"Stellijer" wrote in message m...
A group I'm in just got a used full sized VHS camcorder.

It cosmetically looks great and seems to generally function (image in
viewfinder, tape moves as it should, seems to be working 100%) BUT when viewing
the tape it supposedly recorded on, there's nothing on the tape. Not static or
a black screen with an apparent tracking signal but NOTHING. It would appear as
if the tape was erased but nothing recorded. It was a used tape and indeed the
original signal had been wiped clean.

Bias oscillator switching transistor is shorted collector-emitter , so
the bias oscillator is on in all modes . (seen this in "Television" a
few times)
Disconnect the erase head , and see if it then records (do this on a
totally blank tape, and it should work OK) .

-A



If I may assume for a moment that the camera WAS, indeed, in working condition
when it was shipped, what is likely wrong with it? Has anyone encountered a
problem similar to this before? Also importantly, can it be fixed reasonably
easily or should the group try to get its money back?

Please advise.