My optimistic E-bay seller of the week is for an SL-5000 "professional" Betamax deck at $99 first bid. This is the third time this was listed I think.

The text of the listing...

"This is a professional Sony Betamax SL-5000 Beta Video Cassette Recorder. Although it never caught on in the 1980's despite its superior quality over VHS, it is still widely used in the commercial world. This Betamax worked when removed from service and when I plugged it in, it powers up. If you are into professional video recording, this commercial grade BETA VCR could be what you've been looking for. Take a look at the photo and place your bids to own this commercial grade BETA VCR. " http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1355030123 Well I suppose if you squint a bit an SL-5000 could pass for a Betacam deck...

Hello All! - Well for those of us over here in the states, Memorial Day is justaround the corner - and that means getting out of the house and enjoyingsome warm weather. It's also the time people satrt having garage salesand a time to hit some of those distant Goodwill and thrift store wellremoved from most big cities. And based on a few short trips I've maderecently here in the Pacific Northwest, there are some Beta machines still out there waiting to be discovered for cheap. I've actually seenat least three older top loaders - two Sonys and a Sanyo - that I couldget for less than $10.00 a piece! Unfortunately, I didn't have any Betatapes with me - but you can be sure I'll be back to try them out!

Hello All! - Well for those of us over here in the states, Memorial Day is justaround the corner - and that means getting out of the house and enjoyingsome warm weather. It's also the time people start having garage salesand a time to hit some of those distant Goodwill and thrift stores wellremoved from most big cities. And based on a few short trips I've maderecently here in the Pacific Northwest, there are some Beta machines still out there waiting to be discovered for cheap. I've actually seenat least three older top loaders - two Sonys and a Sanyo - that I couldget for less than $10.00 a piece! Unfortunately, I didn't have any Betatapes with me - but you can be sure I'll be back to try them out!

A fussy warehouser just jumped a box of Beta "Jesus" videos on me. It's a movie taken directly from the Biblical Book of "Luke". I've got five languages and I'm a fixin' to throw them in the trash. Can anyone suggest a use for them? Anyone want them? What if I just set them out on a table on a street for folks to take? What would happen?

Keith

Don't toss those Jesus videos. Word is, if you put one of them in a broken down Beta it gets resurrected.... ;>)

I have someI haven't thrown them away but i never watched themStrangely one of them starring Roy castle (they christian videos actually):)

Re virus thingy

Re virus thingyLast 2 weeks ago I had to reformat my Hardrive Because of a worm virusI don't know where it came from and I don't know where it gone toMy pc is now virus clean.But I lost all the email addresses:(Life unfair

For Sale , Sony SLO1700 Beta , Was working up until last week , cassette jammed ! im in the Nottingham area or call 07887552422 after 6pm , offers please , thanx

Well Rob, perhaps you could borrow one of Kieth's Jesus videos and wave it over the top of your SLO-1700 and let the Jesus 'mojo' do it's stuff...

it couldn't hurt...

I want to buy a beta video cassette player in the worst way! I don't really care about the model or year or anything, just so it will play some old beta tapes that I have! Please e-mail me if you can help!

Regarding these "Jesus" tapes: Isn't there an 11th commandment that accompanies these? "Thou shalt not useth VHS!" ;)

I didn't see anything about that but my Rabbi says that VHS is listed in the Torah as an 'abomination'....

For sale: SL-HF950ES SuperBeta w RMT-423 JogDial.This machine has been checked/cleaned internaly.Location: The Netherlands

Hi all, last weekend I was cleaning out our garage, and I came across our huge collection of beta tapes (170 home recorded and pre recorded) and all the manuals for our old Toshiba v8600 that my folks ditched about 9 years ago. For sentiments sake, I'm wondering if anyone in australia has one of these machines in working order. Thanks

Hi Betafans!.

I am interested in purchasing a late model betamax machine, from 1982 onwards, preferably front loading and hi-fi stereo. I used to have a C7 but since it's demise, I have been left with a lot of tapes I cannot play as I never switched to VHS. I've had no luck on ebay so i thaught i'd try here.

Just a note for PAL beta fans...

Someone with around 100 or so Beta prerecorded movies is selling them off in small lots on E-beta at URL http://listings.ebay.com/aw/listings/list/category2286/index.html which is E-bay Beta catagory (mostly prerecorded movies get listed here but a few VCRs show up)

For some reason a V2000 unit is also in and amongst the Beta tape offerings...

Am looking for a betamax user's manual. (For a gag gift). Where can I get one?

hello everyoneI came home from work the other night to find that my beta VCR ( Some Betamax SL HF-360) did not want to play. I ejected the tape that was in it by some of the tape was left inside .. my first worry.. I was able to extract the tape with little damage to the tape and none that I could see to the VCR. thinking this was a defective tape I put another one in and pressed play- nothing and the same thing happened when I ejected the tape.. I then tried to turn the unit off using the power button did not work unit stayed on.. I unplugged the unit turning it off the plugged back in . the unit powered on imediately which it should not have done. I took the top off and then put another tape in it fed around the head ok and everything seems to be in place but now the unit will not eject the tape as if the button no longer works. none of the main controls on the front work play, pause fwd rew etc .. if I shut the unit of and power up holding the power button the unit then turns off whe I turn it back on the tape mechanism makes movement to check for the tape but still the unit is unresponsive. is ther an internal settings reset on this unit... a button to push to reset everything ? can it be fixed is it worth it or should I get another unit? I worked fine no less than 12 hours earlier.. thanks for the help

RJWF

I must say, that I like to purchase broken Beta machines torefurbish and then re-release back to the Betaphiles. It ishard to find Beta units - so I have resorted to Ebay, thinkingthat buying broken machines could possibly be fruitful there.NOT! I can not believe how much people pay for BROKEN machines.Today I bidded on a SL-HF400, missing the tape loader carriage,and had a cut power cord. Looked like it could be decent, but youwould definately need a complete loader assembly for it, and power cord , and then it possibly would still have problems. Anyways, as usual on Ebay , if you want to buy something off thereyou have to line up the sniper windows,because as you know you can not get anything on Ebay unless you SNIPE , or you can bid a top dog insane amount andhope you get the item. Anyways it sucks. Well, it did not work out this timefor me.. Or the last time, or last time.. Someone outbid me, andgot the machine for approx $60 US. At least Snaling did not get it.I have bid on SL-HF900 unitsthat needed service, major service even and they got over $ 200. 00.And these are units that need videoheads or other major $$$ serviceparts. I have alot of parts units here... And I could list them on Ebayand the sad thing here is people would pay top dollar for thesebroken machines. I could probaly even say they are total junkdon't bid more than $20 and they'd still devour them. Especiallythis Snaling guy(ABSOLUTE BETA?) . Oh well.. I am just a repairguyhere after all. Sorry about the ramble, this Ebay thing is greatfor a seller and I do sell on Ebay. But, what a fight it is tojust get a broken unit to repair and resell or use personally.Andy

Hello all,

I've just got hold of some beta tapes and some of them have a fine white mold on them as they've obviously been stored in a damp environment. Will this do any harm to my player? a full ff and rewind should clear it off.

