HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bennett@mcs.kent.edu (Dan Bennett)
Subject: Request for Information
Organization: Kent State University
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:01:58 GMT


Hi,
   This is going to be somewhat vague because I am not really literate
in video equipment, but here goes anyway.

A friend of mine has access to some type of video mixer (a something MX-10
he said like "everyone" would know what he is talking about) that he doesn't
have any documentation for.  He ask me if I could try to find someone with
documentation for this thing to provide some help.

    The MX-10 has to video in and one camera in connections (He claims), but
he can't make the camera in connection work.  What he wants to do is run 
two video cameras and one vcr into this thing and switch between them.  

     I (and he) would be most greatful if anyone will share any information
on this subject.   Please contact me by e-mail (bennett@mcs.kent.edu).

Thank You Very Much
Dan
-- 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Bennett                                  (bennett@mcs.kent.edu)

	                             Department of Mathematical and
Systems Staff                        Computer Sciences.
				     Kent State University

(216) 672-2430  ext 115
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: cs_ind20@Oswego.EDU (Eric Geppner)
Newsgroups: rec.video.production
Subject: Does anyone have experience with this?
Summary: S.E.G. FOR.A Need
Date: 22 Jan 93 04:11:04 GMT
Reply-To: cs_ind20@oswego.Oswego.EDU (Eric Geppner)
Organization: Instructional Computing Center, SUNY at Oswego, Oswego, NY


My name is Eric Geppner and I work for the student TV station here
at S.U.N.Y Oswego and we are looking at upgrading our switcher.
Currently we have a Panasonic WJ-5600  c.1986?  A pair of mix busses,
chroma key etc.   Right now we are looking at a FOR.A VPS-510 and I 
was wondering if anyone has had experience using this particular unit
and could tell me more about it.  
     In case it matters we have:

      Sony DXC-325 Cameras (3)
      Sony 5800 and 5850 U-Matic Decks
      Sony 9700 Hi-8 Editor
      FOR.A VT-220 CG
      Amiga 2000HD (but no Toaster, not yet anyway)
      FOR.A 210 TBC

One of the reasons we are looking at the VPS-510 are the pair of built in
TBC's; I know Panasonic has its' AVES series of switcher/mixers with
internal TBCs are they any good either?  One last thing our budget is 
around $15,000.  Any information you can give me will be greatly
appreciated.

*8*8*8*
Eric Geppner  WTOP-TV10 Oswego, New York 
Programming Dir. /Asst. Chief Engineer   Class of '94
Obquote: ...And I Guess he paid for it huh.  Yup he shore did.
From: alves@calvin.usc.edu (William Alves)
Newsgroups: rec.video.production
Subject: Re: The Emergency Broadcast System
Date: 27 Jan 1993 12:47:02 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: calvin.usc.edu

In article <kazel.110.727733000@uiuc.edu> kazel@uiuc.edu (Mitch Kazel) writes:
>In article <22JAN199311280603@elroy.uh.edu> st1r8@elroy.uh.edu (Guillot, Burt J.) writes:
>>I'm not sure if this is the right newsgroup for this question or not,
>>but I've always wondered about this emergency broadcast thing.
>>...If "news were to follow in the case of an actual emergency", WHOSE
>>news?  One of the networks?  CNN?  The government?

>In the event of a national emergency (highly unlikely these days) the 
>"news" would likely begin with a presidential address.

Those of us who lived through the Los Angeles riots last year were treated
to a REAL use of the Emergency Broadcast system. It was a little unnerving
to hear, "This is the Emergency Broadcast system. THIS IS NOT A TEST."
It was followed by advice to stay off the streets, the 800 numbers the
police, fire, and paramedics had set up (because 911 was totally jammed)
and other info that anyone who had been listening to the radio before then
would have heard many times before then anyway. As I recall, the quality
was extremely poor and staticky.

