RCA 390 User Manual

WeoCassette Recorder

Owner’s Manual

Warranty Registration

No other RCA Video Cassette Recorder has the same serial number as yours. It is important that you record the number and other vital information here, in case your VCR is stolen or in case you need a complete description for any other reason. You will find the model and serial numbers on the back of the

VCR. You will also find both numbers recorded on your registration form.

Purchase Date

Dealer

_______

Model:

VCR registration is very important so that you can be contacted should there be a safety inspection,

modification, or product recall under applicable laws or regulations or otherwise. The dealer who sold

you the VCR should have registered it and given you a copy of the registration form.

If your dealer did not give you a copy of the registration, contact him promptly and ask for it. You must be able to show your registration or evidence of purchase date to any RCA Authorized VCR Servicenter or the RCA Service Company to receive warranty parts and service. We suggest you attach your sales slip and warranty registration to this booklet and keep them in a safe place for future reference.

This owner’s manual can be used for both VMT390A and VMT390.

Serial Number

Safety Precautions

Your VCR operates on 120 volts, 60 Hz (normal household current) and has a polarized plug. Because one blade of the plug is wider than the other, the plug fits in the wall socket only one way. Do not defeat the safety feature of this plug. If you need an exten sion, use a polarized cord.

Caution: To prevent electric shock do not use the polarized plug on this Video Cassette Recorder with an extension cord, receptacle, or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure.

Mise en garde: Pour prévenir les chocs électriques, ne pas utiliser la fiche polarisée de cet appareil avec une rallonge, une prise de courant ou une autre sortie, à moins que les lames ne puissent être insérées à fond sans qu'aucune partie ne soit laissée à

découvert.

WARNING: To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this VCR to ram or moisture

-Illustrated below is the label on the back of your Video Cassette Recorder.

CAUTION

Risk Of ELECTRIC SmOCK

DO NOT OPEN

The symbol of a lightning flash within a triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated

"dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk

/ * \ of electric shock.

An exclamation point within a triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating

and maintenance (service) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

Caution: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover or back. No user-serviceable parts are inside. If you spill liquid on the VCR disconnect the power cord to prevent possible fire or shock hazard and consult authorized service personnel. Moisture can damage internal parts. Refer all service to RCA Authorized Servicenter personnel or the RCA Service Company only.

Caution: Maintain electrical safety. Powerline-operated equipment or accessories connected to this unit should bear the UL listing mark or CSA certification mark on the accessory itself and should not have been modified so as to defeat the safety features This will help avoid any potential hazard from electric shock or fire If in doubt, contact qualified service personnel.

Note to Cable TV Installer: This reminder is provided to call your attention to Article 820-22 of the National Electric Code, that pro

vides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be con nected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical

MISE EN GARDE

RiSOuE OE CHOC fLECrPiOuf

NE PAS OUVRIR

Caution: The unauthorized recording of television programs and other materials may infringe the

rights of others

Using This Manual

Congratulations on your choice of an RCA VCR. You have selected a high-quality, precision-engineered instrument designed to give you years of trouble-free video and audio enjoyment.

To get best performance from your ne\w VCR, it is impor tant that you carefully read and follow the operating instructions in this manual in the sequence in which they are presented.

Should you experience a problem, please follow the

“Things to Check” near the end of this manual. The war ranty on the back cover describes what RCA will do for you should your new VCR need service during the war ranty period. It also tells you how and from whom you should request service.

Contents

Warranty Registration

Safety Precautions................................ Inside Front Cover

Installation

• Unpacking, Choosing Location

• General Installation Information........................

• Antenna Connections

• Cable-TV Connections

• TV Monitor/Receiver Connections

What Your VCR Will Oo......................................

Video Cassettes..................................................

Basic Operation

• Basic Operating Controls and Displays ..,.

• Inserting and Removing Cassettes...................

• Turning on Your VCR for the First Time ... ........... 11

• Programming Active Channels into Tuner..

• Deleting Channels from the Scan List

• Adding Channels to the Scan List

• Setting Your TV to the VCR Channel

• Setting the VCR/TV Switch...............................

• Simplified Installation Checklist

Remote Control

• Battery Installation

Setting the Clock.................................................

First Recording and Playback Operating Controls (Detailed) Special Effects and Features

• Pause During Recording.................................

• Pause for Stop-Action Playback

• Frame Advance...............................................

• Slow Motion

• Picture Search

• Tape Counter..................................................