ThanksBill

Andy,

I'm out of the country right now, but when I get home, I'm going to send you my 860D for repairs, and most likely an SL-HF400 that I got recently that seems to have a power supply problem (and perhaps more). I'm not going to bother with getting my 550 repaired, but will instead give it to you for parts or repair/sale, whichever you wish. It's got nearly new video heads, and up until recently gave a nice picture, but needed the transport adjusted. Then it quit playing at all. I've been using it as a tuner head lately.

Robert, was there an electrical storm of recent power outage/surge in your neighbourhood? That might be why it suddenly has stopped working.

As for fine white mold in a tape, I wouldn't take any chances with it in a Beta because the beta tape wraps around the head in Sony machines and any mold dust will get on the head. If there's something critical on that tape use a winder rewinder if you can get on. Otherwise toss it out...

The SL-HF750 superbeta hi-fi VCR arrived from Texas last night. After playing with the unit for a couple of hours, my initial impressions of this legendary model is as follows: 1) Exterior Styling: Sleek and trim, very nice looking and pleasing to the eye; a preview of what Beta could have fully evolved into if it had won the format wars. 2) Linear Skate Loading: fun to play with and very unique! I spent about five minutes playing with the linear skate tray, and getting accustomed to its mechanical action. It's great fun and very novel, but would be a real pain to fix if it ever broke, due to its apparent mechanical complexity; I'll keep my fingers crossed. 3) Performance: so far so good, dubbed a movie from DVD, and the picture resolution is sharp and very good, and beta hi-fi sound is on par with the other Sony beta hi-fi's. 4) RMT-143 remote Control: I played and handled the legendary RMT-143 jog shuttle remote, and found it an excellent remote with many useful remote features, and having a jog shuttle wheel on a beta remote is certainly a novelty for me; main concern with the RMT-143 is that it is a bit flimsier than I had expected, and may break under intense use, so I will use it very sparingly, and use another beta remote in its place for most common functions.

I have not put the 750 thorugh the rigors of editing yet, so I do not yet have an idea as to how sharp its editing functions are; but based on what I have seen so far editing should go well on this machine. I'll try editing with this unit during weekend. Howard

To Howard; Well color ME green with envy. Looks like I'm gonna have to put up a pretty hefty reserve of cash just to get another low end HiFi if my collection should die on me. I can't believe this is escaping the attention of Sony execs. All they'd have to do is release more SL-HF 2000s and the E-bay market would probably go bust...

People are now asking $400 bux for a mere SL-HF 300! I'm almost tempted to put mine on the block. Almost.

Anyone want a SANYO VTC-6500 front loader - the rubber buttons are a bit worn and yellowed but the machine appears to be functioning perfectly.

Remember a while back about the posting about a shady E-bayer selling these guides to 'secret sources' for 'Beta HiFi Front Load VCRs' like they were still making them somewhere? I did some checking at he's still selling those guides for other products but looking at his feedback it turns out that 'secret source' is the Salvation Army. He's apparantly selling a list of phone numbers you can call to try and get 'Beta HiFi Front Load VCRs' or projection TVs or Bowflex home gyms... or whatever product he slaps onto his phone lists this month....

Howard: The 750 is cool deck. I use mine mostly for recording and have never been disappointed w/ the results! Just this past Tuesday, I duped Harry Potter to a BCT -30 from the DVD and it came out really sweet (was I the first? [ :) ]). I also found that if I setup the DVD player just right, I can produce a beta hifi copy that works so well w/ our ProLogic II setup. Some of my tapes can really rock the house when played thru it!

Finally, I feel that beta is the very best for any serious collection; DVD, SatTV & Digital Cable came out to give us "betafanz" some superfine sources to record from. Just my 2¢ tho. :) :)

Howard, as for the RMT-143 remote, I didn't get that lucky when I got my HF750, but shortly thereafter I acquired a Sony RMT-V373A off of Ebay and it has been a very good remote. It has a Jog/Shuttle wheel similar to the 143 and does most of the functions for the HF750. So far it has been a very durable remote. As for the performance of the HF750?? I haven't graduated to dvd so I don't know how it is but a few people here have said it is really good. I mainly use mine for Beta movies and some vhs to Beta copying and recording Enterprise off of Satellite commercial free and of course for watching what I record with my GCS1 SuperBeta camcorder. Andy, I can't believe the way pricing has gone for Beta anything on Ebay. To be honest if I was crazy enough to use a credit card on the 'Net I have a few parts Betas that would probably make me a few bucks and a alot of barely working and/or old computer parts. That is another venue to look at. Gotta dead harddrive or motherboard?? Sell it on Ebay; people will buy it. It's kinda nutz, but it works. Later. Pepse.

Hi! I´m from Germany, and I´m looking for an SONY SL-C6ES Betamax Videorekorder in PAL format. It should be the Mark I model with Stereo Sound and anthrazite case. May be defective but should be complete, not messed up internally by people without technical knowledge and in a good optical condition.

