I had recently bought a JVC HRS-5000 SVHS VCR off of ebay. It seems to work fine, but if I plug my DVD player into the S-Video plug it gives me a very dark signal, then becomes bright for a second or two and then dark again. I realized it does this with certain sources, but not others -- for instance, If I had the DVD player (samsung model) on with no disc inserted, its a normal picture, but if I put the disc in as soon as it plays, it gets normal - to - dark, then eventually normal for a sec then dark again. I then realized it doesn't matter if its the Svideo or baseband video input, it does the same thing. It works fine with my other VCR (RCA stereo model, not svhs) but the DSS doesnt work right (picture brightness problems again). I just realized also that the VHF (ch3 or 4) output has no lock at all with a constantly rolling picture (like a scrambled cable channel), no matter what the source (tuner / aux in) but Im not worried about that since I currently use just the baseband video output (next step is a better TV!) One time while messing around with test points and stuff, I realized that the luminance wire on the S-video output has a little color to it when the picture is good, but is plain black and white when the picture is dark. The chroma is scrambled (obviously) until it is "shorted" with the luminance where the same results as the bb output can be seen (dark -- light -- dark) I am wondering if anyone has seen this before or know what it can be or if I need to send the unit to a service counter???

The effect you're seeing is a result of macrovision encoding on your DVDs, it's to prevent you from making Video tape copies.

So I cant route my video through my VCR? What about the DSS? Does that have it too? Is there a way around it (not to make copies, but for the sake of not needing to buy extra switchers and stuff)? Thanks -- Adam

Yes DSS has it as well, ther are balck boxes available that remove it. Do a search for 'macrovision'.

I've got a SIMA Video COPYMASTER. Had it for 5 years now. It has RCA and S-video inputs and outputs, and so far has cleaned up any macrovision or other copy protection induced flaws in the video signal. All my video devices go thru a SIMA SVS-4 A/V switcher on their way to the one S-video input on my TV. The SVS-4 had TWO outputs, so I route the second thru the copymaster to my JVC VCR.

Try www.sima.com

Sorry if this sounds like a commercial for SIMA. I just REALLY enjoy the usefulness of these two products.

Dave