they get their stuff and find it suspicious when someone tries to hard to push their stuff for sale.

Maybe Lucrezia needs the money to afford a new computer keyboard, as the one he uses right now has the shift key stucked.

Do not miss this incredible chance of getting a sample of the Sony SL-7200 Betamax, the very first stand-alone consumer VCR in the world, one of the few models that make use of the original X-1 speed. A machine that yet never needed to get fixed and still alive and well after 25 years of usage.

That makes for the bells and whistles, because it is otherwise a very rudimentary machine, a top loader with piano keys for tape operations and a mechanical tuner and no remote and no special FX.

I have got the original dust cover and it may be packed along with a few K -30 / K-60 original tapes from Sony.

Once it dies, if it ever happens, this heavyweight could make for a stylish anchor for your boat. So do not ignore such a rare opportunity and make an offer right away !!!

3 betamax videos left 2 in perfect working order which are a sony c20 which had new heads three months ago a front loader sanyo model no ntx100 and a sanyo vtc5000 in need of heads and loads of tapes anyone interested e-mail me... Nigel

Hi

I have an ad on ebay for 50 used Beta tapes....Just in case anyone is interested....

By the way I have it on good authority that Lucrezia plans to sell a bunch of old computers after finishing the arduous task of scrapping the FBI logos off of them...

*BETA FOR SALE* *BETA FOR SALE*

I have a Sony Vidimagic FP-60 for sale. These units are video projectors, and this model has a built in Betamax player. The projector works great, the Betamax plays perfectly, and it is in very good cosmetic shape. My unit even has the box and instructions, a rarity for these players! If you are interested in this, email me at [email protected] . I can send you some pictures of it. To give you an idea of how much I want, the last one on ebay went for $400

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1249626680

and it didn't even have the built in Beta player! No box or instructions either! So make me an offer. Even though this is an American system (NTSC), I will take offers from people overseas also, as long as you pay for shipping.

Thanks!Bill

Sony SL-C30UB in great condition cosmetically and internally. Great pics, better than VHS. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1257229014 Rich..

Can anyone explain the difference between the Sony SL-F30, SL-F30PS and SL-F30UB? Are the reel motors interchangeable between them?

I'd like to know because I want to get new motors for the SL-F30, but I've only found them listed as still available for the F30PS.

@GarethI looked in my Koenig partlist and the list says all SL-F30 (PS/UB) have the same motor.

Cu Stephan

Can everyone stop repeating things It's annoying and to those homosexuals (alex & andy) SHUT UP VHS is CRAP! we all know betamax is better than any other video format!

Would anyone have a replacement plastic cog wheel or repair kit for the loading mechanism of my C9? Regards,Alan

How much would it cost to buy a second-hand PAL Beta recorder?

Niall

Hello. I have a 1984 Betamax Model 4650 which I'd like to get rid of. I haven't used it in many years and can't vouch that it even works. On the other hand, someone who knows how to build/fix/tinker with the critters could have it cheap. I mean real cheap.

SUBJECT: BETA TAPES & BETA TAPE PLAYERS

MESSAGE: I have Lots of Beta tapes, coves for sale, after I sell about 200 I will be placing severl Beta Players/Recorders for sale.

http://www.usa2net.net/~dutchman/

Hi, I found this chat page while looking for somewhere to offer my beta machines and tapes for sale. I have 2 Sanyo Betacord machines, model # VCR 4020, and approximately 400 tapes. Most are pre-recorded movies: about a dozen are pre-recorded Navy training films, about 25 are Disney pre-recorded, most with original case. Those which are not pre-recorded are offered for re-recording. There are also a good handful of blank tapes. We sent both machines to the shop a couple years ago, with instructions to "make one work!" Both were returned, and the label identifying the "fixed" one fell off on the way home, so we tried both, and both seemed to work. Anyhow, we picked one and used it and kept the second for back-up and spare parts--but have not needed to use it! I would appreciate any help in finding a good home for these items. Ideally, I would like to sell it all as a single lot, because I don't have time to type a list of everything and make umpty-nine trips to the Post office to send them off one at a time. I'd appreciate any iinformation/advice on where to sell, how to price, and so on. Or if you are interested, let me know!

Thanks, Judith

I have 3 dozen brand new, factory sealed blank Beta video tapes to sell. Two thirds are L750 and the other one third are L500. Most of them are HG, EHG, or Pro tapes. The tapes are from TDK, Sony, Fuji, and Maxell. I am asking $80.00, including shipping anywhere in the US.

I'm after some parts for a Betamovie BMC-100P, it looks like I need a new head drum at this stage.Can anybody out there locate parts?

f u

Hi just to let you people know that there is an alternative to ebay, here at sunbay the uk's biggest online auction site, during our grand opening period you can list your items for free untill the end of 2001, plus as a thanks you for registering you will be credited with £3.00 to your sunbay auction account, automatically by our system when you complete the regisration process, no credit cards Ever, no reserve, final value or comission fees untill the end of 2001, why pay to sell when you can sell for free at http://www.sunbay.co.uk Visit us now!regardssunbay team

Hi pals,

Anyone looking for a Sony RMT -200 Remote control ( C7 etc) in top-notch condition, please see my auction on http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1257853452Cheers to all my friends on the Pal site.

Barry.

This is for [email protected] Don't you realise that betamax is crap and that even Sony says so because they only produce VHS. What more do you want then Sony telling you that betamax is not ruling the day and that this is the age of VHS. So get educated and if you can afford VHS get with the best. To make you even happier we are not homosexuals because we are brother and sister and Demon uses VHS. Are you happy now? To make you even happier and for your pleasure we repeat our VHS feelings only for you.