Benjamin

Steve (Whelan)

I think you have a virus on your computer I suggest you get it checked out

Paul :)

Regarding Olive Thomas' latest post, I would agree that the E-bay market would probably go bust if Sony would re-release the SL-HF2000. I've heard though that it's not all that special a machine, so maybe something with more features like the SL-HF750, 900, 1000 or 2100 or maybe an ED Beta would be better. We should all email Sony a bunch of times and give them a piece of our minds, but their website is so complicated-Sony Global, Sony USA, SonyStyle, etc. You have to go through a bunch of menus to send them a mail, depending on what kind of product you're talking about. And just try searching their site for anything a little off the beaten path, like an EV-series Hi8 deck or an S-VHS VCR. I've had a bit of a problem with my Sanyo VCR-4030 lately...it still plays and records fine, but while it's doing so it sometimes (not always) makes this HORRIBLE shrieking sound that sounds like a rat has gotten caught in the tape transport mechanism. I have to close the door to the room while its recording to keep from driving everyone in the house crazy. If I put it in REW or FF mode during playback, it stops the noise but starts again when I put it back into normal play mode. It also makes the noise in slow motion mode. It just started doing this recently, and it seems to do it more often with Scotch (3M) brand tapes, but sometimes does it with other brand tapes too. And now for my Beta questions of the day...I've read that Sony's early K -30 and K-60 tapes are not usable in newer BII/III units...why not? What's to stop me from popping one in and pressing Play or Rec?... Pepse...a SuperBeta camcorder? What model is that? I thought I might look for a Beta camcorder but wasn't aware that any other than regular Beta were made... how about a Beta hi-fi one? What's the difference in tape quality between the Sony "Dynamicron", "ES Dynamicron", "UHG Dynamicron" and their newer "Betamax" with the blue and gold wrapper cassettes?

IIRC the Sony SL200D that they sell in Japan is very similar to the SL-HF 2000, but with better everthing. So, all Sony would have to do is put the US rf box in it so we could use it. Same with their ED series, just change the rf box and it is US ready. Oh yeah, and set the power supply for our use. Later. Pepse.

If I can throw in 2¢: If I'm not mistaken the early K -30 /60 tapes aren't playable on the Sanyo's if recorded in BI (X1) which is all the earliest Sony's could do. None of the Sanyo's can play BI whereas nearly all of the Sony's can. I wouldn't doubt that they'd work if you record over them in BII/BIII where they'd be L-250 or L-500 tapes, respectively.

FREE TO GOOD HOME sony series 2 umatics, 2 machines, one ok one mint, with series 2 edit controller and cables, plus national umatic (similar to the sony's), plus I will throw in say 25 tapes and a series 5 player in good nick!

Pick up in Adelaide South Australia!

they will be tossed in a few weeks if no reply! [email protected]

To Andy I hope this helps with some of your questions...

*Regarding Olive Thomas' latest post, I would agree that the E-bay market would probably go bust if Sony would re-release the SL-HF2000. I've heard though that it's not all that special a machine, so maybe something with more features like the SL-HF750, 900, 1000 or 2100 or maybe an ED Beta would be better.*

Well I figure they'd still have the tools and dies for the SL-HF 2000 but yeah nobody seems to hold much regard for it. I'd love an SL-HF 750. With luck and saving I might have one by fall or winter...

*We should all email Sony a bunch of times and give them a piece of our minds, but their website is so complicated-Sony Global, Sony USA, SonyStyle, etc. You have to go through a bunch of menus to send them a mail, depending on what kind of product you're talking about. And just try searching their site for anything a little off the beaten path, like an EV-series Hi8 deck or an S-VHS VCR.*

Sony has pretty much been it's own worst enemy. When Beta started making money for them they cut back on advertising just as VHS was making inroads into Beta market share. Sony would make dazzling technical advances only to spoil it with cheapness. For example my SL-HF 360 came out in 1988 but still has a mono tuner with only 14 measly presets. Even the 1990 SLS-600 is basically a repacked SL-300 chassis. A similar low end Shintom VHS unit (that sold for around $100 which was pretty cheap for 1990) gave you all the channels it was capable of getting - no presets. Long after VHS camcorders included full playback capabiliy Sony insisted on trying to sell record only units. For no good reason Sony has chosen to 'hobble' their universal remotes so that only a limited features will work on non Sony units. Even my 2 year old Sony VHS VCR as adequate as it is lacks a TV/VCR switch on the VCR itself. And while it's remote can work my Panasonic TV, I can't directly enter TV channels. Sony is Sony's own worst enemy...

*I've had a bit of a problem with my Sanyo VCR-4030 lately...it still plays and records fine, but while it's doing so it sometimes (not always) makes this HORRIBLE shrieking sound that sounds like a rat has gotten caught in the tape transport mechanism. I have to close the door to the room while its recording to keep from driving everyone in the house crazy. If I put it in REW or FF mode during playback, it stops the noise but starts again when I put it back into normal play mode. It also makes the noise in slow motion mode. It just started doing this recently, and it seems to do it more often with Scotch (3M) brand tapes, but sometimes does it with other brand tapes too.*

It may that the tape path esp the pinch roller needs cleaning - it couldn't hurt, but most likely it's the tapes themselves.There are movable parts within them that can resonate like a tuning fork. Tapes may also be poorly wound. Sometimes winding and rewinding helps loosen them up.

And now for my Beta questions of the day...I've read that Sony's early K -30 and K-60 tapes are not usable in newer BII/III units...why not? What's to stop me from popping one in and pressing Play or Rec?...

Assuming these are already recorded K -30 and K-60 tapes my guess is that it's because they were recorded in the BI speed and that speed is not supported by Sanyo machines. I can't think of any other reason...

*a SuperBeta camcorder? What model is that? I thought I might look for a Beta camcorder but wasn't aware that any other than regular Beta were made... how about a Beta hi-fi one?*

The BMC-550 and BMC-660 and GCS-1 were superbeta camcorders - if you remembered to flip that little switch next to the clock battery. NEC Sanyo and Toshiba also marketed Sony built BMC-550s under their badge. The BMC-1000 recorded the BIs format and was really only usefull if you had an SL-HF 1000, 750 or 2100 which recorded in the BIs speed. The only HiF capable camcorder was the ED Cam but that's another story...

*What's the difference in tape quality between the Sony "Dynamicron", "ES Dynamicron", "UHG Dynamicron" and their newer "Betamax" with the blue and gold wrapper cassettes?*

One is $3.95 the other is $4.95...

