Batteries included...
Written: Mar 07 '00 (Updated Aug 16 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Auto time set, elapsed time display, time and description stamp
Cons: numeric keys can only be used for channel select in TV mode
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| Arthur.Rubin's Full Review: Panasonic PV-9450 VHS VCR |
Slightly revised 4/25/00
I had no trouble setting up my new VCR -- of course, I had no trouble setting up my computer, either, so I can't say whether it is easy to set up. I basically chose it as an afterthought, when I bought my new Panasonic TV to replace the one I sent off with my wife; Panasonic is rated #1 in VCR's and #2-3 in 25-27 inch TV's.
(No, we're not legally separated. She had to move back to California for health reasons.)
In any case, I haven't had any problems with it -- yet.
It has some excellent features which I'd never seen in a VCR before, but it's missing some features that were available 15 years ago.
The good
The manual has illustrations of how to attach cables between the cable box or DSS, the VCR, and your TV, your stereo, and a second VCR for dubbing, for a standard setup, and for dubbing. Not technically necessary, but good for beginners.
Trilingual (English, Spanish, and French) on-screen programming.
Auto Time Set: picks up the time from the PBS side-band.
Daylight Savings Time automatic adjust: good, if it works -- as I'm in AZ, I haven't tried it. Added 4/25: it didn't readjust on April 2, which is correct here in AZ.
Elapsed time display, rather than a tape counter. Added 4/25: there seems to be a variation of up to 5 seconds between the elapsed time display and the actual elapsed record time. It's still better than a conventional counter.
Time stamp: recording time, channel, category, and text appears in the first 10 seconds of a recording. Category and text can be set in the program recording, and all the data can be edited later.
Channel "captioning": 24 preset networks, 10 4-character names. There's a small problem in that you can't caption an "deleted" channel.
Hi-Fi and stereo/SAP selection for recording.
Tape Position Display on, or shortly after, first entering a tape. It's an analog display (it won't tell you whether you have enough room for Baywatch), but still useful.
The menus can be operated from the VCR, without using the remote.
Universal remote for DSS, cable box, and TV.
Added 4/25
All settings except the actual time, of course, are preserved over an extended period of time (about a week) with the power off.
The OK
Auto Channel Set: although, it would be nice if it could have been turned off, so that I could easily program in only the channels I watch, instead of having to delete all the scrambled and unavailable channels.
Remote warning warns you if you press an invalid key when in TV, DSS, or cable mode.
Weak Signal Display aka blue screen can optionally be set to ignore weak signals.
Auto shutoff can optionally be set to shut off playback of a blank section of tape, or recording when no signal is present
The standard
Three recording speeds
Antenna/cable switch; the default is cable, as seems appropriate for the new millenium.
The usual: play, record, fast forward, rewind, forward search, reverse search, slow motion, pause, frame-by-frame (well, maybe that last wasn't standard.)
Operating temperature range is only 5-40 °C; may not be suitable for use in Alaska (low end) or Arizona (high end).
One Touch recording (but see below)
Programming: 8 programs, 1 month (one-time, "daily" (Monday-Friday), or weekly) (My 15-year-old VCR, had 8 programs, one year, with one-time, weekly, and daily modes.)
The bad
Modified 4/25 The numeric keys on the remote seem only to work to set the channel in TV mode. The manual clock set, recording date/time/channel, etc., can only be set using the arrow keys.
The "One touch recording" time can only be set to 1/2, 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours. (My 15-year-old VCR had a "timer record" mode, which could set the on time and off time to 10 minute intervals using only 2 keys, and correctable to 1 minute intervals, without using a program slot.)
All in all, a usable VCR, with some faults.
Recommended:
Yes
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Arthur.Rubin
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Member: Arthur Rubin
Location: Brea, CA, USA
Reviews written: 97
Trusted by: 109 members
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Expert in mathematics, computers, income tax, with a wide variety of interests.
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