RCA VPT695HF troubles
 

The head was stuck when I got this, but I freed it just rotating it by hand. I replaced the one belt this uses, and then it played tapes. But the picture was 'smeared' out and with dark and light vertical bars -- but I then tried it with the composite output and it looked fine --

Figuring the trouble was in the modulator - I removed the modulator from the main board it was soldered to-- took it apart and saw 3 electrolytic capacitors, one of which was visibly bulged out and thought just to replace the 3 capacitors and put it back together and see what happens -- but I broke some surface mount component on the modulator board trying to solder on one of the new capacitors

Now does anyone know where I can get a schematic of the modulator to see what it is I broke, or what other VCRs I could interchange the whole modulator unit from? Thanks.

(I just fixed and sold an RCA VPT630HF - now I wish I had kept it - I bet I could have just swapped the whole modulator into this one)

Got any pictures?

I worked on a couple of those between 1989 and 1996. Nice Hitachi built RCA branded 'Dimensia' HI-FI VHS Digital VCR with picture-in-picture, likely the top of the "P" line (1987) with the 640 and your 630 immediately under it.

I wish I could help with the problem. But, if the RF modulator is a complete replaceable assembly there may have never been a schematic available for it. I just looked through my old notes but I never had an RF modulator problem in either of the two units I had on the bench back then.

I also looked to see if its FCC ID # (ABL9670052) was shared with any other models, but according to my cross-reference research it is not, it's a lone wolf. The VPT640HF and VPT630HF's FCC ID # was AHA9670051.

It is possible that the 630 (and 640) shared the same RF modulator. I'm sorry that I don't still have service data available to confirm.

Good luck with it!
Brian

Thanks for looking this up. I was hoping I could just swap a modulator out of a any RCA VPT model VCR... Anyway, here's pictures of the modulator. I put an arrow to the surface mount component I broke.

You might try the guys at
https://www.digitalfaq.com/
Looking for another unit
Shopgoodwill.com

Is there a part number on it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282765327965
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282765280036
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282765344247

Yes, on the cover: 5589001 RMS-334 - so it's none of those but it does give me something to look for.

If I were really hellbent on fixing the RF output, I might be inclined to figure out what model VCRs those I linked are used in and compare the schematics. Heck, maybe they are really all the same. In other words, if it fits and the connections are the same, just use it. Or you could try to figure out what part is broken by comparing other parts on the PCB and take a stab at surface mount soldering.

According to
https://partstore.encompass.com/item...tachi/5589001/

Models Hitachi
Compatible Models
VT2500AU
VT2600A
VT2605A
VT2700
VT3605A

Oopsie... I HAVE seen a VT-2700A that also shared the same ABL9670052 FCC ID# as the RCA VPT695HF.

I have not seen any of the other Hitachi models listed.

If someone could cross the Hitachi number to rca then put that number in encompass search see what Models they list

I've got nothing. I have no schematics and only a database or two for memory.

In the 80's and 90's our shop repaired LOTS of RCA VCR's (we were warranty authorized) but very little Hitachi, by comparison. And of all those, very few RF modulator replacements.

I did make repairs involving resoldering abused in/out jacks back on the convertors. But modulator failure due to electronic failure was rare in RCA.