???????at franny

Olive...thanks for your answers. The first thing I did when my Sanyo started squeaking was run my Nortronics head cleaner through it...it lowered the volume of the squeak a little bit but not by much. The fact that Sanyos won't play BI does seem like the only logical reason for a K-type tape not to work, but I meant to record on them. And my SL-HF600's manual says it can play BI, but since I don't have any BI recorded tapes I have never used that feature...sometimes when I pick up used Beta tapes at St. Vinnys type stores or garage sales I hope they've been recorded in BI just so I can see what it looks like compared to BII, but so far all of them have been BII or BIII. Does the lower tape speed decrease the video quality considerably? BII (Superbeta) recordings still look better than SP VHS recordings, but how much better still is BI in terms of resolution & noise?

Mad Beta - sorry for sounding so inscrutable but I was refering to that iVirusing iJerk who's been iTrawling this site for iVictims...

Dammit Apple keeps iPutting 'i' in front of it's iProducts and now they've got me iDoing it...

Come to think of it iBeta would make a for killer campaign for Beta's comeback...

I wouldn't mind an iBeta in Bondi blue... (or iShould iSay iWouldn't iMind...)

especially if it had that linear skate drawer so that in the ads if you stuck yer tongue out at it it could do likewise - like the new iMac with flat screen does in that new Apple ad...

How about if in the ad the iBeta kicks a VHS deck off the stand with it's skate loader drawer?

iBetaStill kicks VHS @$$

Can anyone provide a link to a japanese site selling new Beta vcr's? I know they cannot record off-air in the US, but it would be interesting to see them being sold, nonetheless... I've tried the japanese Sony site, and it only provides links to new tapes or the "Sony History" site.

No problem Jesse just click on over to http://www.sony.jp/ProductsPark/Models/Current/EDV-9000_J_1/index.html and feast your eyes on the tasty EDV-9000....

Now that's a VCR that can beat up S-VHS machines and take their lunch money...

and here's their current superBeta:http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/visual/video/products/index.cfm?PD=117

hey there guys. I have several beta tapes, some in original covers, some in plastic shells from a video store. I am trying desperatly to get rid of them for a little cash. Anyone interested?

For Sale SONY SL-HF950ES BETAMAX Video Cassette Recorder

I am selling my Sony Betamax SL-HF950ES. In immaculate condition. Magnificent machine. Arguably the best Beta machine ever sold for domestic use in Australia. Features Beta HiFi for superb stereo analogue recording. 4-head design. I bought this unit new in 1989. It operates flawlessly. I have never had a problem with it. I have been using it as an audio recorder on the odd occassion. Excellent picture and sound quality. Comes with Remote Control, the User Manuals, Service Manuals and original sales brochure. Also included is Sony Video Cleaning Beta tape (which i have never used) and 15 blank used Beta tapes. I have the original box and packing. The unit is located in Sydney, Australia. Buyer pays for shipping.

Please make an offer. Email with your expression of interest.

Joseph.

SPECIFICATIONS

SYSTEM:Video Recording System: Rotary two-head helical scanningAudio Recording System: Beta hi-fi PAL system (2 channels) (Recording on the conventional audio track is monaural.)Video Signal: CCIR standards, PAL and DDR SECAM colour.Aerial input: 75-ohm, asymmetrical aerial socket.Stereo/bilingual system: West-German two carrier system.Channel Coverage: VHF: Western European Channels E2 - U20 UHF: Western European Channels E21 - E68 (up to 30 programmes can be preset).RF output signal: UHF channels 30 to 39 (variable) 75 ohms, unbalanced.

VIDEO:Horizontal resolution: 280 lines (Super Beta PRO mode).

BETA HI-FI PAL SOUNDFrequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz (MPX FILTER OFF)Wow and Flutter: Less than 0.005% WRMSDynamic Range: More than 80dB

INPUTS AND OUTPUTSVideo input: VIDEO IN: BNC Connector 1.0 V (p-p) 75 ohms unbalanced , sync negative.Video output: VIDEO OUT: BNC connector 1.0 V (p-p) 75 ohms unbalanced , sync negative.Audio inputs: AUDIO IN: 2 phono jacks 47 kilohms, -10 dBs (0 dBs = 0.775 V rms) Microphone: -60 dBs, for low-impedance microphone.Audio outputs: AUDIO OUT: 2 phono jacks Load impedance less than 10 kilohms -10 dBs with 47 kilohms load, unbalanced. Headphones: Stereo phone jack -26 dBs, 8 ohms.Video/audio output: 21-pin EUROCONNECTOR

TAPE TRANSPORTTape Speed: 18.73 mm/sec.Maximum recording time: 3 hours 15 min with L-750 tape

Remote Commander: RMT-223

GENERAL:Power Requirements: 110 - 240 V AC 50/60 HzPower consumption: 39 WDimensions: 430 x 95 x 405 mm (w/h/d)Weight: 10.5 kg (23 lbs) net

Some Wise old sage said Actions speak louder than Words. Would flooding any of those contacts at the Sony Website with e-mails be of any help? If they are not willing to revive the Beta Format, are they not willing to pass on the patent to some Monied Entrepreneur Out there?

Unfortunately I am not a business minded person and I would certainly not know how to run a Betamax Manufacturing Company. But amongst this group there should be someone bold and monied enough to take the Betamax Investment Risk.

The Other question is! DVD! Are we not very close to having recordable DVD's. Would this not be one of Sony's arguments for not wanting to revive the Betamax.

Anyway my 2 cents worth...

To Mashilo...the Sony website is a web of confusing links and if you're looking for something a little off the beaten path including Beta, SVHS or Hi8 VCRs good luck finding it. Read Olive's post about how Sony has been their own worst enemy, I'd say that's about right. Not only that but their quality has come down a lot since the days of Betamax...their newer Trinitron TVs have loads of problems judging from the reviews of them I've read at audioreview.com and their new VHS machines are no better than the flimsy plastic piles coming from JVC and Panasonic.About to have recordable DVD...har har haw haw haw ho ho hack cough CHOKE! Here in the States there are only two models of DVD recorders available...the Panasonic DMRE20 sells for 999 dollars normally and 799 on the best sale its been on so far. The Phillips model sells for 999 dollars and I haven't seen it for less yet. And both of them use different formats of recordable DVD...the Panasonic uses DVD-R which can play on most home DVD players but can only be recorded on once just like a CDR, and DVD-RAM which can't play at ALL on any DVD players except for the DMRE20 itself...the Phillips uses DVD+R and DVD+RW which are different formats totally incompatible with those the Panasonic uses. I doubt recordable DVD will take off until a standard format is established and prices come down considerabley. It's a bit like the Beta-VHS wars all over again. Speaking of which, I bet if Beta had won the original video wars DVD would have been a lot slower to catch on!