I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT WE USE VHS

VHS

VHS

VHS

VHS

VHS

VHS

SO DIDN'T YOU GET THE MESSAGE VHS RULES THE DAY.

THERE SHOULD ONLY BE VHS

ALL THE OUTDATED SYSTEMS SHOULD BE THROWN AWAY.

VHS

VHS

VHS

VHS

VHS

VHS

SO GET YOUR GLASSES OUT AND REMEMBER VHS.

NOW CAN YOU SEE IT VHS

very funny!Now get lost!This is a chat page for the older format know as BetamaxAnd if Betamax is so bad, why does all the channel stations in the world, use Betacam....?? A proff version of Betamax!! Broadcast you know!So shut up! With that VHS Crap!

Regards

Emil J. From DK

July 24,2001 9:38 P.M. est.

Olive: you got it right except for the fact that in terms of distribution Sony , Sanyo, most of the other companies selling Betas had economical distribution networks only on the West Coast(I was there at the time) and can say that Federated and and a number of West Coast chains actively marketed Beta but when I moved back to Detroit VHS was the vcr being pushed.

By the way MAD BETA How do you do it! I see you've attracted some new admirers! Al.S.

Anyone out there want a C5 with the usual rewind problem, and a loadof tapes, some with the plastic cases?

Home in the North West.

Just a note on the VHS-Beta - points. It its also a question of build quality. I still have Beta machines in full working order with regular use that are at least 15 years old. It seems I have been through buckets of VHS decks including so called top end machines -(Sony 815s etc). They are just cheap plastic crap decks that have finally found their true place in the market. - £59 at most supermarkets next to the Cabages!

Good Morning Out there in Beta Land, I am in serious need of some parts for my SL2400.A front (plastic) face panel and the printed circut board assy behind it. I have 10 other sets so I may have some thing to trade. Please do not ask for parts as I am not soliciting to sell, only to trade for my own needs. Thank you Bob

I'm looking for the schematics of a rgb -> composite pal converter

BETA BETA BETA AND MORE BETA BETA BETA

YES, IT IS A BETTER FORMAT AND PERHAPS IF WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND ASKED EVER SO NICELY, PERHAPS SOME NEW MODELS OF BETAMAX MIGHT BE PRODUCED BY THE BIG COMPANIES.

AT LEAST THEY COULD PROVIDE NEW SPARE PARTS TO KEEP THE MACHINES WE HAVE IN EXCELLENT ORDER AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP THE BETAMAX TAPES IN PRODUCTION.

I FOR ONE STILL BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THEN BETAMAX AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY RELEASED SOME MODERN MOVIES IN THIS FORMAT JUST TO PLEASE US BETAMAX COLLECTORS.

THE LATER BETAMAX DESIGNS SUCH AS THE SONY C9 AND THE 950 ARE FAR SUPERIOR TO ANY VHS DESIGN VCR.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE BETAMAX FORMAT FROM YOURS TRULY.

LUCREZIA A VINTAGE VCR COLLECTORWEBSITE: http://members.aol.com/lucreziagalaxy/index.html

See what you did! You woke up Lucrezia 'Caplock' Borgia! Hope you're happy now...

Olive.

Hey, I love your witticisms. They are my sentiments exactly.

Great to read them, (slurp slurp)

Plesae don't stop as it's nice to have an obviously intelligent lady on our(Betaphiles) side. (more slurps etc)

Luv.

Baz.:-)(and I really mean all that!)

I've got big trouble with my SL-HF300. She won't give the tape back easily and she makes a crunchy munchy noise loading. I've never had any problems with her so all parts are original. I've recently moved to "butt blinking" New Jersey and have no idea of a repair shop. What's wrong with my trusted friend?

Try another tape or better... A recording!Or connect the Beta to your Tv "direct" via the BNC connectors!You could have some worn heads, or the machine is out of aligment!

Regards

Emil J. From DK

I'm looking for Alan Morton. Can't remember where I put his email address. Taoes are coming your way. Contact me for UPS ground tracking ##. Thankz, Jay.

Thank you for the info!

Just in regards to caplockcrezia on design and build quality.

To a degree you shoot yourself in the foot, yes granted, the Betamax machines are very well built in general, but then again, so were many VHS and other format machines from the same era, BUT (sorry about the caps there) why say they are so good when you yourself are suggesting companies keep making parts, and you try selling the dcdc converters for c9 's? Which apart from a few major design faults are very reliable, as too are my 950 's, but a felow beta freak has no end of trouble with his pair of 950 's and he is the electronics technicain by trade, anyways, once I replaced my dcdc converter, my loading gears, my threading ring and caps in my servo circuit my pair of C9 's champ along like a gem, then on the other hand my National VHS edit decks, clunking top loading things with linear stereo and the nice old 9 pin Y/C SVHS connectors on the back, champ along to this day needing only new heads and pinch roller? I’m not going into the technical specification debate over audio and picture quality in this post may I add.

To again comment on the build quality, I have head numerous complaints on the head life of the later model NTSC beta's namely the hf2000 and hf2100, also having several "last model" pal beta's, sl-s2000 being one coming to mind, I have had many a problem which ends up being cheap plastic parts breaking. Then again it may all be the luck of the draw.

I think its more a case of "they don’t build them like they used to".

On another note, has anybody got a picture of a Sony SL-C8 they could send me? I havent heard of them untill a few days ago when I was buying some cheap Beta heads and the kind lass asked me if I wanted some C8 heads they had in stock, must have trick play and clean freeze frame as its the same type of head setup as the C9. Im just curious as to what they look like.

