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New SVHS player.. or not?

Author
29 Jul 2007 9:15 AM
R Joseph Cook
My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs. 

Am thinking about getting a new SVHS/DVD recorder.  Not only then could
I transfer my SVHS tapes onto DVD, then I can also play those old tapes
as well.

However, I was thinking, should I even bother with a SVHS unit?  I think
there are some VCR's now that will have quasi-SVHS playback.  And for
daily recording, thought about just going to a DVD unit and not worry
about taping with SVHS.

What are your suggestions?

Thanks!

Joe

Author
29 Jul 2007 3:36 PM
Howard
I have a Toshiba unit (Model D-VR650) with a high definition tuner
which can playback SVHS tapes and record to VHS or DVD.  (It can not
record to sHVS). As a recorder of cable broadcasts, it is crappy.  It
lacks many of the features of a decent VHS or SHVS recorder, such as
channel labeling or VCR+ numbers. You basically need to know the time
and channel number to record anything, whether it is to VCR or to DVD.
It can however copy SVHS tapes to DVD quite nicely. -- Howard

On 29 Jul 2007 04:15:37 -0500, msr***@wiu.edu (R Joseph Cook) wrotG:

Show quote
>My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs. 
>
>Am thinking about getting a new SVHS/DVD recorder.  Not only then could
>I transfer my SVHS tapes onto DVD, then I can also play those old tapes
>as well.
>
>However, I was thinking, should I even bother with a SVHS unit?  I think
>there are some VCR's now that will have quasi-SVHS playback.  And for
>daily recording, thought about just going to a DVD unit and not worry
>about taping with SVHS.
>
>What are your suggestions?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Joe
>
Author
30 Jul 2007 5:00 PM
whosbest54
Author
30 Jul 2007 9:24 PM
Howard
On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:00:48 -0500, whosbest54
<whosbest54@NOSPAM.yahoo.com.invalid> wrotG:

Show quote
>In article <9icpa3d901vrpgcvb6f6as59h78hlff***@4ax.com>, How***@Home.com
>says...
>>
>>
>>I have a Toshiba unit (Model D-VR650) with a high definition tuner
>>which can playback SVHS tapes and record to VHS or DVD.  (It can not
>>record to sHVS). As a recorder of cable broadcasts, it is crappy.  It
>>lacks many of the features of a decent VHS or SHVS recorder, such as
>>channel labeling or VCR+ numbers. You basically need to know the time
>>and channel number to record anything, whether it is to VCR or to DVD.
>>It can however copy SVHS tapes to DVD quite nicely. -- Howard
>>
>I understand this Toshiba model has a SD ASTC and QAM digital tuner, not a
>HD one.  At least that's what the Crutchfield site shows.

To quote the product specs from the Toshiba site

"Built in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital/analog tuner allows for tuning of
analog or digital channels from over the air, or cable, including
“cable-in-the-clear” digital channels."


Don't believe everything you read on the internet :-)
>
>"records and displays in standard definition only"

Not true.  The Toshiba does 720p/1080i upconversion of all media,
including VHS tapes. When you use the HDMI connection or the component
out, it can display HD.  If you want to use the unit with an antenna
to display on air HD channels, you can.  If your cable company
broadcasts in the clear digital HD channels, you can view them in HD.
If you want to record in "best" mode, you can record to DVD in HD. You
can also view and record the analog stations from your cable company,
unlike many of the other HD tuners.

So you can use the Toshiba as an HD tuner.  What is not so great is
that you can not label the stations and you need to input the HD
channel number with the dashes.  However, the Toshiba is pretty good
in comparison to some other units in doing a channel scan and only
identifying stations which actually have viewable content.  Some other
tuners I have tried pull in two hundred or so digital channels with
nothing but static on them and then I needed to spend an hour deleting
the channnels. 

See

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvr/product.asp?model=d-vr650

for more details.  I have the unit and it preforms as per the spec
sheet.  However, don't assume something not in the spec sheet is
there.  For example, the specs say nothing about double layer drives.
There is a reason for this.  The Toshiba can't read or write them. --
Howard


Show quote
>
>whosbest54
Author
31 Jul 2007 11:51 AM
R Joseph Cook
Thanks a lot for the great info, guys.

