Recommended repair YouTube channel: 12voltvids

NJRoadfan · #1 11-22-2021, 08:22 PM

https://www.youtube.com/c/12voltvids

Covers a wide variety of electronics diagnostics and repairs including VCRs, both Betamax and VHS with the occasional Video 8 unit. Just be warned, the creator is NOT a fan of the Panasonic AG-1970/80 line of VCRs.

bever · #2 11-23-2021, 11:15 AM

Good call
And I have watched his videos before. Aristotle “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” And now in some cases by watching youtube he he.

lordsmurf · #3 11-23-2021, 03:02 PM

Usually.

I've seen some things that I don't agree with, for the VCR repairs, but not anything I can remember offhand. I mostly find the videos of various VCR model disassembles interesting.

I remember he was somewhat dismissive of TBCs, and/or overly generous with what works well with VHS tapes (ie, not rackmounts, random old mixers, etc).

For example: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vide...s-showing.html
In the video, he sort of glosses over the weakness of the mixer. That specific version and model of that mixer seems to have some line correction ability, but leaving MV in the signal means it's not a frame TBC. ES10/15 is better line TBC, and S-VHS VCR with line TBC is generally better than both. So sometimes his videos lack perspective. Or he doesn't connect the dots for novices.

And I've gotten several reports from members here that he's somewhat abrasive and rude. I don't know what that was about, never contacted him myself. At least not that I know or remember.

His capturing advice is nonsense: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/...hich-is-better

@NJ: What is he anti-AG1980 about, specifically? I hate the things because of costs, they're a money pit. But it's extremely hard to argue the quality. So if you want quality, in certain situations, you have to suck it up, and plop down the CC for the deck. And the repairs. Or learn repair yourself. Honestly, that last option is probably best now. It's mostly recap, but not entirely.

NJRoadfan · #4 11-23-2021, 08:20 PM

Serviceability is an issue with the decks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYzVgr_B3l4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho_GIFR2NhA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVZ5vP-aqJs

Remember that time = money for techs and he shines a light from that perspective. A tech can't afford to fight taking the thing apart and chasing countless issues that appear after one thing gets fixed. So besides being a money pit for the customer, its a money pit for techs, especially if a repaired deck comes back in a week later.

hodgey · #5 11-24-2021, 10:20 AM

Yeah panasonics VCRs from that time are a huge PITA when it comes to repairability.

They put in the circuit boards with the main board on top and add-on boards under it, so you have to lift up the whole thing to service anything and it makes it hard to adjust components and what not without the original service extension cables. They also used these "hybrid IC" things for several circuits, as seen in those videos, often putting electrolytic caps on or under them (even worse if you end up with cap juice leaking on them). Usage of early SMD electrolytic capacitors that inevitably go bad in those doesn't help either.

Their later european models from the mid 90s and on are nicer to work with at least.

I worked on an older JVC HR-S5800EH from 1991 recently (annoyingly the servo circuitry decided to break after I had it working fine) and the setup was so much nicer than panasonics from the time - all the pcbs are designed to flip out to make them easily accessible. Those too were affected by early SMD electrolytic caps being bad though.

lordsmurf · #6 11-27-2021, 07:09 PM

I can't argue the time pit issue, but...

... I dismiss it from the tech's end. Why? That's why they get paid the big bucks. STFU and fix it. Or state he doesn't have the skill or parts to fix it, then let somebody else do it. Those Youtube posts come across as (to borrow a phrase from Bill Maher) him being a whiny little b!tch. Given his commentary, I think he just lacks the skills to handle those decks. And that's fine. But don't rant and rave about how bad the decks are. It's more user error than deck error.

At least AG-1970/80 decks can almost always be fixed. An arguably-better JVC DD deck can be a lost cause. But I'm not foaming-at-the-mouth ranting about the DD decks, simply advising others of the pitfalls. And outright stating that I no longer touch (most) DD decks because of it.

I've done a lot of difficult projects over the years. But you never see me whine about them online. In fact, I try to share what I did, what I know, good or bad. (Sometimes I do get frustrated with Avisynth, but the root cause is always lack of documentation.)

RobustReviews · #7 11-28-2021, 03:19 PM

He had an absolutely fantastic video on setting up the higher-end Sony VHS machines which I've used a few times when I've had to replace plastic gears in them.

I **think** I did communicate with him once and don't remember him being at all unpleasant, he's a Canuck after all.

CaptainKirk · #8 02-06-2022, 01:37 AM

I don’t know if it’s the Canadian accent or his stories, but recently I have found myself watching his videos for, more or less, entertainment. When I see his videos pop up in the feed, I used to cringe. His workbench is atrocious, and his repair tactics are a straight-up bull in a China shop style. As I watched more and more, I looked past this and understood he is pretty much a dying breed.