Thanks for your time,

John - http://users.bigpond.com/jsparkin/

have aquired a sony sl3000ub but no data and no data on the pal sitecan anyone help with a note on how the dc din socket is wired so i can apply dcmany thankschris

Every Beta model has some "bugs"The C9: DC/DC converter, upper drum wears out quickly , C5 / C7 A new rewind kit is the best option! C20 / C30 / C40 Some caps in the PSU need replacement some times!So all beta models are not fault free!But they are build to "work" every day!Im not having ANY problems with my BetasI´ve got a C5, C9 ,C20

Best regards

Emil Jensen

SANYO 5150 RECORDING PROBLEM.

Hi everyone,

The first time I tried recording I got the sound but no real picture (other than some horizontal lines).Now I have the opposite.I get a great picture but absolutely no sound.My previously recorded tapes playback with sound and vision.

ANY IDEAS ?

Ade

P.S. I'm using the basic aerial inputs at the back of the VCR.Leads have also been checked and work perfectly so they are'nt the problem.

July 27,2001 1:18 A.M. est.

Adam; Try playing the tape with the good picture and no sound on another Beta Deck and see if you get sound! If you do its probably a connection problem rather than a internal problem with your machine

Best - Al Smith

Hi!I am reading Betamax chatpage for approx. 1 year but only today decided to send some questions. I have bought a Sony SL-C7 machine but it doesn't work properly. The problem is that picture is distorted - it looks split in a horizontal direction (like there were two horizontal pictures or if a picture was repeated horizontally) and picture flickers. First I tried to clean heads and pinch roller but it was a small help. Maybe it would be better to change the pinch roller - maybe it is possible to use one from VHS machine? To my mind another reason for this trouble might be slipping of some belts. If it occurs to be an elctronic failure then I have to look for service manual (it is not hard to find ones here - I have to go to flea (black) market, order them and wait). I also have Toshiba V-9600. It is working but the trouble is that some time there appear short white horizontal lines on a picture and if machine was not used for recording/playback for some period of time it is not possible to obtain a picture - you can see only snow. After head cleaning the problem is solved. May it be connected with worn-out video heads or worn CTL head? Maybe some electrolythic condenser is the reason? Static charge?AMiP.S. Sorry for being so long ...

While I don't wish to get involved in the current Lucrezia-bashing 'caps lock' affair, I wondered if everyone has stopped to think perhaps Lucrezia is disabled? Only I know a couple of people who suffer incredible hardship trying to type and it is far easier for them to leave the caps lock on and type with one finger without worrying about correct capitalisation etc.

Just a thought..........

Barry.

Hmmm, never tought about that, but if he´s disabled he couldent repair Betamax VTR´s and he does that!Or maybe he´s keyboards has the "Caps Lock" key stucked!

Regards

Emil J. from DK

To AMi No you cannot substitute VHS pinch rollers for Beta - they won't properly fit. Take the trouble and look for Sony spares - new ones are still out there - at least on this side of the pond.

If the VTR hasn't been tinkered with over the years it should electronically be in proper trim (execpt for that pesky DC-DC converter) so changing the belts even as a preventative task would give it years of service at least till the video head finally gives out....

By the way did you clean the rest of the tape path including the ACE head and Video head drum assembly? And did you do it properly with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol instead of an abrasive head eating - oops, I mean cleaning tape?

July 27,2001 9:47 P.M. est.

Ami! It sounds a problem with the A.C.E (Audio Control Head) video sync. signal. This head has adjustment screws on it and it may be out of adjustment and thus possibly fixable but get the service manual and read it before you try. I would take it to a shop.

Best Wishes; Al Smith

Emil! Whats happened to your English?

july 27.2001 3:51 P.M. est.

Ami; I was referring to the Sony not the TOSHIBA. Also Olive is giving you good advice! A.S.

July 27,11:28 P.M. est.

Adam; Some more thoughts. 1.)If you get sound with playback chances are your audio head & audio output circuits are good. You should try recording first with the VCR(VTR)Button on and then with it off and playback each time(First make sure you are recieving good audio input from your source i.e. cable box,sattelite dish antenna ect.) If you get any sound the problem is possibly in the tuner if not there is probably a problem in the audio record section of your circuit board. If you can find a junker you can try swapping out the circuit board containing the audio record circuit(assuming that the junker had only mechanical problems)same thing for the tuner. New parts are very very expensive. Best to spend 50-100 bucks and buy a working machine on ebay or some other Auction site(You could buy 3 working used sanyos for the price of a new circuit board) Sorry i can't be of more help. Best Wishes Al Smith

Sory Allan A.Smith! but it sounds Ami s problem are NOT the A.C.E. head. the most typical fail are electrolytic capacitors there dry up.So to Ami tray replay c011,c030,c034 on the AS-3 board (drum servo)By the way? I found,no tracking funktion on SL-C7 the problem are a broken Q11 "2SA-733" also on AS-3 board Regards Jan H.Pedersen

I´ve agree with Jan!if the "caps" are dried out on the servo board, the drum motor would behave strange, like no servo lock in record and playback! The picture sometimes "shake"

Regards

Emil jensen

Does anyone want a Sony SL C9UB (plus videos) ?

Just a quick note to tell all of you on this chat page and in Beta Land that,

Point 1: I am female. One of the rare Betamax Ladies who still survives in a male dominated world, obviously populated by people who cannot for some unknown reason, tell a female name when it is given.

Point 2: I use Capitals for emphasis and to get noticed which I must say I have - One for me.

Point 3: I love the betamax system and consider it far superior to VHS.

I now hope that this one message in lower case will prove to you all that,

A) My keyboard is working fine.

But somehow this message misses the emphasis of my usual style, so the next one will be again in Capitals.

