[winks]

Firstly,sorry if this is in the wrong place,did a search but couldn't find anything?
Basically when i play the video player all i get is the sound,no picture,just grey lines?
Any help greatly appreciated

[chrisjr]

I assume you are using SCART?

Firstly check the SCART lead is properly pushed in

Then check the settings on the TV for the SCART input you are using. If the video format is set to RGB then try changing it to Composite (may be called CVBS, PAL or just Video). There may be a VCR out there that can output RGB but I've never seen one. All the one's I know about are strictly Composite.

If none of the above work try a different SCART lead if you have one. Try different SCART connectors on the VCR and TV.

If you are using RF (aerial only) then try re-tuning the TV. You should only need to do a fine tune probably just to pull it back on channel. Quite possible that the VCR modulator has drifted a little. Not impossible to get sound and no video or vice versa.

Also switch off the VCR and maybe even connect the aerial direct to the TV. Select the VCR channel and see if there is any picture visible. It might be interference from a broadcast channel. In that case you need to change the output channel of the VCR to a clear channel.

[winks]

Yes,using a scart lead.
Got it going from the video to the Skybox and from there to the TV.
Have tried it direct to the tv but still get the same,sound with grey lines.
Will try the settings on tv,has been working ok before though and no-one has messed with anything?

[Andy Carlton]

It sounds as though the output of the VHS is clashing with another broadcast channel. (or input of some kind) The frequency may be slightly overlapping...hence the reason why you get sound but no picture.

Is this problem on actual 'video' playback AND when picking up TV channels?

If you can pick up TV channels ok, then it sounds like the heads may need cleaning, and/or a possible more serious problem. There could be a problem with the scart lead itself. (try another scart lead)

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by winks

Yes,using a scart lead.
Got it going from the video to the Skybox and from there to the TV.
Have tried it direct to the tv but still get the same,sound with grey lines.
Will try the settings on tv,has been working ok before though and no-one has messed with anything?

OK that makes things a little clearer.

Have you got the Sky box set to RGB output perhaps? Which would imply the TV is also set to RGB.

The VCR is very very very unlikely to be RGB as well. it is most likely to be outputting Composite. SCART can carry both formats at the same time. When you press PLAY on the VCR the Sky box routes the VCR signal on to the SCART to the TV.

Fairly obviously this routes just the composite video signal from the VCR to the TV. If you have the Sky box and TV both set to RGB then the TV is probably not responding to this signal from the VCR. The audio is carried separately and both the VCR and Sky box share those connections so that is why you get sound.

The TV is obviously not auto detecting the video mode on the SCART you are using. The SCART spec has a signal on one of it's pins to tell the TV whether the source device (Sky box or VCR in this case) is sending a RGB signal or not. The TV should see this signal and switch accordingly. Seems this is not working in this instance.

If you don't use the VCR to record from Sky ever then one possible solution is to connect it direct to the TV on it's own SCART.

I assume the Sky box works OK? So it is also possible the SCART lead you use between VCR and Sky box is faulty. If it is and you used the same lead for a direct connection to the Tv then that would also explain why it didn't work.

If the Sky box works then try using the lead from Sky to TV to connect to the VCR. if that now works then the problem is the lead you were using. If it still does not work then either the VCR has died or it is a settings issue with the TV.