Bill
From: bmaple@burner.com (Bob Maple)
Newsgroups: rec.video.production
Followup-To: rec.video.production
Subject: Curiousity killed the cat.
Date: 22 Jan 93 13:53:06 MST
Organization: The Back Burner BBS (via C-Net Amiga)

I don't plan on buying one, wouldn't probably have the money for one, and more
than likely never will.

But out of curiousity, how much are Panasonic F-250 cameras with say, the
S-VHS deck? (AG-4xxx I think?)

--- Via UCI v1.21 (C-Net Amiga)

 .............................................................................
 : Internet: bmaple@burner.com    : If at first you don't suceed, lower your :
 :     UUCP: ..csn!burner!bmaple  : standards.                               :
 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::..........................................:
Newsgroups: rec.video.production
From: kevdunn@bnr.ca (Kevin Dunn)
Subject: Re: The Emergency Broadcast System
Reply-To: mstudent@bnr.ca
Organization: Bell Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 20:33:27 GMT

In article <22JAN199311280603@elroy.uh.edu>, st1r8@elroy.uh.edu (Guillot, Burt J.) writes:
|> I'm not sure if this is the right newsgroup for this question or not,
|> but I've always wondered about this emergency broadcast thing.
|> 
|> How often is it done.  WHY is it done if there is no emergency?  Do
|> the TV stations just decide to air one whenever, or are they linked
|> with something that tells them when to do it?
|> 
|> If "news were to follow in the case of an actual emergency", WHOSE
|> news?  One of the networks?  CNN?  The government?
|> 
|> It also says "in voluntary cooperation" ... What happens if a station
|> doesn't want to do it?  Say, they'd rather get the bucks for the 30-sec
|> ad than the EBS logo and noise.  Do stations that cooperate get some
|> advantage?

  The stations are required to have the system in place in case of some national emergency. The stations voluntary test these systems to make sure they are ready. Also it is good filler in case they need it.

Kevin DUnn
AKA Falcon **The Electric Jet**

Newsgroups: rec.video.production
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Sony's new Hi-8 tape - Is it out yet
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 18:31:59 GMT

Before Christmas I saw reports about a new Hi-8 ME tape from Sony that had
a picture as good as the old ME tape, and had solved the drop-out problem.

It was supposed to be available in January.  HAs anyone seen it yet?
Newsgroups: rec.video.production
From: bill@thd.tv.tek.com (William K. McFadden)
Subject: Re: The Emergency Broadcast System
Organization: Tektronix TV Products
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 22:16:56 GMT

In article <22JAN199311280603@elroy.uh.edu> st1r8@elroy.uh.edu (Guillot, Burt J.) writes:
>How often is it done.

When I worked at a radio station, we did it once a week.  It also had to be
done during the day.  Apart from that, I don't know how the schedule was
determined.  In addition, we had to monitor another radio station and log its
EBS tests.

>WHY is it done if there is no emergency?

To verify that the EBS equipment is working properly and educate the
listener/viewer.

>It also says "in voluntary cooperation" ... What happens if a station
>doesn't want to do it?

If you rewrite it, "involuntary cooperation," you get an idea of what happens
if you fail to broadcast the test.

-- 
Bill McFadden    Tektronix, Inc.  P.O. Box 500  MS 58-639  Beaverton, OR  97077
bill@tv.tv.tek.com, ...!tektronix!tv.tv.tek.com!bill      Phone: (503) 627-6920
How can I prove I am not crazy to people who are?
Newsgroups: rec.video.production
From: huebner@scs.unt.edu (Ron Huebner (CIS, 2475))
Subject: AG-6400 for Sale or Trade
Organization: School of Community Service, UNT
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 21:41:58 GMT

I have a Panasonic AG-6400 for sale or trade.  The unit is in very good 
condition.  I've moved on to Betacam.  If anyone out there does event work 
this is a nice 2nd, or backup to your S-Vhs.  Never hurts to be prepared. I 
have no good batteries for it, but do have some cables.  If anyone is 
interested, e-mail only to Huebner@scs.unt.edu
From: grege@chopin.asd.sgi.com (Greg Estes)
Newsgroups: rec.video.production
Subject: Re: 24fps screens
Date: 28 Jan 93 16:22:04 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: chopin.asd.sgi.com