You probably will not even realise this is from me. ARE YOU ALL HAPPY NOW.

LUCREZIAhttp://members.aol.com/lucreziagalaxy/index.html

Hi Lucrezia.

Hope you recall that I was the only one who stood up for you so you do have at least one friend in this Beta world! :-)

Best wishes,

Barry.

July 28,2001 10:51 P.M. est.

Lucretzia; It takes a lot of Guts to stand up and show that you are sensitive to criticism (just like any other Human) you have my respect (for what its worth)also! Best Wishes - Al Smith

OK Lucrezia...

We were just messin' with ya. But seriously, enuff with the ALL caplocks.

Now for my Beta query... Does anybody know if the K-connector pinouts listed at PAL-Site (for the SL-F1 ) are valid for NTSC Trinicons. I have a spare K-connector plug and I wanted to build my own breakout box. Also what are the voltage/amperage/wattage requirements/limits for an HVC-2200? Can I pull the transformer off an old ac-220 PS?

I have a Betamax stereo C40 in good working order with 12 tapes ofwhich several are country & westernRecorder Purchased in 1984. Any offers ?

HELLO BARRY AND ALLEN, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.

AS I SAID THE NEXT MESSAGE WOULD BE IN CAPITALS, GUESS WHAT - HERE IT IS IN CAPITALS.

WHEN I SAY I LIKE BETAMAX, I REALLY MEAN IT. I JUST FOUND A LOAD OF SONY SPARE PARTS FOR THE C9, SOME ARE EVEN SONY ORIGINAL - BRAND NEW.YOU DON'T GET THAT OFTEN. I FOUND THEM IN ITALY AND I BOUGHT THE LOT AND I'M HAVING THEM SENT BY ITALIAN COURIER.

NOW BEAT THAT FOR DEDICATION TO BETAMAX. THE SPARE PARTS INCLUDE EVEN BRAND NEW ORIGINAL SONY VIDEOHEADS, COMPLETE REPLACEMENT CARRIAGES (WITH THE MICRO SWITCHES) AND EVEN THE REPAIR KIT FOR THE CARRIAGES. THEY ALSO PROVIDED COMPLETE TUNING BOARDS WHICH ARE VERY HARD TO GET NOWADAYS.

WELL FACE IT FELLOWS, LUCREZIA HAS THE CONTACTS TO GET THE SONY PARTS.MY ITALIAN CONTACTS EVEN SUPPLIED ME WITH MORE DC/DC CONVERTERSAND THE EVEN MORE RARE V2000 VIDEOHEADS. AS THEY SAY BEAT THAT!

FORGET HEINEKEN IT TAKES A LADY TO GET THESE PARTS, AFTER DRINKING A GLASS OF LOWENBRAU.

I THANK AGAIN MY ADMIRERS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE GENTLEMEN INDEED!

SITE: http://members.aol.com/lucreziagalaxy/index.html

Hi ! Anyone know where I can get a second hand Betamax player to use to play my old opera videos. preferably not 1000miles from Surrey. Many thanks KeithM

Hello! In case anyone is interested in some older Sony Beta equipment, we'll soon be selling an HFR-60 and HFP-100 together on eBay. Also have some prerecorded tapes and a Sony videodisc player (not sure of the model at the moment) that we'll be selling there shortly.

Feel free to email if you have any questions!

Frank

Greetings from Indiana USA. I have been using a Betamax VCR since 1982 and am currently using a SLHF-860D Sony SuperBeta HiFi with Digital Special Effects. I have over 800 tapes in my collection and they have not deteriorated and have stood the test of time. Nice to see that Beta is still alive!! I have a non working SLHF-300(Bad Heads) and a SLHF400(SuperBeta)With a Bad Loading mechanism, If anyone needs spare parts let me know.

Hello. I am currently looking for a Sony SL-HF860D working or non-working at reasonable prices. If non-working, be sure to include details on the problems with the machine in your email. Email me at [email protected]!

Check out this E-bay find....

This is the original combo TV/VCR! The LV1901 console system with 19" TV and a Betamax VCR. It actually came with two built-in tuners so you could, of all things, watch TV on one station and record off of a whole other channel. Amazing!

This hulking behemoth operated in the X-1 speed only, which allowed a 1 hour record time with an L-500 tape. Since L-750s or L 830s had yet to come out in 1975 you pretty much had a choice of a K -30 (L-250) or K-60 (L-500) tape. And the were pretty pricey, about $12 to $15 bux a pop - in 1975 dollars. If you're interested, the URL for this is...

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1259384847

Hope it goes to a loving home.

I feel sorry for the UPS guy who'll have to wrestle this puppy off the truck.... ;-)

Hi,I am using beta vcrs since the 80's ( sl-hf950 ) and vhs/s-vhs machines also. I always found the better picture quality in beta recordings.And I'm collecting beta machines.........Recently I couldn't withstand and bought Sony SL-F1E, TT -F1E, PCM -F1 with AC-Adaptors AC -F1E and AC-700. All are in very good shape and working fine after a little bit polishing and replacing the broken programme select buttons. Now I own a little treasure (view of a beta collector ;-))But there is one big problem:To have the whole thing perfectly wired (with pcm audio recording, video recording and playback etc. -ability) I need these oldtime connecting cable vmc-110 or (better) vmc-330. They have a special 26pin connector with switches on it at one end and 2 BNCs (2 BNCs and 2 Cinch/RCA plugs)at the other end. There is no chance to get them from Sony and spare parts centers in Germany.Does anybody have an idea (or cable :-))) how to get them?Or does anybody know the wiring of the switches?Greetings from Gernsbach/GermanyGerhard

Hello Beta Peoplez,

I own a Sony SL-HF300 deck that I bought about a year ago. Up until about 2 weeks ago, it was working flawlessly. However, every now and then it goes from normal playback into this really weird "color-washout-and-distortion" situation (for lack of better way to describe).

