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SONY keeps switching to EP at beginning of playing SP tapes
Initially, the used Sony came with a universal remote that does not work when it comes to programming the VCR. It won’t even change the speed, and the VCR, according to the panel on the VCR, was in EP mode and I could not change it. Finally, I managed to record a tape in Standard Play. Now at least the panel shows that it is in SP. However, every time I put in a tape that has been recorded at standard speed, the tape jumps and gets snowy and makes popping and other electronic noises until it settles down. A look at the panel on the VCR shows it switching back and forth between EP and SP. I played the SP tape in other machines and they do not try to read it in EP. No jumping and jitteriness.
Re: SONY keeps switching to EP at beginning of playing SP...
You may have dirty heads in the vcr---most 4 head machines use two for sp and the other two for lp and or ep.
Tape residue will usually be seen on the drum where the heads are when this happens--also look for the black residue on the tape guides that hold the tape in position against the drum-------
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Which plug did you change? "EP" stands for Extended Play. A VHS recorder has three speeds. EP is the slowest. A standard 2-hour tape will record for 2 hours at the highest speed (SP), 4 hours at the middle speed (SP) and 6 hours in EP. There is a trade off. The faster the tape moves past the recording/playback heads, the higher the picture quality and visa versa. So EP gives you long recording time at a cost in quality.
I doubt that the unit being in EP mode has anything to do with the cable. You did not say what brand and model recorder you have, but in general, the speed is adjusted with a switch on the front panel (older models) or via your remote control.
The only real cure will be to clean the video head. If that doesn't work then I'm afraid that whatever recorded you EP mode tape was not set up well tracking wise. So other machines struggle to track the tape. Some VCR's will only playback SP or LP tapes and don't have EP mode. In which case you should check to see if these VCR's can play the EP tape and if they can't find one that can.
I solved it myself by selecting guide on the remote, then the tv screen said enter plus code. ijust type in all 0's for each space given (0000000) then the setting instantly changrd to EP from SP. I pushed set on the universal remote , that was it. It was necessary to use the power button to turn vcr off like tthe TV screen said because I was just setting the timer. You can just go to menu or whatever next. I didn't appreciate FixYa trying to sell me a membership before even attempting to offer a solution. They could have at least faked trying to find a solution. Instant response we would like to offer our premium services ....
No, not usually. If you've recorded a tape at LP and put it another machine that doesn't have LP, it usually won't play properly. Some machines that have only SP/EP will do this, but they are got scarce as more manufacturers dropped the LP speed. Your best bet is to buy an older one from a thrift shop or a garage sale, making sure that it will play LP. Then, copy your older LP tapes to SP or EP (Run the OUT from the LP unit to the IN on the SP/EP unit, and choose "record from line in", "aux", or "rear input").
I have the manual. Are you trying to record something live? if so:
1) Turn on both the DVD/VCR and your TV.
2) Switch the input selector on your TV so that the signal from the player appears on the TV screen (this is usually something like 'input 1' or 'line 1' and so forth)
3) On your remote, set TV/DVD-VIDEO to DVD-Video, then press SELECT VIDEO to control the VCR. These buttons are at the upper left hand corner of the remote controller.
4) To record from a cable box, turn it on.
5) make sure the tape is longer than the total recording time.
6) insert a tape into the VCR.
7) press CH +/- on the remote to select the channel or line input video source to record.
8) select the tape speed SP/EP (SP provides better quality, EP provides three times the recording time as SP)
9) Press the record button to start recording. The VCR display will display the message REC.
sounds like it needs a good cleaning, you will notice this problem in sp first when needs cleaned. however if you had done this I would go over it again and if not then change the video head
Is this an older VCR? If you can set the timer on the VCR itself
like on an older model you can set the timer and set it to record
in another speed. But if you can't do this. You are stuck at
recording in sp. If you can set the timer, if you make just
one mistake it may not come on at all. That's why vcrs
are not as reliable as dvrs. if you don't want to miss a show
diffinatly make sure you re at home and see it come on
like fill up the whole tape and put the show on the end of the tape. like a 2 hour movie comes on a 8pm-10pm set the
timer at ep speed to come on at 4:05pm- 10:05pm and put a 2 hour tape in it. in ep it will record for 6 hours. tape will stop
automatically so you will record it, and it will be on the tape
at the end. that's the way i do it. if I'm not going to be at home
if i really don't want to miss a show at all. because when you set the timer it still might not come on if you see it on you know
its going to record it.
note its cheaper to just buy a new vcr than buying a $72 remote.
you might as well do that if it is a newer model.
I bought an older model vcr in a thrift store for $10 and it worked good for a year for recording shows. I got lucky I guess.
it didn't have a remote I use the timer to set the ep speed
to record.
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