RCA VR324 User Manual

USER’S

GUIDE

Important loformalion ..............

i

Table of Contents ....................

.l

Hooking Up the VCR.. ..............

.2

Setting Up the VCR ...................

7

Using the Remote Control..

....

.l 0

Playing a Tape .......................

14

Recording a Program.. ..........

.I9

References.. ..........................

.26

$ndex ...................................

.32

G

Important Information

To reduce the risk of
fire or

shock hazard, do

not expose this VCR to

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

RsKoFm-

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

A

This symbol indicates “dangerous

A

This symbol indicates important

volta@

inside the product that

instructions accompanying the

presents a risk of electric shock or

product.

personal injury.

Cautions

To prevent electric shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot,

fully

insert.

. _

Pour t!viter les chocs electriques, introduire la lame la plus large de la fiche dans la borne
correspondante de la prise et pousser jusqti au fond.

Do not defeat the safety feature of the plug.

The wide blade fits into the wall socket only one way.

If you need an extension cord, make sure it matches the plug of the VCR.
For U.S.A.-Operate VCR only on 120 volts, 60Hz AC power (normal house power).
For safety reasons, make sure any equipment or accessories connected to this product bears the UL

listing mark, or if purchased and used in Canada, the CSA certification mark. If in doubt, contact
qualified service personnel.

FCC Regulations state that unauthorized changes or modifications to this equipment may void the
user’s authority to operate it.

Note To Cable TV Installer

This reminder is provided to call your attention to Article 820-40 of the National Electrical Code
(Section 54 of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1) which provides guidelines for proper grounding
and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the
building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

Product Registration

Please fill out the product registration card and return it immediately. Returning this card
allows us to contact you if needed.

Keep your sales receipt to obtain warranty parts and service and for proof of purchase.
Attach it here and record the serial and model numbers in case you need them. The numbers
are located on the back of the VCR.

Model No.

VR324
Serial No.
Purchase Date:
Dealer/Address/Phone:

Table of Contents

Important Information

Warnings, Cautions, note to Cable TV Installer, and Product Registration_ i

Hooking Up the VCR

Choosing a Hookup

2

Antenna or Cable System Without a Cable BOX

3

Cable System With Cable Box to Unscramble AU Channels

4

Cable System With Cable Box to Unscramble Only Pay Channels ~

5

Connecting Two VCRs for Copying Tapes

6

Setting Up the VCR

startup

Check Accessories with VCR

7

Insert Batteries in Remote

7

Turn on the TV and VCR

7

Place Channels in the VCR’s Memory

8

Add or Remove Channels from the VCR’s Memory

8

Use lV*VCR Button

9

Set the Time and Date

9

Using the Remote Control

Component, VCR, and TV Buttons

10-11

Controlling a VCR

12

Controlling a TV

13

Playing a Tape

Operating Instructions

14

Using the Playback Features

Auto Play Feature

15

Pause for Stop Action

15

DISPLAY Button

16

Time Counter

16

Index Search

17

Go-To Search

17

Picture Search

18

Commercial Scan

18

Automatic and Manual Tracking

18

Recording a Program

Types of Recordings

19

Basic Recording -Operating Instructions

19

Watch a TV Channel While VCR is Recording a Different Channel

19

Express Recording (XFR)

20

Recording While You’re Away

Select Cable Box Viewing Channel

21

Setting a Timer Recording

22

Checking or Clearing Timer Recordings

23 ’

Timer Recording from the VCR’s Line Input

23

Stopping a Timer Recording

23

Recording Speeds

24

Recording Pause

24

Using Two VCRs for Copying and Editing Tapes

25

References

Location of Controls

Front Panel

26

Back Panel

27

Display Panel

27

Trouble Checks

28.29

Limited Warranty

30

Specifications

31

Cleaning the VCR

31

Index

32-33

Choosing a Hookup

The hookups on pages 3 through 5 are divided into two hookup types:
Basic (A) and Advanced(B).

The basic hookup shows the backs of TVs that have only an antenna/cable
connection. It is the easier of the hvo and additional accessories may not be
needed.

The advanced hookup shows the VCR hooked up to a monitor/receiver
(TV with audio and video jacks) using a signal splitter. This connection may
improve the picture quality as well as convenience of operation.

