Do any DVD recorders of VCRs come with RF Modulator for Ch 3 use?

[Andy]

Doesn't usually work that well. The copy protection on the DVD kicks in
and varies the brightness on the output in cyclic fashion...not pretty.

jak

Andy comments:
I've run that setup and sometimes I see the copy protection and
sometimes I don't,.... I suspect that some DVDs are copy protected and
some aren't. If a person is using a his own DVD to make his own copy
off-air,
it won't have copy protection. Then, the playback is run to the VCR
inputs and the Channel 3 output goes to the NTSC television...
and it should work OK..

When VCRs quit, it's usually (in my experience) the transport
mechanism. The other stuff is still workable, and using it as
just an RF modulator should be very practical, unless you are
playing back a store bought, copy protected DVD.......
The broken VCR certainly has very little other practical use.
Andy in Eureka, Texas

 

[Mark Zenier]

Just for grins, I visited and/or phoned about a dozen local A/V retailers
in my area. The result: Few have even heard of the boxes. Those that *had*
heard of them had no idea of if/when they would get any.

Yea, not only do the OTA stations now need the cable companies, the
cable companies are (at least around here) heavy advertisers. It's a
wonder that the TV staions even mention HD in their promos.

I wonder if the 80+% penetration by cable/DBS in this area has anything
to do with this? [nodding head...]

ooohhh. Good Question. I have a horrible feeling that they might
enable copy protection in the video if the right/(wrong?) bits in
the datastream say so. I wonder what the government certification
requirements said...

My VCRs are analog. They have no circuitry to recognize the copyright
"flag." They just react to Macrovision's AGC circuit fooling signal,
which isn't present in digital TV signals. I will probably get a
coupon/box (if/when they are available here) and try it out.

That's what I mean. They built Macrovision into DVD players. Did
they put it in these boxes too? Maybe just downconverting to SD
resolution was enough to feed the copyright sharks.

Mark Zenier [email protected]
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)

 

[UCLAN]

That's what I mean. They built Macrovision into DVD players. Did
they put it in these boxes too? Maybe just downconverting to SD
resolution was enough to feed the copyright sharks.

I really don't know what you mean. The "AGC fooling" Macrovision was
embedded in the video signal. It was not built into the VCR. The "do
not copy" flag is also embedded in the video of the DVD. It enables
an anti-copy signal created by the DVD player and sent to a digital
recording device. The "flag" must exist in the video signal. As far
as I know, the video from digital TV signals contains no such "flag",
so putting recognition capability into the conversion boxes would serve
no purpose.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Got to http://www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009 and give them
the details (fill in the form or do the voice mail stuff) and they'll
(if you qualify) send you up to two coupons for $40 each to buy a dtv
convertor box, which are supposed to be on sale real soon now for $50
to $70.

Nothing available within 50 miles of me.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[b]

When VCRs quit, it's usually (in my experience) the transport
mechanism. The other stuff is still workable, and using it as
just an RF modulator should be very practical, unless you are
playing back a store bought, copy protected DVD.......

at that point one would have to remove the modulator anbd power it
with a wall wart type power supply (old mobile phone chargers for
example). usually in the region of 5-12v dc, you may also need a pot
to attenuate the composite video signal so it doesn't saturate. i've
saved a few old tvs without AV inputs by adding these little boxes so
people can use them with dvds , video games , etc...

-B

 

[jakdedert]

at that point one would have to remove the modulator anbd power it
with a wall wart type power supply (old mobile phone chargers for
example). usually in the region of 5-12v dc, you may also need a pot
to attenuate the composite video signal so it doesn't saturate. i've
saved a few old tvs without AV inputs by adding these little boxes so
people can use them with dvds , video games , etc...

-B

Actually, I mostly use mine for a tuner, although the transport works
fine and gets used from time to time.

jak