Hitachi VT-F381A Owner's Manual
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Hitachi VT-F381A Owner's Manual

Hitachi owner's manual video deck vhs vt-f381a
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FOR YOUR SAFETY
1
VT-F381A
2
HITACHI
Video Deck
VT-F381A
Owner's Manual
Your Complete Guide
to Videocassette Viewing
and Recording
Using these quality features:
VHS hi-fidelity sound in playback
Automatic tape head cleaning
Up to 8 delayed recording programs
Auto tracking for improved picture in playback
Cable-compatible frequency synthesizer quartz tuner
Remote control for use with your VCR and TV, and cable converter
On-screen programming guide
Multi-channel TV sound (MTS)
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
(HSC)
ELECTRONICS
INC.
(AMERICA), INC.
Canada Hwy.
3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd.,
Pointe Claire, Quebec
Norcross, GA 30093
H9R1B1, CANADA
Tel. 404-279-5600
9150
QR10585 © Hitachi, Ltd. 1994
Printed in Malaysia
VHS
HITACHI SALES
CORPORATION
OF HAWAII, INC.
3219 Koapaka Street
Honolulu, HI 96819
Tel. 808-836-3621
HITACHI
CANADA
3300 Trans
Tel. 514-697-
1

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  • Page 1 (AMERICA), INC. Canada Hwy. 3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Pointe Claire, Quebec Norcross, GA 30093 H9R1B1, CANADA Tel. 404-279-5600 9150 QR10585 © Hitachi, Ltd. 1994 Printed in Malaysia HITACHI SALES CORPORATION OF HAWAII, INC. 3219 Koapaka Street Honolulu, HI 96819 Tel. 808-836-3621...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    FOR YOUR SAFETY TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR YOUR SAFETY... 3 Read This First ... 4 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS ... 5 Getting Started... 9 Simple Hookups... 9 1 Decide Where to Put Your VCR ... 9 2 Decide Which Hookup Method to Use... 9 3 Hook up the Audio/Video Signal ...

  • Page 3: For Your Safety

    Technical Specifications... 46 Care and Servicing (Problems) ... 47 Often Encountered Problems ... 47 Hitachi Service Hotline... 48 FOR YOUR SAFETY POWER SUPPLY: AC 120V, 60 Hz ONLY. The POWER switch turns the VCR on and off, leaving the clock/timer unaffected.

  • Page 4: Read This First

    (this page). A detailed table of contents directing you to specific information quickly (page 4). Get to know your VCR by using this manual, and get to know Hitachi. We appreciate your business. To play a tape...27 To record a program...33 To reset the clock and channel selections...22, 23...

  • Page 5: Important Safeguards

    IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS In addition to the careful attention devoted to quality standards in the manufacture of your video product, safety is a major factor in the design of every instrument. But, safety is your responsibility too. This page lists important information that will help to assure your enjoyment and proper use of a Video Cassette Recorder and accessory equipment.
  • Page 6 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the appliance. 8 Ventilation -- Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the video product and to protect it from overheating.
  • Page 7 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS might be fatal. Installing an outdoor antenna can be hazardous and should be left to a professional antenna installer. 14 Cleaning -- Unplug this video product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
  • Page 8 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS damaged. f. When the video product exhibits a distinct change in performance -- this indicates a need for service. 19 Replacement Parts -- When replacement parts are required, have the service technician verify that the replacements he uses have the same safety characteristics as the original parts.

  • Page 9: Getting Started

    This sections explains how to hookup the VCR, quick tour of the controls, set up for first-time operation using on-screen menus, and videocassette tapes. Enjoy getting to know all about your Hitachi VCR. Let's get started. Simple Hookups 1 Decide Where to Put Your VCR Be sure your chosen location allows for proper ventilation, stability, and protection from heat and moisture (see Important Safeguards).

  • Page 10: Hook Up The Rf Signal

    Getting Started If you have no jacks like these on your TV, skip this step and proceed to Step 4. TV with Audio and Video Jacks If you do find all three jacks on your TV, you need to purchase a three-line audio/video cable with bell (RCA) connectors, like this: If you find a video jack and only one audio jack, your TV is probably monaural.
  • Page 11 Getting Started If you have been watching the TV in your home before getting the VCR, you will already have a round wire attached 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.

  • Page 12: Attach The Tv And Vcr To The Power Supply

    Getting Started 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 additional adapter and 75 ohm extension to make your leads reach from the antenna to the VCR.

  • Page 13: Set The Rf Or Video Channel Switch

    Getting Started 7 Set the RF or Video Channel Switch When the VCR is on, its video signal can come into your TV on either channel 3 or channel 4. You need to select the appropriate channel. Turn the power on to both the TV and the VCR, and look for a switch on the back of the VCR.

