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RCA 390 VCR User Manual

1. O VHF ROUND TV JACK UHF ROUND UME TWIN LEAD 2p 14 TN JACK CABLE SUPPLIED J l 300 75 OHM TRANSFORMER SUPPLIED Cable TV Connections Your VCR is designed to receive unscrambled cabie channels 2 through 48 plus 98 and 99 without a con verter box These channels are sometimes designated 2 through 13 A through W W 1 through W 12 and A 2 and A 1 There are several ways to hook up your VCR and TV depending on the type of TV you have the cable channels you receive and whether or not some of the cable channels must be unscrambled One of the five methods shown on this page and the next will likely fit your requirements You may want to change from one hookup to another depending on what you want to do with your VCR Note If you wish to also record one or more local UHF channels that your Cable TV system does not offer first follow the appropriate cable TV connection instructions described below then connect your UHF antenna to your VCR as described in the section titled Antenna Connections IF YOUR TV IS AND YOUR CABLE TV SYSTEM HAS THEN USE DIAGRAM S cable compatibte not cable compatible DISCONNECT CABLE FROM TV I FROM CABLE TV SYSTEM FROM CABLE TV SYSTEM TO f CABLE READY TV SET DISCONNECT FROM ie YOUR TV CONNECTIONS DISCONNECT CABLE TV FROM CONVERTER CONNECT CABLE TV TO VCR l
2. Non essential buttons are disabled during recording to help you avoid accidental interruptions e Operation of the VCR is automatic whenever this is feasible Automatic recording functions Timer and XPR will not disturb normal TV viewing If you run out of tape during playback or normal recording the VCR rewinds it and stops automatically if tape runs out during Timer or Express Recording the VCR stops without rewinding Because of these features the functions of some control but tons depend on the condition of the VCR at the time they are used 1 POWER When the VCR is turned off the timer is automati cally turned on if it has been programmed When the VCR is turned on the timer is automatically turned off Your VCR will not make a timer recording if it is already turned on at the time The power button operates differently during Timer and Express recording Press POWER STOP POWER in that order to stop and turn off the VCR The VCR will stop and turn off if you press the POWER but ton during Recording Playback or Fast Forward If you press it during rewind the VCR will continue rewinding until it is finished and then turn off EJECT The EJECT button will not operate when the VCR is recording It will eject the cassette in any other mode of operation XPR Complete information is on page 22 CHANNEL Complete information is on page 10 PLAY The PLAY button is normally
3. on pages 3 and 4 and another set for connections to a cable TV system on pages 5 and 6 If you have a TV moni tor receiver you may want to make the additional con nections described on page 7 The antenna is the signal receiver that picks up TV broadcasts Some modern antennas receive both VHF Very High Frequency channels 2 through 13 and UHF Ultra High Frequency channels 14 through 83 Some antennas are designed only for VHF reception and others are designed only for UHF reception TYPICAL OUTDOOR ANTENNA TYPICAL INDOOR ANTENNA ef Signals from your antenna are conducted through flat twin lead cable or through round coaxial cable 2 TYPES OF ANTENNA CABLES a Flat 300 ohm twin lead cable Round 75 ohm coaxial cable Cable TV CATV supplies television signals directly by round cable without the need for a home antenna Cabie TV delivers both VHF and UHF channels and programs not available from a home antenna Although Cable TV systems vary most require use of a converter box for TV s that are not Cable TV compatible In most situations you will get better picture quality if you use an outdoor antenna or connect your TV and VCR toa cable TV system If this is not possible use a good quality indoor antenna Your indoor antenna should have sepa rate leads for VHF and UHF if you are in an area with both VHF and UHF stations or you may use separate VHF and UHF indoor antennas Be
4. 16 This same button becomes SEARCH gt when the VCR is playing Picture Search is explained on page 17 The FAST FORWARD button is inactive during recording RECORD The RECORD button never functions unless you press PLAY at the same time Normaily you press both but tons to begin recording when the VCR is stopped You can switch directly from Playback to Recording by pressing both buttons when the VCR is playing STOP The STOP button will stop whatever the VCR is doing both the normal functions of Record Play Rewind and Fast Forward and the Special Effects functions described on the next pages TAPE SPEED The Special Effects features of your VCR Stop Action Picture Search and Siow Motion work best on tapes recorded at the lowest tape speed Super Long Play or SLP Since this speed also uses the feast tape it is generally preferred for all the recording you do VCR Complete information is on pages 10 and 12 TUNER LINE Selects the program source to be recorded The TUNER position is used for recording from the VCR s built in tuner The LINE position is for recording video and audio connected to the input jacks on the back of the recorder When the switch is in the LINE position the warn ing light comes on in the display unit and the channel indi cator is turned off Always check that this switch is set to TUNER when you are going to make a timer recording COUNTER Press this button once to turn
5. A 1 and A 2 Midband A through I 14 22 Superband J through W 23 36 Hyperband W 1 through W 12 37 48 Power Requirements 120V AC 60Hz Power Consumption 32 watts Weight 15 9 Ibs _ Dimensions 3 7 8 High 17 1 8 Wide 12 9 16 Deep Note Specifications subject to change without notice NN i ee What does your warranty cover Any defect in material or workmanship For how long after purchase Ninety days for labor charges One year for parts The warranty period for rental VCR s begins with the first rental What will RCA do Pay any RCA Authorized Servicenter the labor charges to repair your VCR Provide new or at out option rebuilt replacement parts for the RCA Authorized VCR Servicenter to make the repairs How do you get service Take your VCR to any RCA Authorized VCR Ser vicenter or to the RCA Service Company For their names and locations ask your dealer or RCA Distrib utor or look in the Yellow Pages Show the service technician your Warranty Registra tion or evidence of purchase date Pick up your VCR when repairs are completed Si un livret d instructions en francais n est pas inclus avec votre appareit vous pouvez en obtenir un INDIQUER LE NUMERO DE MODELE VOTRE NOM ET VOTRE AD RESSE en vous addressant a RCA inc Service des donn es techniques 5575 av Royalmount Ville Mont Royal Quebec Canada H4P 1 J8 RCA Corporation Consumer El
6. FROM CABLE TY c l SYSTEM q CABLE To TV system CONVERTER i TEREA VHF DISCONNECT NO FROM UHF wmon YOUR CONNECTIONS FROM S l BACK OF VCR amm CONVERTER When you use this set of connections keep your TV tuned to the channel you have been using usually chan nel 3 or 4 and use the converter box as you always have for normal TV viewing and for viewing some other chan nel while you are recording CONNECT CABLE TO VCA a rnow ant aut TO RY CONNECT YCR TO TV VCR COAXIAL RF CABLE SUPPLIED BACK OF TV DO NOT CHANGE ORIGINAL CONNECTION FROM CONVERTER TO TV a DO NOT DISCONNECT l 1 ROUNO TV JACK ii CONNECT VCR TO CONVERTER CONVERTER BOX BACK OF TV When you want to view the channel you are recording or when you play the VCR tune the converter box to the same channel that you have set the channel switch on the back of the VCR either channel 3 or 4 This is called the VCR channel throughout the operating instructions in this manual Continued on next page Cable TV Connections Continued C When you use these connections the A B switch is used to select either the converter output or the VCR output Disconnect Cable TV trom converter Disconnect TV from converter cable Connect Cable TV to input of splitter CONVERTER BOX l Py CONVERTER CABLE 2 l r DO NOT DISCONNECT DISCO
7. and spots in the picture during slow motion Use SLOW TRACKING to eliminate them as much as possible Turn the control first in one direction and then in the other until you get the best picture Notice that the center posi tion of the control is marked You should return it to this position when you are through with the tape The VCR will automaticatly switch from Slow Motion to normal play after about five minutes Picture Search The buttons for Rewind and Fast Forward become the Picture Search buttons when you are playing a tape When you press SEARCH gt gt the VCR plays at a higher speed until you release the button When you press SEARCH lt 4 the VCR reverses from the normal direction and plays the tape backward at high speed until you release the button The sound is turned off during pic ture search because it would not be understandable at the high speed Expect to see some streaks in the picture when you are search ing The picture will be best for tapes recorded at SLP speed although it can be viewed from tapes recorded at the other speeds Tape Counter If you always reset the tape counter when you insert a tape you can note the counter reading at the beginning of each program you record for future reference The label kit provided with RCA tapes can be used to list programs and counter readings 1 Press COUNTER to display the tape counter in place of the time 2 Press RESET to set the counter to 0000 Note It
