betacam deck problems

[Mike Meyerson]

OK, not DV, but maybe someone can help...

I have an old bvw-70 betacamSP deck, I only use it once in a blue-moon when I need to edit a commercial. It's developed a problem...I get a flicker/glitches on video output. I get the same problem on every output source - composite, component, in multiple monitors and running into my avid. I happens all the time...when a tape is playing or not.

Anyone know what it could be? Hoping there's a simple fix.

[J. Stephen McDonald]

Originally Posted by Mike Meyerson

OK, not DV, but maybe someone can help...

I have an old bvw-70 betacamSP deck, I only use it once in a blue-moon when I need to edit a commercial. It's developed a problem...I get a flicker/glitches on video output. I get the same problem on every output source - composite, component, in multiple monitors and running into my avid. I happens all the time...when a tape is playing or not.

Anyone know what it could be? Hoping there's a simple fix.

When the playback heads on my Beta VCRs wore out, these were the first signs that appeared. Later, the record heads showed the same symptoms. The fix could be very simple: just throw plenty of money into it.

I'm so glad that my dealer had been able to arrange 5-year extended warranties that covered everything on my recorders, for only $150. apiece. Considering the huge cost for rebuilding the head assemblies, I'm sure the warranty company regretted its mistake. Since I've used them very lightly since then, they still work after 13 more years.

There are plenty of used Beta SP VCRs for sale these days. Some of them are in good shape and fairly cheap. You might be able to find one that would serve your purposes at a lesser cost than fixing yours. A PVW or UVW-series VCR should work, but there could be an audio compatibility problem with a UVW model, that uses only the linear tracks.

Of course, your VCR might only need a tracking alignment or a professional head cleaning. A local or regional authorized dealer might be a better place to have it checked for something like this, because if you send it directly to a Sony repair center, you'd probably pay a higher minimum charge. The fact that your model is from a broadcast series might make it more difficult and costly to fix.

[Mike Meyerson]

I don't think it's the heads because it happens while monitoring...without even having a tape in the deck. When I bought the deck I had the heads checked and cleaned (a few months ago). I've only used it a few times since and it worked fine until now.

[Steve McDonald]

Originally Posted by Mike Meyerson

I don't think it's the heads because it happens while monitoring...without even having a tape in the deck. When I bought the deck I had the heads checked and cleaned (a few months ago). I've only used it a few times since and it worked fine until now.

I missed your having said in the first message that the glitches occurred even when not playing tape. Since you've checked all the output options and used different monitors, it seems that the problem might be deep within the circuitry. This is the kind of ailment that might evade diagnosis, unless a real repair ace devoted some attention to it. I've sent in video equipment with mysterious problems like this and gotten nothing out of it except the bill. Since the VCR is long out of production and less likely to inspire the interest of Sony Service, my suggestion to replace it with a bargain-priced used one is the path I would take.

[Mike Meyerson]

yeah, maybe I'll pop it on ebay and see what I can get for it...I only paid $1500 for it, so maybe I can get close to that back and pick up a uvw-1800.

[Reg Carter]

If you know someone else who has a BVW 70 you could try swapping your internal cards one at a time and see if at some point the problem stops. If it does, then you've identified the offending card. I did this and sent my bad card to a shop in Chicago that fixed it for about $600. Bad capacitors were the culprits.

[Mike Meyerson]

nope, don't know anyone who has the same deck. I've asked around...I was put in touch with an engineer from a TV studio, waiting to hear back.