Hitachi VCR blue screen?

[Rob Kramer]

Hi,

My Hitachi ME428 VCR only shows a blue screen while playing tapes, with a
bit of static now and then. Sound is OK. I'm guessing that it might be
lightning strike-related, but perhaps anyone here has an idea what might
be wrong?

Thanks!

Rob

[Jeff P]

Hi
could be worth getting the video heads cleaned propley
jeff p

Rob Kramer <ro...@cyberway.com.sg> wrote in message
news:MPG.1404ca266...@news.cyberway.com.sg...

[Sofie]

Rob Kramer:
Unless you have other problems to report, my bet is that the video head is
clogged and/ or the A/C head is dirty.
I agree with the previous reply from Jeff P. , get your VCR cleaned
professionally........and NOT just with an ineffective cleaning tape. That
should solve your problem.
Best Regards,
Dan Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
==============================================

[repa...@webtv.net]

Yes but a repair joint will carge 20 or 30 bucks to wipe off the heads
when you can get a whole new vcr for about 40 bucks .
I suggest running a cheap ''wet store bought cleaner through there
several times if that dont work you only waisted 5 bucks .

[Sofie]

This sounds like BS..........A new VCR for $40 ? Even for a more
realistic $60 or $70, you will NOT get the same quality unit as the original
Hitachi VCR............And most shops will charge about $20 for a good
professional cleaning which is a hell of a lot more of a task than just
"wiping off the heads." If you do not waste the 5 bucks for an ineffective
cleaning tape, then it would only be $15 more for a proper manual cleaning
and check out. Remember, even a brand new VCR can immediately get clogged
and dirty heads from a bad tape, what do you do then?.......throw out the
new VCR and buy another new one? Its kind of like throwing out your
expensive dress suite because it costs $15 to clean it.........you can buy a
new "cheap" suite for $70. Life is full of decisions.

Best Regards,
Dan Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
==============================================

<repa...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10621-399...@storefull-121.iap.bryant.webtv.net...

[Rob Kramer]

Thanks Dan,

It just seems a bit strange to me that from one day to the other the picture
is totally gone. I'd expect a gradual degradation in picture quality as the
heads become dirty. I found out how to disable the blue screen autoblanking
and all I see then is 'coarse' static.

The lightning thought was because my cable TV box also broke down at the
same time (I guess), but that damn thing breaks every 3 months or so. But
with a lightning strike I'd expect the tuner/RF output to be toast, but that
still works.

Cheers,

Rob

Sofie <so...@olypen.com> wrote in message
news:8sxm5.45871$wX5.6...@news5.giganews.com...

> Rob Kramer:
> Unless you have other problems to report, my bet is that the video head is
> clogged and/ or the A/C head is dirty.
> I agree with the previous reply from Jeff P. , get your VCR cleaned
> professionally........and NOT just with an ineffective cleaning tape.
That
> should solve your problem.

> Best Regards,
> Dan Sofie
> Electronics Supply & Repair
> ==============================================
>

[john d hutchison]

What a new VCR for $40.00 must be a right piece of shit.

Kip

[Bob]

Definately it sounds like dirty head,and yip they go from great to nothing
in a tic.
You could try cleaning em yourself, but be careful .the head tips are
fragile. And don't use q-tips or earbuds. That will break the heads.

Ciao
Bob

"Rob Kramer" <ro...@cyberway.com.sg> wrote in message

news:399bdada$1...@news.starhub.net.sg...

[Rob Kramer]

Well.. I cleaned all the heads, capstan, rollers etc, which were reasonably
dirty. I've seen worse. There's no change in the output at all however, it's
still blue with a bit of static now and then, probably the autoblanker
thinks it's got a decent signal now and then. Audio is fine, but if I turn
off the autoblanker then that's gone too. FFWD doesn't show a picture
either.

Any ideas anyone? I don't have a scope to follow video signals
unfortunately, though that would be interesting to verify.

Thanks!

RoB

[Sofie]

Rob:
If you are inexperienced in cleaning video heads, more than likely they are
still dirty or clogged. Even for the very experience VCR tech they can
sometimes be a bugger, especially if they are clogged. I have had VCRs
where I have had to clean and clean and clean to finally get a picture. As
long as the head "chips" are not broken or damaged, they probably are still
good......at least good enough to get some kind of picture. Try cleaning
them again. If you are still unsuccessful, a trip to a good repair shop to
have them cleaned should solve your problem. Just do not get frustrated
and break the heads.......be very careful. Usually the only way heads get
broken is by improper cleaning.

Best Regards,
Dan Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
==============================================

Rob Kramer <ro...@cyberway.com.sg> wrote in message

news:399f...@news.starhub.net.sg...

[Jeff P]

always a good tip for a non-tech is to run a normal tape through the vcr in
RW search mode for a few mins ,,, try it it works
jeff p

--
ala...@ntlworld.com

Sofie <so...@olypen.com> wrote in message

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