In article <9245@lee.SEAS.UCLA.EDU>, chenc@curtiss.seas.ucla.edu (Christopher Chen) writes:
|> Does anybody know of any video screens (direct view, lcd backlit, etc.) that can be
|> filmed at 24fps?  We need this for a film shot that needs to be put
|> directly onto 70MM.
|> 
|> Thanks
|> Chris Chen
|> chenc@seas.ucla.edu

Silicon Graphics systems have variable video output formats that can be
set to 24 fps display. The 24 (or more likely 48) fps video formats are
not "stock" however, so contact your local SGI salesperson or myself
directly for more info. if interested.

Greg Estes
Silicon Graphics
From: joeo@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Joe Oliverio)
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 01:31:12 GMT
Subject: Re: New List (VIDPRO-L)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA
Newsgroups: rec.video.production

/ hpscit:rec.video.production / stubaker@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Stuart Baker) /  8:30 am  Jan 15, 1993 / writes:

 
>   Once again, anyone with an interest in video is welcome to subscribe.
>   To subscribe to VIDPRO-L, send a message to: LISTSERV@UXA.ECN.BGU.EDU
>   (or LISTSERV@ECNUXA on Bitnet), leave the subject line blank, in the
>   body of the message type:
 
>      SUBSCRIBE VIDPRO-L first-name last name
> 
>   Owner:  P. Gordon Sroufe   Internet: cfpgs1@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
>                              Bitnet:  cfpgs1@ecnuxa

----------

OK, now that I have subscribed and am beginning to get deluged with messages, 
can you tell me how to post an inquiry or respond to someone's inquiry. Not
having used these listservers before Iam not familiar with their operation.

Thanks,

Joe Oliverio
From: bernyeh@inthehat.engin.umich.edu (Bernard Yeh)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: JVC HR-D910 Hifi tracking problems.
Date: 28 Jan 1993 19:21:45 GMT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: inthehat.engin.umich.edu
Originator: bernyeh@inthehat.engin.umich.edu


I have a JVC HR-D910, and I've been having a problem with the Hifi
audio tracking. If I play a tape that's not been originally recorded by
said VCR, Hifi audio occasionally drops in and out, with some noise, when
digital auto tracking is enabled. If I shut off auto-tracking, I can usually
adjust the tracking enough so that hi-fi audio comes through with no problems,
with acceptable picture, but I lose the benefit of auto-tracking.

I'm pretty sure is not the tapes. Tapes played in my Mitsubishi HSU-65 don't
exhibit this problem, nor do tapes originally recorded by the JVC VCR.

So, does anyone know the source of this problem, and if there's a fix available?

Thanks.

Bernard Yeh
bernyeh@engin.umich.edu
From: dvp@getafix (Dave Parry)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Showtime is running Cape Fear LBX
Date: 25 Jan 93 12:47:25 GMT
Organization: The Mountains of Madness
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

Boris Putanec (bp@cs.brown.edu) wrote:
: In article <C17ut3.49t@encore.com> mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer) writes:

:    Having just returned from a few weeks in Europe I was amazed to see MOST
:    movies were shown in letter-box form on French TV.

: Another data point. I spent 3 weeks in Austria and almost every move I
: saw was letterboxed. This was true for the two Austrian national
: channels, the 3 major German networks--ABC, NBC and CBS equivalents,
: and the satellite only channles--RTL and Sat*1.

: When I asked my parents, they said "It has always been this way"
: (funny, cause I don't remember it being that way last January I was
: there). They also agreed with me that it makes much more sense to see
: the whole file image instead of only a portion.

: Sigh. Another reason to get a job in Europe.

...but not in the UK, where, according to the BBC and ITV, most
people prefer P&S (!!??) Yes it's true folks, here in the good old UK,
people think that they are being cheated if the picture doesn't fill
all the TV screen (and we thought the Americans were mad! :-) ).