The problem with DVD of any flavor is that it will no doubt be chock-a-block full of copy protection schemes that limit it's utility value. Likely you wouldn't even be able to time shift an episode of Frasier if digital TV ever really takes over and the networks decide they want to protect their 'intellectual property'. Betamax having been forgotten by the bigwigs is immune to most of the copy protection schemes in use or being proposed. Score one for the fair use Libertarians.

Betamax, even ED Beta, thanks to the limited time allotted by of Patent Law is by now available royalty -free to anyone who can get hold of technical drawings and specs and is willing to front the money to build them. It's not unheard of that an obscure technology can see a revival. Audiophile purists have converted CD players to run on old vacuum tubes. Perhaps a Betamax underground can smuggle EDV-9000s out of the land of the rising sun to reverse-engineer and maybe to convert to worldwide usability...

Say, how do you get that EDV-9000 page to display in English?Are they actually for sale there...If so, dare I ask for how much?

Help! I'm wondering if anyone knows where to get a beta tape adapter unit that fits in to the VCR and enables you to watch beta tapes. I have alot of home movies that my granfather took over the years and I need to find something so I can tape them from my VHS. The beta machine that he has is broken. I heard that there are adapters that you can buy like what I mentioned above. Is this true? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Are people actually still looking for beta movie machines? I have the video camera and a beta player, the player does not work and I am desperatly trying to figure out if there are any adapters you can buy for use with the vhs. I have tons of home movies on these beta tapes and want to dub them to VHS. I want to do this on my own, I just need to know if there are any adapters you can get for the beta that will play in the VCR. From there I can dub my tapes. I don't want to send my tapes anywhere to have it done because I am sure they charge a fortune! Any ideas? I sure would appreciate it! Thanks!

Trudi: There is no beta-VHS adaptor. Never was; due to differences in the speed and recording techniques of each format, it's impossible. You're only choice is to acquire a working betamax vcr and hook it to your VHS.

Regarding digital recording systems: All of them respond to an anti-copy system called CGMS (Copy Generation Management System). DVD players send it out. If a digital recording device (DV, MiniDV, DVHS, Tivo, Replay TV, DVD-R, etc.) detects this system in the signal (analog or digital) from the source, it simply refuses to go into record mode. It's different from macrovision in the fact that it doesn't add false brightness or other signals to the video signal.

I know, we have a Tivo which I often use to grab shows or movies (off Sat TV) that were on while we are at work or out. The Tivo acts as a temporary shift device so I can record them to Betamax later. But I tried running a DVD to it and it flashed an copy-guard warning & wouldn't record. :þ

Finally, I'd love to see some guy w/ a few bucks develop some new beta's. He'd prolly bust the eBay market and make some good $$$. I'd buy a few off him in a heartbeat! "Got Beta?" :)

If you want to see the Japan Beta pages you can load them through the Babelfish page at URL

http://babel.altavista.com/tr paste the URL in the window they give you...

They make an interesting translation...

Prices would be quoted in Yen which was around 105 to $1US in the old (1995) tourist guidebook I have.

Stopped by the Sony outlet store in Kenosha Wisconisn a week ago and just out curiosty asked them if they had any blank Beta tapes. Have in the past gotten them there fairly cheap. They said they no longer carried them but the girl a Spoke with said they ussully have 4 or 5 people ask for them every day. No one there has figured out that that could mean 4 or 5 extar sales everyday if they did stock them- they can after all still be ordered from Sony.

I am also looking for someone in Australia who would be willing to tape stuff off of local TV for me- I am in the US, and actually have SuperBeta equipment in both PAL and NTSC (as well as conversion equipment!)

Three betas in one day!!!!!!!!------Read below--------

FOR SALE: SONY BETAMAX, MODEL #SL-2401, front loader 39.5 watt, vhf in and out, rf unit 3 channel and 4 channel vhf, clock to set month, date and to set programs. Asking Price $85.00 I also have 29 betamax movies for sale, Asking price $2.00 each.

I've been lots of years believing that in Spain betamaxes are a 1/8 present (not yet sold or traded) than the lots of those dream machines you say there are in USA or in Japan.My parents want to buy an appartment in Madrid. We wanted to see two appartments they seemed to be interesting. In the first one a very nice old man began to show us the appartment he opened a room and... there was a mint SL-F1E with the NP-1 and all working with the trinicon camera and also lots of tapes ( 200 ), well that's a lot for me having seen a maximum of ten betamax cassettes together. Oh and then... a mint C9 in his dining-room. I've seen its rapid response... it's better even than the 950 (he made me a demonstration f the C9 ). And later in another appartment first I saw a Cx remote. I recognise it quickly. Then in the dining-room I saw a C9 in a very bad condition and the owner of it says that he will give it to me. I have all this summer to repair it and I'll love to have a C9 !!!Beta i still alive waiting to kick all those china Video_Headache-producing_System.

But I've been highly surprised to see that a lot of those old man old cassettes give have been very damaged along the time and he have been storing them in a cold dry place.

Anyone knows the SL-C9 /SL-2500 dc-dc MkII transformer sony global part number (x-xxx-xxx-xx)? In Spain I think Sony could have them in Sony Spain INC.

Oh, I would really thank someone who could send me the C9 and the 950 service manual. I ask this again because in Spain Sony only gives service manuals to official repair centres and doesn't sells or give no choice to normal people to have them. I wish I'd live in central europe where I could get service manuals for 10€ or less :-(

Look at this article about beta and copyright laws.

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1106-851506.html

And if someone can give me a copy of the manuals, thank you very much in advance.

I live in Wisconsin, but I don't think I've ever been up to Kenosha, at least not that I recall. Alan-you say there's a Sony store there? Do they have any Sony products that you wouldn't normally find at an electronics outlet like Best Buy or American? The Radio Shack at East Towne Mall in Madison does have blank Beta tapes.That Beta ownership by state page on Ray Glasser's site says the ol' Badger State has one of the highest levels of Beta ownership...which is pretty cool.

I have broken Sony Betamax Pro 4 Head 8 System. Need Service manuals and shematics. Please help me!