8. before a Pien pnocnam single digit hour or minute TOEN ed The display will prompt you to select either nme Guosoopm Press 1 for AM or 2 for PM AM or PM TIME OFF 08 05 j AM 1 PM 2 i TO END PUSH Procaan The display will show START DATE followed Peruse procram If you want to start recording on a future date by the current date and day Fre press four digits two for the month and two tee Oe Oe for the day Press 0 first for a singie digit If you wan r L START DAYE OTNOMB month or day For example press 0 8 0 5 to day zr He Soa recording on the current ro eno pos Procnan begin recording on August 5 The year and day of the week are displayed automatically when you finish a CR Press PROGRAM to enter your program and Fete rate If you have no other programs to enter press return to the original display Additional pro 2 NORMAL PROGRAM PROGRAM again grams may be entered by repeating steps 2 9 i WEEKLY snognam 5 PROGRAM REVIEW i o END PUSH procna pea ks Clearing a Timer Program 1 Press PROGRAM on the remote hand unit to display the programming menu 2 Press 5 Program Review The TV screen will display for ten seconds the infor mation you entered for the lowest program number Then the display changes to the next higher program number and so on until all program information has been displayed 3 Press 5 again if you want to view the nex
9. on another VCR NORMAL TV VIEWING EE RESET TO CENTER WHEN FINISHED if it was adjusted in Step 7 Note The VCR light automatically comes on when you start playback so you do not need to press the VCR TV switch Recording from Another VCR To copy dub tapes connect the two VCR s as shown below Use shielded audio video cables such as RCA ee ARRA the recording VCR to your TV are grams and other materials may infringe the rights of the ones you normally use It is preferable to play the others original tape on the same machine that was used to record it CAUTION The unauthorized recording of television pro AH002 or AH005 CABLES Z PLAYBACK VCR a B RECORDING VCR J cer oO a a som cary 0600 oY e A Ta Tai a ioe Sadun Lr LP ps O Or N i cH gt u N y Y ES S i FS S si P 2 2 PTO ig F df i By da tf a eeu AH002 To VHF antenna terminal Optional accessory available from your RCA dealer CABLES s i TV To audio and video inputs er O convenliona on TV Monitor Receiver TURN ON TV ib START PLAYING TAPE TUNE TV TO VCR CHANNEL OF RECORDING VCR 3 OR 4 WES STOP BOTH VCR s k TURN ON BOTH VCR s Le REWIND IF NECESSARY SS PLAYBACK VCR RECORDING VCR F SET TAPE SPEED SET TO LINE Ey LIGHT ON ME PRESS PAUSE TO EDIT OUT UNWANTED MATERIAL PRESS IT AGAIN TO RESUME Operating
10. persists consider the use of a chemical non abrasive head clean ing tape RCA Stock No AV009 It is available from your dealer and many electronic supply stores Erase Protection To prevent erasing a recording you want to keep remove the safety tab from the back of the cassette as shown in the illustration Recording is impossible when this tab is removed To record again on a cassette that has the tab removed simply cover the hole with vinyl tape Dee Safety tab To prevent erasure To record again cover break off the tab the hole with vinyl tape Cassette Playing Times and Speeds The playing times and counter readings below are approximate Also it is assumed the counter is set to 0000 at the start of the tape T 60 CASSETTE VK125 SPEED SP LP SLP Counter Counter Counter Time Reading Reading Reading 1 hour 2080 end 1120 760 2 hours 2080 end 1460 3 hours 2080 end T 120 CASSETTE VK250 SPEED sp LP SLP Counter Counter Counter Time Reading Reading Reading 1 hour 3520 2100 1520 2 hours 5680 end 3520 2600 3 hours 4660 3520 4 hours 5680 end 4300 5 hours 5000 6 hours 5680 end T 160 CASSETTE VK330 SPEED SP LP SLP Counter Counter Counter Time Reading Reading Reading 1 hour 3740 2160 1560 2 hours 6120 3740 2740 3 hours 5020 3740 4 hours 6120 4640 5 hours 5400 hours 6120 7 hours 6760 8 hours 7420 end Recording Speed This information will help you decide
11. the tape speed Use SLP for normal recording 12 TUNER LINE Be sure it is set to TUNER for record ing TV programs LINE is for recording from a cam era or another VCR The LINE tight is off when the switch is set to TUNER VCR Selects the signal source that is fed to the VHF antenna connection on your TV When the light above the button is off your TV receives signals from your VHF antenna or from the Cable TV system When the light is on signals come from the VCR tuner or the tape that is playing This switch is called the VCR TV switch in this manual to avoid confu sion with the VCR itself CHANNEL PROGRAMMING Explained on page 11 To Insert Turn on the VCR and then push the cassette through the door until the VCR mechanism pulls it into the compartment The light in the Eject button turns on when the cassette is in place 10 To Eject Power must be on to eject the cassette Rewind the cassette before ejecting it Press EJECT To Remove The cassette will come Partially out of the compartment so you can pull it out Put the cassette in its box and store it upright Basic Operation continued Turning on Your VCR for the First Time When you have finished connecting the cables to your antenna and TV plug in the VCR s power cord and press POWER The light in the STOP button should come on If it flashes too much moisture has coll
12. used to begin playback when the VCR is stopped It is also used to switch to slow motion operation when the VCR is paused during playback for stop action viewing Slow Motion and Stop Action are explained on the next page The PLAY button is inactive when the VCR is recording PAUSE Pausing during a recording stops the tape so that nothing will be recorded When you press the PAUSE button a second time recording resumes immediately Pausing during playback produces a Stop Action picture and press ing it again resumes normal playback REC or PLAY in the display unit flashes during a pause Additional information about Recording Pause and Stop Action is on the next page Q REWIND SEARCH lt 4 This is the REWIND button when the VCR is stopped Once you have pressed it the VCR wili rewind to the beginning of the tape or to a counter reading of 0000 uniess you press the STOP button Q This same button becomes SEARCH 4 when the VCR is playing Picture Search is explained on page 17 The REWIND SEARCH button is inactive during recording O F FWD SEARCH PP This is the FAST FORWARD button when the VCR is stopped Once you have pressed it the tape will continue to fast forward until you press the STOP button If you do not press the STOP button the VCR will fast forward to the end of the tape and then automati cally rewind to the beginning of the tape and stop Refer to Memory Stop on the page 17 for more information
13. which tape speed to use when recording SP Standard Play uses the most tape Video recorded at this speed has the least picture noise snow in normal playback Pre recorded tapes use SP for this reason and also because all VHS recorders have this speed LP Long Play uses one half as much tape as SP This speed is provided primarily for playing tapes recorded on older machines that do not have SLP e SLP Super Long Play uses one third as much tape as SP SLP has slightly more picture noise than LP in normal playback which may not be noticeable Your VCR s special effects search stop action slow motion and frame advance are designed for optimum performance at the SLP speed Cassette Care and Storage Follow these directions for continued high quality per formance from your cassettes When you are finished with a cassette rewind it and remove it from the VCR Never attempt to force open the cassette door Store cassettes vertically in their protective boxes at normal room temperatures Avoid extreme heat and humidity Extreme heat can warp the cassette or cause the tape to stretch excessively Be especially careful to keep dust from entering the cassette and the VCR mechanism All dust is abrasive and it wil cause excessive wear of both the tape and the VCR s recording piayback heads Basic Operation Basic Operating Controls and Displays Now that you have connected your VCR to
14. your TV and antenna or cable TV system you are ready to turn it on You don t need to know ail the details about the controls and display before you begin using your new VCR so only those you will be using immediately are discussed here Additional information about the controls is on pages 16 17 1 POWER Turns the VCR on and off 2 EJECT Ejects the cassette from the VCR The light in the EJECT button is on when a cassette is in place Cassette Compartment Push the cassette through the door to Joad it Status Display Tells what the VCR is doing PLAY for playback Search or Slow Motion REC for record REW for rewind FF for fast forward blinking PLAY for Play Pause or Frame Advance blinking REC for Record Pause This area is blank at other times O Time Display The time and day of the week are nor mally shown here If the clock has stopped you will see in this area CHANNEL selector buttons and display Y selects the next lower channel and A selects the next higher channel The channel number appears in the display unit inserting and Removing Cassettes PLAY Starts playback O REWIND Rewinds the tape when the VCR is stopped RECORD Press RECORD and PLAY at the same time to begin recording 10 STOP Stops whatever the VCR is doing record playback rewind or fast forward TAPE SPEED and indicators Press the button to change recording speed The lighted indicator tells