Like, if I'm watching a tape when the deck plays normally, at sometime during the movie, a horizonal line of snow or static noise appears on the very bottom of the TV screen. It stretches across the whole width of the screen and is about a half-inch thick. Then the hifi sound starts filling up with crackling static before the picture gets washed out with what looks like a color spectrum (a good example of this happens w/ skin tones - a white person in the picture will suddenly have blue or green skin and they'll be all sorts of other weird or inverted colors!). Just after this happens, a line of noise flashes through the picture diagonally from the lower-right to upper-left of the screen. The hifi sound fluctuates in sync with this video noise, but the linear sound is still normal. Sometimes just leaving the VCR on for awhile in stop mode or shutting it off for a day or so will trigger either "normal" mode or weird "mode" or vice versa (50/50 chance) when I try to play a tape.

I don't think this problem is being caused by bad or dirty video heads cuz when the VCR does play normally, the picture is very sharp and clear. But I tried cleaning them using 3 different head cleaners (Sony L-25, Discwasher & an Allsop3) as well as taking the machine apart and doing a manual cleaning. This has no effect at all.

It almost seems to me that either the tape is playing at the wrong speed when in the "weird" mode or the tracking circuits are intermittant or failing. I suspect this cuz the the tracking control has no effect on the picture at this time.

But anyhow, sorry for the long post but I wanted to try and describe my problem as accurately as possible based on my observations. Does anyone here have a 300 that might have experienced similar behavior, and if so, what was the cause and/or what did you do about it? Is it possibly a mechanical or electronic problem?

I'd like to keep my 300 since it's in mint condition cosmetically. Even that little flipdown panel that commonly broke under the display is perfectly intact on mine.

To above... Did you happen to notice if it happens on a particular tape or a particular point on a tape? It may be nothing more simple that a badly bunged section of videotape. I once pulled open a tapeshell to find that some hosehead actually TIED the two broken ends of tape together to fix them! The quickest way to sever a head other then pissing off Don Corleone...

August 01, 2001 2:49 A.M. est.

Betadude; I tend to agree with olive in that maybe you might have some bad tapes. Also the diagonal lines that move from the lower right of the picture tend to indicate a external source of extremely powerfull Radiofrequency Interference of the CB or Amateur Radio type.You might try adding or increasing the number of interference filters on your input connection or if worst comes to worst construct a enclosure of aluminum foil (the brute force method as told to me by the F.C.C.), and see if that helps! Best Wishes; Al Smith!

hello,just dropping you all aline to beware of what machines you purchase on ebay.co.uk.I have purchased asony c7 which was in full working order? to find that it does not load tapes ,full of dirt ,so it has not been used for years and the tuner is faulty.SO ihave paid £78.00 inc del for aload of old rubbish.It was an advert on this site[james [tumble dumble] SO BEWARE!!

Just to add to that it was the 12july when he put is advert and he even put is email down as tumblebumble[could have been a mistake,tumbledumble ??]

Morning everyone, you all sound like a freindly lot, I have a mission to find a Beta vcr for my partners uncle, I must admit I was 6 when my dad chucked out our old Beta vcr so I couldnt understand why when I go to "uncle Andy s" he only has beta and all he goes on about is beta, really the only reason I could see was that he is 74yrs and dosnt get out much, he wouldnt need to if he had a pc cos he would be talking to you lot all day.So what I need is a Sony Beta vcr in good nick, can anyone help with how I can buy one or where to dig for one.

Rgds,

Rob, Southeast.

Hello Again,

To Please All Of You Out There Here It Is Again In Lower case.

Remember my website : http://members.aol.com/lucreziagalaxy/index.html

at which you can get any part for the Sony SL-C9 UB, complete replacement boards, dc/dc converter and even a complete Sony SL C9 -UB.

V2000 both 1st and 2nd Generation Models in working order can also be provided. Videotapes for both systems also available so visit my pages.

Lucrezia

Hello everyone! I have a Betamovie BMC-100, and I was wondering what could be causing an intermittent loading problem. I have replaced replaced the loading belt. Sometimes, the tape pulls up a little too far over the pin next to the drum, and I can tell when it's not going to record because the tape sounds as if it's being pulled taut against the video drum. (and it sounds like it's eating the tape but it's not.) Any help would be appreciated.

Sigh...It's been a disapointing month for me, I hope this month is better...someone given me a old macintosh. well that has cheered me up but no more than looking at my collection of beautiful betamaxs and thanks again barry knapper for the pressie...Nothing much to say except I will be going to canada at end of this month so I will find out if the beta vcr is a RCA or not... (I bet it isn't but one way to find out..)Gotta go :-)

Anybody know how to lubricate a BMC 220 lens properly? I'm asking as a preventitive maintainace question as the lubricant on the one I'd bought recently seems a little thinned out. It had made a hot trip across county and the AF was sticking a bit till I cleaned the worst of the grit off of it. Maybe that the problem with Monty Ward's betacam above me. It's been pretty hot out west (where I'd got my camera from)...

Since you've been able to rule out hinkey tapes as the trouble my next guess would be an electronical failure either of loosened solder on a PC board or perhaps of something overheating (which would explain intermittant nature of the failure). A people have mentioned dried out capaciters as the source of their VCR problems. While maybe you can fix a cracked solder joint if it's obvious it sounds like your Beta needs expert care

There are Beta repairmen out there and unless you have some electronics expertise and the right test equipment you might want to have it checked out.