• Memory Stop

• Tracking Control

Quick-Reference Operating Guides

• Normal TV Viewing

• Recording With TV Off

• Recording and Viewing the Same Program

• Recording and Viewing Different Programs

• Basic Playback ...............................................

• Recording from Another VCR

• Camera Recording..........................................

Express Recording Programming the Timer

Timer Recording..............................................

Alternate Remote Control Units.....................

Optional Accessories

Cabinet Cleaning.............................................

Things To Check Before You Call for Service

Index (Alphabetical) .......................................

Specifications................................................

Warranty.........................................................

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Inside Front Cover

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Back Cover Back Cover

2 2

12 12

17 17 17

18 19

25 26 27

28 28 29

Installation

Unpacking

When you unpack your new VCR, be sure you have removed all Ihe accessories and information sheets. We recommend that you save the packing materials and box in case you ever need to ship or store your VCR.

The accessories supplied for connecting your antenna, VCR, and TV set are shown here. The remote control unit and its batteries are also packed in with the VCR.

5 t1. 300-ohm flat lead-in (twin-lead)

O © ©

300/75-Ohm Transformer

(RCA Accessory No. AH018)

Remote Control Batteries

(Size "AA" 1.5 volt)

-----

---------------

RCII

Remote Control

Location

• Choose a location that is convenient, but away from sources of heat such as direct sunlight and heating units,

• If the VCR is to be installed in an equipment rack or cabinet with other devices, be sure that there is ade quate ventilation at the back and around the sides of the components. The VCR should not be placed on or directly above a stereo amplifier because of the heat that rises from the amplifier.

• Choose a flat surface at least as large as the VCR so that it rests on its mounting feet. It is important that air

can pass through the ventilation holes in the bottom of the unit to prevent it from overheating. Do not operate the VCR on a rug or carpet because the pile will obstruct these holes.

Some TV sets may cause interference in home VCR's. To avoid interference and get the best performance from your VCR, follow these guidelines:

• When placing the VCR under a TV, keep at least 18 inches between the bottom of the TV and the top of the VCR.

• If interference is present when the VCR is used on top of the TV or at the 18-inch distance below the set, move the VCR to a position beside the TV.

• If interference continues after all the above, call your dealer or service representative.

General Installation Information

IMPORTANT

There are two basic steps for connecting your new VCR to your present TV and antenna(s) or cable-TV. The first

step is to disconnect the antenna(s) or cable-TV from the TV and reconnect it to the VCR. The second step is to connect the VCR to the TV. Be sure you do both steps.

Since there are many different types of antennas and TV’s, there are several ways to make the above connec tions. Therefore, the instructions have been divided into two sets, one set for connections to your own antenna(s)

on pages 3 and 4, and another set for connections to a cable-TV system on pages 5 and 6. If you have a TV monitor/receiver, you may want to make the additional con nections described on page 7.

The antenna is the "signal receiver" that picks up TV

broadcasts. Some modern antennas receive both VHP

(Very High Frequency) channels 2 through 13, and UHF

(Ultra High Frequency) channels 14 through 83. Some antennas are designed only for VHF reception and others are designed only for UHF reception.

TYPICAL OUTDOOR ANTENNA

TYPICAL INDOOR ANTENNA

Signals from your antenna are conducted through flat

"twin-lead" cable, or through round “coaxial" cable.

Cable-TV (CATV) supplies television signals directly by

round cable without the need tor a home antenna. Cable-

TV delivers both VHF and UHF channels and programs

not available from a home antenna. Although Cable-TV systems vary, most require use of a converter box for TV’s that are not Cable-TV compatible.

In most situations you will get better picture quality if you use an outdoor antenna or connect your TV and VCR to a cable-TV system. If this is not possible, use a good quality indoor antenna. Your indoor antenna should have sepa rate leads for VHF and UHF if you are in an area with both VHF and UHF stations — or you may use separate VHF and UHF indoor antennas.

Because you usually must reposition an indoor antenna when you change channels, it seldom is convenient to use the same indoor antenna tor both TV viewing and VCR recording, especially if you wish to view one channel while recording another. For this reason, it is recom

mended that, if you must use an indoor antenna, buy two and use one for your TV and one for your VCR.

Disconnect Existing Antenna from TV and Connect it to VCR.

■ (Your antenna will probably resemble one of the diagrams on this page.)