Channel 4 show approx. 60% of it's films in widescreen now (but not
2.35-1), which is at least progress. BBC2 show the odd one now and
again, however, BBC1 and ITV, do not intend showing widescreen films
in the near future (see previous paragraph).

Dave.
: boris
From: pirrung@NADC.NADC.NAVY.MIL (G. Pirrung)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: RE: Crazy Eddie actor's past life
Date: 20 Jan 93 17:09:05 GMT
Organization: The Internet


When he recorded "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha Ha" the artist's
nom de record was "Napoleon XIV"

The flip side of the single was titled: "Ah Ah Yawa Em Ekat Ot Gnimoc Er'Yeht"

Thanks for the trivia associating him with Crazy Eddie.
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: hansoo@kum (Kim HanSoo (Daewoo Elec.))
Subject: Help: CCITT test sequence for H.261
Organization: KAIST in Seoul, Korea
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 93 12:27:17 GMT

I lost the CCITT test sequence for H.261. Thus I want to know the placeof those sequence which get by FTP. Wanted specifications of sequence is
 following:

  a. Sequence Name : TREVOR, MISS AMERICA, CLAIR, ALIXIS,
                     SWING, SALES MEN, ...
  b. Sequence Spec : CIF (Common Intermediate Format)
                     30 frame/sec or 25 frame/sec
                     352 pixels/line x 288 lines/frame
                     color component : Y, R-Y, B-Y

  If the sequence is encoded by any-algorithms (ex: GIF, ppm, etc), I wa
nt to also get the decoding software.

  Mail address : hansoo@kum.kaist.ac.kr (hansoo@128.134.1.1)

  Bye.
From: mannan@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (D RIGHT 1)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Best Prices+Service
Date: 21 Jan 93 23:18:32 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA

I dont know if most of you know about this shopping service but
it's called Shopper's Advantage. They have an 800 number that you
call and order stuff. I have compared their price to Circuit City
which is the biggest electronics store in this area. The price
they quote includes shipping and handling...and the final price
is usually lower than most electronics stores. They have a return
policy which is very convenient...if you want to return something
UPS picks it up from your house...and the shopping service pays for
it.  
The phone # is 1800TELSHOP ( I think) ..Their database can be accessed
through compuserve!!


-- 
Peace ! 
NO WAY!
From: navon@cs.unc.edu (Jaime Navon)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Sony TR-71
Keywords: camcorder
Date: 26 Jan 93 19:10:09 GMT
Organization: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NNTP-Posting-Host: ernie.cs.unc.edu

I'd like to hear from Sony TR-71 owners (I have been
offered one of these at a very convenient price)
Is it a good camera ? Should I wait for some new model
that is going to appear ?  Thanks.

Jaime
From: matthews@eecs.ucdavis.edu (Thomas W. Matthews)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: VHS Hi-fi Question
Date: 25 Jan 93 19:55:36 GMT
Organization: Division of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, UC Davis

Are there any VHS Hi-fi tape decks that have separate audio inputs
fo the Hi-fi tracks and the linear tracks?   I suppose such a deck
would be in the "professional" category and hence have four
manual record level controls and four audio meters (or two audio
meters and a switch).  Where would I look for one of these?

Tom Matthews
From: killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Sony EV-S3000 and EV-S900 differences?
Date: 24 Jan 93 17:33:57 GMT
Organization: SPC Community Access System

In article <1993Jan24.003211.10507@ac.dal.ca>, bobali@ac.dal.ca writes:
> I was wondering what the differences are between the following 2 Hi8 VCRs:
> 
> Sony EV-S3000
> Sony EV-S900
> 
> The 900 is a little more expensive through mail order.  What extra features
> does it have over the 3000?