15. 1 for AM or press 2 for PM TO END PUSH PROGRAM wae one oud Set the date by pressing six digits in order for renee the month day and year For example press The display prompts you to set the date ee PA NEAR 070686 on July H 1 ae ple p Always press 0 before single digit months and days TO END PUSH PROGRAM Press PROGRAM to start the clock Note that NME 0219 Pma the display on the VCR will show the correct The day of the week will appear when you j oare oreas time after you press PROGRAM have entered ail six digits for the date l ro eno Pusu eaocaau j Press PROGRAM again to return to the pro ee gram you were watching 14 First Recording and Playback First Recording and Playback This page gives the basic steps for recording and play back You should practice them until you can do them without referring to the manual To save time we suggest you record for only two or three minutes Making a Recording Tuan on Tv 2 TUNE TV TO VCR CHANNEL 3 OR 4 INSERT CASSETTE See page 10 9 SELECT CHANNEL The first drawing shows how to make a recording and the second one shows how to play it back and turn off the VCR The operating notes at the bottom of the page are keyed to the step numbers for quick reference if you have a problem or need more information PRESS BOTH PLAY eat JEL taacema sow maceme Ey SET SPE
16. B switch Connect A B switch to TV Connect Cable TV to input of splitter O Connect other converter to VCR CONVERTER BOX loo 9 CONVERTER CABLE 1 eee 1 DO NO DISCONNECT DISCONNECT FROM Tv ome ee ee ee ee ae m ad di lt D cams bS CONVERTER BOX Optional accessory available from your RCA Dealer Use A Position of A B Switch For Viewing any cable TV channel while you record some other channel with the VCR Viewing any cable TV channel when your VCR is turned off CETERE BOX ae AB Swen AE caer CONNECTED E VER COAXIAL RF CABLE SUPPLIED BACK OF Tv p Use B Position of A B Switch For Playing a recording e Viewing any channel at the same time you are recording it Select the channel with the converter that is connected to the VCR and tune the VCR to the output channel of the converter usually 3 or 4 Note When you set the A B switch to B tune your TV to the same channel that you have selected on the back of your VCR 3 or 4 This is called the VCR channel throughout this manual What Your VCR Will Do Recording Sources The buitt in VHF UHF Cable compatible tuner can tune in any of the standard broadcast channels and up to 49 Cable TV channels Since your VCR has its own tuner you can use it to record one program while you watch another one selected with your TV tuner Also you can view and record the
17. ED Playing It Back KE REWIND TAPE LS STOP WHEN FINISHED ul BEGIN PLAYBACK uk STOP WHEN FINISHED IK EJECT CASSETTE i TURN OFF VCR Operating Notes The channel switch on the back of the VCR and the channel selector on your TV must be set to the same channel f the light in the STOP button flashes wait until it lights continuously Normally record at SLP Recording speeds are com pared on page 9 It there is no picture on the TV and no channel num bers in the display check that the TUNER LINE switch is set to TUNER It may be necessary to fine tune the TV for best picture and sound turn oF F Tv J REWIND TAPE Q REC appears in the display when the VCR is recording you don t want to play back the tape skip to Step 12 in the second drawing O REW appears in the display during rewind When rewinding is finished this display goes oft and the light in the stop button turns on again D PLAY appears in the display when the VCR is playing 15 Operating Controls Detailed Information The uses of the controls for basic operation are on page 10 Now that you are familiar with the basic procedure for recording a TV program and playing it back you are ready to learn the rest of the control functions The controls of your VCR are designed so that Accidentally pressing a wrong button will not damage the VCR or the cassette
18. NNECT FROM G SPLITTER O Connect splitter to converter Connect splitter to VCR Connect converter to A B switch l i C T 1 EOMNECTED wh your j oY CONVERTER BOX This arrangement will let you use your VCR as a remote controlled converter box when you are not recording Connect VCR to A B switch Connect A B switch to TV AB fic id m pod al AHOO4 CABLES COAXIAL RF CABLE SUPPLIED Optional accessory available from your RCA Dealer Use A Position of A B Switch For Viewing any cable TV channe while you record some other channel with the VCR Viewing all scrambled channels Viewing cable channels when the VCR is turned off Cable channels 2 through 13 can also be viewed with the VCR turned off and the A B switch set to position B D This system requires two converter boxes from your cable TV company and there may be an additional Disconnect Cable TV from converter BACK OF TY Use B Position of A B Switch For Playing a recording Viewing a nonscrambled channel at the same time you are recording it channel selected with the VCR tuner charge All channels must be selected with the converter boxes both for recording and normal TV viewing O Connect splitter to each of the converters Connect VCR to A B switch Disconnect TV from converter cable Connect one converter to A
19. NTENNA Disconnect the antenna from your TV and connect it to your VCR like this VHF CHANNELS 2 13 FROM ANTENNA g nemn anan UHF p BACK OF VCR UHF CHANNELS 14 83 FROM ANTENNA Disconnect the antenna from your TV and connect it to your VCR like this VHE CHANNELS 2 13 FROM ANTENNA YOUR TV ANTENNA rmf O ve Le 3 d H BAND SEPARATOR SPLITTER COMBINATION VHF UHF a BAND SEPARATOR SPLITTER l UHF CHANNELS 14 83 l FROM ANTENNA wii BACK OF VCR ADAPTER 71 SUPPLIED mr Continued on next page Antenna Connections continued Connect VCR to back of TV a The back of your TV will probably resemble one of the diagrams below If the antenna connection on the back Connect the VCR to your TV like this A of your TV looks like this OR OR BACK OF TV BACK OF VCR VHF TV SCREWS CP AO VHF VHF TWIN LEAD UHF TV CABLE gi SCREWS SUPPLIED BACK OF TV B If the antenna connection on the back Connect the VCR to your TV like this s of your TV looks like this BACK OF TV we TI VHF oy meecu a OUT TO FY vea VHF COAXIAL ROUND AF CABLE TV JACK SUPPLIED OLLO _ VKE VHF UHF eto me SCREWS SUPPLIED VHF Tv SCREWS C If the antenna connection on the back Connect the VCR to your TV like this of your TV looks like this VCR m COAXIAL AF CABLE SUPPLIED VHF
20. Notes RECORDING SEE NOTES Adjust the TRACKING control Step 12 if streaks appear Use the PAUSE button Step 13 for brief pauses If you in the TV picture This may happen if the cassette was not want to pause for more than three or four minutes stop originally recorded on the same VCR that you are using to the VCR by pressing STOP When you are ready to play it After you adjust the tracking stop both VCR s and resume press both PLAY and RECORD start over with Step 9 20 Camera Recording In addition to the camera itself you will need a Camera To start recording press PLAY and RECORD on the VCR AC Power Supply RCA Model CPS03 for use with RCA cameras Plug the camera cable into the power supply and then connect the cables from the power supply to the VCR as the drawing shows The connections from the VCR to your TV are the same ones you normally use Use the PAUSE button on the VCR to start and stop recording If you want to pause for more than three or four minutes stop the VCR by pressing STOP When you are ready to resume press both PLAY and RECORD AUDIO PLUG VIDEO PLUG ORM cary Or mes VHF aa N FROM ANT Our o n Bg CH3 runn on Tv TUNE TV TO VCR CHANNEL 3 OR 4 E PRESS BOTH PLAY AND RECORD E TURN ON VCR INSERT CASSETTE STOP WHEN FINISHED ey SET SPEED sy SET TO LINE W LIGHT ON Ey REWIND iF NECESSARY 21 Express Recording Express Recording XPR lets you reco
21. Press to switch antenna between TV and VCR Optional Accessories Several accessories are available that will enable you to ex pand your home video system You may also find some of these items helpful when installing your VCR A few accesso ries are pictured here to briefly familiarize you with the different types that are available Although RCA Part Numbers are listed for your convenience other accessory brands are com patible with your RCA video system Accessories are availa ble through most electronic supply stores and RCA video dealers Video Cameras and Camcorders See your RCA dealer for complete details on the wide selection of Color Video Cameras and Camcorders combination camera recorder that is available for use with your new VCR CABLES Cable designed for use with VCRs Video Cameras or any other equipment requiring 75 ohm F type interconnecting cables AH037 3 ft AHOOS 9 ft AH007 6 ft AHOOS 16 ft 3 general purpose coaxial cable for use in audio and video applications it is fitted with RCA phono type connectors and is used with VCRs Monitors and other related audio and video equipment Provides quick connect application of 75 ohm F type cable Used with VCRs Video Cameras TV receivers and other electronic devices A 5 shielded audio video cable specifically designed for video and audio use with video cameras and VCR equipment A twin jacketed dual conducto
