RCA VR688HF VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER
(160-0691) Troubleshooting Faxback Doc. # 38328
Trouble Checks
Sometimes problems can be easily solved by checking a few basic things.
Check below before you call for help or take your VCR to an Authorized
servicenter.
Trouble Here's what to try:
No Power Plug VCR into an operating outlet.
Check connections.
Clock shows incorrect Make sure time zone and daylight savings
time or date information is entered correctly. See Faxback
Doc. # 38321.
If auto clock set is off by a few minutes,
station may be sending inaccurate time
information.
Clock was not set accurately (check AM/PM
and date).
Time counter display appears in display panel.
Press DISPLAY on remote.
VCR does not respond Press VCR1 (VCR2 DVD) to set remote to
to remote control the VCR. See Faxback Doc. # 38322.
VCR2 DVD button may be set to control a DVD.
See Faxback Doc. # 38322 to change back to
VCR2.
Aim remote at VCR with no objects between
them.
Remove batteries and hold down one or more
buttons for several seconds to drain the
microprocessor inside the remote to reset it.
Reinstall the batteries and try remote again.
Change batteries.
Remote no longer controls Press TV to set remote to control the
an RCA TV corresponding compatible TV. See Faxback Doc.
# 38322.
Reprogram remote for RCA TV. See Faxback Doc.
# 38322.
Aim remote at TV with no objects between them.
Change batteries.
Remove batteries and hold down one or more
buttons for several seconds to drain the
microprocessor inside the remote to reset it.
Reinstall the batteries and try remote again.
Remote no longer controls Press TV, AUX, VCR2 DVD or SAT CABLE to set
a compatible TV, cable remote to control a compatible component. See
box, satellite receiver, Faxback Doc. # 38322.
or auxiliary component
Aim remote at component with no objects
between them.
Reprogram remote after batteries have been
changed.
Reprogram VCR2 DVD button to 000 to operate
compatible satellite receiver.
Change batteries.
Remove batteries and hold down one or more
buttons for several seconds to drain the
microprocessor inside the remote to reset it.
Reinstall the batteries and try remote again.
VCR only responds to Check setting of Remote Control: VCR1/VCR2
VCR2 DVD button on feature. See Faxback Doc. # 38322.
remote
No picture when VCR Press TV VCR to turn VCR indicator on. See
turned on - using a Faxback Doc. # 38321.
basic hookup
Check to see if Auto TV/VCR feature is set
OFF. See Faxback Doc. # 38321.
Poor or no picture Press TV VCR to turn VCR indicator off.
for normal TV viewing
Switch TV to an active channel.
Check antenna connections.
Snowy or no picture Press TV VCR to turn VCR indictor on.
during playback
Check TV channel selected (3 or 4) to make
sure it matches the channel selected with
CH3 CH4 switch on back of VCR.
Check TV's fine tuning.
Check video cable connections between VCR and
TV monitor.
Set TV monitor to video input channel.
Try another tape.
Some snow/streaks are normal during search,
frame advance, slow-motion, or stop-action
playback.
Time counter not working The time counter does not advance during
unrecorded portions of tape. When an
unrecorded segment of tape is encountered,
the time counter will hold its count until
recorded material is detected again.
A minus (-) will appear in front of the time
if you rewind the tape farther back than a
counter reading of 0:00:00.
Will not record or play No cassette in VCR.
Eject and re-insert cassette.
Broken tape - try another cassette.
Streaks in picture during Some snow/streaks are normal during search,
normal playback. frame advance, slow-motion, or stop-action
playback.
Rewind does not operate Tape already rewound.
Will not record VCR is in pause mode. Press PAUSE.
Safety tab removed from cassette.
Make sure the line indicator (L1) or (L2) is
turned off in VCR's display panel for normal
recording from the VCR's tuner. Press INPUT
to turn off the line indicator.
VCR Plus + or timer Wrong Plus Code number entered.
recording not made
or wrong program Cable box or satellite receiver was not
recorded turned on at time recording was to begin.
Program entered incorrectly
(wrong channel or times).
Power interruption. Clock area in display
panel will show --:--.
Check to see if time and date are correct -
including AM/PM.
Program exceeded tape's length or tape was
not rewound beforehand.
VCR was not turned off at the time recording
was to start.
No tape in VCR or cassette's safety tab
broken off.
VCR makes noise when VCR is removing tape from heads. This is
stopped normal. The head cylinder inside the VCR
will continue to rotate for a few minutes
after you put the VCR in the stop mode.
Will not auto search Check antenna connections.
active channels correctly
Check Signal Type: CABLE/ANTENNA feature.
See Faxback Doc. # 38321.
Cannot select channels Cable channels over 69 can only be selected
over 69. if Signal Type: CABLE/ANTENNA feature is set
to CABLE. Details are on Faxback Doc. # 38321.
Cassette with safety tab Set Auto Play ON/OFF feature to ON. Details
removed does not start to are on Faxback Doc. # 38323.
play automatically
Remote control's back Press the remote buttons within a few seconds
lighting does not stay on of each other or the light will turn off to
conserve battery power. Details are on Faxback
Doc. # 38323.
Stereo or SAP sound not Reception: STEREO/MONO/SAP feature must be
recorded set to STEREO to record broadcast stereo. See
Faxback Doc. # 38324.
Reception: STEREO/MONO/SAP feature must be
set to SAP to record SAP on the linear track.
See Faxback Doc. # 38324.
STEREO indicator not on. Station not broad-
casting stereo or SAP.
No stereo sound during Tape Playback: HI-FI/LINEAR/MIX feature must
playback be set to HI-FI to her stereo sound during
playback. See Faxback Doc. # 38324.
Must use advanced hookups for stereo playback.
See Faxback Doc. # 38318.
Stereo audio too noisy Stereo signal is weak. Set Reception: STEREO/
MONO/SAP feature to MONO.
Press one of the TRACKING up or down buttons
to minimize the noise.
VCR forwards through COMMERCIAL->>ADVANCE CA Playback feature set
commercials or momentarily. To AUTO. See Faxback Doc. # 38323.
displays a blue screen
during playback
VCR forwards through Some tapes use special control track marking.
a rental or pre-recorded Set the COMMERCIAL->>ADVANCE CA Playback
tape displaying a blue feature, in the PREFERENCES menu to MANUAL.
screen
COMMERCIAL->>ADVANCE The commercial advance feature does not mark
feature does not mark commercials under the following situations:
commercials
CA Marking: ON/OFF feature set to OFF.
See Faxback Doc. # 38324.
Recording is less than 15 minutes.
A single isolated commercial cannot be
marked.
Recording started in the middle of a
commercial segment.
The commercial is longer than one minute.
A commercial group within the first or
last two minutes of a recording.
It does not mark commercials between
30-and-45 seconds and 45-and-60 seconds.
Accuracy and effectiveness can vary depending
upon program content and the characteristics
of the commercials.
Effectiveness may vary when local television
stations insert their own commercials.
Commercials recorded COMMERCIAL->>ADVANCE is designed to record
even though COMMERCIAL->> the commercials, mark
ADVANCE feature was turned
on.
(br/EB 12/31/96)
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