I hope someone can help me; my kids have several hundreds videos that they want to watch in the car, the problem is that the car has dvd and not a vcr; I just bought an RCA Combo DRC8295N and when I tried to transfer it tells me the video is portected. Is there something I can do to avoid this? is not like I want to sell copies, I just want the videos that I paid for to be transfered to dvd's. Thanks in advance for your help.
You might want to check the VHS tape to see if it has a protection tab or a piece of tape on where the protection tab is. I have a Pioneer DVR-RT501-S vhs/dvd recorder combo and that's what the instructions told me to make sure to do. It said to remove the tape or the protection tab prior to recording to ensure that during the recording process that the vhs tape might accidentally be recorded over. Try that.
I think you will find that the recorder recognizes that the tapes are copywrited commmercial tapes and have Macrovision protection on them. You will need to buy a device called a Video Stabilizer and connect it in the video line to over come this problem. They are available at most electronics stores for less than $50.
ricorocco: the problem listed by marioce has nothing to do with the protection tab of the VHS tape. It is like framit mentions it, a Macrovision protected tape. framit: the problem with combo units like the RCA DRC8295N of marioce or the Pioneer DVR-RT501, is that they are a one-piece unit combining the VCR and the DVD recorder. How could one use a device like the one you are referring to with a combo unit?
Adding to what ScienceAB said, Even with the video stabilizer (which do work well - just FYI), I am wondering if it will work w/ the combo unit - you may have to have two different stand alones - 1 dvd recorder used w/ a vhs unit) But since you already have the combo - it wouldnt hurt to try it and let us know. [bold]<------- EDITING MY MESSGE <--- I just thought about this - This will not work anyway - UNLESS your combo unit is a vhs/dvdRECORDER - as opposed to most which are just vhs/dvd PLAYER combo)[/bold] ----------- The stabilizers are very easy to hook up - you will do it through your video RCA plugs (or your s-video plug if you choose) - the stabilizier (cant think of the actual word its called) but basically - it works as if it is taking out the copy-right protection. It does work - I have already transfered many of my older vhs tapes into dvds and now have the vhs's boxed up. Also keep in mind, the will record in real time - so however long the movie is - set your dvd recorder up for that amount of time - OR - you can put 2 or 3 movies on one DVD if you choose - you may prefer to do that for the kids. The choice is yours.