22. THE VCR INSERT CASSETTE recordings for practice so you won t be disappointed later on If you have a Daily or Weekly program in the VCR timer you should check the steps in the drawing sometime before the recording time to be sure that your VCR is ready to record LS REWIND IF NECESSARY Be SET SPEED TURN OFF THE VCR VCR OFF TIMER PROGRAMMED Timer Recording Checklist Before your VCR timer can record a TV broadcast all the conditions listed here must be fulfilled They are pre sented as a checklist you can use until you are familiar with your VCR Cassette inserted in the VCR TIMER flashes if not Cassette has its safety tab in place if not the cas sette is ejected See page 9 Cassette length and recording speed are adequate for program s to be recorded Cassette rewound to beginning or to desired place on tape Tuner Line switch set to TUNER Clock set to correct time and date Timer has been programmed PROG will be displayed Power has been turned off TIMER appears only if the timer is programmed and the VCR is off LP CHECK DISPLAY GP SET TO TUNER CURRENT DAY CURRENT TIME Programming Reminders The timer light will flash if you have programmed the VCR but forgotten to insert a cassette e The VCR will automatically eject the cassette after you have programmed the timer and turned off t
23. VideoCassette Recorder Owner s Manual Warranty Registration No other RCA Video Cassette Recorder has the same serial number as yours It is important that you record the number and other vital information here in case your VCR is stolen or in case you need a complete description for any other reason You will find the model and serial numbers on the back of the VCR You will also find both numbers recorded on your registration form Purchase Date Dealer Model Serial Number VCR registration is very important so that you can be contacted should there be a safety inspection modification or product recall under applicable laws or regulations or otherwise The dealer who sold you the VCR should have registered it and given you a copy of the registration form It your dealer did not give you a copy of the registration contact him promptly and ask for it You must be able to show your registration or evidence of purchase date to any RCA Authorized VCR Servicenter or the RCA Service Company to receive warranty parts and service We suggest you attach your sales slip and warranty registration to this booklet and keep them in a safe place for future reference This owner s manual can be used for both VMT390A and VMT390 Safety Precautions Your VCR operates on 120 volts 60 Hz normal household current and has a polarized plug Because one blade of the plug is wider than the other
24. ance another 30 minutes The time that is displayed is the time when the recording will start After you have set the starting time you must set LENGTH within 8 seconds Otherwise XPR will disap pear and the clock will return to the actual time Then you must reset the start time 22 K SET TO TUNER PD TURN LIGHT ON TO VIEW WHILE RECORDING Press the LENGTH button at least twice The first keypress only starts the XPR recording it does not advance the recording length Increase the recording time by pressing the LENGTH button additional times The clock display shows the amount of recording time you have set from 0 30 30 minutes to 4 00 4 hours The time remaining is constantly displayed during XPR You can extend the time whenever you want by press ing LENGTH When the recording time has expired the VCR turns off and the clock display returns to current time Programming the Timer The programmable clock timer permits unattended recording of up to four different TV programs The timer is actually a small computer which will turn on the VCR at the time you select record for a selected length of time and then turn off the VCR ali automatically without you being there You can program the timer to do the following e Record a program on a single day up to one year away NORMAL PROGRAM Record a program at the same time Monday thru Fri day DAILY PROGRAM Record a program on
25. cause you usually must reposition an indoor antenna when you change channels it seldom is convenient to use the same indoor antenna for both TV viewing and VCR recording especially if you wish to view one channel while recording another For this reason it is recom mended that if you must use an indoor antenna buy two and use one for your TV and one for your VCR Antenna Connections 1 A If your existing antenna is connected e to your TV like this YOUR TV l OUTDOOR VHF OR UHF CABLE FROM ANTENNA VHF OR UHF INDOOR DISCONNECT FROM VHF OR UHF If your existing antenna is connected B to your TV like this a VHF j OUTDOOR VHF UHF INDOOR ee ne VHF DISCONNECT FROM YOUR Tv If your existing antenna is connected to your TV like this C CABLE S FROM ANTENNA If your existing antenna is connected to your TV like this D YOUR TV UHF Disconnect Existing Antenna from TV and Connect it to VCR Your antenna will probably resemble one of the diagrams on this page Disconnect the antenna from your TV and connect it to your VCR like this _ IF VHF CHANNELS 2 13 FROM ANTENNA VHF OR une CHANNELS 14 83 ADAPTER SUPPLIED FROM ANTENNA BACK OF VCR Disconnect the antenna from your TV and connect it to your VCR like this CHANNELS 2 13 FROM ANTENNA gua vey amman an tal l l l I CHANNELS 14 B3 FROM A
26. ced on or directly above a stereo amplifier because of the heat that rises from the amplifier Choose a flat surface at least as large as the VCR so that it rests on its mounting feet It is important that air can pass through the ventilation holes in the bottom of the unit to prevent it from overheating Do not operate the VCR on a rug or carpet because the pile will obstruct these holes Some TV sets may cause interference in home VCR s To avoid interference and get the best performance from your VCR follow these guidelines When placing the VCR under a TV keep at least 18 inches between the bottom of the TV and the top of the VCR If interference is present when the VCR is used on top of the TV or at the 18 inch distance below the set move the VCR to a position beside the TV i If interference continues after all the above call your dealer or service representative General Installation Information IMPORTANT There are two basic steps for connecting your new VCR to your present TV and antenna s or cable TV The first step is to disconnect the antenna s or cable TV from the TV and reconnect it to the VCR The second step is to connect the VCR to the TV Be sure you do both steps Since there are many different types of antennas and TV s there are several ways to make the above connec tions Therefore the instructions have been divided into two sets one set for connections to your own antenna s
27. d tune your TV to the other channe you want to watch Simplified installation Checklist This simplified checklist will help you quickly determine if you have completed all the basic installation steps Make sure your VCR is connected properly as explained on pages 2 7 Press POWER to turn on VCR Set NORMI CATV switch on the back of the VCR to the NORM position if you have a homie antenna sys tem Set the switch to the CATV position If you have cable TV Program active channels into VCR s scan list press SELECT LOCK then press AUTO PROG wait about one minute and then press SELECT LOCK again Delete or add individual channels into scan list as desired Detailed instructions on page 11 Select VOR Channel First set the CH3 CH4 switch on the back of the VCR to either channel 3 or 4 and then tune your TV to the same channel This is called the VCR Channel T Learn how to use the VCA TV switch e When you press the VCA TV switch and the indi cator light above the switch turns on the VCR is in the VCR mode and your TV must Be tuned to the VCR Channel channel 3 or 4 Your TV will then display on channel 3 or 4 whatever tape the VCR is playing or whatever channel the VCR 1s tuned to When the indicator light above the VCR TV switch is out the VCR is in the TV mode and your TV will work like it always did before you Gonnected the VGR Remote Control Before yo
28. e the best picture when you use stop action on tapes recorded at SLP If you expect to use stop action frequently during playback a sports event for instance be sure to record at SLP speed The stop action picture may tend to jump up and down slightly Adjust the control marked V LOCK on the back of the VCR to reduce this jitter Once you have made this adjustment you probably won t have to do it again unless you use stop action on a tape that was recorded on a different VCR A small amount of vertical jitter is normal Using stop action on a single frame of the picture for a tong time can wear the tape as explained in Pause During a Recording For this reason you should use STOP instead of PAUSE to interrupt playback for an extended time The VCR will automatically switch from Pause to Stop after five minutes Frame Advance Frame Advance is a special featue that lets you view one Stop Action frame after another Press PAUSE to begin stop action viewing Then press F ADV on the remote control each time you want to go on to the next trame of the scene Press PAUSE to resume playback at normal speed Slow Motion If a tape is playing press SLOW on the remote control to begin slow motion viewing When you are using Stop Action viewing Pause during Play press PLAY to begin Slow Motion Sound is turned off during stow motion To return to normal viewing speed press PLAY It is normal to see some streaks
