Hitachi VT-M284A, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...unctions on convenient shuttle control On screen programming guide VCR Plus for easy timed recording VCR Plus and PlusCode are trademarks of Gemstar Development Corp VCR Plus system is manufactured under license from Gemstar Development Corporation HITACHI HOME HITACHI SALES HITACHI HSC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION CANADA INC AMERICA INC OF HAWAII INC 3300 Trans Canada Hwy 3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd 3219...

Page 2: ...sn t Work Right 17 VCR Controls 18 Display Indicators 19 Meet Your On Screen Guide 19 Getting Started Initial Setup 20 Setup for First Time Operation 20 Initial Setup Options 20 Setting the Clock 21 More About Channel Selections 22 Getting Started Videotapes 24 About Videocassette Tapes 24 Types 24 Safety Tabs Prevent Erasure 24 Loading and Ejecting 24 Tape Storage 25 Basic Operations 26 Viewing a...

Page 3: ...ox 45 Position Cable Box 45 A Basic Hookup 45 B Advanced hookup Cable Box to unscramble all channels 46 C Advanced Hookup Cable Box to unscramble only pay 46 channels 46 Advanced Operations Second VCR 47 Integrating a Second VCR 47 Hookup 47 To Control Both VCRs with the Remote Control 47 Copying from One VCR to Another Dubbing 47 Advanced Operations Synchro Editing 49 Synchro Editing 49 Advanced ...

Page 4: ... any inside part of this unit This symbol alerts the user that important literature concerning the operation and maintenance of this unit has been included Therefore it should be read carefully in order to avoid any problems CAUTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL WARNING Many televisio...

Page 5: ...ure reference too To guide you we ve concluded Must read sections containing important cautions for your family s safety as well as the basic facts you need to use the VCR These sections are highlighted like this in the table of contents Information on the advanced features of your Hitachi VCR We hope you ll take time to learn about these functions since we ve designed them for you But you can use...

Page 6: ...larized alternating current line plug a plug having one blade wider than the other This plug will fit into the power outlet only one way This is a safety feature If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet try reversing the plug If the plug should still fail to fit contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet To prevent electric shock do not use this polarized plug with ...

Page 7: ...oper ventilation is provided or the video product manufacturer s instructions have been followed 9 Attachments Do not use attachments unless recommended by the video product manufacturer as they may cause hazards Caution Maintain electrical safety Power line operated equipment or accessories connected to this unit should bear the UL listing mark or CSA certification mark on the accessory itself an...

Page 8: ... the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits When installing an outside antenna system extreme care should be taken to keep from touching or approaching such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal Installing an outdoor antenna can be hazardous and should be left to a professional antenna ...

Page 9: ... by the operating instructions Improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the video product to its normal operation e If the video product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged f When the video product exhibits a distinct change in performance this indicates a need for service 19 Replacement Parts...

Page 10: ...n place the VCR near the stereo receiver or have enough long audio cables to make the connections But keep in mind that the electronic signal weakens the further it has to travel 2 Decide Which Hookup Method to Use To make your VCR function you ll deal with two basic hookups 1 The audio and video signal If all you want to do is view a prerecorded videotape on the VCR this two line hookup is the on...

Page 11: ...udio and Video Jacks If you do find all two jacks on your TV you need to purchase a two line audio video cable with bell RCA connectors like this Connect the yellow VIDEO OUT jack on the VCR to the VIDEO IN jack on the TV This direct video input will give you the best picture It will also let you play videos in a picture in picture feature if your TV has it Then connect the AUDIO OUT jack white on...

Page 12: ...d to your TV Otherwise look for a cable connection coming in through the wall from outside If you find this connection remember to call your local cable company to start the service 1 If still hooked up to your TV unscrew the round wire from the 75 ohm connector on your television Otherwise take the wire that comes in from the wall 2 Screw this round wire into the IN FROM ANT jack on the back of y...

Page 13: ...lready connected there or take it from where it comes in on the wall 2 Considering the three pictures below determine which adapter you will need to hook it into your VCR If you have Use this adapter Single 300 ohm flat wire Separate UHF and VHF antenna wires both 300 ohm flat wire 300 ohm flat UHF and 75 ohm round VHF If you have rabbit ears an antenna on top of your TV you will need an additiona...

Page 14: ...nd of the 75 ohm connector back into the TV where you first disconnected the antenna Capabilities With this hookup you should now be able to perform all basic functions provided by this equipment 5 Attach the TV and VCR to the Power Supply Plug in the TV and VCR power cords to the wall outlet or an appropriate extension cord or surge protector See Important Safeguards for further precautions page ...

