The VIDEO Recorder:

1: Should a cleaning tape be used regularly?

Concerning the home VIDEO RECORDER a similar theory applies to the VIDEO CAMERA.

Only in an emergency!

You may have hired video movies for the weekend. Occasionally a damaged section of tape can pass over the heads and tape material can lodge in the head gap causing a bad picture.
In this circumstance the head cleaning tape could remove the oxide making the picture viewable.
Unfortunately oxide can be difficult to remove even with premium cleaning tapes.
Usually only professional cleaning by hand will the fix the problem.

Regular cleaning with 'HEAD CLEANING TAPE' ? NO!

2: How often should tapes be replaced?

Good question! The general consensus is that after approximately 50 passes through a VCR the tape should be replaced. No more than 100 definately. Why that number? After using many different brands over the last 20 years the variations are minimal for day to day time shifting of programs. Some can offer a little less picture noise/more clarity. Professional grade tapes fall into the above category concerning number of passes, the wear and tear factor seems to be much the same throughout. However, if archiving footage, dubbing from another tape etc, the PRO tapes are a must. That number is the number of passes that the PRO tapes start to show signs of dropouts and instability. The tape could be useful but not for continual use. A sure sign is noisy jumping pictures during the first few minutes. When a tape exhibits signs of deterioration it is at this point when the VCR is most likely to require servicing or head cleaning.

In summary good tapes will not cause premature servicing of your machine and your recorded material will always be top notch.

3: What about HIRE video tapes?

Most unusual to hire a bad tape. If this was to occur most shops would take care of the situation for you. Ideally watch hire DVDs and use your own tapes for program time shifting.

4: How can I clean the heads?

Not recommended but those who are handy: A lint free cloth moistened with iso-propyl alcohol is wrapped tightly on the forefinger. Apply to the head cylinder, perpendicularly, with zero bunching of the cloth and rotate the heads whilst gently applying pressure. Observe the material remaining on the cloth!

5: Which tapes should I use?

Any of the well known brands are OK. Avoid the super cheap 'no name' brand.
The additional maintenance could prove uneconomic long term.

6: I can buy a new VCR for $199! Is this old one worth repairing?

Remaining impartial is important.
Often an old VCR is ready for a MECHANICAL OVERHAUL.
This means replacing all transport systems and with some models
there are also various capacitors in the power supply/servo circuitry.
To put it simply: Returning the VCR to 'as new' standard.
The problem is that this can often cost anywhere from $95-$160
depending on the model.
By all means buy a new VCR but please obtain a good trade-in for your old one.
A question asked of customers: Do you have children or grandchildren?
If so then your old video may be able to stand up to a little
more 'not so gentle' treatment!

If your friendly retail store cannot offer a trade-in for your old VCR
bring to us for an evaluation.
Any VCR that is worth overhauling is likely to last another 8 years,
excluding cleaning, a real good investment in anyone's language.

They don't build them like they used to!

7: Should the VCR be serviced regularly?

No. Although it would be beneficial to us!

In reality have your VCR serviced when or if the picture quality deteriorates.

Unless you have an important or mission critical task coming up,
then it may be prudent to SERVICE if the machine has not been
attended to for more than 6 months at 6 hours per week.

8: What about 5 hour tapes?

5 hours tapes record OK. However they can be
susceptable to damage or jamming a VCR mech. Perhaps not a fault of the tape,
VCR may require attention.
5 hours means extra thin tape for the housing to carry thus
any mechanism issue is at least double.

Tape speed:
SP 24 mm/sec
LP 12 mm/sec

Thus 5 hour tape is around 432 metres in length! 3 Hour tape : 260 metres.

To maintain strength tape construction is often metal based and when a VCR is
used with metal regularly extra wearing has been observed on tape guides and the
audio head. One could safely assume the video heads also.

In summary, use 3 hour tapes for day to day recording, keeping the E240s and E300s
for the odd occasion when the length is required.

See FAQ's for 'CAMS' for more details.