Who on Earth Started this Vhs and Beta Converter rumours???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

It gets on my nerves

Re: New Japanese Betas -- The current SL-200D seems lukewarm (no S-video, no flying erase) but get a load of that LCD jog-shuttle remote RMT-A200 -- is there a bin full of those in the Sony spare parts division?

Re: Expiring patents -- some of the magic in Betamax was the no-compromise video circuitry that Sony (used to) design. Even using a Sony unit as a tuner gives a much better picture than trying to do same with a Sanyo or any low- or mid-price VHS. If any third party such as Shintom designed a patent-free Beta their accountants would never budget for engineering that high level of video circuitry care. And wait till you see how their accountants engineer a transport mechanism! Without that magic it would be a disappointment to everybody but JVC.

"Anyone know how to play a Beta cassette tape in a VHS machine?"

Yes, we've heard it a million times before and we are sick of it. Aren't we??!

It just occured to me that quite innocent and (respectfully) ignorant people find this site to ask this (silly?) question only. They are desperate beings and it's only natural that they ask this burning question. After all, they HAVE come to the right place haven't they? So my suggestion to stop this sort of stuff cluttering up the otherwise very valid comments and questions on this site, is maybe the site designers would perhaps kindly put the answer to this oft asked question at the top of the page? Maybe a short statement under the main heading? I am sure it woudl help everyone, the puzzled frustrated VHS-philes with old Beta tapes and also keep the 'air' clear for us more conversant users of this site.

yes? No?

Now that's sorted can anyone tell me how to play my Philips 2000 tapes on Beta machine? :-)

Best wishes.

Barry.

The Sony outlet Center is along I-94 the second exit (or maybe the first) after you cross the bordercoming up from the flatlands, it is at the same one the Wisconsin welcome center is at. They moved this one exit down and on the other sideof the freeway from where it was a couple of years ago. They have a variety of Sony stuff, most of it falls into one of three catergories: 1) stuff that has been factory refurbished (it was broke and then fixed) 2) Stuff that was returned from a store for some reason- got some tapes like this with other store stickerson them once 3) Items that are last years model and not in the current catalogue!

I always check on tapes there since when they are the ones that have other store labels on them they are $1.98, the ones that are new stock are twice as much. Once annoyed the guy there when I found a $1.98 one on the shelf asked if he had more and the computer said there were 80 of them, I said I'ld take them all and he toldme to wait sicne they were in the back and the other employee was on break. I returned about 20 minutes later and he had them all out and rang them up, they were all new and thus $3.98 at which point I declined to purchase themgetting him real upset in the process. At that point a chain in Illinois had them for $3.39 everyday price!

I think there are lots of Beta decks in the land of the cheeseheads since at one time a local chain (think it is called American) gave away a Sanyo Beta deck whenever you made a big purchase- like furniture or big TV you could also get a bike!

Sony SL-C40 Intermittant recorded sound:Anyone had a problem with intermittant recorded sound on the C40. In the fault condition, the bias oscillator stops, but the control signal for it appears OK. Anyone have diagrams of this section? The AC head is making good electrical contact.PS: See my Beta page: http://www.staddiscombe.freeserve.co.uk/beta.html

Casimir Alonso: wow, three Beta PAL VCRs found in one day in Espana; that must be a record for Spanish beta VCRs! Congratulations, and hope you can get that SL-C9 fixed up real nice. I have the feeling from reading postings here from Eurobeta fans that locating good working PAL beta VCRs is a very difficult task, as not many of them are left in good condition in Europa. I experienced this first hand during 1999-2000, when I spent a year assigned to the U.S. Military in Heidelberg, Deutschland, and could not locate a single good working PAL Beta hi-fi in all of Heidelberg or Baden-Wurttemburg Land. It was a rather depressing state of affairs, and I had to settle for an Aiwa MX-V100 multi-system VHS Hi-Fi digital converter as my primary VCR during the time I spent in Germany. Oh well...Congrats on your SL-C9 find. Howard (from American NTSC BetaLand)

Even more diffucult adaptors: One VHSc-BETA

But Howard, weren't you able to locate ebay germany betas? There are quite a lot there. I would buy more betas there, but I can't due to Shipping costs to Spain. I only bought the 950ES and a Sony RMT-V5D remote (jog/shuttle). And I have also a friend of mine which has an old beta toploader and I offered hom to transfer his cassettes to VHS for free if he gives me the Beta VCR and the cassettes.

Lucky you NTSC B1SHB users!!!!!!!

Desperately seeking the 950 ES and the C9E service manual. Sony Spain doesn't want to sell service manuals for us. :'(. If anyone wants to sell me even photocopies...

Maby a nice camera for a good price? GCS1 on ebayhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1357127096

Yeah I've seen that camera but I went buck wild at E-bay listings - Beta and bought a $** load of Beta movies and a manual for my SL-HF 360 so I'll be flat broke for at least the time this auction ends...

Just one thing though...

According to the pix he posted the eyepiece of the viewfinder looks like it isn't permanently attached (broken off). Does anyone with a GCS-1 know if the viewfinder eyepiece is supposed to come off like that?

To Casimir Alonso: In 1999 while stationed in Germany, I was blissfully unaware of ebay and the whole internet auctioning scene, so I went looking for PAL beta hi-fi VCRs at second-hand stores, junkyards, and weekend street markets in and around the Heidelberg and Mannheim regions of Baden-Wurttemburg. Best I was able to find were a couple of non-functioning mono toploaders, that was about it. It was not until after my return to America in mid-2000 that I became acquainted with ebay and internet bidding, and began to purchase betas through ebay (and thoroughly deplete my finances in the process!) Howard

I found the movie 'The Atomic Cafe' in Betamax format at the big 'flea' market in town. Old Cold War footage from US government archives when 'Ground Zero' meant something else...

This one get's a 'glowing' review from our 'nuclear' family with 22 megatons of entertainment 'radiating' from our television.