29. ected or press REWIND to rewind the cassette completely Use this procedure during playback to mark a point to be repeated 1 When you see the beginning of the part you want to view several times use SEARCH lt 4 to locate a point slightly before the desired scene 2 Release the SEARCH button to resume normal playback and press RESET just before the desired scene appears 3 When you have played to the end of the scene in question press STOP and then REWIND The tape will rewind to the beginning of the scene and stop 4 Press PLAY to view the scene again 5 Repeat Steps 3 and 4 as many times as you like Tracking Adjustment When you play tapes that were not recorded on the same VCR black and white streaks may appear in the picture Adjust the TRACKING control located behind the auxitiary control door in either direction to remove them Return it to its center position when the tape has finished playing 17 Quick Reference Guides Recording With TV Off It is not necessary to have your TV on when you record UE TURN ON VCR he SELECT CHANNEL GP PRESS BOTH PLAY AND RECORD TO STOP WHEN FINISHED INSERT CASSETTE L9 SET TO TUNER Normal TV Viewing Follow the two steps in the drawing for normat TV view are connected to it switch the TV to Tuner input and ing To view UHF stations just tune your TV to the chan select t
30. ected inside the unit for it to operate Leave the VCR turned on until the internal heat dries it and the light stops flashing Proceed below when the light in the STOP button is on and not flashing Programming Active Channels into VCR s Tuner The AUTO PROG Automatic Programming button makes it easy and convenient to program TV stations into the VCR s scan list The scan list is the tist of channels that your VCR tuner stops on when you press the CHAN NEL UP or CHANNEL DOWN button The scan list is empty however until you program active channels as de scribed below Automatic programming is usually a one time proce dure but you will need to repeat it if you move to a loca tion that has different channels or if power is interrupted for an extended period To program active channels 1 Turn on VCR by pressing POWER button 2 Set the NORM CATYV switch on the back of the VCR to the NORM position if your VCR is connected to a home antenna system Set the switch to the CATV position if your VCR is connected to a cable TV system Note Your VCR was shipped from the factory with this switch set to NORM CHANNEL PROGRAMMING 0O O SELECT LOCK AUTOPROG ADD ERASE Press and release the SELECT LOCK button The channel number will be flashing 4 Press and release the AUTO PROG button The tuner wilt automatically cycle through all avail able channels in the area and place them in the sca
31. ectronics Division 600 N Sherman Dr PO Box 1976 46206 Indianapolis Indiana What does your warranty not cover Transportation to and from the Servicenter Customer instruction Your Owner s Manual provides information regarding operating instructions and user controls For additional information ask your dealer Installation and set up service adjustments Signa reception problems caused by external an tenna or cable systems Damage from misuse or neglect Cleaning of video audio heads which is normal maintenance VCR s which have been modified or incorporated into other products e VCR s purchased or serviced outside the USA How does state law relate to this warranty e This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to State What if you purchased your VCR in Canada e Refer to the Canadian Warranty Trademark s Registered Marca s Registrada s Part Number 2822 432 1 Printed in Japan E72118 4649574
32. ent Programs Basic Playback Recording from Another VCR e Camera Recording Express Recording Programming the Timer Timer Recording Alternate Remote Control Units Optional Accessories Cabinet Cleaning Things To Check Before You Call for Service Index Alphabetical Specifications Warranty Inside Front Cover Inside Front Cover Back Cover Back Cover Installation Unpacking When you unpack your new VCR be sure you have removed all the accessories and information sheets We recommend that you save the packing materials and box in case you ever need to ship or store your VCR The accessories supplied for connecting your antenna VCR and TV set are shown here The remote control unit and its batteries are also packed in with the VCR teks 1 ase oue 5 tt 300 ohm flat lead in twin iead O g9 i OLGO OY PS CHAI 7a 5 ae 4 VCR Coaxial RF Cable 7 RCA Accessory No RT023 O 300 75 Ohm Transtormer RCA Accessory No AH018 Remote Control Batteries Size AA 1 5 volt L OQOO DOOO 0000 Remote Control Location Choose a location that is convenient but away from sources of heat such as direct sunlight and heating units If the VCR is to be installed in an equipment rack or cabinet with other devices be sure that there is ade quate ventilation at the back and around the sides of the components The VCR should not be pla
33. he VCR if the cassette has its safety tab removed This is to remind you to put in a new Cassette or cover the safety tab See page 9 TV Viewing During a Timer Recording When the VCR turns on automatically to make a timer recording it does not disturb whatever program you may be watching at the time Press the VCR TV switch to turn on the VCR light if you want to monitor the recording Stopping a Timer Recording While in Progress Press POWER and then press STOP within 10 seconds Press POWER once more to turn off the VCR This erases a Normal program from the timer s memory but a Daily or Weekly program will record on the next sched uled day 25 Alternate Remote Control Units Selected modeis of RCA color TV receivers and monitor receivers feature infrared hand units that will also re motely control your VCR Only the buttons that are used for controlling your VCR are described here These but tons have generally the same functions as the ones with the same names on the front panel of the VCR but there are some differences Any VCR tuner channel may be selected by pressing two of the Digit buttons on the hand unit Press 0 first to select tuner channels 1 through 9 Turns on VCR Press to record Press to play Same as PROGRAM on VCR s hand unit Press to rewind when VCR is stopped or reverse scan when in Play Press for fast forward when VCR is stopped or forward scan when in P
34. he channel you want regardless of what the VCR nel regardiess of what the VCR is doing If you have a TV is doing Monitor Receiver and the VCR s audio and video outputs TURN POWER OFF 2 OPERATE TV AS USUAL OR TURN VCR LIGHT OFF TARCKNG SLOW TAACHMG TURN ON Tv TUNE TV TO VCR CHANNEL 3 OR 4 ey SET SPEED F VCR LIGHT ON SET TO TUNER PRESS PAUSE TO INTERRUPT RECORDING PRESS IT AGAIN TO RESUME Note tf you want to view another VHF or Cable TV chan TV If you want to view a UHF channel after you start re nel after you start recording press the VCR TV switch so cording simply tune the TV to the channel the light above it goes off Then select the channel on the Quick Reference Guides continued Recording and Viewing Different Programs P SELECT CHANNEL va PRESS BOTH PLAY AND RECORD im TURN ON VCR INSERT CASSETTE ey STOP WHEN FINISHED EP SET SPEED E9 VCR LIGHT OFF SET TO TUNER O OPERATE TV AS USUAL Note If you want to view what is being recorded press the VCR TV switch to turn on the light and then tune your TV to the VCR channel 3 or 4 Basic Playback TURN ON TV TUNE TV TO VCR CHANNEL 3 OR 4 pewinp cit NETI a EE ke TURN ON VCR INSERT CASSETTE P PRESS PLAY foal TAPE SPEEO ADJUST TO REMOVE STREAKS hte TURN OFF LIGHT FOR if tape was recorded
35. hey are presented Should you experience a problem please follow the Things to Check near the end of this manual The war ranty on the back cover describes what RCA wiil do for you should your new VCR need service during the war ranty period It also tells you how and from whom you should request service Copyright 1986 RCA Corporation Contents Warranty Registration Safety Precautions Instatlation Unpacking Choosing Location General Installation Information e Antenna Connections Cable TV Connections TV Monitor Receiver Connections What Your VCR Will Do Video Cassettes Basic Operation Basic Operating Controis and Displays Inserting and Removing Cassettes Turning on Your VCR for the First Time Programming Active Channels into Tuner Deleting Channels from the Scan List Adding Channels to the Scan List Setting Your TV to the VCR Channel Setting the VCR TV Switch Simplified Instaltation Checklist Remote Control Battery Installation Setting the Clock First Recording and Playback Operating Controls Detailed Special Effects and Features Pause During Recording e Pause for Stop Action Playback Frame Advance Slow Motion Picture Search Tape Counter e Memory Stop Tracking Control Quick Reference Operating Guides e Normal TV Viewing Recording With TV Off Recording and Viewing the Same Program Recording and Viewing Differ