Answer the questions to choose the hookup for your VCR.

1.

2.

Optional Hookups

How do you receive your TV signals?

Choose one answer from below.

A. Outside antenna -Turn to page 3.

B. Rabbit ears (set-top) and/or bow tie antenna-Turn to page 3.
C. Cable System - Go to question 2.

What type of Cable-TV system* do you have?

Choose one answer from below.

A. Cable without a box Turn to page 3.

B. Cable box to unscramble all the channels Turn to page 4.
C. Cable box to unscramble only pay channels, such as HBO,

Showtime,

Cinema, etc. -Turn

to page 5.

*You may need to contact your local cable company for assistance.

How to hook up two VCRs for copying tapes?

A. Select a hookup by answering questions 1 and 2 above.
B. Then modify the connections as shown on page 6.

2

A.

Basic hOOkuQ.

Use this hookup for a simple connection
which requires fewer accessories.

1. Set the CH3 CH4 switch on back

of VCR

to either channel 3 or 4.

You will tune the TV to this channel and use the

TV-VCR button to watch the

VCR.

2. Connect as shown.
This connection may require

additional

accessolies not provided.

3.

Plug in power cords of VCR and TV.

4.

B.

&hanCedhOOkuQ.

Use this hookup for slightly improved
picture quality and more convenient
operation-use of lV*VCR button not

required.

1. Connect as shown.
This connection requires additianal accessories

nat provided.

2. Plug in power cords of VCR and TV.

Back of VCR

““E

Back of N

You will tune the TV to its video input to watch
the VCR.

Back of VCR

Back of N

w

Cable

System

WW

Cable Box

to Unscramble

All Channels

A.

Basic hookup.

Use

this hookup for a simple connection

which requires fewer accessories.

1. Set the CH3 CH4 switch on back of VCR
to either channel 3 or 4.

You will tune the TV to this channel and use the
TVWCR button to watch the “CR.

2. Connect as shown.

This connection may require additional
accessoties not provided.

3. Plug in power cords of

VCR, TV,

and

cable box.

Back of N

4

B. Advanced hookup.

Use

this hookup for slightly improved
picture quality and more convenient
operation-use of N*VCR button not
required.

1. Connect as shown.
This connection requires additional accessories

not

provided.

Cable Box

2. Plug in power cords of VCR, TV, and
cable box.

You will tune the TV to its video input to watch

the VCR.

(such aa

HBO, showtime,

Pa+sr-Vkw, etc.)

A.

Basic hookup.

Use this hookup for a

simple connection

which requires fewer accessories.

1. Set the CH3 CH4 switch on back of VCR
to either channel 3 or 4.

You will tune the TV to this channel and use the
TVWCR button to watch the “CR.

2. Connect as shown.

This connection may require additional
accessories not provided.

3.

Plug in power cords of VCR, TV, and
cable box.

B. Advanced hookup.

Use this hookup for slightly improved

q

picture quality and more convenient
operation-use of TV*VCR button not
required.

1.

Connect as

shown.
This connection requires additional accessaries
not

provided.

2. Plug in power cords of VCR, TV, and
cable box.

You will tune the TV to its video input to watch
the VCR. AU pay

channels are viewed

through

the VCR.

Antenna

UHF

Back of N

Cable Box

Connecting

?Lvo

VCRs

for

Copying

Tapes

Option A hookup.

Use this hookup for a simple connection
which requires fewer accessories.

1. Select a hookup from pages 2 through 5
and then modify with this connection.

2. Set the CH3 CH4 switch on the playback
VCR to either channel 3 or 4.

You

will tune the recording VCR to this channel

to receive the signal from the playback VCR.

3. Connect as

shown.

This connection may require additional
accessmies not provided.

4.

Plug in power cords of VCRs and TV

Option B hookup.

Use this hookup for slightly improved copy

q

Use the hookup to thi TV

as previously selected on

pages 3,4, or 5.

Playback VCR (only)

quality and more convenient operation ­use of TWVCR button not required.

1. Select a hookup from pages 2 through 5
and then modify with this connection.

2. Connect as shown.

3.

Plug in power cords of VCRs and TV.

