Sony VCR repair in Atlanta -- seeking good tech

chris-google_at_pobox.com
Date: 02/07/05 

Date: 6 Feb 2005 20:56:18 -0800

I have a Sony SLV-696HF VCR that won't playback or record. I can take
any tape (recorded by others, commercially recorded, anything) and it
plays back only garbage video (looks like blank tape to me) but perfect
audio. If I record on a tape in that deck and then playback on another
good deck, the tape shows nothing (don't know about audio). I already
tried a head cleaner :)

Some scouring on the net resulted in finding the following on
http://www.anatekcorp.com/faq/archvcr.htm :

> Question:
> Sony VCR #SLV-700HF no playback. Video unit will record fine
> (played back on another vcr). Jail bar picture. No signal output
> on IC801 on RP-149 pcb pin #20 + voltage does not vary from record
> to playback as it should. Sound is perfect. Does this chip go bad
> or am I overlooking another circuit? Logic voltages are ok.
> Answer:
> I found IC801, part#8-759-046-75 to be causing the jailbar
> playback. After replacing the IC on the head preamp voltage on
> pin #23 varied from record/playback as it should. Make sure you
> replace the ground shields around the pcb!!!! If you don't it
> still looks like you have a problem (noisy picture,no color,looks
> like tracking off or dirty heads!)

This is the closest thing I found to my problem, although I can't even
record so it's not the same. Further, my model is a 696 not a 700, but
that's real close :)

If anyone has any specific tips, or knows that the above path applies
to my model, I'd love to hear it. I'm a electrical engineer so I just
need to be pointed in the right direction with a few troubleshooting
steps. It's otherwise a great VCR so I'd like to salvage it if
possible rather than just buy a crappy new one that'll eat tapes in 18
months.

Barring tech tips, can anyone recommend a good VCR repair shop in the
Atlanta area? Sony doesn't list any authorized repair shops, just says
they'll exchange it from their factory "with a comparable model". I'd
rather find a good local guy and give him my money to do a likely easy
fix on an otherwise solid machine.

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