--- Forwarded Message from Mark Sanford <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 12:44:22 -0500 >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> >From: Mark Sanford <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: #7362 Multistandard Converting VCRs >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> Dan: As the Technician here it has been my nightmare that this lab has a dozen Samsung SV-7000's installed around the place. Yes, the resistors and diodes that send drive current to the cassette tray load/eject motor burn out as soon as the 3-month warrantee expires. Then the Technician has to power-down and disassemble the equipment rack, un-plug the SV-7000 and pull it out of the rack, open it up, and apply voltage from a 9 volt battery across the tray load/eject motor power terminals (observe polarity!) Zing! The stuck tape ejects. So this SV-7000 is not quite as user friendly as the salesmen tell you it is. So my idea - not tried yet - is to use a multi system vcr (like this JVC-HR-S5980AM) along with a standards converter (like the CMD-850). http://www.world-import.com/converter-vcr.htm Caution: I have not tried this yet. But it looks inexpensive and promising. Merry Christmas to all, Mark At 04:45 PM 12/19/2003 -0500, you wrote: >--- Forwarded Message from "Chapman, Daniel" <[log in to unmask]> --- > > >Subject: Multistandard Converting VCRs > >Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 14:01:22 -0600 > >Thread-Topic: Multistandard Converting VCRs > >Thread-Index: AcPE2Is2b4X0/18JSCyBX9LBoL2JJA== > >From: "Chapman, Daniel" <[log in to unmask]> > >To: <[log in to unmask]> > >------------------ >Fellow LLTIers, > >We've recently had a very bad run with the Samsung SV-5000W multistandard >converting VCR, and have in fact burned through our third in two and a >half years. It received minimal use, and was kept fairly clean. On >average, after about nine months or so each of these three VCRs developed >serious ejection problems, lost the ability to power on, and began making >odd whistling noises. The Samsung dealership has been notified of this >problem, and says that to fix it would take a trip back to the warehouse >and $350 or so. > >This message to the list has three purposes. First of all, I wish to vent >my rage at Samsung in a way that is socially acceptable and wreaks a >minimum amount of damage to surrounding property and coworkers. Secondly, >I want to warn you all (y'all) that the aforementioned VCR is made of >plaster or some other substance that degrades after nine months of use, >and that you may (WILL) develop serious ejection/power related problems >with medium use over about a year. Third, I am wondering if any of you >have a suggestion for an alternative. I have been told by several AV >businesses that only the Samsung 5000W and 7000W ($400 and $700 >respectively) can convert any VHS tape to any format. I understand that >there are also converting boxes out there (Tenlab) that accept a signal >from a multistandard (non-converting) VCR and convert the signal into the >desired video standard, and yet the quality is often noticeably degraded >as regarding the Samsung version and are expensive (as long as they work, >the Samsung's actually do a good job of converting). There seemed to have >been at one point an Aiwa converting VCR that would do all that the >Samsungs do, but it has since been discontinued. Apparently the only >other option is a $1600 Panasonic - and I haven't heard of anyone who has >actually bought one. > >Does anyone out there have any good suggestions for a converting >multistandard VCR that will not crap out in a year's time (not just a >multistandard PAL-PAL, NTSC-NTSC, SECAM-SECAM VCR, we have plenty of >those)? Do you know of another (reasonably priced) solution? If so, the >taxpayers of the State of Kansas and my frightened coworkers will have you >to thank. > >Best, > > Dan Chapman > Assistant Director > Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center (EGARC) > 1445 Jayhawk Blvd, Wescoe Hall Room 4069 > The University of Kansas > Lawrence, KS 66045 > Work: 785/864-4785 > Cell: 785/550-6962 > Fax: 785/864-4298 > EGARC: <www.ku.edu/~egarc> > Woher wissen wir, was wir zu wissen glauben? ______________________________ John Mark Sanford Senior Multimedia Technician Center for Language Study Yale University Tel. (203) 432-0588 Fax. (203) 432-4485 [log in to unmask] http://www.cls.yale.edu