I guess I have a couple of (extreme) newbie-like questions:

1.  Am kinda looking towards getting a duo SVHS/DVD recorder type
unit.  For both space saving purposes and convienience.  That way
I can still record SVHS tapes (even though they are getting harder
to find these days) and DVD.  On those units that have quasi-SVHS
playback capability or those that don't record SVHS but *say* they
can play those tapes back, are they still as good as a regular SVHS
unit when they play back tapes?  Because I want something that can
archive my old SVHS tapes and want the highest resolution for those
archives as I can get.

2.  My other noob question is this.  Are DVD recorders as good at
recording shows as SVHS units?  That is, do they have comparable
lines of resolution (or is one better than the other?).  If DVD's
are beter anyway, maybe I won't mess with a SVHS VCR.  That is,if
those SVHS playback units or "quasi" SVHS playback units can play
SVHS tapes as well as a SVHS VCR anyway.

Just was checking at duo SVHS/DVD recorders on the web and they
seem to be around the $400-450 mark.  At least the last JVC unit
I looked at was..

Thanks!

Joe C.
Author
31 Jul 2007 5:04 PM
whosbest54
Author
31 Jul 2007 4:58 PM
whosbest54
Author
31 Jul 2007 5:15 PM
whosbest54
Author
31 Jul 2007 9:41 PM
Howard
On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:58:08 -0500, whosbest54
<whosbest54@NOSPAM.yahoo.com.invalid> wrotG:

Show quote
>In article <pgksa3l08cr3uklcvk6r4irsin1j5qo***@4ax.com>, How***@Home.com
>says...
>>
>>
>>On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:00:48 -0500, whosbest54
>><whosbest54@NOSPAM.yahoo.com.invalid> wrotG:
>>
>>>In article <9icpa3d901vrpgcvb6f6as59h78hlff***@4ax.com>, How***@Home.com
>>>says...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I have a Toshiba unit (Model D-VR650) with a high definition tuner
>>>>which can playback SVHS tapes and record to VHS or DVD.  (It can not
>>>>record to sHVS). As a recorder of cable broadcasts, it is crappy.  It
>>>>lacks many of the features of a decent VHS or SHVS recorder, such as
>>>>channel labeling or VCR+ numbers. You basically need to know the time
>>>>and channel number to record anything, whether it is to VCR or to DVD.
>>>>It can however copy SVHS tapes to DVD quite nicely. -- Howard
>>>>
>>>I understand this Toshiba model has a SD ASTC and QAM digital tuner, not a
>>>HD one.  At least that's what the Crutchfield site shows.
>>
>>To quote the product specs from the Toshiba site
>>
>>"Built in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital/analog tuner allows for tuning of
>>analog or digital channels from over the air, or cable, including
>>“cable-in-the-clear” digital channels."
>>
>>
>>>
>>>http://www.crutchfield.com/S-63Bq4IRjIHL/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=052DVR650
>>
>>Don't believe everything you read on the internet :-)
>>>
>>>"records and displays in standard definition only"
>>
>>Not true.  The Toshiba does 720p/1080i upconversion of all media,
>>including VHS tapes. When you use the HDMI connection or the component
>>out, it can display HD.  If you want to use the unit with an antenna
>>to display on air HD channels, you can.  If your cable company
>>broadcasts in the clear digital HD channels, you can view them in HD.
>>If you want to record in "best" mode, you can record to DVD in HD. You
>>can also view and record the analog stations from your cable company,
>>unlike many of the other HD tuners.
>>
>>So you can use the Toshiba as an HD tuner.  What is not so great is
>>that you can not label the stations and you need to input the HD
>>channel number with the dashes.  However, the Toshiba is pretty good
>>in comparison to some other units in doing a channel scan and only
>>identifying stations which actually have viewable content.  Some other
>>tuners I have tried pull in two hundred or so digital channels with
>>nothing but static on them and then I needed to spend an hour deleting
>>the channnels. 
>>
>>See
>>
>>http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvr/product.asp?model=d-vr650
>>
>>for more details.  I have the unit and it preforms as per the spec
>>sheet.  However, don't assume something not in the spec sheet is
>>there.  For example, the specs say nothing about double layer drives.
>>There is a reason for this.  The Toshiba can't read or write them. --
>>Howard
>>
>I saw the Toshiba site spec sheet yesterday and it doesn't say anything about
>the digital tuner being HD.  I know the unit does upconversion.  That doesn't
>mean the tuner is HD.  It tunes a HD station in SD and then upconverts the
>output on the conponent or HDMI out.  So, no, you can't use it as a direct
>replacement of a HD tuner and get the exact same picture quality - it will
>not be full HD.
>
>I tried to find the manual on the Toshiba site yesterday and it's not
>available.
>

