Rod, at 22:33 on Mar 05 1997, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

RG> I picked up some cheap videotapes the other day for general 
RG> workshop use and have discovered a major flaw with them that 
RG> could cause a few headaches.

It wouldn't be the first time that cheap tapes have caused problems...

RG> The tapes are "Stereo Club  XG1 E-180 HQ" .. "Japanese 
RG> technology. carefully Made in India"   Did I mention they 
RG> were only $2.00 each?

Do they carry the official VHS logo?  Some cheapies don't, because its use
incurs a royalty fee which is directly payable to JVC.  If I find any sans
logo, they go straight into the bin here.

RG> Anyway, I'd just finished fixing a VCR and thought I'd put 
RG> one of these new tapes in and leave it running for a while. 
RG> All was fine until the tape got to the end, and it didn't 
RG> wanna rewind :-( My first thought was the machine had a 
RG> problem, until I tried another tape and it rewound that just 
RG> fine..

Which eliminates the possibility that it didn't have a clear leader at both
ends (and yes, I have actually struck that one before).

RG> Anyway, be warned - if you get an influx of VCR's in for no 
RG> rewind, intermittent rewind, or stopping on play.. then check 
RG> the tapes.. or at least be aware of the problem..  The tapes 
RG> are easy to identify.. just shine a torch through the tape 
RG> itself... it's amazing!  I keep going back to recheck them, 
RG> 'cos I hardly believe such a blunder.

Videotape itself is clear, before the bonding agent and ferrite powder is
added, so perhaps they skimped on ferrite dust.  If they can retail them
for around $2 each, they've definitely cut corners somewhere...

Regards, Bill

--- MsgedSQ/2 3.50