"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.

More information about this:

It won't PLAY tapes, either. No static, nothing. Just black.

Please help. I only got one response thus far and it wasn't enough information
to help me.



Stellijer wrote in message
...
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.

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.

It won't PLAY tapes, either. No static, nothing. Just black.

Please help. I only got one response thus far and it wasn't enough
information
to help me.

Your camcorder has over 100 capacitors that need to be replaced. Junk it and
buy another. It will never work correctly unless this is done and is not cost
effective to repair.
Mike W
Video Services