I have the manual.  It doesn't say anything about HD either.

I just tried converting 2 different VCRs to DVD.  On both, I tried
DVD+R and DVD-R.  All of the conversions failed.  So back to the
original poster's question, the Toshiba is a piece of junk. -- Howard

Show quote
>Also, no standard DVD records in HD.
>
>whosbest54
Author
29 Jul 2007 11:55 PM
dcasperson
On Jul 29, 4:15 am, msr***@wiu.edu (R Joseph Cook) wrote:
Show quote
> My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs. 
>
> Am thinking about getting a new SVHS/DVD recorder.  Not only then could
> I transfer my SVHS tapes onto DVD, then I can also play those old tapes
> as well.
>
> However, I was thinking, should I even bother with a SVHS unit?  I think
> there are some VCR's now that will have quasi-SVHS playback.  And for
> daily recording, thought about just going to a DVD unit and not worry
> about taping with SVHS.
>
> What are your suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Joe
My advice is to get a DVD recorder that has a built-in hard drive and
doesn't have a built-in VCR.    Nothing will play your tapes as well
as the VCR that recorded them.    Get started on that project as soon
as possible if you think your VCR is failing soon.     HiFi Audio is
the hardest part to play well.    I find that only the original VCR
can play the HiFi audio track correctly.

Dave
Author
30 Aug 2007 1:37 AM
Bill's News
Show quote
"R Joseph Cook" <msr***@wiu.edu> wrote in message
news:f8hlrp$9hc$1@ecom1.wiu.edu...
> My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs.
>
> Am thinking about getting a new SVHS/DVD recorder.  Not only
> then could
> I transfer my SVHS tapes onto DVD, then I can also play those
> old tapes
> as well.
>
> However, I was thinking, should I even bother with a SVHS
> unit?  I think
> there are some VCR's now that will have quasi-SVHS playback.
> And for
> daily recording, thought about just going to a DVD unit and
> not worry
> about taping with SVHS.
>
> What are your suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Joe
>
>

As you can see, I don't read here very often.  However, I was
just searching for HDTV VCRs this week and came across this.
While its one review is negative, and some other reviews dealing
with JVC cite poor support, this certainly seems to be the kind
of unit you'd asked about.

It records and plays back in HDTV as well as the lower
resolutions.  On one site I'd read that DVHS tapes will record 4
hours of HDTV at 27 Gbps.  That translates to 6 to 8 hours for
much OTA and cable HDTV (although this unit does not have QAM).

I don't know when we'll see HD disc recorders, nor would I
venture a guess at media cost.  The DVHS machines have been
around for years and are heavily discounted, never having found
a market for some odd reason.

Older JVC machines, without a tuner, seem to have quite a few
positive reviews.

I happen to own a pair of these,
http://www.autumnwave.com/Consumers/OnAir-Creator.html, which
will interface with a DVHS recorder/player.
Author
9 Sep 2007 7:38 AM
Wolfgang Schwanke
"R Joseph Cook" <msr***@wiu.edu> wrote in message
news:f8hlrp$9hc$1@ecom1.wiu.edu...

>> My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs.
>>
>> Am thinking about getting a new SVHS/DVD recorder.  Not only then
>> could I transfer my SVHS tapes onto DVD, then I can also play those
>> old tapes as well.

There are no SVHS/DVD combo units in the market. All combos are regular
VHS, some of those come with SQPB meaning they can play SVHS, but at
reduced quality. That means you can technically use those to copy SVHS
to DVD, but you'll lose the quality preserved on your tapes which you
bought that precious SVHS deck for in the first place.

