🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <78979@hydra.gatech.EDU> np4@prism.gatech.EDU (Nick Pomponio) writes:

> I have a Panasonic 4-head VCR that is about 8 years old.  It is a "portable"
> (read "luggable") unit that can record from a separate camera. Lately, any
> time I record from the camera, the image is "noisy" when played back - it
> looks like the tracking needs to be adjusted, but doing so doesn't help.
> Prerecorded videos work just fine. Any help in diagnosing the cause of this
> problem would be greatly appreciated.
> 

Do you notice any odd effects if you use a "slow motion replay" mode?  Any
differences in SP/LP modes?

From the description, I guess that this could be one of many problems, but
since it's a Panasonic 4-head, it *could* be related to the problems that
I've been having with my (rather more recent, but probably closely-related)
Panasonic NV-FS90B.

I bought it 6 months ago, and after 3 months it started to give noisy playback,
similar to your description, but only on SP.  When I put it into SP "slow
motion replay", alternate frames are good, and bad (heavy noise, much worse
than that seen in normal play).  This looked to me like a single head failure,
and the shop's repairer (on the 2nd attempt), replaced (under guarantee)
the drum assembly.  4 weeks later (a few days ago) it failed again.  I feel
rather pessimistic about another head assembly (this seems unlikely to
work and, even if it does, how long after the guarantee period is it likely
to last?).

I would be really tempted to take this thing apart and take a look myself,
but, of course, that would invalidate the guarantee (for what it's worth!).

I bought Panasonic because of their reputation for reliability, and it was
an "upgrade" for an 5-year-old Panasonic NV-G12 that has given good service.
On the whole, I'm not really impressed with the FS90B - it cost twice as
much (700 UK Pounds - discounted from 850), its ergonomics are poorly
thought out, performance about the same as the G12 (when new) and it is
(to say the least) rather unreliable.  Panasonic - here goes your reputation...

I'll let you know if I get any more information that might be useful to you.
Meanwhile, if anyone has any suggestions about my machine, to quote the
immortal words of Spock: "I am all ears"...

Regards,

Granville

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Warning: signature file under construction - read carefully
Granville Moore                                  gvm@nemesys.demon.co.uk
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