36. infrared remote con trol Programming instructions are displayed on your TV screen leading you step by step through the program ming sequence Express Recording XPR XPR iets you record for up to four hours without program ming the timer Simply select the channel and the starting time immediately or up to 24 hours delayed start and select the length of time you wish to record The rest is automatic Conventional Playback Your VCR uses the standard VHS recording system so that pre recorded VHS tapes and tapes recorded on another VHS type VCR can also be played Your VCR will play VHS cassettes recorded at any of the three standard speeds It automatically selects the same speed for play back that was used for recording the cassette By using the electronic tape counter and the FAST FORWARD and REWIND controls you can cue to any starting point on the tape before you begin playback Picture Search The FAST FORWARD and REWIND buttons can be used for Picture Search when you play a tape When you press one of these buttons the playing speed is increased so that you can quickly locate the picture you want to view Normal playing speed resumes and sound is restored when you release the button A picture is dis played when you search a tape recorded at any speed but quality is best for tapes recorded at SLP Pause Stop Action Frame Advance Pressing the PAUSE button stops the tape s forward motion for
37. is normal for tape to stretch slightly when it passes through the VCR For this reason the counter may not return exactly to 0000 after rewind and it is likely to read 9998 or 9999 This is normal Memory Stop When you press COUNTER to turn on the counter display you automatically turn on the Memory Stop feature When the counter is displayed the VCR will stop automatically at 0000 whenever you use REWIND or FAST FORWARD If you are rewinding simply press the Rewind button again to continue to the end of the tape lf you press FAST FORWARD and the counter never reads 0000 between that point and the end of the tape the VCR will continue to the end of the tape switch to Rewind and then stop when the counter reads 0000 Since you can reset the counter to 0000 at any point on the tape Memory Stop is convenient for finding the beginning of a record ing or the beginning of a particular segment you want to repeat This is the procedure to use when you are going to start record ing somewhere beyond the start of the tape 1 Turn on the VCR and press COUNTER to obtain the counter reading Pressing it again returns the clock display 2 Use FAST FORWARD and STOP to locate the point where you will begin recording Then press RESET before you begin recording 3 Press STOP when you are finished recording and then press REWIND The cassette will rewind to counter reading 0000 and stop 4 Press PLAY to view the segment you have sel
38. lay Press to search backward when VCR is playing Same as CLEAR on VCR s hand unit Press to search forward when VCR is playing Turns on VCR Same as Numbers buttons on VCR s hand unit Same as Pause on front panel Press to record Press to search backward when VCR is playing Same as CLEAR on VCR s hand unit Press to rewind Same as PROGRAM on VCR s hand unit 26 Separate buttons turn the VCR on and off Simply press the Record button to record it is not nec essary to press the Play button at the same time Note When you use CHANNEL UP or DOWN on the Digi tal Command Center hand unit the VCR uses its internal scan list of channels not the scan list that you program med into the hand unit for controlling the TV DIGITAL DMMANU UENTER Same as Numbers buttons on VCR s hand unit Same as Stop on front panel Same as Pause on front panel Same as F ADV on the VCR s hand unit Select next higher or lower channel in VCR s scan list Same as SLOW on the VCR s hand unit Turns power off Press to switch antenna between TV and VCR Same as TV VCR Switch on VCR Turns off power Select next higher or lower channel in VCR s scan list Same as Stop on front panel Press to play Press to search forward when VCR is playing Press tor fast forward when VCR is stopped Press for forward search when VCR is playing
39. ld know before you set the clock When you first plug in your VCR the clock will read If you enter an illogical time or date 13th month for erent example a question mark will appear instead of the e The buttons for setting the clock are on the remote Pe pe entry Simply enter the correct digit to replace hand unit e question mark e The clock must be set to the correct time before you can program the timer for unattended recordings or use Express Recording XPR e If you press a wrong digit press CLEAR repeatedly until If power is interrupted for an extended period you will the incorrect digit flashes and then enter the correct have to reset the clock and re enter your programs in digit the timer While you are setting the clock the display on the TV screen will prompt you through the procedure Turn on your TV and tune it to the VCR Chan nel channel 3 or 4 The VCR Channel is id adage explained on page 11 ae eee HONN Press PROGRAM on the remote hand unit SIDA PROGRAM Press 1 to set the clock 4 WEEKLY S 5 PROGRAM REVIEW This menu will appear on the TV TO END PUSH PROGRAM cick Sti Set the time by pressing two digit buttons on TIME The display prompts you to set the time the remote for the current hour and two more 1 for the minute Bei tS m J For example press 0 2 1 5 for 2 15 CLOCK SET TIME 0215 AM 1 PM 2 The display prompts you to select AM or PM Press
40. light above the VCR TV switch on your VCR must be on Selecting the VCR channel is normaily a one time proce dure since there is little reason ever to change it Pro ceed as follows 1 Be sure the TUNEA LINE Switch behind the auxiliary control door is set to TUNER 2 Decide whether you want to view your VCR on Chan nel 3 or Channel 4 of the TV If one of these channels is vacant in your area you should use it Otherwise pick the channel you view less 3 Set the channel switch on the back of the VCR to whichever channel you have chosen and then turn on your TV and tune it to the same channel This is the VCR channel Setting the VCR TV Switch 1 Push the VCR TV switch so that the indicator light above the switch is on When the light is on the VCR is in the VCR mode and your TV must be tuned to the VCR Channel channel 3 or 4 Your TV will then display whatever tape the VCR is playing or whatever channel the VCR is tuned to 2 Push the VCR TV switch again so that the indicator light above the switch is out When the light is out the VCR is in the TV mode and your TV will work like it always did before you connected the VCR The VCR TV switch allows you to record one program with the VCR while you watch another program on your TV To do this first put the VCR in the VCR mode light on and start recording the program Then press the VCR TV switch to the TV mode light out an
41. ming instructions in each one All four program numbers will be flashing because none of them have been used If the timer has been programmed the number that was used will stay on instead of flashing You must clear a program number before the same number can be used again See Clearing a Timer Program on the next page 3 The display will prompt you to select a channe number NORMAL PROGRAM PROGRAM 1 CH 04 The display will prompt you to enter the l recording start time fe EEN l NORMAL PROGRAM PROGRAM 1 TO ENO PUSH PROG Press a digit from 1 to 4 on the remote to select the program number you want to program Press two digits for the channel to be recorded for example press 0 4 for channel 4 aan Press four digits two for the hour and two more for the minute For example press 0 6 0 0 for 6 00 Always press 0 before a FEND URE MACSRARR single digit hour or minute k 23 Programming the Timer continued 5 l AOAMAL PROGRAM i PROGRAM 1 The display will prompt you to select either JME ON 08 00 Press 1 for AM or 2 for PM AM or PM TO END PUSH PROGRAM J a ON bd i NORROGAAM T Y Press four digits two for the hour and two H 04 The display will prompt you to select the stop TIME ON 06 00 PM more for the minute For example press ping time jy Beeps i 0805 for 8 05 Always press 0
42. n list This takes about a minute The channe numbers will stop changing when the tuner is fin ished cycling 5 Press SELECT LOCK The channel number wit stop flashing Program ming is now complete and you can use the CHAN NELA buttons to select channels 6 If you want to delete or add individual channels from the scan list refer to the instructions at the right Deleting Channels from the Scan List You may want to have only a few favorite channels in the scan list so you can select them more quickly with the CHANNEL amp and V buttons Use the numbered buttons on the remote control to select channels you deleted from the scan list Occasionally Automatic Programming may include a vacant channel in the scan list if there happened to be some sort of noise or stray signal on the chan nel when the tuner was programmed This procedure explains how to delete any unwanted channels from the scan list 1 Use the CHANNEL A or Y button to select the chan nel that you want t remove from the scan list 2 Press SELECT LOCK The channel number will begin flashing 3 Press ERASE The sound will go off which tells you that the channel number has been deleted from the scan list 4 Press SELECT LOCK again to return the tuner to normal operation The tuner will immediately skip to the next channel in the scan list and the number will not flash 5 Repeat the procedure for each channel you want to dele
