Sony SLV-R1000 Video Output Problem

[Dick]

I have a Sony SLV-R1000 S-VHS VCR. In it's day, it was one of the
best you could buy, and cost over $1,000. When I last tried to play a
tape in it, I get nothing but a gray screen with wiggly lines in the
top half, and vertical bars in the bottom half. I doesn't matter if I
use the S-Video output or the RCA jack video out. Audio plays fine.

Does this sound like something worth paying to repair? Or shall I
just give it a proper burial? It's such a good VCR I hate to just
throw it away, and I know I could buy a new one for probably less than
what it would cost to repair the R1000. The only problem is trying to
find a replacement with S-Video output.

 

[David Farber]

Subject: Sony SLV-R1000 Video Output Problem

From: Dick LeadWinger
Date: 12/02/2004 2:01 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>

I have a Sony SLV-R1000 S-VHS VCR. In it's day, it was one of the
best you could buy, and cost over $1,000. When I last tried to play a
tape in it, I get nothing but a gray screen with wiggly lines in the
top half, and vertical bars in the bottom half. I doesn't matter if I
use the S-Video output or the RCA jack video out. Audio plays fine.

Does this sound like something worth paying to repair? Or shall I
just give it a proper burial? It's such a good VCR I hate to just
throw it away, and I know I could buy a new one for probably less than
what it would cost to repair the R1000. The only problem is trying to
find a replacement with S-Video output.

I know a similar Sony model that I worked on, an SLV920HF, had the same
problem. They use a video processing circuit mounted on a little pc board with
smd capacitors. The capacitors leaked. If I remember correctly, the Sony part
was no longer available so I replaced the leaky caps and that fixed it. So you
need to find a competent tech who has a nose for leaky caps and is resourceful
enough to repair it without the original Sony part. It would be worth
repairing. This all of course hinges on the fact that your problem is the same
as what I encountered.

Good luck.

 

[Jerry Greenberg]

Going by an email description and not properly checking the machine on
the work bench, this is something that is not accurate for evaluation.

This is a good model VCR, but is is also fairly old. The fault may be
a dirty or defective video head, or any of the mechanical parts that
deal with the tape path. Other than that, there may be some
electronics problems.

As for properly checking the machine, at home you can only clean the
heads, rollers, and check for anything visually broken. Other than
that you will have to give the unit out to have it properly checked.
The tech will be able to use a scope to verify the tracking pulses,
and the carrier from the head to know where to start to look for the
fault.

It may be worth the cost for an estimate to at least know if the
machine is worth to service.

Bare in mind that you can get a fairly discent quality VCR for under
$200 these days. This level of machine will exceed the picture quality
of a good one that was much more costly only a few years ago. There
are also low cost ones that are now below $100. The low cost VCR's are
not supported for outside of warranty service. They are considered
throw-away units.



Jerry G.
========

 

[Dick]

Thanks for the input. My problem really is that I need a VCR with
S-Video output to work within my system. That limits me to S-VHS
VCR's. I thought they would be easy to find, but most stores don't
even carry them. Fry's carries one model, but it's out of stock.
Best Buy doesn't carry them. Amazon.com had one that was also out of
stock. They are disappearing faster than ice cream at a picnic. I
know they are out there, but I didn't want to have to order and wait
for one. I knew I should have bought one at Costco when they still
carried them and just stashed it away for a rainy day (which has
arrived.)

Dick

 

[NSM]

"Dick" <LeadWinger> wrote in message
| Thanks for the input. My problem really is that I need a VCR with
| S-Video output to work within my system. That limits me to S-VHS
| VCR's.

Can't you get a component to S-VHS adaptor?

http://www.cablesdirect.com/search_avcable.asp

S-Video Premium Video Adaptor/Cables
6 inch Premium S-Video Mini4 Male to Composite Female Adaptor Cable
Converts any S-Video port into RCA composite video port. It allows you to
connect any composite video devices such camcorder, VHS VCR, DVD, satellite
receiver, computer, switches or projection TV with RCA port to an S-Video
port. This premium adaptor cable provides low-loss for high performance
connections and has gold plated connectors and double shielding to protect
against radio frequency and electromagnetic interference. cables are UL
listed, uses two 75ohm coaxials, PVC jacket, molded ends and inner hood
soldered 360 degrees to the connector for complete end to end shielding.
(Connectors: Mini4 Male to RCA Female; Length: 6") Price: $3.63

N

 

[Dick]

"Dick" <LeadWinger> wrote in message
| Thanks for the input. My problem really is that I need a VCR with
| S-Video output to work within my system. That limits me to S-VHS
| VCR's.

Can't you get a component to S-VHS adaptor?

http://www.cablesdirect.com/search_avcable.asp

S-Video Premium Video Adaptor/Cables
6 inch Premium S-Video Mini4 Male to Composite Female Adaptor Cable
Converts any S-Video port into RCA composite video port. It allows you to
connect any composite video devices such camcorder, VHS VCR, DVD, satellite
receiver, computer, switches or projection TV with RCA port to an S-Video
port. This premium adaptor cable provides low-loss for high performance
connections and has gold plated connectors and double shielding to protect
against radio frequency and electromagnetic interference. cables are UL
listed, uses two 75ohm coaxials, PVC jacket, molded ends and inner hood
soldered 360 degrees to the connector for complete end to end shielding.
(Connectors: Mini4 Male to RCA Female; Length: 6") Price: $3.63

Thanks. I didn't know that was electrically possible.

Dick

 

[Stephen Sank]

That R1000 vcr is WAY too nice to give up on. It's the last good vhs ever made by anyone. If
you have all of the surface mount electrolytic caps in the unit replaced with small standard
caps(with the leads cut & formed to solder to the surface mount positions), and also replace
all of the electrolytic caps in the power supply, it will serve you well for many years to
come. Highly recommend using Nichicon caps all the way.

--
Stephen Sank, Owner & Ribbon Mic Restorer
Talking Dog Transducer Company
http://stephensank.com
5517 Carmelita Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico [87111]
505-332-0336
Auth. Nakamichi & McIntosh servicer
Payments preferred through Paypal.com

 

[NSM]

"Dick" <LeadWinger> wrote in message

| Thanks. I didn't know that was electrically possible.

I've also seen 4 to 1 switches on eBay for little money which have both RCA
and S-VHS connectors. I don't know it they convert or only switch, however.

N

 

[Dick]

That's kind of the way I look at it. Sounds like a good project for
the cold, winter months. If I don't go blind in the process.

Dick

 

[Mwwcam]

That R1000 vcr is WAY too nice to give up on. It's the last good vhs ever
made by anyone. If
you have all of the surface mount electrolytic caps in the unit replaced with
small standard
caps(with the leads cut & formed to solder to the surface mount positions),
and also replace
all of the electrolytic caps in the power supply, it will serve you well for
many years to
come. Highly recommend using Nichicon caps all the way.

--
Stephen Sank, Owner & Ribbon Mic Restorer
Talking Dog Transducer Company
http://stephensank.com
5517 Carmelita Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico [87111]
505-332-0336
Auth. Nakamichi & McIntosh servicer
Payments preferred through Paypal.com

Your SLV-R1000 is still a good and repairable VCR. It has no suface mount
cpacitors in it and most likely has a broken threading gear, preventing
complete loading of the guides and giving you the picture you see. SVHS to VHS
adapters are passive devices and you loose a lot of resolution with them. I
have worked on hundreds of the R1000's and
they hold their resale value very well.
Mike W
Video Services
Ft Worth, TX