Arrrrrrrggggghhhhhhh I'm cursed!!!!!

[Damian Arstall]

Hello all,

I have a problem. I was unsuccessful in my last VCR purchase of a JVC HR6700 and got a refund (machine had noisey pictures, transport and dodgy aerial loopthrough).

So I got a new Panasonic SVHS ET 820 VCR from QED-UK last Friday.

All seemed well enough and the pictures were noticeably clearer and the deck was so much quieter.

Anyhoo, I switch on my TV to Channel 4 today to a load of swirly noise (herringbone patterning). Hmmm, when I brought the VCR out of standby it dissapeared.

I just switched off the VCR's modulator and it dissapeared (not sure if that was related).

I watched a DVD whilst recording a Sky channel from the VCR's AV input and when I stopped the tape and returned to terrestrial there was no picture at all. I checked the TV's tuner again and all was fine.

I unplugged the VCR and reset it to its "shipping condition" and now it can't find any channels.

QED say that all Panasonic VCRs let you know with an error message when faulty so they think its a setup issue and are sending an engineer out before replacing it (no good when I want a video now).

I've set up a £3k DVD/AC3/DVD Audio system in the last 6 months. I know my stuff.

Anyone have any ideas or have dealt with QED before? The VCR is currently unplugged from the mains....its lucky I can't find my mallet!

I knew I should have gone out this evening!

:confused:

[APPRIA40WR]

If the VCR has a aerial loopthrough with the Sky box then you could try shifting the internal RF number on the Sky box. I forget the method but it's via the remote and it should be in the user guide.

[Damian Arstall]

Thanks for the reply.

With the aerial plugged directly into the VCR it still won't find any channels.

It scans through the frequencies far too quickly!

Doh! Its shafted!

:(

[Damian Arstall]

Well I tried the video again today on another aerial only. It still will not work.

QED said an engineer would phone me on Saturday morning but no one did.

I phoned them today and spoke to a manager there. He used to be an engineer and said Panasonic VCR's are one of the most reliable VCR's.

He seemed very knowledgable about VCR's in general. Anyway it would appear that an engineer would probably only be able to come out on Wednesday :mad: So I said thats not good enough for me and he said he would arrange to swap the video.

As the 820 is a bit scarce on features I've paid and extra £38 for the 825 and it should be here on Tuesday.

Fingers crossed!

:)