I just want to monitor, not to record.
How to disable standby mode for duration 1 hour ???

Thanks

On the XL1 I believe that you can leave the tape door open. (You might also be able to just remove the tape but keep the door closed. It's been a while since I've used the XL1.) On the XL1s you can set the power management option to simply place the tape transport to sleep but leave the rest of the camera active.

With the XL1, leave out the tape, and close the tape door to keep out dust.

For XL1 (not XL1S), see http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article59.php.

XL1S -- menu option disables standby.

what about the GL2/XM-2

In the XL1s:

Go to the on screen menu option, you will see a choice between SHUT OFF and VCR STOP. Choose VCR STOP and what will happen is, after 5 minutes, the tape heads will disengage from the tape (preventing head wear) but you will still be able to monitor for as long as you wish. When you are ready to record, just press the RECORD button or set up one of your custom keys to put you back into STAND BY mode. Very very simple to do. If you need me to walk you through it, drop me an e-mail.

The GL2's power management operates in the same way as the XL1s. That is, you can use the menu to specify that it should remain powered-up.

thank you