Page 15: ... both the TV and the VCR and look for a switch on the back of the VCR Set the switch to 3 or 4 whichever is not a commercial channel in your area Your basic hookup is now complete When you re ready to try hooking up a second VCR or a video camera for a complete home entertainment system see Advanced Operations Now turn the TV and VCR back around facing you and begin your quick tour of the controls...

Page 16: ...ols proceed to Initial Setup page 20 We ll show you how to program your local channels and set the clock to make your VCR fully functional How the Remote Control Works Pressing a button on the remote control transmits an invisible beam of light infrared to a receiver at the right front of the VCR When using the remote aim the front end toward the VCR and make sure nothing such as a coffee table or...

Page 17: ... be used to change channels Simply press 2 or 3 digits for the channel you want such as 0 and 6 for channel 6 or 100 ENT and 2 and 4 for channel 124 AVX Used for recording from an auxiliary input such as a stereo system VCR1 VCR2 TV Device buttons let you set the remote to control one of the three devices CHANNEL Top button switches to the next higher channel bottom button switches to the next low...

Page 18: ...p or down If the remote works now you know that it s set to VCR2 To reset it to VCR1 refer to the on screen Initial Setup options If You Just Want to Watch TV For normal TV viewing you do not need to disconnect the VCR When the TV and VCR are already on press POWER on the remote control The VCR will shut off but the TV will stay on If you are recording on the VCR but want to watch a different chan...

Page 19: ...ons in English French or Spanish When you first set up your VCR it will be set to English Press number 8 or 9 for the other language options Now you will do most of your programming and setup by pressing numbers on the remote control which correspond to options presented in this and other on screen menus Instructions are easy to follow and blinking spaces on the screen will show you where your inp...

Page 20: ...CR every time the power goes out for more than 1 hour for example during a storm or when you unplug the VCR Look at each item to see if it matches your own setup To change a setting press the button that has the same number as that item This will cycle you through several options When everything is set up as you want press GUIDE again to back out of the Easy Guide System If you do not use the cabl...

Page 21: ...ock This is easy to do and important for your later timed recordings You ll need to set the clock when first hooking up your VCR and any time the power goes out more than 1 hour When you first plug in the VCR or after a power outage the clock display will read To set the clock press GUIDE then press 6 to bring up the Clock Set screen Press the number buttons on the remote control to set the curren...

Page 22: ...areas channels cannot be switched when CATV1 is selected Then select CATV2 in your Initial Setup screen For convenience the TV channel numbers should match those programmed into the VCR If your TV has automatic channel programming set it on the same mode ANT CATV1 or CATV2 and let it reprogram to match the VCR Once channels are preset you can use the up and down CHANNEL buttons to move through the...

Page 23: ...mory To Add or Erase Channels Press GUIDE then press 5 to bring up the Initial Setup screen Item 9 lets you add or delete channels Use the number buttons to enter the channel you want to change then press STOP to delete it or press PLAY to add it ...

Page 24: ...ME SP EP T 120 120 min 360 min T 160 160 min 480 min You may have noticed that there is also an LP speed You Hitachi VCR does not record at this speed but it can play cassettes that were recorded in LP mode No special setting is required for playback Safety Tabs Prevent Erasure A safety tab is located on the front left edge of every videotape next to the label Break this tab off if you want to kee...

Page 25: ...TOP EJECT button on the VCR If the tape is playing press STOP EJECT once to stop the tape and a second time to eject it Now you can take the cassette out and put it away Tape Storage Store your videocassettes in their jackets and in an upright position like books in a bookshelf away from any magnetic sources Resist the temptation to leave them lying flat on top of the VCR Tapes will last longer an...

Page 26: ...ay Direct Video Input to the TV Normally you would select channel 3 or 4 on the TV to receive a signal from the VCR You can get an even better picture if your TV has an auxiliary video input feature and if the TV and VCR have a direct video to video hookup If this is the case do not select channel 3 or 4 Instead Press the AUX or VIDEO button on the TV s remote control to select the proper input ch...

Page 27: ...ape all the way to the beginning then stops Press STOP EJECT on the VCR to release the tape Movie Return If your videocassette has the safety tab removed and you set the MOVIE functions to ON during initial setup the VCR will stop and automatically rewind the videocassette eject it and turn off the power when it reaches the end of the tape or a blank section of tape which lasts for more than 30 se...

Page 28: ...ow motion rewind fast forward and search using one convenient dial The button in the center lets you choose PLAY or PAUSE mode As you turn the dial you get different playback speeds and forward or reverse motion Try using the shuttle to explore backwards and forwards through your next video If noise bars appear on the TV screen during SLOW STILL mode first set the VCR to SLOW mode and then press t...

Page 29: ...e part of the video that you know you are going to want to return to you can set the time counter to memorize that spot Begin in either STOP or PLAY mode Press DISPLAY twice to show the counter on the TV screen Begin recording or playing back a tape Notice the counter remains on the screen At the point that you want to go back to press CLEAR This resets the counter to 0 00 00 Press STOP when you a...

