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S-VHS ET

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In Reply to: Fooling an s-video recorder to record s-video on standard tapes posted by John C. - Aussie on May 01, 2002 at 16:51:09:

Hi John,
VCRs capable of recording an S-video signal onto std VHS tape are easily and affordably obtained now.
As well as the Panasonic you mention, JVC, Toshiba and Philips have models with S-VHS ET.
IMO these are cheap enough to buy and saves the hassle of drilling out tape shells and other mucking about.
Does your satellite receiver support S-Video out ?
I've experimented with the local SKY digital receiver and found that going from S-vid out of the sat. receiver to the VCR in S-VHS ET mode does show improved picture.
Going sat. composite to S-VHS ET shows little ot no improvement.
The only downside in using ET mode is that std tapes have a little bit more noise than a pukka S-VHS tape. Noticeable but not objectionable. more than compensated by the huge savings in buying std VHS instead of the S-VHS variety.

cheers

Follow Ups:

Re: S-VHS ET - John C. - Aussie 16:11:08 05/02/02 (1)
Hi Michael
Actually we have two digital satellite decoders pointing at the same satellite - silly I know but the pay TV crowd (Austar) insisted on putting in their own dish & decoder. As it cost nix I did not argue!!
Anyway the Austar decoder does have an S video out but the other does not. Up to now I have been taping with the S input on the S recorder using standard tape so the recording is not in S video but the best possible signal is going in. We are getting good results.
The S-VHS ET Panasonic is not cheap here - $A1319 compared to the most expensive stereo unit (NV-F-J720A) at $A549. These are the retail prices listed on their Australian site.
The last Panasonic stereo unit I purchased 4 years ago was pretty tinny compared to the first one I got (and still have with a new head) in the 1980's. They now weigh a fraction of the old units and the picture is only marginally better and reliability poorer. They are fast approaching the "throw away" level when giving problems as the techos charge an arm and leg to even look at them. I also have two S-video recorders and they record slightly better pics and are more reliable so maybe the extra price for an s-video recorder can be justified on these grounds. S VHS tape costs nearly 3X EHG so I'm too stingy to tread that path!!!
John

Peace at AA
- Current Panasonic VCRs are crap. - michael w 22:36:41 05/02/02 (0)
  Agree totally re: Pannys.
  My favorite was one from the late 80s, the F70.
  This had NICAM stereo, a great transport, flying erase heads and adjustable audio record levels. All that was missing was multi-standard PAL/NTSC rec/ play.
  The current line up are toys in comparison, lightweight in construction and performance. Still the best to use though, my Philips VR999 S-VHS ET machine is a POS to use. Cranky in every respect.
  Have you had a look at the JVC S-VHS ET range ?
  I think these are well below the $1k mark.
  I'm using a Pace SKY Digital decoder.
  Recently they have upgraded the operating software with disastrous results, all menu operations were reduced to walking pace.
  They also screwed up the setup menu.
  The Pace has two SCART outputs on the back
  Pre-upgrade these could be configured independently with a choice of outputs; composite, S-Video, RGB. Which was great.
  Post-fiddling there is now only one setup option. The chosen output applies to both SCARTs...DOH
  When will these dickheads learn ?
  They also broadcast in widescreen by chopping 2.40 movies down to 1.78.
  arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

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