Problems with BVP-4 plus

also · #1 07-02-2009, 05:41 AM

Hi,

I bought a BVP-4 plus that I cant get to work at all. I have it connected to a ADVC-55. Looks like there is no signal going into the ADVC at all, I have tried both s and c connections without any luck and tried all the combinations of the various switches I can think of. I know the ADVC works because I've captured via vcr and a datavideo TBC 3000 with no problems.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated

admin · #2 07-02-2009, 11:00 AM

Does the BVP-4 even power up? There should be a red light on the front of it.

If there is no lit light, then I know what it is.

If the light is on, then I'll need to ponder a few other troubleshooting scenarios.

also · #3 07-02-2009, 12:28 PM

Hi and yes, it powers up with a red light. When I feed something to the ADVC from the TBC or from the VCR the light on the ADVC turns green when there is a signal.. with the BVP-4 connected the light on the ADVC stays red.

admin · #4 07-02-2009, 12:47 PM

Try the VCR into BVP-4 via s-video, and s-video out to a television. Can that be done? If so, does the signal pass?

Although it powers up, I'm still wondering if the fuse inside the unit is bad. The BVP-4 has a fuse inside. I bought a small pack of them from Radio Shack some years ago. It's a cheap and simple replacement.

also · #5 07-02-2009, 01:11 PM

Just tried, no signal comes thru to the TV.

If its the fuse, what kind is it and how do I replace it?

admin · #6 07-03-2009, 02:37 AM

Unscrew the BVP-4 and look inside. The fuse should be obvious. I'd take a photo of mine, but it's in use at the moment.

Rather than type out what I have, I just took a quick snapshot with my P&S camera. It's a bit blurry, but you can still read it okay.

radioshack-bvp4-fuses.jpg

If the unit powers on, it should be okay. However, weak power may cause odd errors like this on electronics, so it might be worth the quick check.

I don't want to jump to the conclusion that the unit is dead.

If this on a power converter of any kind. What country are you in? Is it being fed a PAL or NTSC signal?

also · #7 07-03-2009, 07:19 AM

Thanks, I'll pick up some fuses today and try that.

I'm in Norway so I use a power converter, its hooked up to a JVC NTSC vcr.

also · #8 07-03-2009, 10:05 AM

It was the fuse, thank you so much for the help and putting me on the right track

admin · #9 07-03-2009, 11:46 AM

That's excellent, glad to hear it was something so easy and cheap to repair.

The first time you plugged it into the power converter, that may have fried an already-weak fuse, especially if it was confirmed as working before you bought it. Sometimes those converters can give it a little more juice than it's used to, although still within the proper power specs. A lot of times in homes and offices here in the USA (at least in my experience), electrical current is weaker than it should be, and a device gets used to that. When you suddenly give it more juice, it can rebel. I had a similar issue myself about 3 years ago, when I moved from a weak area to a new one that was strong. Some of my electrical devices had problems.