The Sony EV-S800 (8mm) and the EV-S900 (Hi8mm) have a unique feature.  They
can record 24 hours of PCM stereo music on one 8mm cassette.  This is full
8bit digital audio.  While it does have the range of DAT tapes (15Mhz versus
20Mhz) it probally is one of the best mediums for "editing" CD's to.  These
units accomplish this by recording 10 additional PCM tracks where the video
track would nornally be recorded.  It also has the ability to set index marks
so that you can jump to music selections.  To my knowledge there no other
consumer unit (Beta, VHS, 8mm, or DAT) that provides this capability.  Of
course I also wonder if there is a market for it.  My totally uninformed guess
is that this technology was developed for 8mm computer backup units - Sony is
the only manufacturer for these backup drives. 

The EV-S3000 can also record PCM stereo music but only on the 2 normal PCM 
tracks.  It also has the index mark feature.

Now from a videostand point the EV-S3000 is head and shoulders above the
EV-S900.  The 3000 has a 16 line TBC.  The 3000 has advanced Synchro Edit that
will pre-roll your control-L CamCorder.  It also when in record pause will
control the functions of your camcorder eg. FF and REW. 

Unless you are looking for the audio feature of the 900 there is no question 
the 3000 is the way to go.

-- 
DECUS -User Driven...
       Future focused on the art of delivering multiplatform computer technology

Jeff Killeen - DECUS U.S. Chapter NLC Chair | Email:killeen@eisner.decus.org
The NLC is the national council for DECUS's Local User Groups - come join us!
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: chrisp@theory.TC.Cornell.EDU (Chris Pelkie)
Subject: Re: Source of Laser Disc Outer Sleeves
Organization: Cornell Theory Center
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 17:43:11 GMT

In article <9301201958.AA05162@NADC.NADC.NAVY.MIL>, pirrung@NADC.NADC.NAVY.MIL (G. Pirrung) writes:
|> 
|> I know this is probably a dead horse by now, but my gift horse
|> has deserted me.....
|> 
|> Does any one know of good sources for Laser Disc Outer Sleeves
|> a'la the Image variety? 
|> 
|> I used to be able to purchase them from Barr Digital in bulk for a
|> very good price. When I called them last week, I was informed that
|> they didn't carry them any more. They couldn't explain why, and neither
|> Jan nor David were there to offer any explanation.
|> 
|> If you don't wish to clutter net space, you can e-mail me direct.
|> 
|> Thanks in advance,
|> Jerry Pirrung (pirrung@nadc.nadc.navy.mil)
|> 

No, please post. I'm disappointed to hear this as I bought
mine from Barr also!
-- 
Chris Pelkie
Scientific Visualization Producer
Cornell Theory Center
Ithaca, NY 14853-3801
chrisp@tc.cornell.edu
From: johan@cav2.crc.canon.co.jp
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: NTSC to RGB question
Date: 25 Jan 93 01:15:59 GMT
Organization: Canon Research Center, Canon Inc., Kanagawa, JAPAN
X-Nntp-Posting-Host: cav2

Does anyone know whether it's possible to convert an NTSC signal
to RGB and connect it directly to a multiscan (non-interlace)
monitor ?

I'm planning to purchase a multiscan computer monitor with PAL Y/C
inputs, but I'd like to display NTSC signals as well.

Thanks in advance.

- Johan
johan@cav2.crc.canon.co.jp
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: peterli@welchgate.welch.jhu.edu (Peter Li)
Subject: Experience or recommendations sought...
Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ. Welch Medical Library
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 14:48:20 GMT

Dear Net Readers:

I am looking for an IR remote extender that is cableless.
I.e., a receiver in one room will receive IR signals and
sends the signal to an IR transmitter in another room.
The signal can be sent via RF or house wiring, but not 
dedicated cables.

I have seen the X-10 PM-5900 Powermid advertised in
Crutchfield.  Anyone with experience or other
recommendations please send me mail.

Thanks in advance,
Peter Li
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu (Mike S.)
Subject: Re: Seeking info:VCR Voice Remote
Organization: BITS, St. Louis, MO
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 22:27:16 GMT

mds@condor writes:

> 
>I recently saw one of those "infomercials" for a VCR Voice Remote.
>This remote is entirely voice activated. It is a "smart" remote
>that can learn four voices, and operate your VCR, TV, and Cable box.