Page 30: ... see the section on Recording a Program page 33 This VCR s indexing system is based on the VHS Index Search System VISS The new system may not recognize index marks on tapes recorded on older VCRs If the VCR is in PLAY mode press STOP Press DISPLAY This brings up the Set Go To Time Index Screen Press 7 for rewind or 9 for forward to begin the index search The tape rewinds or fast forwards until an...

Page 31: ... with a direct audio video cable set the TV to AUX or VIDEO 3 Press DISPLAY then press 5 when the SP EP message appears on the TV screen to select SP standard play for the best picture quality or EP extended play for longest recording time on a single tape An indicator on the VCR s display shows which speed is active 4 Set the VCR to the channel you want to record from Use the up and down CHANNEL ...

Page 32: ...e you are in recording mode to keep you from accidentally switching the station while recording Change the channel to the one you prefer Press PAUSE to continue recording To Leave Index Marks on the Tape This feature is useful when you are recording several programs on the same tape It helps you quickly find the beginnings of the shows during playback page 32 You create the index mark every time y...

Page 33: ...mportant show is going to be on that you really want to record you ll be confident that your timed recording setup will work Types of Delayed Recordings ONE TIME Records one show at a particular date and time DAILY Records a show at the same time every day of the week Monday through Friday WEEKLY Records a show at the same day and time every week Your VCR can record up to 8 programs at different d...

Page 34: ...cator will display on the VCR This tells you that the VCR will automatically record at the times and dates you have programmed To Stop a Delayed Recording in Progress Press POWER and then immediately within 10 seconds press the STOP button use buttons on the remote or VCR as you wish An Example Let s say you were interviewed today by a local TV reporter You re eager to see yourself on the evening ...

Page 35: ...ll display the next program if there are more or it will switch back to the main menu Programming Priorities When you have set up several timed recordings it may occur that some of their times overlap For example this can happen if you are set up to record shows on a daily or weekly basis and a special show comes on that you try to record during the same time slot Shows with Same Starting Time By ...

Page 36: ...n your VCR s memory This is called channel setup and you do it using the on screen Easy Guide System The procedure depends on what kind of hookup you have We ll give you step by step instructions Then you will be ready to begin VCR Plus recording also using the on screen Easy Guide System VCR Plus and PlusCodeTM are trademarks of Gemstar Development Corp Channel Setup Before You Begin Channel setu...

Page 37: ...l channels to VCR Plus channels in the VCR s memory The way you do this depends on how your VCR is hooked up to the incoming RF signal Decide which hookup you have from the diagrams below and follow the setup instructions for your type of hookup Hint Try several practice recordings after doing your channel setup You should get the same channels as you usually watch at home Home antenna or Cable no...

Page 38: ...tch all of them need to be assigned to VCR Plus channel codes Matching Broadcast CH Numbers to VCR Plus Channels for Home Antenna or Cable No Cable Box Setup 1 Press GUIDE then press 4 to select VCR PLUS SETUP You will see the screen as shown below 2 A small arrow points to a blank in the Channel column If your broadcast channel number is the same as the VCR Plus channel in your TV listing do not ...

Page 39: ... you need to know the output channel for your cable box Usually this is either 03 or 04 but it could be 02 through 13 Consult your cable company if you re not sure 1 Connect the Cable Box VCR and TV See page 50 2 Press GUIDE then press 5 to select INITIAL SETUP MENU 3 Press 1 to select CATV2 with the ANT CATV1 CATV2 setting then press 7 to select CABLE BOX SET menu 4 Press 2 to answer YES to the q...

Page 40: ...CR channel will not change but cable box will change channels Depending on the manufacturer of your cable box certain models will allow you to enter the channel directly by using the numbers on the remote Cable box did not tune to channel 9 Press number 1 on the remote and enter a different code from the chart If these codes do not work Try repositioning the cable box on top of the VCR and reenter...

Page 41: ...record This code can be up to eight digits If you enter a wrong digit press CLEAR and enter the correct one 3 If you accidentally enter a nonexistent PlusCode the VCR gives you an error message that disappears from the screen in about 10 seconds 4 If you have entered the correct PlusCode press GUIDE to store the PlusCode in the VCR s memory This brings up another screen 5 Press number buttons 1 2 ...

Page 42: ...ble box the VCR can control turn on the cable box before the time the recording is to begin If using a cable box the VCR cannot control turn on the cable box and tune it to the channel you want to record before the time the recording is to begin Important Your timed recording settings take effect when you turn off the power on the VCR Caution on the VCR Plus recording After entering a VCR Plus num...