Hey, fellow 'sconsinites, I'm now living in Northern 'sconsin and as for the video store you mention it is/was American TV and Appliance. IIRC their Spokesperson was "Crazy TV Lenny". I use to hang around/live in Neenah many moons ago. I do recall something from the mid '80s where-in Eastern Wisc.had one of the heaviest concentration of Beta vcrs per capita (as they say). And I do remember the old American ads where if you bought a big appliance you would get a Sanyo Beta vcr. This place was similar to one in the Eau Claire area called HIFI Kennys. But at Kennys they always had every model of Sony Beta decks and 1 or 2 models from the other Beta manufactureres. And I don't remember what they might have had for vhs; didn't care. I've alaways had a Beta deck. Bought a Sanyo 6400 4 head in 01, '84, because I couldn't afford a Sony anything. Got a good deal at the time, too.As for the GCS 1 that was on Ebay, Olive, yes the viewfinder is detatchable and it also unplugs from the camera. I did notice alot of nicks around the adjusting rings; don't know if that's bad tho. As for price that would be considered fair. Mine was $35.00 for the camera only. I later picked up a Sony car adapter for it and along with my 1000 amp portable car starter I have one he**ofa powersupply for outdoor use. I LOVE IT!! "Nuff for now.Later. Pepse.

HELLO.beta collector. looking for movies in original cases, early rock videos . i have been buying a lot off ofEbay the quality is fair , many copies.if any one knows or has any helpful ideas appreciate it

SL-HF950 For Sale in UK ONLY!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1358985180

Happy Bidding...

PS This unit does have the standard intermittent LED problem, forgot to put it in the auction.

sony slhf950 can anyone tell me if a new set of heads is still available for this unit.i did ask sony uk some 6 yearsagoand they said they had them in stock dont know if situation is the same maybe you can help.

Why doesn't Sony makes a 20th anniversary C9? It was released on 1982.

Or also a 20th anniversary F1?

Both SuperBETA-HI-FI/ED-beta-HI-FI...

Because those dumbkopf executives are short sighted and just plain stupid...

Case in point...

For years Sony rented space for a Jumbotron screen on the old Times tower in Times Square. They'd signed the lease when Times Square had nothing but porn shops and paid next to nothing a month as a consequence. Well in the mid-90s Sony was losing money on it's Columbia Pictures aquisition so they started cutting costs throughout the company - the first to go was that Jumbotron. Penisonic put one of theirs up just before the Times Square area turned around and locked in lease that while higher than what Sony paid for it's lease is far cheaper than anything Sony could get nowadays...

Sony has always been Sony's worst enemy...

I have recently experienced the Brilliance of a DVD to Betamax Recording. My Special word for it is: "WOW!"

*************

It is a pity that everyday, a Betamax machine's life comes to a complete halt. Eventually we will be left with piles of what used to be brilliant technology. There are those companies that spent millions of Rands (Zim $,Pounds, Euros, etc) manufacturing rip-offs of other people's products. I have seen quite a few (sorry-no offence) Chinese HiFi systems, TV's, Video Machines etc. (Maybe this is a Third World Phenomenon) Can't these people be convinced to at least use their know how on manufacturing something that people will be interested in. Especially because the Sony patent has expired.

Maybe what we should be doing now, is coming up with ways to get somebody to start manufacturing these again. I do not know how this used to work, But Sony was not the only one manufacturing these, Toshiba, Sanyo etc. used to make these as well.

How about contacting them? What other ideas do you have! Contacting Gill Bates! (He Might be a Closet Betamax Lover! You'll never know!) (Sorry! No Contacting Gill Bates! If he likes the Idea! He Might start selling Betamaxes that have to be upgraded every 3 Months. (Joke!) He is a Business man after all!

But let's come up with ideas! We have Identified a Niche Market! We are the Niche Market!!!

Or Better still! I have seen an ad that was placed in one of the Magazines. This ad promised "Beta Fans, that the Beta Manufacturers will never give up the Fight!"

Can't we take them to court for gross violation of our trust! They reneged on their promise. Can you imagine the guy who went into a Video Store during the last days of the Spanking New Betamax Machines and was completely blank when it came to the decision about buying a New Video Machine. The Sales person convincing him about the qualities of the Betamax v/s the VHS (And rightly so...).

Now the poor guy has got all these collection, ranging from recordings of Spandau Ballet, to Death on the Nile and he cannot view them. Can you imagine the frustration. The Video Repair Guy won't accept his machine, he is only 22, he has never seen a Betamax before. Sony pretends as if they have never made Betamaxes before. The only place you can get advice from, is from this Site, But what do you know about changing faulty heads, or DC Converters. Frustration and more frustration.

Are these not grounds for a Court Case?

My 2 Rands worth!

Mashilo Magongoa

I wonder what the story behind this find on E-Bay-ta...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1359103257

This SL-3030 has apparently never been opened after all these years. At a $9.99 start bid and no reserve should make for an interesting addition to your Beta collection if you're game to try for it. Imagine getting a whiff of that 'new' VCR smell...

And the SL-3030 is not a bad Beta VCR to get new or old. If you don't need stereo or HighBand this should serve you very well. And it's not the usual 'someone else's problem' scotch tape and baling wire E-bay off-dumping...

It's 'new'!

Now if only they could find that 'lost warehouse' full of SL-HF 750s...

To Mashilo: I heartily agree w/ ya 100%. And DVD-(Super)Beta "backup [ :) ]" is nothing but amazing. Been doing it for over a year and must now have at least 100 "new" betas in my collection (must be even more spectacular for you assuming you're using PAL). Plus I'm buying up all the used betacam tapes I can find to fuel my desire.

Also, have Microsoft make betas? Now there's a novel idea: "Coming soon, the new MS Betamax 2002 w/ the all-new 'ultra-high-quaiity' Betamax-XP recording mode." <bg>

On the other hand, MS would prolly make it tough to use the beta as freely as we do now to record stuff. They'd make it so you had to connect your deck to a phone line and "register" with them before you could even record anything. And they'd make it so you couldn't dupe from DVDs: "Your attempt to copy from a DVD has caused an invalid page fault in your MS-Beta's recording circuits. This operation will now be terminated." :þ

Yeah, a bit silly I know, but I like to dream on both sides of the coin.