What I want to know is how they zap commercials.  From the ad I
saw, if you say "zap it!", the thing pauses the VCR's recording
during commercials! 

Mike
-- 
mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu
From: ahummel@ems.cdc.com (H. Austin Hummel)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Where to buy LDs?
Date: 22 Jan 93 20:21:06 GMT
Reply-To: ahummel@ems.cdc.com
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of CDC

In article <1jnjp1INN9lu@shelley.u.washington.edu>, pmfisher@milton.u.washington.edu (Patrick Fisher) writes:
|> 
|> 	I've just bought an LD player.  So, instead of renting them
|> all of the time, where can I buy them?  Does anyone have good mail-
|> order experience?
|> 	Thank you very much,
|> 	Pat Fisher

Yes Ken Crane's in California adds in back of "video" magazine.
I have been using them for years.
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: igb@fulcrum.co.uk (Ian G Batten)
Subject: Problem with CP8 Turbo
Organization: Fulcrum Communications
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 13:46:53 GMT


Several people on this group advised me that the Memorex CP8 Turbo was
the Universal Remote to have.  I have bought one at last --- I couldn't
find one in the UK, but I got one from Fry's in Palo Alto.  It seems to
have lost one segment of the LCD on its journey home, but that's not
important.  I've taught it all the equipment at home, with one notable
failure.  

It has managed to learn PART of the command set for an Aiwa XDS-260 DAT
machine.  The track access buttons work, but play, record and so on
don't.  This is a pain, as I was hoping to use the scheduler on the CP8
to record program off the radio rather than the brute force approach of
using a mains timeclock.

Any ideas?  I guess I'm stuck with the problem.

ian
From: flowerpt@coos.dartmouth.edu (Bill McGonigle)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Weird color-distortion problems?
Date: 22 Jan 93 05:58:59 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

In article <MJKOBB.93Jan20204203@media-lab.media.mit.edu> mjkobb@media.mit.edu (Michael J Kobb) writes:
>  I was looking at TV's today, in one of those stores where they
>have about a billion of them on the wall all showing the same thing.
>One of them (a Sony), was having some color problems.  In large,
>saturated regions of color, there were patches of other bizarre
>colors.  Examples:  Yellow and blue had grey-white patches.  Reds
>had bluish patched in it.  I've seen this same phenomenon at home,
>too, when watching some of the cable stations (usually A&E,
>actually).

I did this to a monitor once with a magnet.  PITA to fix it...

-Bill
--
     -= Bill.McGonigle@Dartmouth.edu =-      |  Fighters!   |   |  /   \  |   |
Do you ever get the feeling that the story's |  Coming in   |=O=|  |=O=|  |=O=|
too damn real, and in the present tense? -JT | point three! |   |  \   /  |   |
Snail Mail: HB 2660, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755-4015. (603) 640-5780
From: jerry@hnrc.tufts.edu (Jerry Dallal)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: VCR+ Problem - skipping channel digits
Date: 29 Jan 93 01:21:33 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: USDA HNRC at Tufts University

In article <1993Jan28.183103.18754@bcrka451.bnr.ca>, mdm@bnr.ca (Diane MacMartin) writes:
> PLEASE, no flames about using VCR+.  

How about the *mildest* one about batteries?  You haven't at least tried
new ones to see if it made a difference?

> Is there anything that might be dirty that I might try cleaning?  What
> about battery strength - they were new batteries when I bought the VCR+,
> and it started failing about 4-6 weeks later.

Were they non-Ray-O-Vac alkalines?  (Forgive me if I just insulted your
intelligence.)
> 
> --
> Diane MacMartin@bnr.ca   Bell-Northern Research, Ltd  Ottawa, Canada
> Any opinions are my own and do not represent BNR.

If it still doesn't work, tell 'em you work for Bell-Northern Research and you
want a new one !

Or tell 'em you'll crack their code and build and market your own device!  
(Just kidding !)