>> However, I was thinking, should I even bother with a SVHS
>> unit?

If you care for the picture quality of your existing tapes, yes.

>> And for daily recording, thought about just going to a DVD unit and
>> not worry about taping with SVHS.

That goes without saying. VHS and SVHS are dead. But you want to
preserve existing tapes. I suggest getting a standalone DVD/HDD
recorder and a separate SVHS deck (new if you can find one, they're
getting rate, a good used one otherwhise), use that combination for
dubbing existing tapes to DVD, and use DVD and HD recording henceforth.

"Bill's News" <billsn***@pcmagic.net> wrote
in news:46d61f67$0$18787$4c368faf@roadrunner.com:

> It records and plays back in HDTV as well as the lower
> resolutions.  On one site I'd read that DVHS tapes will record 4
> hours of HDTV at 27 Gbps.  That translates to 6 to 8 hours for
> much OTA and cable HDTV (although this unit does not have QAM).

DVHS is a dead format. There never was a market for it, DVD came along
before it took off. Even though its backwards compatibility with VHS is
appealing, everything is moving to disk based recordings. Support for
DVHS in the future is unlikely.

> I don't know when we'll see HD disc recorders, nor would I
> venture a guess at media cost.

BlueRay and HDDVD disks are here (with issues). But the OP didn't ask
for High Definition, just a solution for conventional resolution
recordings.

Regards

--
La mer qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs
A des reflets d'argent, la mer
Des reflets changeants sous la pluie
Author
12 Sep 2007 2:14 PM
Deke
"Wolfgang Schwanke" <see@sig.nature> wrote in message
news:rs70cf.4g.ln@wschwanke.de...
> "R Joseph Cook" <msr***@wiu.edu> wrote in message
> news:f8hlrp$9hc$1@ecom1.wiu.edu...
>
> >> My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs.
> >>
> >> Am thinking about getting a new SVHS/DVD recorder.  Not only then
> >> could I transfer my SVHS tapes onto DVD, then I can also play those
> >> old tapes as well.
>
> There are no SVHS/DVD combo units in the market.

Incorrect.  JVC made the SR-MV40US, which is a combo unit, S-VHS VCR, and a
DVD recorder.
Do a google.  I love mine.

Deke

(snip)


>All combos are regular  VHS,

Once again, wrong.  see above.
Author
12 Sep 2007 4:00 PM
Howard
Show quote
On Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:14:36 -0500, "Deke" <no spam@starband.net>
wrotG:

>
>"Wolfgang Schwanke" <see@sig.nature> wrote in message
>news:rs70cf.4g.ln@wschwanke.de...
>> "R Joseph Cook" <msr***@wiu.edu> wrote in message
>> news:f8hlrp$9hc$1@ecom1.wiu.edu...
>>
>> >> My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs.
>> >>
>> >> Am thinking about getting a new SVHS/DVD recorder.  Not only then
>> >> could I transfer my SVHS tapes onto DVD, then I can also play those
>> >> old tapes as well.
>>
>> There are no SVHS/DVD combo units in the market.
>
>Incorrect.  JVC made the SR-MV40US, which is a combo unit, S-VHS VCR, and a
>DVD recorder.
>Do a google.  I love mine.
>

I bought the SR-MV40US from Amazon.  It is a combo unit and the VCR
part has the standard JVC VCR features so that it is pretty good as a
player and recorder.  However, for copying VHS tapes to DVD, it is not
the best.  The problem with the unit is that if the DVD stops
recording because you have run out of disk space or if there is an
error, the VHS part automatically rewinds the VHS tape to the
beginning. So it is nearly impossible to record a tape on two DVDs.
There is supposed to be a feature which allows you to record only a
portion of a VHS tape to DVD, but I could never get that feature to
woek. -- Howard

Show quote
>Deke
>
>(snip)
>
>
>>All combos are regular  VHS,
>
>Once again, wrong.  see above.
>
Author
10 Sep 2007 12:26 PM
Bob A
> My SVHS unit seems to be on it's last legs. 

If you are still looking, I have several Panasonic S-VHS decks with
very low usage. Drop me a line Andys***@aol.com

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