43. on the tape counter and press it again to restore the normat clock dis play Refer to Tape Counter and Memory Stop on the next page RESET Refer to Tape Counter and Memory Stop on the next page TRACKING Refer to Tracking Adjustment on the next page SLOW TRACKING Refer to Slow Motion on page 17 CHANNEL PROGRAMMING See page 11 for complete details DISPLAY RESET Push the switch within the hole located on the bottom of VCR if the indication or operation of the display appears abnormal 09 0 00 00 98 Special Effects and Features Pause During Recording Press the PAUSE button when you are recording to prevent recording short passages of unwanted material Press the PAUSE button again when you are ready to resume recording Avoid pausing for more than three or four minutes because the spinning heads that do the recording are still in contact with the tape and will eventually wear off the active material This will cause streaks or spots in the picture when you play the worn part of the tape called dropouts Pause for Stop Action Playback Press the PAUSE button during playback to stop the action This tets you examine alt the details of the scene similar to looking at a single frame of a movie film When you are ready to resume normal playback press the PAUSE button again The following suggestions wili help you get the most out of this feature Your VCR is designed to giv
44. one certain day of every week WEEKLY PROGRAM Things to know before you start You can program the timer up to one year before the TV program is to be recorded You can correct an error in the program any time before the last step by pressing CLEAR repeatedly unti the digit to be corrected is flashing Then enter the cor rect digit and continue the programming sequence Turn on the TV and tune it to the VCR channel channel 3 or 4 so you ll be able to see the programming display on the TV screen Make sure the VCR s clock is set to the correct time The timer cannot record at the right time if the clock is set incorrectly Reset the clock if necessary Press PROGRAM on the remote hand unit The programming menu appears on the TV screen Simplifed Programming Instructions t Turn on VCR and Tune your TV to the VCR channel channel 3 or 4 Press PROGRAM on remote hand unit Watch the display on the TV screen it wilt prompt you through the rest of the programming exercise Turn off the VCR TOSELECT MODE PUSH NUMBER SHOWN 1 CLOCK SET 2 NORMAL PROGRAM 3 DAILY PROGRAM 4 WEEKLY PROGRAM 5 PROGRAM REVIEW ro END PUSH Procran Press 2 to enter a Normal Program 3 to enter a Daily Program or 4 to enter a Weekly Program The display will prompt you to select a Program Number Four program numbers are available and you can enter different program
45. or a month or more it is wise to remove the batteries to avoid leakage Wj GC TOGO J fi li PROGRAM Used for setting the clock and program ming the timer POWER Same as the POWER button on the VCR PLAY Same as the PLAY button on the VCR STOP Same as the STOP button on the VCR F ADV Frame Advance Advances the picture trom frame to frame during stop action viewing This is explained on page 17 TV VCR Same as the VCR button on the VCR Number buttons Select any channel whether or not it is in the Tuner Scan List by pressing two but tons Press 0 and then 8 for channel 8 The number buttons are aiso used for setting the clock and pro gramming the timer CHANNEL A and Y Same as the CHANNEL buttons on the VCR CLEAR Used for setting the clock and programming the timer PAUSE Same as the PAUSE button on the VCR RECORD Same as the RECORD button on the VCR Press both PLAY and RECORD to begin recording F FWD SEARCH gt P Same as the F FORWARD SEARCH PP button on the VCR SLOW Used to begin Slow Motion play Press PLAY to resume normal playing speed REWIND SEARCH lt lt Same as the REWIND SEARCH lt 4 button on the VCR QO 8600 6 0 00000 Note Selected models of RCA color TV receivers and monitor receivers feature hand units that will also remotely control your VCR See page 26 for details 13 Setting the Clock Here are some things you shou
46. or recording one channel while viewing another place VCR place TV Monitor Receiver in TUNER operational TV Monitor Receiver in TUNER operational mode Use mode and select channels with TV Monitor Receiver VCR tuner to select channel to be recorded Use TV tuner Monitor Receiver tuner to select channel to be viewed For viewing of channel being recorded place TV Moni For playback of recorded program place TV Monitor tor Receiver in VIDEO INPUT operational mode Use Receiver in VIDEO INPUT operational mode VCR tuner to select channel Video Cassettes RCA recommends that RCA cassettes be used with this unit The tape in RCA cassettes is of high quality formula tion intended for use with multi speed VHS video cas sette recorders It has been manufactured to RCA s critical specifications for excellent performance with RCA VCR s Use of tape not meeting these specifications could considerably reduce the performance of your VCR Use of poor quality tapes or tapes that have been dam aged or mishandled can contaminate the VCR heads This can cause a snowy picture or a missing picture dur ing playback Because RCA has no control over the type of tape purchased or rented by consumers head cleaning is not covered by RCA s warranty It is considered normal maintenance Playing a new RCA tape for approximately 30 minutes often will clean the VCR heads and improve your picture If a snowy picture or missing picture condition
47. r audio cable used for connection of stereo speakers to stereo video instruments It is two color coded and is equipped with RCA phono plugs at each end SWITCHES This is an economy two position 75 ohm coaxial switch which performs the same functions outlined for the AH041 switch shown betow This is a 2 position 75 ohm coaxial switch some times referred to as an A B switch used for switching a single signal source to two separate output devices such as a cable TV input to a TV AH041 set or VCR SPLITTER COMBINER Used as a splitter to divide a signal from a single 75 ohm source so that it may be ted to two separate devices For example a single 75 ohm antenna lead in signal split to feed two TV receivers When used as a combiner signals from two sources are fed through two inputs to a single output HEAD CLEANING CASSETTE The AVOQSW head cleaning kit uses a special cleaning cassette which you insert in the VCR just as you would a standard tape cassette 27 Specifications Format Record Playback System VHS 3 Head 2 video record playback heads 1 special effects head Video Signal EIA standard NTSC color Antenna 75 ohm externat VHF antenna terminal 300 ohm external UHF antenna Tuner Type Auto programming frequency synthesis 119 channets Broadcast Channels VHF 2 13 UHF 14 83 RCA Limited Warranty Video Cassette Recorder Cable TV Channels Midband
48. rd up to four hours without programming the timer It also allows you to start or continue recording immediately or to delay recording up to 24 hours When the recording is finished the VCR will turn off automatically Note Although you do not have to program the timer the clock must be set before you can Express Record IMMEDIATE START If you want the VCR to start recording immediately or to continue a recording you ve already started follow the simplified instructions at the right labeled Immediate Start DELAYED START If you want the VCR to delay recording follow the sim plified instructions at the right labeled Delayed Start Only two buttons are used to Express Record XPR START LENGTH INSERT CASSETTE REWIND IF NECESSARY bm TURN ON VCR Detailed instructions by SELECT CHANNEL Simplified Instructions 3 Keep press g appears in dispi 0 30 80 m Press Pi 9 PRESS START FOR DELAYED XPR Omit for Immediate Start See note below ya SET LENGTH OF RECORDING See note below k9 SET SPEED S TURN OFF VCR FOR DELAYED START XPR Note for Step O The first time you press the STAAT button XPR will appear in the display and the clock will skip to the next half hour Examples If you press the button at 9 35 AM the clock will skip to 10 00 AM if you press it at 8 15 PM the clock will skip to 8 30 PM Each additional time you press STAAT the clock will adv
49. same program if you prefer Your VCR also has special video and audio input connectors for recording from a camera or another VCR Automatic Tuner Programming Available channels can be automatically preset into the tuner for selection with the CHANNEL UP and CHANNEL DOWN buttons Automatic Programming searches through the channel numbers for broadcast or cable TV reception finds the channels that are available from your antenna or cable TV system and permanently stores them in the tuner s memory Afterwards you can select any of these channels with the CHANNEL Up and Down buttons on the VCR or the remote control simply by pressing the button until the channel number appears in the display If you prefer you can select a channel number directly with the numbered buttons on the remote control Recording Speeds and Times You can choose any one of the three standard speeds when you make a recording The recording times for vari ous cassettes and the reason for using each recording speed are explained on page 9 Unattended Recording with Remote Programming On Screen Display The VCR timer can be preset up to one year in advance to record up to four different programs You can record the same program every week day or on the same day of every week until you cancel the program The VCR will turn on automatically at the time you have selected record your program and turn off automatically Alt programming is done using the