Page 43: ...ed if yours is not on our list You may still be able to program the remote for your TV Every TV that comes with a remote control is set up to detect certain infrared signals You need to program the VCR s remote control to send signals that your TV will recognize and respond to Here s what to do Programming the Remote Control Turn the television on any channel is okay Aim the VCR s remote control a...

Page 44: ...rp 1 LAST CH Sharp 2 DISPLAY Controlling the TV Once programmed the VCR s remote control is ready to control the TV First press TV to change to the TV function mode then press the button of the TV function that you want For example press TV and the CHANNEL up arrow and the TV station will change to the next higher station Press VCR1 or VCR2 on respective mode to operate your VCR with the remote ag...

Page 45: ...ect them that way later As an aid to memory use masking tape to label each cable and connection Position Cable Box Position a remote controllable cable box on the top of the VCR as shown Be sure not to block any of the VCR s ventilation holes A Basic Hookup Use this hookup for a simple connection which requires fewer accessories 1 Set the CH3 CH4 switch on the back of VCR to either channel 3 or 4 ...

Page 46: ...e box has audio video output jacks you can also connect the audio video output of the cable box and the audio video input of the VCR With this connection press the AVX button to select L1 as the output channel of the cable box see page 44 C Advanced Hookup Cable Box to unscramble only pay channels Use this hookup for slightly improved picture quality and more convenient operation use of VCR TV but...

Page 47: ...ith the Remote Control If the second VCR that you ve hooked up is also a Hitachi you can set your remote to operate both VCRs Press GUIDE then press 5 to bring up the Initial Setup screen The default setting on the Initial Setup screen is VCR1 for when you only have one VCR running Press 3 to set CODE to VCR2 Press the VCR2 button on the remote before pressing GUIDE to exit the on screen program W...

Page 48: ...ess REC on VCR1 and press PLAY on VCR2 To monitor the picture as you record VCR1 must be connected to your TV follow instructions in the other VCR s manual Press the VCR TV button on the remote The VCR indicator will light on VCR1 s display and you can view the picture being recorded ...

Page 49: ...ert the cassette you want to copy into VCR2 On VCR2 press PLAY Locate the place on the tape where you want to begin copying then press PAUSE Insert a cassette with its safety tab intact into VCR1 Put this VCR in RECORD PAUSE mode and press AVX to put it in LINE mode Press PAUSE on VCR2 the playback VCR to start the recording Both tapes will start together Press PAUSE again on VCR2 when you want to...

Page 50: ...Advanced Operations Synchro Editing happen ...

Page 51: ...r camcorder onto your VCR here s how to do it Connect the camcorder s AV output cable to your VCR see diagram below Illustration of Hookup Press the AVX button on the VCRs remote control so that the L2 Line indicator appears in the VCR display Press REC IRT on the VCR to start recording Press PLAY on your camcorder to start copying your tape ...

Page 52: ...d up on the heads If the picture is blurry during playback or is occasionally interrupted or blanks out try playing different cassettes to see whether you get the same picture problems If the picture problems persist the heads may need to be cleaned professionally Consult your VCR dealer for the name of trained service technician near you Periodic Maintenance Your Hitachi VCR is a precision electr...

Page 53: ...Input UHF VHF 75 ohm Tuner USA 181 channel tuning capability 125 cable channels Canada 178 channel tuning capability 122 cable channels Type Auto programming frequency synthesis Power Input AC120V 60Hz Power Consumption 20W nominal Cabinet Size 14 15 16 W x 3 11 16 H x 12 5 8 D 38 0cm W x 9 3cm H x 32 0cm D Weight 9 9 lbs 4 5 kg Storage Temperature 4º F to 131º F Operating Temperature 41º F to 104...

Page 54: ...M CANNOT BE VIEWED OR RECOREDED LOOSE OR INAPPROPRIATE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN VCR AND TV REVIEW HOOKUP DIRECTIONS AND MAKE CORRECT FRIM CONNECTIONS POOR PICTURE QUALITY TV CHANNEL SELECTOR ON THE PROPER CHANNNEL SET TV TO CHANNEL 3 OR 4 AS CORRECT FOR YOUR AREA IS TV CORRECTLY TUNED FINE TUNE THE TV STATIC LINES THROUGH THE PICTURE PRESS 1 OR 4 BUTTON TO ADJUST TRACKING NOISY PICTURE DESPITE ALL PREV...

Page 55: ...IS WORKING EJECT THE CASSETTE IF YOU ARE DONE VIEWING OTHERWISE NO ACTION IS NECESSARY Hitachi Service Hotline Authorized Hitachi service facilities are available throughout the US and Canada For the location nearest you call the Hitachi Service Hotline at one of these numbers In the continental U S A DIAL TOLL FREE 7 days a week 24 hours a day 1 800 HITACHI 1 800 448 2244 You must state your zip ...