  • Page 14: Getting Started (Controls)

    Getting Started (Controls) Getting Started (Controls) Quick Tour of the Controls Study these pictures carefully to learn about the buttons and controls that you'll need for everyday operation. Various controls are explained throughout this manual as they are needed, but now is a good time to get familiar with their locations.

  • Page 15: When The Remote Doesn't Work Right

    Getting Started (Controls) VCR, TV, CATV Device buttons let you set the remote to control one of the three devices. 0 to 9 Number buttons used in on-screen programming. Can also 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.

  • Page 16: Vcr Controls

    REW Rewinds the videotape. Display Indicators Meet Your On-Screen Guide Your Hitachi VCR has as a special feature called the Easy Guide System. This feature guides you through simple setup and programming tasks right on the TV screen. With the TV and VCR turned on, press GUIDE on the remote control. You will see this screen: You may view all the on-screen instructions in English, French or Spanish.

  • Page 17: Getting Started (Initial Setup)

    Getting Started (Initial Setup) Getting Started (Initial Setup) Setup for First-Time Operation Before you use your VCR to watch or record from your TV, you need to "tell" the VCR whether your TV uses cable or antenna input and let it program itself to receive your TV's channels.

  • Page 18: Setting The Clock

    Getting Started (Initial Setup) 5 SAP Press 5 when you are ready to record a second audio program. Options are <OFF> and <ON>. 7 CABLE BOX SET Press 7 to set up your cable box if you receive all channels through a cable box.

  • Page 19: Choosing A Mode For Audio Playback

    Getting Started (Initial Setup) UHF 14-69) and 125 cable channels (CATV 1-125). When you press 8 on the Initial Setup screen, the tuner automatically cycles through all available channels in your area and places them in memory. This takes 2-3 minutes. You can watch the progress on the VCR's display - when the channel numbers stop changing, programming is complete.
  • Page 20 Getting Started (Initial Setup) dynamic range of over 90dB will record either stereo or monaural broadcasts with the highest quality possible. Linear sound, on the other hand, will record monaural sound using the same format as a non hi-fi VCR. Stereo programs are recorded in hi-fi on both the left and right channels and also recorded on the linear track as monaural.

  • Page 21: Getting Started (Videotapes)

    T-160 160 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.

  • Page 22: Tape Storage

    Getting Started (Videotapes) When the cassette is all the way in, the VCR powers up automatically and a TAPE-IN indicator shows on the display. It may also start playing immediately if the safety tab has been removed. To remove the cassette, simply press the STOP/EJECT button on the VCR.

  • Page 23: Basic Operations

    Basic Operations Basic Operations Practice starting and stopping a video you've rented - play it through, see how it automatically rewinds. Get a blank tape and try recording a TV show. Then you'll know how to use the VCR when you need to - or where in the manual to find the instructions you forgot.

  • Page 24: Rewinding The Tape

    Basic Operations Rewinding the Tape When you are done watching a video, you can rewind the tape automatically or manually. If the video cassette reaches the end of the tape, the VCR will stop and automatically rewinds the videocassette. If you press POWER while the tape is rewinding, the power will shut off automatically after the tape has completely rewound.
  • Page 25 Basic Operations Using the buttons on the VCR: Press PLAY and then REW to search in reverse. Press PLAY and then F.FWD to search ahead. Press PLAY again to return to normal playback. Using the SHUTTLE dial on the remote control: Press PLAY and turn the dial to the far right or left to search forward and backward.
  • Page 26 Basic Operations digits for minutes. If you enter a wrong digit, press CLEAR and enter the correct one. Then press F.FWD if you want to move that many minutes ahead, or REW if you want to move that many minutes backward. For example, say you want to review a scene that began about 2 minutes earlier in a video, press 0, 0 and 2 to display 0:02 on the screen.

  • Page 27: Basic Operations (Recording)

    Basic Operations (Recording) Basic Operations (Recording) Recording a Program Before you Record The VCR must be hooked up properly for recording. See the Simple Hookups at the beginning of this manual. Most television programs and films are copyrighted. This means that someone has legal rights governing the reproduction and distribution of this material.

  • Page 28: Using The Instant Recording Timer (Irt)

    Basic Operations (Recording) You can check on the recording by pressing VCR/TV again. This will switch you back to viewing through the VCR, you'll see the program you are recording. To Skip Commercials When a commercial comes on that you don't want to record, simply press PAUSE on the remote control.

  • Page 29: Setting The Vcr To Record Later

    Basic Operations (Recording) At the end of your recording the display will read "0:00"; recording will then automatically stop and the VCR will turn itself off. To stop recording while in the IRT mode, press the POWER button and then press the STOP button (this can be done either on the VCR or with the remote control) within 10 seconds.

  • Page 30: Reviewing What You Have Programmed

    The news comes on channel 8 at 6 0'clock - but you've got a meeting scheduled during that time. Luckily you just purchased this Hitachi VCR. Press GUIDE, press 2, then press 1 to bring up the screen for One Time...