Antenna Connections

If your existing antenna is connected to your TV like this:

If your existing antenna is connected to your TV like this;

Disconnect the antenna from your TV and connect it to your VCR like this:

If your existing antenna is connected to your TV like this;

It your existing antenna is connected to your TV like this:

Disconnect the antenna from your TV and connect it to your VCR like this:

Antenna Connections (continued)

Connect VCR to back of TV.

(The back of your TV will probably resemble one of the diagrams below.)

If the antenna connection on the back

■ of your TV looks like this:

If the antenna connection on the back

of your TV looks like this:

Connect the VCR to your TV like this:

k If the antenna connection on the back

of your TV looks like this:

BACK OF TV

Connect the VCR to your TV like this:

Cable-TV Connections

Your VCR is designed to receive unscrambled cable channels 2 through 48 plus 98 and 99 without a “con verter box.” (These channels are sometimes designated 2 through 13, A through W, W-H through W-i-12, and A-2 and A-1.) There are several ways to hook up your VCR and TV, depending on the type of TV you have, the cable channels you receive, and whether or not some of the cable channels must be “unscrambled." One of the five methods shown on this page and the next will likely fit your requirements. You may want to change from one hookup to another, depending on what you want to do with your VCR.

Note: if you wish to also record one or more local UHF channels that your Cable-TV system does not offer, first follow the appropriate cable-TV connection instructions described below, then connect your UHF antenna to your VCR as described in the section titled “Antenna Connections”.

IF YOUR TV IS: AND YOUR CABLE-TV THEN USE

cable-compatible

not cable-compatible

SYSTEM HAS: DIAGRAM(S):

no scrambled channels

some or all channels scrambled

no scrambled channels

some or all channels scrambled

B or C

Q DISCONMECT CABLE TV

FROM CONVERTER

FROM

CABLE

SYSTEM

CONVEFITER I

DISCONNECT ■

FROM I

YOUR * CONNECTIONS

CONVERTER | | I

TO j

-I

UHF

CONNECT CABLE TV TO VCR.

FROM

CABLE TV

----------------

SYSTEM

® © ® @

IBACK OF VCR i

When you use this set of connections, keep your TV tuned to the channel you have been using (usually chan nel 3 or 4) and use the converter box as you always have for normal TV viewing and for viewing some other chan nel while you are recording.

DO NOT CHANGE

CONNECT VCR TO CONVERTER.

ORIGINAL CONNECTION

FROM CONVERTER TO TV

OONOT

DISCONNECT

I VCR

' COAXIAL 1

RF CABLE '

(SUPPLIED!!

I When you want to view the channel you are recording, or

when you play the VCR, tune the “converter box" to the

same channel that you have set the channel switch on the back of the VCR, either channel 3 or 4. (This is called the “VCR channel" throughout the operating instructions in this manual.)__________________________

CONVERTER BOX

(Continued on next page)

I...

BACK OF TV

ROUNO

TV JACK

VHF

Cable-TV Connections (Continued)

-c.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~

---------When you use these connections the A-B switch is used This arrangement will let you use your VCR as a "remoteto select either the converter output or the VCR output. controlled converter box” when you are not recording,

O Disconnect Cable-TV from converter. O Connect splitter to converter. O Connect VCR to A-B switch O Disconnect TV from converter cable. O Connect splitter to VCR. Q Connect A-B switch to TV. Q Connect Cable-TV to input of splitter. 0 Connect converter to A-B switch

Use "A” Position of A-B Switch For:

• Viewing any cable-TV channel while you record some other channel with the vCR.

• Viewing all scrambled channels,

• Viewing cable channels when the VCR is turned oft. (Cable channels 2 through 13 can also be viewed with the VCR turned off and the A-B switch set to position “B ")

Use “B" Position of A-B Switch For:

• Playing a recording.

• Viewing a nonscrambled channel at the same time you are recording it (channel selected with the VCR tuner).

This system requires two “converter boxes" from your charge. All channels must be selected with the converter cable-TV company, and there may be an additional boxes, both for recording and normal TV viewing.

O Disconnect Cable-TV from converter O Connect splitter to each of the converters. ©Connect VCR to A-B switch. © Disconnect TV from converter cable. © Connect one converter to A-B switch.

Connect A-B switch to TV.

Use "A" Position of A-B Switch For:

• Viewing any cable-TV channel while you record some other channel with the VCR.

• Viewing any cable-TV channel when your VCR is turned off

Note: When you set the A-B switch to "B,” tune your TV to the same channel that you have selected on the back of your VCR (3 or 4) This is called the “VCR channel" throughout this manual.