The more I think of it, I guess I dig his style of videos over watching those other “flash in the pan” guys that promote useless products while surrounded by several minutes of waste and fluff. Not too many from his generation (right above mine, I guess) are willing to put themselves out there like he does to take on all the trolls out for blood basically and to find any weakness or shortcoming. Maybe it’s seeing his hard exterior melt away whenever his cats are around? I have 20+ years of experience in the automotive repair industry, and he reminds me of so many technicians I have known and worked with over the years.

Haaa! 12VoltVids just put out a grill repair video today. Lol

https://youtu.be/480SZ7rBS0s

Almost the polar opposite when it comes to etiquette, cleanliness, and detail, but he doesn’t work on VCRs or cameras often, is Mr. Carlson’s Lab. He’s also Canadian, so maybe it’s a Canadian thing. Or perhaps it’s because he pronounces the “L” in solder?

https://youtube.com/c/MrCarlsonsLab

latreche34 · #9 02-06-2022, 02:15 AM

Yes his workbench is a mess, not that organized and I'm surprized he doesn't lose screws. But he is one of the last knowlegeable technicians on the planet, Once those are gone, it's over.

RobustReviews · #10 02-06-2022, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

I don’t know if it’s the Canadian accent or his stories, but recently I have found myself watching his videos for, more or less, entertainment. When I see his videos pop up in the feed, I used to cringe. His workbench is atrocious, and his repair tactics are a straight-up bull in a China shop style. As I watched more and more, I looked past this and understood he is pretty much a dying breed.

The more I think of it, I guess I dig his style of videos over watching those other “flash in the pan” guys that promote useless products while surrounded by several minutes of waste and fluff. Not too many from his generation (right above mine, I guess) are willing to put themselves out there like he does to take on all the trolls out for blood basically and to find any weakness or shortcoming. Maybe it’s seeing his hard exterior melt away whenever his cats are around? I have 20+ years of experience in the automotive repair industry, and he reminds me of so many technicians I have known and worked with over the years.

Haaa! 12VoltVids just put out a grill repair video today. Lol

https://youtu.be/480SZ7rBS0s

Almost the polar opposite when it comes to etiquette, cleanliness, and detail, but he doesn’t work on VCRs or cameras often, is Mr. Carlson’s Lab. He’s also Canadian, so maybe it’s a Canadian thing. Or perhaps it’s because he pronounces the “L” in solder?

https://youtube.com/c/MrCarlsonsLab

Yes, although a lot of the best old grey-beards I worked with had similar benches.

Mr Carlson is quite a legend, and I'm sure he could have had a career narrating audiobooks in another universe, his knowledge is vast and although his videos are long they're very detailed and never patronising. If you're a radio guy (guilty) it's absolutely fascinating stuff.

Whilst we're talking about Truckistan - the greatest modern philosopher of his age, AvE is another fantastic one for general engineering stuff. If you've never seen him, he speaks his own language and it's taken many years as an experienced AvE watcher to fully nail down his patois (I'm pretty fluent now). He's also bloody hillarious, but no VCR repair. I'd love to watch him repair one though with a 1500 rippum head drum, various gland ends, a poking end receptacle and no doubt various degrees of shmoo. AvE is distinctly 'not safe for work', the language can be really rather foul, just a heads up.

Keep ya' stick on the ice...

Betamax your thing? Well, here's a little secret, this is a Betamax expert repairing one of my machines! You'll also find out the secret behind the nameplates on my machines, as well as my first name. It's Mr Betabyte and he's a good egg, not to mention a genius at repairing old Betamax machines. That machine runs perfectly now, thanks to Mr Betabyte.

Dave Jones - What a guy, a vast and expansive knowledge of just about everything in electronics delivered in his own chirpy way - Australian and British humour and language is a lot bit closer than US & British so he has a lot of fans up here in the old dart/. Although after our disastrous Ashes campaign, my affection for Down Under is somewhat diminished at the moment!

...and our favourite huge Glaswegian, we all know Big Clive.

Hushpower · #11 02-06-2022, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Although after our disastrous Ashes campaign, my affection for Down Under is somewhat diminished at the moment!

We have just the coach for you, RR!

RobustReviews · #12 02-06-2022, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hushpower

We have just the coach for you, RR!

You laugh, I get the feeling we might end up with him. After our absolute disgrace (I had planned to time-shift the coverage and watch it all) I ended up just watching the 'highlights' after the first day at the MCG where my enthusiasm dipped somewhat

The Poms will give you a good hiding up here in the Old Dart in '23, don't worry!