VHS tape question

[Sudy Nim]

Hello out there! Anyone still monitor this group besides me?

I have a few VHS tapes, of different brand names, about 15 years old with
recordings in SP mode. Most have been used to make but one recording and played
back once or twice. Now, if I record over them in EP mode, the play back results
in an intermittent vertical jitter. They tack automatically and I tried manual
tracking with the same result. I tried erasing with a bulk tape eraser and
flipping one tape, top to bottom. Tried four different brands of VCRs with the
same result. I can scrap the tapes but I'm curious as to why this happens. BTW I
am too old to change now to some other media. Anyone else experienced this? TIA
and Happy New Year!

[GMAN]

Post by Sudy Nim
Hello out there! Anyone still monitor this group besides me?
I have a few VHS tapes, of different brand names, about 15 years old with
recordings in SP mode. Most have been used to make but one recording and played
back once or twice. Now, if I record over them in EP mode, the play back results
in an intermittent vertical jitter. They tack automatically and I tried manual
tracking with the same result. I tried erasing with a bulk tape eraser and
flipping one tape, top to bottom. Tried four different brands of VCRs with the
same result. I can scrap the tapes but I'm curious as to why this happens. BTW I
am too old to change now to some other media. Anyone else experienced this? TIA
and Happy New Year!

Look to see if there has been some damage to the edge of the tapes. The
control head might be having a hard time with these tapes if that edge got
damaged????

[Sudy Nim]

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
Hello out there! Anyone still monitor this group besides me?
I have a few VHS tapes, of different brand names, about 15 years old with
recordings in SP mode. Most have been used to make but one recording and played
back once or twice. Now, if I record over them in EP mode, the play back results
in an intermittent vertical jitter. They tack automatically and I tried manual
tracking with the same result. I tried erasing with a bulk tape eraser and
flipping one tape, top to bottom. Tried four different brands of VCRs with the
same result. I can scrap the tapes but I'm curious as to why this happens.

BTW

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
I
am too old to change now to some other media. Anyone else experienced this? TIA
and Happy New Year!

Look to see if there has been some damage to the edge of the tapes. The
control head might be having a hard time with these tapes if that edge got
damaged????

Thanks for reply GMAN. There is no obvious damage to edges of tapes, crinkling
or such. I even reversed the end of one tape so it is now the beginning of the
tape. Which at the same time exchanged the top edge of the tape with the
previous bottom edge. I can only surmise that "possibly" it is aging of the
tape. The degradation of the magnetic coating????

[GMAN]

Post by Sudy Nim

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
Hello out there! Anyone still monitor this group besides me?
I have a few VHS tapes, of different brand names, about 15 years old with
recordings in SP mode. Most have been used to make but one recording and

played

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
back once or twice. Now, if I record over them in EP mode, the play back results
in an intermittent vertical jitter. They tack automatically and I tried

manual

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
tracking with the same result. I tried erasing with a bulk tape eraser and
flipping one tape, top to bottom. Tried four different brands of VCRs with

the

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
same result. I can scrap the tapes but I'm curious as to why this happens.

BTW

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
I
am too old to change now to some other media. Anyone else experienced this?

TIA

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
and Happy New Year!

Look to see if there has been some damage to the edge of the tapes. The
control head might be having a hard time with these tapes if that edge got
damaged????

Thanks for reply GMAN. There is no obvious damage to edges of tapes, crinkling
or such. I even reversed the end of one tape so it is now the beginning of the
tape. Which at the same time exchanged the top edge of the tape with the
previous bottom edge. I can only surmise that "possibly" it is aging of the
tape. The degradation of the magnetic coating????

Could happen. Have you seen alot of the oxide flaking off?
Tapes used for HIFI recrodings show issues if the tape was of questionable
quality to begin with. There just is not a deep enough coaing on some cheap
tapes to accomodate hifi recording and not saturate the tape.




Since you thoroughly demagnetized them then i know its not a remnant of the
previous SP recording.

[Sudy Nim]

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
Hello out there! Anyone still monitor this group besides me?
I have a few VHS tapes, of different brand names, about 15 years old with
recordings in SP mode. Most have been used to make but one recording and

played

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
back once or twice. Now, if I record over them in EP mode, the play back results
in an intermittent vertical jitter. They tack automatically and I tried

manual

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
tracking with the same result. I tried erasing with a bulk tape eraser and
flipping one tape, top to bottom. Tried four different brands of VCRs with

the

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
same result. I can scrap the tapes but I'm curious as to why this happens.

BTW

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
I
am too old to change now to some other media. Anyone else experienced this?

TIA

Post by GMAN

Post by Sudy Nim
and Happy New Year!

Look to see if there has been some damage to the edge of the tapes. The
control head might be having a hard time with these tapes if that edge got
damaged????

Thanks for reply GMAN. There is no obvious damage to edges of tapes, crinkling
or such. I even reversed the end of one tape so it is now the beginning of the
tape. Which at the same time exchanged the top edge of the tape with the
previous bottom edge. I can only surmise that "possibly" it is aging of the
tape. The degradation of the magnetic coating????

Could happen. Have you seen alot of the oxide flaking off?
Tapes used for HIFI recrodings show issues if the tape was of questionable
quality to begin with. There just is not a deep enough coaing on some cheap
tapes to accomodate hifi recording and not saturate the tape.
Since you thoroughly demagnetized them then i know its not a remnant of the
previous SP recording.

That's just it the tapes look pristine and when first played back in the
original SP mode they were OK. To explain I found some original tapes, in new
boxes at the local Goodwill Store for 99¢. Copies of which I already had in my
library that now became redundant. So those older saved recorded tapes I planed
to use for my every day TV recordings. Strange happenings ...and being curious
I wondered what could cause this? As you point out it could be questionable
original coating. Thanks again, I appreciate your taking time to help solve this
riddle.