Don't call JVC and ask them if they still fix it. "No" should not be a possible answer. Instead, tell JVC that you have one of the faulty JVC decks, and you
need to get the free repair done on it. Then ask where to send it. I suggest further pressing your luck, and requesting that they send you a UPS or Fedex pre-paid slip to use for returning it for your
free warranty repair, on the
known factory-defective unit. These key phrases are important, and none of your questions allow for an answer of "no". If they do try to say it's no longer covered, simply and calmly state that
no is not an acceptable answer and again repeat that you need JVC to honor their policies as it relates to repairing this machine. Ask to speak with supervisors continuously, as needed, if needed.
A generic repair shop won't know what to do. It's more likely they'd just break it. If you do anything other than send it to JVC, then it needs to be a self-repair with a soldering pen. (Or friend repair, as it was in my case.)
I'm not aware of any Blu-ray HD recorders right now, outside of Japan. Even then, it appears to mostly be a typical Japanese gadget fad.
Overly-aggressive mafia-like copyright Nazis (MPAA, studios) are why HD recorders are not available yet. They're so afraid you might record an HDTV show instead of buy the fancy overpriced Blu-ray discs months after the show's season ends. Or that you'll record your $5 pay-per-view instead of buying the expensive $25 Blu-ray release. I can understand the desire to profit from their artistic work -- but this desire to control how, where and when people view it has gotten to be ridiculous. And they are losing that war, albeit painfully slow. As you're noticing, it's now impeding technological growth (and the ability to use said technology for legitimate reasons).
The actual name of the setting is "SUPERIMPOSE". Refer to the guide on playback hardware, for information JVC S-VHS VCRs and settings:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/vid...k-hardware.htm