  • Page 31: Programming Priorities

    Basic Operations (Recording) 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.

  • Page 32: Basic Operations (Vcr Plus + Recording)

    Basic Operations (VCR Plus + Recording) Basic Operations (VCR Plus + Recording) Easy Delayed Recording with VCR Plus + About VCR Plus+ This handy feature makes timed recordings a snap. You don't need to enter the specific channel, date, time, or duration of a program. All you enter is its PlusCode - a number of up to eight digits.
  • Page 33 Basic Operations (VCR Plus + Recording) Channel 34 Arts and Entertainment Network Channel 35 Turner Network Television Channel 36 ESPN 5. Now you're ready to assign your local 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.
  • Page 34 Basic Operations (VCR Plus + Recording) 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 enter any number. Press CHANNEL up or down to position a nonmatching station next to the arrow.

  • Page 35: Using Vcr Plus+ To Record A Program

    Basic Operations (VCR Plus + Recording) You are ready to begin delayed recording with VCR Plus+. (When you set up a delayed recording, you will need to select the desired channel using the channel selector on your cable box.) Cable with a Cable Box and Switchbox Setup This is the right setup if you used Option 3 in the cable box hookups covered in Advanced Operations.
  • Page 36 Basic Operations (VCR Plus + Recording) 1. Press GUIDE, then press 1 to select VCR PLUS RECORDING and bring up this screen: 2. Use the number buttons to enter the PlusCode of the program you want to record. This code can be up to eight digits. If you enter a wrong digit, press CLEAR and enter the correct one.
  • Page 37 Basic Operations (VCR Plus + Recording) 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 + number, check the information displayed with the "PROGRAM REVIEW", if there is (are) any unnecessary program(s), please cancel or correct it (them).

  • Page 38: Advanced Operations

    Once you have programmed the remote, you won't have to do it again until you change the batteries. This Hitachi remote control can be used with your TV as well as the VCR, as long as your TV comes with a remote control. This feature comes in handy - you don't have to juggle two remotes.

  • Page 39: Controlling The Tv

    Advanced Operations Toshiba Gold Star 2 Panasonic CHANNEL (up arrow) Mitsubishi CHANNEL (down arrow) Sharp 1 Sharp 2 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.

  • Page 40: Advanced Operations (Cable Box Hookups)

    Advanced Operations (Cable Box Hookups) Advanced Operations (Cable Box Hookups) Hooking Up to a Cable Box The cable box brings all the advantages of pay cable, but finding a satisfactory hookup can be challenging. To sort out what to do, we suggest a step-by-step approach to installation.
  • Page 41 Advanced Operations (Cable Box Hookups) Check all the TV and VCR functions. If you don't get all the functions you want, proceed with Option 2. Option 2--All Channels Unscrambled 1. Remove the cable company's line from the back of the cable box that goes to your TV.

  • Page 42: Remote Control Of The Cable Converter

    Advanced Operations (Stereo System) functions you want, proceed with Option 4. Option 4 If none of the preceding hookups work, check with your cable company. You may need to purchase a video switching system from your local electronics or video retailer. This will easily handle most hookup problems. Remote Control of the Cable Converter If you have a cable converter, you will probably want to program your VCR's remote control so you can easily change channels.

  • Page 43: Recording From Your Stereo System

    With another VCR hooked up, you can copy videotapes as needed, and you can get fancy with multimedia programming. For this discussion, we refer to the model VT-F381A Hitachi as VCR2 and the other unit as VCR1. Hookup To hook up a second VCR, you need:...

  • Page 44: Copying Tapes From A Camcorder

    Advanced Operations (Second VCR) Insert a blank or erasable tape (with the safety tab intact) into VCR1. Press AVX on VCR1 - the LINE indicator will display. Press 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).

  • Page 45: Vcr Care And Servicing

    This dust interferes with the signal being picked up. Your Hitachi VCR automatically cleans the video heads whenever a cassette is loaded or ejected and when a cassette is already inside the VCR when you turn the power off.

  • Page 46: Technical Specifications

    * Check your cable company's compatibility requirements. For information about how to obtain these accessories, please call TOLL FREE 1-800-448-2244 for your nearest Hitachi Authorized Parts Distributor in the continental United States. For ALASKA and HAWAII, please contact the nearest Hitachi Regional office.

  • Page 47: Care And Servicing (Problems)

    Care and Servicing (Problems) Care and Servicing (Problems) Often Encountered Problems Problem PROBLEM NO POWER DELAYED RECORDING TV PROGRAM CANNOT BE VIEWED OR RECOREDED? POOR PICTURE QUALITY. NO PICTURE DURING PLAYBACk? TV CANNOT BE OPERATED BY THE VCR’S REMOTE CONTROL. MECHANICAL SOUNDS DURING PLAYBACK.

  • Page 48: Hitachi Service Hotline

    Care and Servicing (Problems) 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. You must state your zip code when calling...

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