Here's the one I know for the Eastern US

Karl Kosower Electronic Services575 East Line Road Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-885-7606

$45 initial test fee aplied to repair job - two weeks to a month turnaround.

Absolute Beta at URL

http://www.videos.net/absolutebeta/

also has a repair service - about the same fee and time. They're located in Remington VA

Ray Glasser's The Ultimate Betamax Video Guide

http://www.geocities.com/videoholic2000/index.html

Has a list of Beta repair places in the US

By the way if overheating seems to be a problem you might try better ventilation of the VCR, maybe attaching a small cooling fan in the back...

August 02,2001 12:02A.M.est.

Betadude; All the symptoms you describe (except the horizontal snow line) can be caused by HEAVY DUTY outside Radiofrequency or Microwave interference which penetrates the chassis and affects the circuits this fact plus the fact that it only occurs intermittently make me feel that somehow this is the cause. In opposition your other machine works perfectly! Questions to ask yourself are 1.) How big is your Sattelite dish? and how strong is its signal(?overload) 2.) Are there any Microwave or Radio towers in your vicinity. 3.) Does your problem still occur after you have disconnected your input source(try doing this)? 4.) Is your Bad Machine physically located near your good machine? 5.) Do you know of anybody near you who has a CB or Amateur Radio transmitter? It may be something else but this is whatI'm guessing it might because I've experienced this problem. Let me know some answers and maybe I'll be able to give you some concrete suggestions. Olive has good ideas for you also!Best Wishes! Al Smith.

Alan: It's definately the VCR cuz the same tapes play perfectly fine on my other deck, which is an SL-HF500. And when my 300 does work OK, these same tapes play fine. Quite a few tapes I used were actually recorded on the 300 from DirecTV. And I mentioned, the machine was working perfectly up until about 2 weeks ago (nor has it been moved or anything from the living room).

I also tried recording on my 300 when in the "weird" mode and the video noise and color washout can be seen cleary when played back on the 500. I was able to actually grab some shots of the TV screen with a digital camera and I'll post them to some website. I think they may show more cleary than I can describe what exactly is happening.

But for now, my 500 is working perfectly fine I'm subbing it for the 300 until I can either figure out what the problem is or find a repair place to take a look at it. Just to add: My dream would be to get a "nice" deck like a 750, 900, 870D, etc. But being a poor college student, I don't really have the big bucks that they go for. :(

I just purchased a sanyo betacord from a thrift store. It was only $8 so I figured I would give it a shot to see if it would work. It plays perfectly (suprisingly well actually).....except it eats tapes and has trouble ejecting (it does eject but it takes a couple tries).

I looked at the repair info on this site and read about the pinch roller. However I wasn't sure if this could also cause the beta to eat the tapes. Would replacing this part most likely solve both problems? If not what other part problems might be causing the eating of the tapes? Is this usually a simple cheap repair or is it usually a more expensive one? I'm just trying to decide what I should do with this newly aquired beta as I can't spend a lot of money fixing it in my current financial state. Thanks for your help.

Karen

August 02, 2001 10:55 P.M. est.

Karen; There are at least 4 good reasons for tape eating. 1.) The tape once inserted is not sitting firmly in the rest position within the carriage(thus causing the pinch Roller to lose it as it tries to wrap it around the Head drum). 2.) There is an obstruction in the tape path 3.) The infrared tape sensor is worn out or weak 4.) The loading Motor and/or Belt is worn out. You can try cleaning the tape path and see if that helps. With the cover of the machine off observe what happens when you press the play or pause buttons does the the pinch roller wrap the tape completely around the Video Drum? If it doesn't you could have a worn loading belt, loading motor or the gears that drive the loading ring may need a small amount lubrication. Problems with the loading carriage or the infrared tape sensor, or replacing the loading motor need to be looked at by a technician! Best Wishes Al. Smith

I am looking for a betamax video recorder in working condition send me an email if you know where i can obtain one at a reasonable pricethanks

Alan: The only nearby transmitter I know of is the college radio station tower but that's FM. I don't know if anyone has a CB or Ham station anywhere nearby, but I'll try to find out. The Sat is an 18" DSS-type multi-TV system and according to my roommate (was professional installation), it's setup properly and the signal is nominal. As for the machines themselves, the 300 was located in the living room and the 500 in my bedroom (off-campus apartment). I had moved the 500 out to the 300's location and the picture from the DSS is clear. The 300 was tried in both locations with and without anything connected to it. Made no difference. Also tried the tinfoil suggestion, negative there, too. Any other suggestions?

To Olive: The machine does warm around the power supply area, but I figured that was the transformer and therefore normal (the 500 gets warm, too). I might be able to take the machine apart and check the circuit board for bad solder joints, but I don't have the equipment nor the knewledge to pursue anything further than that. But I'll give that repair place in NY a call. We're @ UMass Amherst so that wouldn't be a killer drive if I had to take the machine in.

Allan & Olive thanks for your responses.

I played around with my beta a little more last night and here's what I found out. I was using one of the tapes I tried out originally that it ate to see how the eject mechanism worked. I had removed all the tape inside so it was pretty much just the plastic casing. It ejected just fine over and over again. It had no trouble whatsoever, so it's pretty apparent that the machine eating the tapes and getting caught inside is what is causing the problem with ejecting.

Does this tell you anymore about what could possibly be the problem? Does it eliminate any possibilities?

I was figuring that I would try the tune up kit myself unless this new information changes anything. One thing I need to know is should I get the MAJOR or the MINOR tune-up kit? I am fairly handy so I am pretty sure I can manage to change these parts out (unless I have to pretty much disassemble the ENTIRE vcr to get to these parts..I'd have trouble remembering how to put it back together)

Thanks for all your help. Hopefully I will be able to fix it and watch my enormous beta collection again someday.

