dvd - stinking retrace lines

[Adam]

Originally Posted by OvenMaster

PS: That's a nice El Camino, Adam.

Thanks. Unfortunately, It is not one I have, more one that I want. It used to be my grandfather's. I really like those 59/60 GM full size models.
If I ever stop using my computer as a DVD player, and get a regular one, I might try one off that list too.

[vintagecollect]

Hello Frenchy, I get the same damm thing watching my RCA CTC-5 with either VHS or DVD. I thinkk it's because signal sent to another room, weakens it , I'm also going to try Oldtvman's suggestion of antenna amplifier to boost signal. On same TV line, I also had a RCA CTC-36 that also worked perfectly, except experienced same retrace lines during vhs/dvd playback. Has any one had good luck with older tube antenna ampliers to go along with classic televisions???

[Charlie]

I was noticing the "AK Showcase" ads at the top of the page. It seems they change every time you open this page. One of them was listing a "video stabalizer" and I clicked on it to see what it said. The brief description sounds like it might be helpful in getting rid of the lines we encounter. Here's the link in case it's not showing up right now... http://www.stardevelopment.com/index.htm

It also says there is a money back guarantee, so if it doesn't work, it could be returned. Of course, you'd lose out on the shipping charges.

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by frenchy

<<<Anyway I've ordered but not received a video stabilizer that is suppose to clean up the blanking/retrace pulse in any Macrovision encoded signal. >>>

Yes please report what it does to protected dvds Macrovision lines, maybe I can get this thing and not have to burn a bunch of dvds! thanks

Well the device arrived within 4 days of ordering. It seems to work just fine as a Macrovision remover. Installation is quick and simple as the unit is powered from an internal 9 volt battery that auto senses when a video signal is active on it's input. Suppost to be 2000 hr battery life.

So I have been copying both old commercial VHS tape and a few commercial DVDs just to see that it worked, and none have failed to copy. Now this allows only analog copying which is no big deal when dealing with less then outstanding quality of VHS tapes, however I suspect the DVD to DVD via analog losses some resolution, but is fine for my purposes which was to find a way to get rid of hundreds of VHS tape taking up so much room.

Lefty

[andy]

...

[vintagecollect]

For $59, I'll try classic tube antenna amp first, usually avail cheaper too.



Linky
http://cgi.ebay.com/GE-Power-Signal-...QQcmdZViewItem


I just bought antenna booster normally sells at Rat Shack for $34.95, I hesitated since price was high. Just bought it now for $5.95!!
Check these out, exact same as sold at store, much lower price.

[yagosaga]

In the UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum there is a thread dealing with the same question: Watching TV on vintage sets...
http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=6753

[frenchy]

Will these gizmos also remove the standard upper retrace lines from non dvds? I just picked up 16 cool laserdiscs for a buck each (Star Wars, Alien, IMAX movies, Star Trek, that type of stuff) and some of them have the old annoying retrace lines like you can get on VHS. I am also going to be watching these on my big screen but wanna use the old roundies for them too occasionally especially the non-widescreen ones. Note this player only has a RF 'channel 3' coax output on it, not rca plugs, don't know if that would affect whether I can use a stabilizer or not. It has something called an "adapter output" but don't know what that is for.
I got lucky in that all of them have useable soundtracks on my ancient hulk of a laserdisc player, a Pioneer VP-1000. Years ago I rented a newer disc that I could only get the 'commentary' soundtrack out of and not the actual movie soundtrack due to how the soundtracks were formatted on the disc (a newer format that this old player is not compatible with.) Fortunately all these worked great on the old player.

[yagosaga]

Originally Posted by frenchy

Will these gizmos also remove the standard upper retrace lines from non dvds?

I have just got these gizmos kits. After I have assembled it, I will report here the results. I expect that it will remove the retrace lines from DVD video signals.

[domfjbrown]

Originally Posted by frenchy

ancient hulk of a laserdisc player, a Pioneer VP-1000.

Yum yum - the first DECENT home Laserdisc player - careful with that gas laser as they don't last anywhere near as long as a laser diode. I'd LOVE to own one of those early Pioneer players.

The nearest we have in the UK is the pile of pants Philips LV700 (iirc) - now that REALLY IS a hulk!

[AudioMixer]

Hey Frenchy, after reading your post , man I got to ask you this one question, WHY! Why in the world would you wand to view a DVD on these old sets to begin with! These old tvs don't have the resolution and technology to produce the fine details these players can offer. Maybe for nostalgic reason just to see what it looks like, okay but come on.
Just my 2cents

Originally Posted by frenchy

I have played my really old laserdisc player on my old tvs before and never had a problem, so tried my Sony dvd player with Revenge of the Sith on my ctc-10 tonight and get these stupid 'data' lines. (see pic) Tried other discs, same thing. They appear for 15 seconds, then fade away for 5 seconds, etc etc. They only appear if a disc is playing, not when the player is in screensaver mode. And when they are on screen they give me a nasty sound buzz too. The picture and sound are gorgeous if not for these damn lines. If I turn the contrast waaaay down they almost go away... but then so does the picture quality!
I'm running the dvd signals thru rca cables into a little ac/powered video-to-rf gizmo and a coax from that to the tv's antenna splitter.
Am I stuck with this? Would maybe a different player not do this, like maybe an older one that has a coax output on it? I know this happens on certain broadcast channels but thought it didn't happen with dvds. thanks!

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by AudioMixer

WHY! Why in the world would you wand to view a DVD on these old sets to begin with!

I realize you directed this question at Frenchy, but you might not yet realize that nearly everyone in these vintage television forums does the same thing- connecting DVD's, VCR's, Laser Disc, Satellite Boxes, or anything else to these sets. Of course, we do this so we can watch them like any other set. No, they do not produce the resolution of HDTV, but if you have one of them tuned well, they will produce a picture just as good as any standard tv. For some of us (such as myself), we play these sets as daily watchers.

In a way, watching these classic televisions is no different than driving a classic car. Sure... driving a brand new Mustang is great... but driving a 64 or 65 Mustang is great, too. The older Mustang won't handle, brake, or take off like a new one. Starting in the morning requires pumping the gas, a tune up requires more than simply changing plugs and wires, the fuel economy won't be as good. However, many people love them and drive them. The older car still gets you from point A to B... and in many cases, people will compliment you on an nice looking classic Mustang before they would on a brand new one.

If you ever have the opportunity to see one of these old sets in person, I think you'd be impressed. We post photos of our sets playing, but the photos don't always come out the best. Occassionally, I can capture a good photo from the screen, but it still isn't as good as seeing it in person. Below are two of my favorite screen shots. One from a DVD, and another from cable. Not bad considering the set is from 1966. However, it still looks better in person.

[Jonathan]

The whole point in fixing up an old set is not only for the fun and satisfaction you get out of it, but actually using the set like it was meant to be used. Granted, you won't get an HDTV picture, but you'll get a picture that is just as good as any modern tv. Even my portable transistor sony's look pretty good with a satellite box or dvd player feeding them. Connect a downsampled HDTV feed to them and they'll look wonderful.

Jonathan

[blue_lateral]

They might surprise you how good they can look. In any event they have enough resolution that you can really tell the difference between a degraded signal and a good one. The biggest problem is finding a good enough source to show what they can really do!

[Adam]

I thought the opposite for some time, why put a DVD player ontop of one of my nice old TVs? Eventually, there were just too many times when there was nothing on TV I wanted to watch and I wanted to watch a TV, so I got some VCRs and started playing DVDs on my computer and connecting it to the TVs through the VCRs. Now I watch tapes or DVD much more often, because you can get alot of the old shows that I like on DVD.