I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both horizontal and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection, and is there
any way around it?
Thanks.

It may cause by the MicroVision technicology for DVD/VCR media copyright
protection

"Chris F." wrote in message
...
I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes
through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both horizontal
and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection, and is
there
any way around it?
Thanks.

Chris F. wrote:
I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it
through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes
through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both
horizontal and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly
to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection, and is
there
any way around it?
Thanks.


The symptoms you describe sounds like the DVD is protected by the
Macrovision copy protection scheme. If you want details on how this
works go to:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...number=4631603

Basicly they are adding extra horizontal sync pulses to the signal
during the vertical retrace time. This screws up the automatic gain
control circuits in the vcr and causes it to output the light and dark
signal. When fed directly to a TV it doesn't bother the TV because the
TV doesn't look at the extra sync pulses at that time.

The easiest way around this is to get an external modulator to take the
signals from the VCR and output a RF signal for the TV on either
channel 3 or 4. Radio Shack used to sell these but I use one that came
with an old VHS Camcorder. Also a lot of the old electroic games came
with external modulators.

Van

"Chris F." wrote in message
...
I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes
through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both horizontal
and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection

Yes.

and is there any way around it?

Yes.

Search for Macrovision and/or Antti Paarlahti
--
N

Don't go to RadioShack. They charge like $99 for a modulator. I think
their model is actually stereo, but you don't need that unless the TV
is stereo and you want it to be stereo.

We sell them retail for like $25. I don't think there's any profit,
it's like one of those things you do to help the customer use what they
bought. Like the remotes, sell a used TV and you gotta have it. I think
we make about $2 on the remotes, $4 on the modulators, and maybe $8 on
a DVD player. We make the money on the TVs and only have these
accessories because they're needed.

You should be able to find a deal online, if not, I'll ship you one for
about $30 if you don't live in Timbuktu or something.

JURB

In article ,
Chris F. wrote:
I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both horizontal and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection, and is there
any way around it?

http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#1.11

In article ,
says...

I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both horizontal and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection, and is there
any way around it?

What you're seeing is very normal, unfortunately. It's a form of
copy protection generated by your DVD player called 'Macrovision.'

Some players can be modified to shut down their Macrovision
output. However, this usually requires appropriate tools, commercial-
grade soldering/desoldering equipment, and the skill to hunt down and
effectively use modification instructions for your specific player
(assuming it is modifiable -- many are not).

There are other methods, but they are not simple, and usually
require cash outlays in the $100+ level to implement. Google is your
friend.

Happy hunting.

--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"

I tried a number of VCR's, and managed to find two that worked absolutely
perfect with my DVD player. An '89 Philips (not a rebranded Toshiba) and a
'96 GE, in case you're wondering. Makes me wonder how many more compatible
VCR's I have in my scrap pile......

"Chris F." wrote in message
...
I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes
through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both horizontal
and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection, and is
there
any way around it?
Thanks.

"Chris F." wrote in message
...
I tried a number of VCR's, and managed to find two that worked absolutely
perfect with my DVD player. An '89 Philips (not a rebranded Toshiba) and a
'96 GE, in case you're wondering. Makes me wonder how many more compatible
VCR's I have in my scrap pile......

You found a couple with unique electronics. You can hack any VCR to work
BTW.

N

Or just get a TV with A/V inputs."NSM" wrote in message
news:sh8Ud.9639$_G.7809@clgrps12...

"Chris F." wrote in message
...
I tried a number of VCR's, and managed to find two that worked
absolutely
perfect with my DVD player. An '89 Philips (not a rebranded Toshiba) and
a
'96 GE, in case you're wondering. Makes me wonder how many more
compatible
VCR's I have in my scrap pile......

You found a couple with unique electronics. You can hack any VCR to work
BTW.

N

"pertnoy" wrote in message
...
Or just get a TV with A/V inputs.

Won't help. The Macrovision will still bounce the AGC circuits. You need a
stripper.

N

Chris F. wrote:
I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it
through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. (snip)

this question comes up fairly regularly.
I feel that by far the cheapest solution is to locate an old vcr, even
one whose mechanics or even power supply don't work, but which has a
working rf modulator. Remove this RF unit, power it with an external dc
power supply between 5 to 12v (old mobile phone "wall warts" will do).

You will also need to wire up two RCA phono leads for audio and video
to connect to the dvd player. Then just wire the rf out to your tv coax
aerial socket, tune it to the video channel.
I posted the pinouts to a few rf modulators here last year, you may
want to google for 'em if you decide to take this route.
I think it is a good way of putting some of the piles of redundant
electronics in this world to a new use!
Ben

"Chris F." wrote in message
...

I recently bought a cheap DVD player, and was trying to use it through a
VCR, to allow it to play on an older TV with no A/V jacks. It comes
through
but the picture cycles between light and dark, and loses both horizontal
and
vertical sync every few seconds. Works fine when connected directly to the
A/V jacks of a newer TV. Is this some kind of copy protection, and is
there
any way around it?

I just picked up (2) of the 'Stabilizers' from London Drugs, Canada. S-Video
in, RCA out, runs off a 9 volt battery and all for $9.99 (reduced from
$49.99). Can't beat that!

N