50. stop action viewing during playback or to eliminate unwanted material when you are recording After you have stopped the action during playback the FRAME ADVANCE button on the remote control lets you advance the tape one frame at a time so that you can see all the motion details Stop action and frame advance are designed for use at the SLP speed They may be used on tapes recorded at other speeds but the picture quality will not be as good as that at SLP Slow Motion Press SLOW on the remote unit or press PLAY during play pause to change from normal playing speed to slow motion The PLAY button will restore normal playing speed Siow Motion is designed for use at the SLP speed It may be used on tapes recorded at other speeds but the picture quality will not be as good as that at SLP Memory Stop When the tape counter is displayed instead of time fast forward and rewind will stop when the counter reads 0000 By resetting the counter to 0000 at the desired point on the tape you can stop at this point for repeated view ing of a certain scene Automatic Rewind Your VCR automatically rewinds and then stops when it comes to the end of the tape To avoid accidental erasure during Unattended Recording and Express Recording the VCR stops at the end of the tape but does not rewind Power Off from Rewind You can turn off the power during rewind and the VCR will finish rewinding and turn off automatically Infrared Remote Con
51. t program information without waiting ten seconds 4 Press CLEAR when the program information you want to clear is displayed 5 Press PROGRAM to erase the on screen display Notes Normal timer programs clear automatically when the recording is finished but daily and weekly programs remain in the timer indefinitely All programs are erased if power is interrupted for more than approximately ten minutes 10 Turn off the VCR Checking the Timer Programs Programs can be checked whenever the VCR is not recording 1 Press PROGRAM on the remote hand unit to display the programming menu 2 Press 5 Program Review The TV screen will display for ten seconds the infor mation you entered for the lowest program number Then the display changes to the next higher program number and so on until all program information has been displayed 3 Press 5 again if you want to view the next program information without waiting ten seconds 4 When you are finished press PROGRAM to erase the on screen display 24 Timer Recording The information on this page tells you how to set up your VCR for Timer Recording after you have programmed the timer The programming instructions are on pages 23 24 When you have finished programming the timer fol low the steps in the drawing to prepare for timer record ing We suggest that you make one or more short timer 1 PROGRAM THE TIMER yay TURN ON
52. te from the scan list Notes e Channel numbers flash when the SELECT LOCK switch is in SELECT and the CHANNEL amp buttons will select every channel whether or not it is in the scan list e Channel numbers do not flash when the SELECT LOCK switch is in LOCK and the CHANNEL A but tons will select only those channels that are in the scan list Adding Channels to the Scan List You may have deleted a channel from the scan list and want to put it back Occasionally Automatic Programming may miss an active channel because the signal is very weak or because the channel happened to be off the air when the tuner was programmed Use this procedure to put any channel in the scan list 1 Press SELECT LOCK 2 Use the CHANNEL or digit 0 9 buttons on the hand unit to select the channel you want to add to the scan list There will be picture but no sound at this time and the channel number will flash 3 Press ADD The sound will come on to tell you the channel has been added to the scan list 4 Press SELECT LOCK The channel number will stop flashing to tell you the tuner is in its normal operating mode 11 Basic Operation continued Setting Your TV to the VCR Channel The VCR Channel is the TV channel you use for viewing what the VCR is recording or playing and for viewing the signal from the VCR tuner when it is stopped Your TV must be set to this channel and the
53. the plug fits in the wail socket only one way Do not defeat the safety feature of this plug If you need an exten sion use a polarized cord Caution To prevent electric shock do not use the polarized plug on this Video Cassette Recorder with an extension cord receptacle or other outlet uniess the blades can be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure Mise en garde Pour prevenir les chocs lectriques ne pas utiliser la fiche polaris e de cet appareil avec une rallonge une prise de courant ou une autre sortie moins que les lames ne puissent tre ins r es fond sans qu aucune partie ne soit laiss e a decouvert WARNING To prevent fire or shock hazard do not expose this VCR to rain or moisture lilustrated below is the label on the back of your Video Cassette Recorder CAUTION MISE EN GARDE RAISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE DO NOT OPEN NE PAS OUVAIR The symbol of a lightning flash within a triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock A An exclamation point within a triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance service instructions in the literature accompanying the product Caution To reduce the risk of electric shock do not remove the cover or back No user serviceable parts are inside If
54. trol The remote hand unit may be used instead of the front panel buttons to control the major functions of the VCR The remote control has additional buttons for selecting any tuner channel by number setting the clock program ming the timer and operating Slow Motion and Frame Advance VHS HQ Picture Quality This VCR incorporates VHS HQ High Quality circuitry for improved picture quality It is fully compatible with earlier VHS VCRs TV Monitor Receiver Connections Direct Video and Audio Connections Connecting the video output and audio output jacks of your VCR to the corresponding video and audio input jacks of your TV monitor receiver may produce a slightly better picture during playback These direct signal con nections bypass the TV tuner during playback thus reducing the probability of noise and other extra sig nals that may degrade picture quality FROM HOME VHF ANTENNA OR CABLE TV SYSTEM pae AH020 SIGNAL TO TV SPLITTER VIDEO IN tae eee MONITER RECEIVER AH002 CABLES INPUTS TO VHF ANTENNA TON CONNECTIONS AUDIO IN ON TV IH FROM ANT OUT TO TY Elen TO UHF ANTENNA CONNECTIONS ON TV USED ONLY IF YOU HAVE HOME UHF ANTENNA UHF FROM HOME ANTENNA SYSTEM USED ONLY IF YOU HAVE HOME UHF ANTENNA Optional accessory available trom your ACA dealer Operating instructions For normal VHF or cable TV viewing independent of F
55. u use the remote control unit supplied with your VCR install the batteries instructions below Most of the remote s buttons do the same things as the buttons with the same names on the front of your VCR and you can use whichever one is more convenient at the moment The remote control is also used for setting the clock and programming the timer Since the remote control operates the VCR by infrared light it is immune to electrical and sound interference However you must aim the remote unit directly at the VCR There cannot be any obstructions between them Battery installation The batteries supplied with your remote control are packed separately To install them in the hand unit 1 Turn the hand unit over and remove the cover of the battery compartment 2 Insert the batteries so that their positive ends contact the positive terminals in the battery compart ment These are marked in the bottom of the compartment 3 Replace the cover Remote Unit Back View Battery Replace the batteries when your VCR fails to respond to the remote control Replacement batteries are widely available Use size AA 1 5 volt cells Alkaline type bat teries are preferred Good batteries should last a year or more in normal service Avoid laying the remote control upside down or placing things on top of it This could depress the buttons and discharge the batteries If you are not going to use the hand unit f
56. you spill liquid on the VCR disconnect the power cord to prevent possible fire or shock hazard and consult authorized service personnel Moisture can damage internal parts Refer all service to RCA Authorized Servicenter personnel or the RCA Service Company only Caution Maintain electrical safety Powerline operated equipment or accessories connected to this unit should bear the UL listing mark or CSA certification mark on the accessory itself and should not have been modified so as to defeat the safety features This will help avoid any potential hazard from electric shock or fire If in doubt contact qualified service personnel Note to Cable TV Installer This reminder is provided to call your attention to Article 820 22 of the National Electric Code that pro vides guidelines for proper grounding and in particular specifies that the cable ground shalt be con nected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical Caution The unauthorized recording of television programs and other materials may infringe the rights of others Using This Manual Congratulations on your choice of an RCA VCR You have selected a high quality precision engineered instrument designed to give you years of trouble free video and audio enjoyment To get best performance from your new VCR it is impor tant that you carefully read and follow the operating instructions in this manual in the sequence in which t

RCA 390 VCR User Manual

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