Use “B" Position of A-B Switch For:

• Playing a recording.

• Viewing any channel at the same time you are recording it. Select the channel with the converter that is connected to the VCR. and tune the VCR to the output channel of the converter (usually 3 or 4)

___________________

What Your VCR Will Do

Recording Sources

The built-in VHF/UHF/Cable-compatible tuner can tune in any of the standard broadcast channels and up to 49 Cable-TV channels. Since your VCR has its own tuner, you can use it to record one program while you watch another one selected with your TV tuner. Also you can view and record the same program if you prefer. Your VCR also has special video and audio input connectors for recording from a camera or another VCR.

Automatic Tuner Programming

Available channels can be automatically preset into the tuner for selection with the CHANNEL~UP and CHANNEL- DOWN buttons. "Automatic Programming" searches through the channel numbers for broadcast or cable-TV reception, finds the channels that are available from your antenna or cable-TV system, and permanently stores them in the tuner’s memory. Afterwards, you can select any of these channels with the

buttons on the VCR or the remote control, simply by pressing the button until the channel number appears in

the display. If you prefer, you can select a channel

number directly with the numbered buttons on the remote control.

Recording Speeds and Times

You can choose any one of the three standard speeds when you make a recording. The recording times for vari ous cassettes and the reason for using each recording speed are explained on page 9.

Unattended Recording with Remote Programmlng/OnScreen Display

The VCR timer can be preset up to one year in advance to record up to four different programs. You can record the same program every week day or on the same day of every week until you cancel the program. The VCR will turn on automatically at the time you have selected, record your program, and turn off automatically.

All programming is done using the infrared remote con trol. Programming instructions are displayed on your TV screen, leading you step-by-step through the program ming sequence.

Express Recording (XPR) XPR lets you record for up to four hours without program

ming the timer. Simply select the channel and the starting time (immediately or up to 24 hours delayed start) and select the length of time you wish to record. The rest is automatic.

CHANNEL Up and Down

REWIND controls, you can "cue ” to any starting point on

the tape before you begin playback.

Picture Search

The FAST-FORWARD and REWIND buttons can be used for "Picture Search" when you play a tape. When you press one of these buttons the playing speed is increased so that you can quickly locate the picture you want to view. Normal playing speed resumes and sound is

restored when you release the button. A picture is dis played when you search a tape recorded at any speed, but quality is best for tapes recorded at SLP.

Pause - Stop Action - Frame Advance

Pressing the PAUSE button stops the tape’s forward motion for "stop-action” viewing during playback, or to eliminate unwanted material when you are recording. After you have stopped the action during playback, the

FRAME ADVANCE button on the remote control lets you

advance the tape one frame at a time so that you can see

all the motion details. Stop-action and frame advance are designed for use at the SLP speed. They may be used on tapes recorded at other speeds, but the picture quality will not be as good as that at SLP.

Slow Motion

Press SLOW on the remote unit or press PLAY during playfpause to change from normal playing speed to slow motion. The PLAY button will restore normal playing speed. Slow Motion is designed for use at the SLP speed.

It may be used on tapes recorded at other speeds, but the

picture quality will not be as good as that at SLP.

Memory Stop

When the tape counter is displayed instead of time, fast forward and rewind wilt stop when the counter reads

0000. By resetting the counter to 0000 at the desired point on the tape, you can stop at this point for repeated view ing of a certain scene.

Automatic Rewind

Your VCR automatically rewinds and then stops when it comes to the end of the tape. To avoid accidental erasure during Unattended Recording and Express Recording, the VCR stops at the end of the tape but does not rewind.

Power Off from Rewind

You can turn off the power during rewind, and the VCR will finish rewinding and turn off automatically.

Conventional Playback

Your VCR uses the standard VHS recording system so that pre-recorded VHS tapes and tapes recorded on another VHS-type VCR can also be played. Your VCR will

play VHS cassettes recorded at any of the three standard

speeds. It automatically selects the same speed for play

back that was used for recording the cassette. By using the electronic tape counter and the FAST-FORWARD and

Infrared Remote Control

The remote hand unit may be used instead of the front

panel buttons to control the major functions of the VCR. The remote control has additional buttons for selecting any tuner channel by number, setting the clock, program ming the timer, and operating Slow Motion and Frame Advance.

VHS HQ Picture Quality

This VCR incorporates VHS HQ (High Quality) circuitry for improved picture quality. It is fully compatible with earlier VHS VCRs.

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