4. w.-

4

Recording VCR

You will select the line (audio/video) input on
the recording “CR to receive the signal from
the playback VCR.

Use the hookup to the TV
as previously selected on

pages 3,4, or 5.

6

Startup

1. Check accessories with VCR.

Contact your dealer if any items are missing.

(Stock No. 221312)

RF Coaxial Cable

(Stock No. 207417)

2. Insert batteries in remote.

3. Wrn on the TV.

A. Turn on the TV.

6. If you used one of the basic hookups, tune the TV to the channel selected with the
CH3 CH4 switch on back of VCR.

If you used one of the advanced hookups, hme the TV to the TV’s video input.

(See TV owner’s manual for details.)

4. Turn on the VCR.

A. Press VCR1 on the remote. The POWER and VCR indicators will light in the VCR’s

display panel.

Startup

5. Place channels in the VCR’s memory.

The first time you turn on the VCR or after a power interruption,
the VCR will display a message on the TV screen prompting you
to Auto-Search Channels for the VCR. If the message does not
appear, go to step

A below.

If the message appears, follow the

directions on the screen
Wait until the channel numbers stop changing. This takes about

one to two minutes. The TV will then tune to the lowest channel
found. Pressing CHANNEL up or down will select only the active
channels.

If you ever need to manually Setup Channels on the VCR because
you

change

cable or antenna signals:

A. Press

MENU PROG to display the

VCR MAIN MENU on the

TV screen. If this menu does not appear:

* Make sure TV is tuned to same channel as CH3 CH4 switch

on the VCR or the TV’s video input (refer to TV’s manual).

* Press

VCRl, then press MENU PROG again.

*

If you use a basic hookup, check the

VCR

indicator in

display panel-it should be on. Press

lV*VCR to turn it

0”.

-

Check the connections.

Et. Press 3 to display

the CHANNEL SETUP menu.

C. Press 1 to begin Auto-Search Channels.

The VCR automatically selects

CABLE

(cable TV) or

ANTENNA.

If you need to change the setting manually,

press 3.

6. Add or remove channels from the VCR’s memory.

You may want to add or remove channels if some of the channels
are not active, have weak signals, or you do not want to watch
them.

Channels must be placed in memory using the

Auto-Search

Channels

feature

described above

before you can add or remove

channels.

A. Press

VCR1

6. Press

MENU PROG on the remote to see the VCR MAIN MENU

on the TV screen.
C. Press 3 to display the CHANNEL SETUP menu.
D. Press 2 to

display the

ADD/REMOVE CHANNEL menu.
E. Follow the directions on the screen.
F. Add or remove more channels by entering channel numbers

or using CHANNEL up

and down buttons.

8

Startup

7. Use TV*VCR button.

Skip this step if you used one of the advanced hookups.

When using one of the basic hookups, the

N*VCR

button lets you
switch between the picture coming from the VCR or television
channels. This button allows you to record a program on the VCR
while watching another channel on the TV. Details are on page 19.

A.

6.

c.

D.

E.
F.

Press

VCR1 to set

the remote to control the VCR.

Press lV.VCR to see the picture from the VCR.

The VCR indicator lights in the display panel.

Press CHANNEL up or down to change channels on the VCR.
The channel number changes on the TV screen.

Press TV.VCR to see the TV channels.

The VCR indicator does not light in the display panel. Change

channels using the TV’s remote.
Return the TV to the VCR viewing channel - CH3 or CH4.

Press VCRl, then TV*VCR to switch back to the picture
from the VCR.

8. Set the time and date.

A. Press

MENU PROG on remote to see VCR MAIN MENU on the

“CR H&IN MEN”

TV screen.

1 Timer programming
* Revi.” Program*

6. Press 5 to display SET VCR CLOCK.

3 Channel setup
4 “CR setup option*

C. Enter the time and date with the number buttons on the

remote.

SET “CR CLOCK

* Press 0 before single-digit numbers.

Example: press 0, then 5, then 0. then 7 for a time
of 5x07. Press

1 for AM or 2 for PM.

Date --/--/--

. Press CLEAR on the remote to

change incorrect entries.

D. Press MENU

PROG to start the clock and remove SET VCR

Press HEN” f0 exit

CLOCK menu from the screen.

9