Ok. I got this VCR (a Toshiba) with the cable running in through the VCR and out to the TV. Now when the VCR is off or even when it’s on in “TV” mode, the picture is fine. When the VCR is on in “VCR” mode, there are these faint waves of image distortion the flow across the screen. Any idea why this happens?
Have you checked the “tracking” function?
You don’t mean when you’re actually playing a tape, right?
If that’s so, then what it means is the tuner in your VCR is hooped.
No, it’s not playing a tape.
By “hooped” do you mean busted?
In VCR mode it’s using it’s own cable decoder instead of passing the signal to the TV to be decoded. If you are getting picture distortion there’s something wrong with the circuitry, and you should get it serviced or replaced.
Or what Mudd said. Perhaps my name is now Mudd also, especially for commiting the grievous sin of using “it’s” instead of “its”.
Just try the auto setup to retune the channel for the cable input and hope that does the job.
There’s nothing wrong with the VCR or the TV.
The VCR demodulates the signal of whatever channel it’s tuned to, say 10. It remodulates that signal on a different channel, say 3 - it’s whatever channel you have to set the TV to to watch tapes.
The strength of that remodulated signal is just too strong compared to the strength of the other signals coming from the antenna or cable box, whatever.
If it’s annoying you, just turn the VCR off, or set it to “TV” mode.
It sounds like the rf demodulator- modulator in the VCR is going bad. IF you have another VCR install it the same way. If the picture is better when you switch the button back and forth you know its the VCR. You can also bi-pass the rf modulator by using rca jacks to the tv
Sounds like interference. Try using a/v cables instead of RF cable.
Ya got it set for channel 3 or 4? did you try the other?
Or, it could be freakin’ aliens.
OTOH, it could be what I said.
Freakin’ aliens, I knew it all along. Aliens are always freakin’ around with stuff. Freakers.
Try Handy’s idea first. Whatever the issue is with the VCR’s RF output section or the TV’s RF input using the AV cables (only) for input to the TV will likely solve the problem if the problem is caused by RF interference or signal overloading. If the the problem is a malfunction inherent to the VCR’s RF input section you are likely SOL.
I agree with handy and astro.
RF cables were cheaper for us for our 2nd tv set up … so we’ve got the DVD connected through the VCR for the tv (also allows us to make a tape of a DVD or record TV with the VCR).
If we leave the DVD on while watching TV, we get “wavy lines” with the DVD player logo on the TV on a couple of channels. FWIW, we’re on rabbity ears through RF and everything excluding one unit is connected with RF.
Another “ditto” on interference in the cables or connectors.