Karen

August 03, 2001 7:47 P.M. est.

To Olive: All front loading Sanyo's have a IR tape sensor on the right side of the idler assy facing the Video Head Drum to detect the presence of and speed of the Video Tape, almost opposite the Dew Sensor. You are probably thinking of the trip gear for loading the cassette into the machine.

To Betadude (what is your real name anyway?) One more test to try - rehook you bad machine up to your T.V and play a tape that you know is good. When you get a good picture going take out your cellphone sit next to your vcr and make a phone call. Watch your T.V. and see if there is any change in the picture quality. If there is no change then its probably not an interference problem. My next best guess would be A bad Capstan (because of the WOW & Flutter in the Audio) You'll probably have to then decide if you want to spend the money for an accurate diagnosis and take it to a shop. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help!

To Karen: It would help if you looked at the back of your machine at the metal plate next to your power cord. On that plate you will see a serial number and a model number (VCR model#----) please let me know the model number. It won't hurt to replace the idler tires and reel belt but its MOST important to see how the tape is getting either entangled and/or torn up! To see this you have to watch the tape being wound and unwound around the Video Head Drum several times. To see this you must 1.) use a cassette with a tape inside it (like Olive suggested) but use one that you don't really need anymore but is still untorn! 2.) Partially disassemble the vcr to that you can observe the Video head Drum , Pins, and Idler Arm (The thing with the pinch roller on it. The following are instructions that will help you exposed the head drum. When you reassemble the unit after inspection you MUST put every screw back in the same position as you took it off! This is especially important for the head shield! Please wear Rubber gloves if [possible while performing this proceedure! 1.) Remove the 4 screws holding the VCR cover in place and pull the cover up and off.2. ) this will expose the Audio/Video Circuit board which is held in place by 2-4 tiny copper plated screws located on the outer edge of the board. Gently remove these screws (do not force them) and when they are off the board should be loose in its position. Gently lift it up to Vertical and Very Gently wedge it into this position using a pencil(you can also try tapeing it in place). This should expose the Video Head Drum Shield (A large steel metal plate held in place by 3-4- screws. Remove these screws but be careful because one of the screws may have a grounding wire attached which you must put back in the exact same position during reassembly. The grounding wire is usually attached to the screw in the upper left corner. Lift the loose shield with your fingertips up and out and put it aside. this should expose the Video Head drum and Idler arm.

Proceedure for observation;1.) Power up the machine and load a cassette with a intact tape inside (but which you wouldn't mind loosing to much).2.) Press the Pause button! This should cause the idler arm to grab the tape and wrap it around the Video Head Drum. Watch what happens to the tape if it becomes entangled turn the power off and with one finger turn the large white screw gear in the upper right corner next to the video head drum with your fingertip to manually unwind the tape until its loose and free it from any entanglements (if it won't come loose then you will have to cut it with a scissors-dont worry you can splice the 2 torn ends together later. Then turn on the power and press the eject button ideally the idler arm should bring almost all of the tape back to the cassette to be rewound and then eject the tape. Repeat this process until you know at what point the tape is getting snagged, entangled or is just not being respooled during the eject proceedure. Once you know this reassemble the machine IN THE EXACT REVERSE ORDER that you took it apart(don't forget to reattach the grounding wire to the screw on the Head Shield. Let me know what you observe. Karen this proceedure is risky for the Amateur I don't recommend it but for $8.00? Best Wishes to you all! Al Smith.

I'm amazed that you guys are so willing to help. That's great!

Ok checked the machine and it is a 4010.

I do realize that I can't use an empty shell to diagnose the problem. I just wanted to check if the ejecting trouble was from the reel tape getting caught up in the machine or if it was from another problem with the machine. I haven't opened up the machine yet because I just bought it yesterday...I was just trying to do a little more diagnosing.

A. Choate - This wasn't anywhere near the end of the tape so would that rule that sensor out? I had barely started the tape before it got entangled.

Olive - I haven't opened up the machine to look yet...but is it that much harder to replace the whole thing rather than just the belts? I'd probably rather do the whole thing just to be safe if it isn't that much more trouble.

Allan - I will try to open the machine up in the next day or two to watch the tape feed through. The picture was perfect and continued to play until I stopped it. I only played it for a couple minutes as I was just trying it out to see if the machine even worked at all.

I am thinking from what I observed with the quick testing of the machine that it might not be respooling during the eject mode. Though I am certainly not an expert so I can't be certain. It took several attempts for the machine to eject when a tape was inserted. I think that might be because the tape wasnt respooled in that process and the several attempts at ejecting the tape stretched or pulled the tape out of the shell enough so that it could manage to eject out of the machine. That was kind of hard to word. I hope it made sense.

I don't know if this tells any of you anything more about my problem but I am trying to give you as much information as I have right now to help diagnose the problem so I have more of an idea what I should be looking for when I open up the machine.

Oh yeah one more thing...the tape didn't seem so much "chewed" as it just seemed caught up.

Karen

Not having any Sanyo equipment (all Sony now) to poke my nose into, I can't be 100% but I think the IR sensor was for control of the reel drive and does not specifically detect the physical presence of a tapeshell. You can see a sawtooth pattern on the bottom of the reel hubs as well as a reflection wheel on the hub bottoms. Tape detection was the job of the tripswitch. The nonpresence of a tape would be betrayed by the failure of both reels to rotate as expected by the SYSCON.

To A Choate - PAL Site's Sanyo VCR tech specs page does mention thet system control 'bug' that relaces the tape during an ejection failure. I think there was a method to the bug in that it was intended to protect the machine and or the tape from a dangling length of tape. I've seen it in the VCR-4400 I used to have but later Sanyos didn't do that.

