VHS VCR: Why Can't I Play/Record through my new AVR??

[Janik]

I'm having a problem getting my existing VCR to work when connected to my new Onkyo 905. None of my old VHS tapes show anything other than snow on my HDTV. (Actually, sometimes the picture phases in very poorly for a moment & then phases back out. I get nothing at all when trying to record.

I know the VCR works, because those connections work fine on my old analog system. Also the input composite video connection on the 905 work, because I tested it using my DVD player composite out on them.

Thought it would be a simple connection of the cables (composite video + audio) exactly as shown in the 905 manual... ??

I thought the super duper chip on the 905 could handle anything.. am I missing something really obvious in the setup??

I'm stumped here, any ideas??

 

[chadnliz]

Do you have to set the line output on the VCR? That may be the problem.

 

[brulaha]

With the fading in and out you mentioned, it sounds like macro vision, a form of copy protection on VHS machines. There are ways around it, but I'm not that informed on how to beat it.

 

[adk highlander]

I have had issues playing a variety of VCR tapes through my 885. It seems that the signal is not strong enough to upscale. I see this issue on many of the kid's well worn tapes. I have not had any issues recording because the signal going to the VCR was not an issue. I also had similar issues with my Pioneer Elite so it is not an Onkyo specific issue.

 

[chadnliz]

Can you hook up video direct to your TV/Monitor? You should have an empty composite or S-Video input you could use then just run audio into Reciever.

 

[Janik]

I have had issues playing a variety of VCR tapes through my 885. It seems that the signal is not strong enough to upscale. I see this issue on many of the kid's well worn tapes. I have not had any issues recording because the signal going to the VCR was not an issue. I also had similar issues with my Pioneer Elite so it is not an Onkyo specific issue.

Well that is not good news. Were you able to figure out any kind of workaround? I have some nice family tapes I'd like to watch.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Well that is not good news. Were you able to figure out any kind of workaround? I have some nice family tapes I'd like to watch.

That is curious since family tapes do not have copy protection embedded in the video.
Why not just send the video directly to the TV?

 

[adk highlander]

Well that is not good news. Were you able to figure out any kind of workaround? I have some nice family tapes I'd like to watch.

For my family tapes and other misc material I wanted to watch regularly I hooked my vcr directly into my dvd recorder and copied them to dvd.

 

[Janik]

For my family tapes and other misc material I wanted to watch regularly I hooked my vcr directly into my dvd recorder and copied them to dvd.

Unfortunately, I may have to do the same. Mind you, I'm quite disappointed in this non-backwards incompatability quirk. The younger people would no doubt call this

 

[Janik]

progress!

For my family tapes and other misc material I wanted to watch regularly I hooked my vcr directly into my dvd recorder and copied them to dvd.

Unfortunately, I may have to do the same. Mind you, I'm quite disappointed in this non-backwards incompatability quirk. The younger people would no doubt call this PROGRESS