Made a neat little catch at a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store today. Seems for some reason a lot of people are getting rid of their videotape rewinders lately, there have been stacks of them at St. Vinnys, Goodwill, etc. Anyway at the one I stopped at today, among stacks of VHS rewinders(I don't know how Best Buy and Sears think they'll sell any for $15 or more when so many people are dumping them off at thrift stores where they're sold for $5 or less)was a Solidex Betamax cassette rewinder for $2.50! I bought it and it works great, runs real smooth and quiet. And I'm sure my Sanyo VCR4030's idler tire appreciates it since up till now, I've been doing all my Beta rewinding on that VCR since it puts the tape back into the cassette when rewinding instead of doing what my Sony SL-HF600 does namely leaving the tape threaded where it will rub against the heads. I'd rather get a replacement idler tire than a replacement set of video heads, but now I won't end up having to get either thanks to this rewinder! Lucky I stopped at that store too, since it was only 10 minutes before closing time!

Hi....I have a 1984 Betamax Hi-Fi 2710(Sony),and it's in perfect condition.I just wanted to know much would it be worth now.I have a friend who is interested in buying it,but I have no idea of what is worth now.When I brought back then the retail price was 1300.00.Should I sell it for about maybe 200. 00 or 300.00 dollars...or more/less?.Need some advice...I would appreciate the input....JOHNNY(USA)

To Madness and Mashilo; If anyone were to remake Betas I'd rather it be an Apple iBeta. Picture an SL-HF 750 with a 'Snow' face place and 'Bondi Blue' coverlid, maybe a tiny bit more contoured so it will match the new flat screen iMac but still recognizable as a 750 - the aesthetic difference between an SL-340 and an SLS-600.Of course one would want a FireWire connection fron the iBeta to the iMac so that you could run iMovie with them.And if Apple wanted to be really clever they figure out a way to make a Beta-C palmcorder so we don't have to lug arouind a full sized Betamovie if we don't want to. Since Apple still wants to go it's own way in operating systems why not have a proprietary video system as well? Digital Betamax anyone?

To Johnny; Isn't it amazing to recall what VCRs went for back in the 70s and 80s? Especially when you consider that you can get a fairly credible HiFi unit for less than $100 nowadays? As for the SL-2710, I've seen them sell from under $100 to way over 200 or 300 bucks, depending on amongst other things whether 'Snaling' or 'MrBetamax' decides he wants an SL-2710 that day. You would of course have to weigh the value of cutting a nice deal for yourself or giving your friend a break on getting a decent Beta.

If you want to keep it strictly business figure with depreciation over the years you could ask for 10% of what you paid for it ($130)? This is a valued friend you're selling to, I assume...

To Madness: Yes PAL is the standard around here! ***********

I do not know whether Stereo Betamaxes did eventually make it to South Africa, I have never actually seen one. I have got a HiFi Demonstration Tape though!

The other thing I would like to know is, whether the video machines were released in all the countries at the same time. For instance a Sony C7 (I think it was released elsewhere in the late 70's).

I have got two Betamax Demonstration Cassettes that show the advantages of the Betamax and the Video Machine that's used for this demonstration is a C7, and they are still in a good condition (No Mould, or Peeling off). Is this possible? Given that, if they were released at the same time with the machines this would mean the cassettes and the C7 's (One is completely dead (Me! Trying to Fix), and the other one has an extremely Shaky Picture, But Audio Dubbing is still possible, which is the reason why I have kept it) in my possession are at least 22+ years old.

*******Any Ideas on How to Get Sony or Someone else to revive the Beta?

Thanks

Mashilo

One little beta-related tidbit I forgot to mention: This weekend I met up w/ an old high school buddy. He's into that whole Goth scene and usually wears all black, has a pale made-up face, and plays in a Goth-rock band. But one little thing caught my eye when he showed me his home recording studio. Among his recording gadgets, I noticed a Sony PCM -F1 /SL-2000 combo. He and his band have recorded demos and other stuff there and when I asked him about the beta, he told me that he had used it up until a few years ago for recording final masters (before he could afford a CD recorder)! I mentioned to him that I love beta and that I also own a PCM -F1 unit. So he loaned me a bunch of tapes he made, mostly some of his earlier original material (catch-up, since we hadn't seen each other in awhile). There were a couple of L-165's and some L-250's. So I dug out my PCM unit, plugged in one of my decks and spent the rest of the weekend listening to some excellent original Goth -- and on beta, gotta love it! Think we're now gonna see much more of each other from now on. ;)

Hello!I'm the owner of a Sony SL-HF100EC with the following fault: when I start the recorder (play, ff, rw) with or without an cassette, it stops after about 3 seconds. Can somebody help me to solve that problem? Please send me an email, greetings, Peter

Hi there folks... I would like to say that the best way to watch England at the World Cup is to hook up your Walkman to your Betamax and tape Radio 5 Live commentary with either BBC or ITV pictures fed from a Panasonic SVhS (I've got 950 ) deck!! Great pictures and even better sound and annalysis. Losers to all those who get pleasure from TV commentary. Even TalkSport is better than Clive Tydesley and I hate that station. Goaaaaaaallllllllazio!!!!

hi - im new to the world of BETA. i just picked up a betamovie videocamera(Sony betamovie BMC 220) and need a manual. anyone know where i can find this?

To Madness; Speaking of PCM -F1 /SL-2000 outfits, E-bay has one up for bid at URL... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=883514150

Always the good stuff comes out of hiding when I'm broke :>(

Hi all! I've been playing with my newly-arrived SL-HF750 and enjoy it so much I went ahead and bought a second one! This one is from ebay, and is a non-working unit. Seller states when unit is plugged in the on/off power switch would not come on, but the clock settings do work, which leads me to believe the unit's STK power transformer is burned out/dead. Any other theories out there concerning this unit's troubles? Howard

Howard:

Definitely does sound like the STK regulator, at least a 95% chance I'd say. If I were you, I'd go ahead and open the SL-HF750 you have now and get the part number and order one. That way hopefully it gets there by the time your second SL-HF750's there :)

Neither Sony nor any other company will ever revive Betamax. Don't think about it. They're complex mechanics from another era. Even VHS days are counted. In fact, the era of magnetic video / audio recording is coming toward the end.

Get D-I-G-I-T-A-L

I would rather commit seppuku with the handle of my late BMC-500 than be forced to switch to a digital ANYTHING!

With more 'artifacts' than an ®gyptian tomb, Digital looks like 'Scheisse am Schindle' compared to even a moderately good analog Beta recording...

Digital sucks!

Is anyone interested in a SL-HF400 Beta VCR? It still works, but we don't have a need for it --