To Betadude - as long as you're checking your cell phone don't forget your cordless one if you have one. You might also want to check the line of sight of your computer monitor. A Computer CRT can deliver interference waves if it's pointed directly at a TV or VCR and or their antennae

To Karen - your post arrived just as I was posting - Yeah, sounds like a worn idler tyre. This is a reasonably easy fix and if the tyres are too badly cracked with age you may just need to sand/file the top crust off of them to keep them till you can get a proper set of tyres. Or you can fllip them around to expose the less damaged side. It's just a matter of exposing the idler unit by opening the top and removing the ejector mechanism. The idler is the white ouiji shaped thingie between the reels. Remove and set aside the metal clip holding down the idler and note the parts as you remove them. Then you will be able to inspect the tyres. They should be rubbery soft not crusty or crackled. If you can't wait for replacement belts by post and you can't flip them around, you can find substitutes at any hardware or plumbing supply store. Round tyres or washers are OK if the outside diameters match but you do have to get it exactly right.

August 04,2001 1:36 A.M. est.

Karen does your machine load from the top or front? I think a 4010 is a top loader in which case you should be able to see the pinch roller/idler ARM when you take the top off to work on the idler assembly. If you can see it try loading a tape then press the stop button and look to see if the tape has completely respooled, if it has or if there is an inch or less of loosely free tape the respooling should not be the major problem. If there is a apparent respooling problem, there is a metal tension spring that runs from the idler arm to hook onto one of 3 grooves in a small white plastic hole next to the idler assembly on the right. This spring controls minor adjustment of the tape tension. By moving the end hook of the tension spring into one of the other grooves you can roughly increase or decrease the tape tension. Please don't try this until you've tried the other proceedures I outlined earlier because the spring is very fragile and almost impossible to obtain. MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THE REAL PROBLEM FIRST!!

To anyone else contemplating the proceedures I outlined for Karen:

THEY WILL ONLY WORK ON SANYO MACHINES - sonys are laid out differently. Best Wishes Al Smith.

Well, after reading all this stuff pertaing to Karen's 4410 I feel very sure that the unit needs the usual 'belts and idler" repair job. I used to do a lot of repairs on vhs decks in the '80's and '90's and being that Sanyo Betas were similar to vhs' in that they used alot of belts in the early days of vcrs. So, my opinion Karen is that the Belt and Idler kit should cure your problem. Oh and afore anyone gets lippy about my vhs repair days; hey, it was easy money as 95% of the time the belts and idler were all that needed replacing. Later. Pepse.

Karen I have heard that many Sanyo and Sanyo built clones has a bad SYSCON chip that causes some VCR's to unlace the tape when something goes wrong. Betas sense the end of a tape using a conductance sensor and metal leader tape like old 8-tracks. I belive I read the SYSCON thing on the old Beta Lore page I'm surprised nobody noticed. A. Choate creator/editor of the BetaLore II webpage.

To Karen - When the tape is ejected it has to be completely wound into the shell by the idler/reel-drive . Putting a deadshell in it won't give you all the operational info you need because you'll need to see how the machine's idler/reel-drive behaves under a load.

Unless the idler drive parts are warped and/or cracked you probably only need the 'minor' tune up kit with just belts and tyres - If I remember right, the 'major' kit includes the metal brake plates as well.

Notes on dissassembly...

It helps to keep a sheet of styrofoam to park the removed screws in their relative positions so you'll remember how to put them back. On the idler hub there will be four small grey washers that will come out when you dissassemble everything. Put them back, giving two to eah side of the hub. Also the fatter side of the hub goes down when you put everything back together. That's fairly obvious if it's the half gear half tyre idler - not so obvious if it's the double tyre idler.

Looking for Sanyo Reel Motor for V 5000/5150/5400 or M.40. forspare. Ta John.

Allan the machine is a front loader.

Ok I opened up the machine today and here is what I found:

It appears that there is no problem with the tape wraping around the video head. It does it perfectly as far as I can tell.

The problem appears to be that the tape does not respool properly when stopped. It doesn't seem as though even a small amount respools. The tape travels fine while playing and winds onto the other side just fine but as soon as you stop it nothing at all goes back into the tape. There are several inches left hanging loose. This is causing the tape to get caught up on various parts inside the machine when you go to eject it.

So does this mean that it is definitely the idler parts? or could it still be something else?

ThanksKaren

oops forgot one thing....

It seems to have the same problems when rewinding...but everything else seems to work fine.

August 04,2001 6;00 P.M. est.

Karen I got your message; 1st a question - when you pressed the stop switch did the machine attempt any amount of respooling at all? If you havent put the machine back together yet try the following tests. 1.) power up put in a cassette and press the pause button (rather than the play button then press the stop button does the machine respool better?2.) Repeat the proceedure to pause then press eject(rather than stop). Does the machine respool better? Let me know because if either proceedure works your problem is solved. If not the 4 major problems could be 1.) worn idler tires 2.) weak tape tension3.) a bad tape sensor and/or stop switch4.) a bad reel motor

The first 2 can be fixed fairly easily, for the others I would take it to a shop. Please let me know. Best Wishes; Al smith.

August 04,2001 6:20 P.M. est.

Karen; I just saw your 2nd message - do you mean rewind in the play mode or just plain rewind? Plain fast forward a tape and watch to see if the fast forward speed becomes slower at any time or as you get to the end of the tape . If this happens you probably need a new reel motor which you can change out yourself but is a LOT! of work and is worth paying a shop to do. Generic motors are available & not 2 expensive. Let me know! A.S.