GE VG2042 User manual

VCR User’s Guide
VG2042
We bring good things to life.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not
remove cover (or back). No user serviceable
parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified
service personnel.
This symbol indicates
"dangerous voltage"
inside the product that
presents a risk of electric
shock or personal injury.
This symbol indicates
important instructions
accompanying the
product.
WARNING
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
Caution: To reduce the risk of electric shock, match
wide blade of plug to wide slot, fully insert.
Attention: Pour éviter les chocs électriques,
introduire la lame la plus large de la fiche dans la
borne correspondante de la prise et pousser jusqú au
fond.
Refer to the identification/rating label located on the back panel of your
product for its proper operating voltage.
FCC Regulations state that unauthorized changes or modifications to this
equipment may void the user’s authority to operate it.
Cable TV Installer: This reminder is provided to call your attention to
Article 820-40 of the National Electrical Code (Section 54 of the Canadian
Electrical Code, Part 1) which provides guidelines for proper grounding
and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to
the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry
as practical.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of fire or
shock hazard, do not expose
this product to rain or moisture.
Product Registration
Please fill out the product registration card and return it immediately.
Returning this card allows us to contact you if needed.
Keep your sales receipt to obtain warranty parts and service and for
proof of purchase. Attach it here and record the serial and model
numbers in case you need them. The numbers are located on the back
of the product.
Model No.
Serial No.
Purchase Date:
Dealer/Address/Phone:
VG2042

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
7
First Things First..................................................3
Setting Up the VCR..............................................8
Using the Menu to Set Up Features....................................... 8
Language ...........................................................................8
Cable Box Setup ................................................................ 8
VCR Channels List ........................................................... 10
To Auto Channel Search .................................................. 10
To Change the SignalType ............................................. 11
To Add or Remove Channels ......................................... 11
Time and Date ................................................................. 12
Set Daylight-SavingTime.......................................... 12
Set theTime and Date ............................................... 13
Additional Set-up Features in the PREFERENCES Menu ... 14
Remote VCR1/VCR2 Option ............................................. 14
Auto Play .......................................................................... 15
EnergySaverTM ................................................................. 15
Tape Speed....................................................................... 16
VCR Basics ........................................................ 17
Remote Buttons ..................................................................... 18
Component Buttons ........................................................ 18
VCR Function Buttons ..................................................... 18
TV Function Buttons ........................................................ 19
Playing aTape ........................................................................20
Automatic Rewind .................................................................21
Tape Eject ...............................................................................21
Recording ...............................................................................21
Check the SafetyTab ........................................................21
Recording .......................................................... 23
Recording Features ...............................................................24
Express Recording........................................................... 24
Timer Recording ..............................................................25
Stopping aTimer Recording .....................................26
Review and Clearing Programs ................................ 26
UsingTwo VCRs for Copying and EditingTapes..................27

TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
Programming the Remote... ............................... 29
About Programming the Remote ......................................... 30
Programming the Remote to Control a␣ TV..........................30
Programming the Remote to Control a Digital
Satellite Receiver or Cable Box ....................................... 32
Other Features ................................................... 33
Picture Search Options ......................................................... 34
Forward and Reverse Search..........................................34
Slow Motion ....................................................................34
Commercial Scan (Search Button) .................................34
Frame Advance ................................................................35
Index Search .................................................................... 35
Zero Search ......................................................................36
Pro-Tect PlusTM Locking Feature .........................................36
Time Counter .........................................................................37
On-Screen Displays ...............................................................37
Tracking ..................................................................................38
Connections ....................................................... 39
Jacks and Cables ...................................................................40
RF Jacks and Antenna Cables (F-type) ...........................40
Audio/Video Jacks and Cables (RCA-type) ....................40
Choosing a VCR Connection................................................ 41
Advantages of Audio/Video Cable Connections ...........41
Don’t Forget About the AutoTV/VCR Feature................41
TV With RF Jack Only ............................................................42
TV With Audio/Video Jacks ................................................... 43
TV With Audio/Video Jacks and Cable Box
to Unscramble Pay Channels Only ................................. 44
Reference .......................................................... 45
Front Panel .............................................................................46
Back Panel ..............................................................................47
Indicator Panel .......................................................................47
TroubleshootingTips ............................................................. 48
Specifications ........................................................................51
Cleaning the VCR ...................................................................51
Limited Warranty ...................................................................52
Index .......................................................................................53

FIRST THINGS FIRST
3
Hi, my name is Roger...
and I wrote this User’s Guide. It’s my job to see that
you have a rewarding user manual experience.You’ll
find that I’ve arranged this manual to clearly explain
all your VCR’s features.
Read the First Three Sections
The first three sections of the manual introduce you to
your VCR, and show you how to set the VCR up and
use the on-screen menus. Reading these sections
gives you the basic information you need to use your
VCR.
What’s Left?
The rest of the book highlights playback and recording
information, contains a detailed connections section,
and a reference section that includes troubleshooting
tips, limited warranty, and index. 5
READ ME!
These note boxes give you tips for
your new video cassette recorder.
➣➣
SETTING UP THE VCR
2
FIRST THINGS FIRST
1
➣
RECORDING
3VCR BASICS
4
➣
PROGRAMMING THE
REMOTE
6
5
7
OTHER FEATURES
➣➣
CONNECTIONS
7

FIRST THINGS FIRST
4
STEP 1: Unpack What’s in the Box
The following items come packed in the box:
•VCR
• Remote control
• RF antenna cable
STEP 2: Install Batteries in the
Remote Control
Follow these steps whenever you need to install or change the
batteries in your VCR remote.
1. Remove the cover of the battery compartment.
2. Place batteries in remote, matching the + and – ends of each
battery to the diagram inside the compartment.
3. Replace the cover.
STEP 3: Connect Your VCR
If you connect yourVCR to your home antenna or cable system
and then to yourTV, use theVCR’s IN FROM ANT. and OUTTOTV
jacks for a good signal as shown.
If you have aTV with AUDIO/VIDEO jacks, use the audio/video
jacks on theTV and VCR for a better connection. Refer to the
Connections section, toward the back of the manual.
STEP 4: Plug in the VCR
Match the wide blade of the plug with the wide slot in the outlet.
Be sure to insert the plug completely.
VCR
TV
CABLE/
ANTENNA
CABLE, CABLE BOX, OR ANTENNA
3 CH. 4
IN FROM
ANT.
VIDEO
OUT
AUDIO
OUT TO TV
VHF/UHF
IN 1

FIRST THINGS FIRST
5
VCR Viewing Channel
When using the ANTENNA jacks to
connect your VCR, tune your TV to
channel 3 or 4.
When using the audio/video jacks
to connect your VCR, tune your TV
to theTV’s video input channel.
STEP 5: Tune the TV
Tune theTV to the VCR viewing channel.The VCR viewing
channel is channel 3 or 4 or theTV’s video input.
• If you connect your VCR using the ANTENNA connectors
with RF antenna cable, set the 3CH.4 switch to channel 3 or
channel 4—the channel you want to use on yourTV.
• If you connect your VCR using the AUDIO/VIDEO jacks with
audio/video cables, select theTV’s video input to see the
signal. See the TV Owner’s Manual .
STEP 6: Turn On the VCR
Press POWER to turn on the VCR.Turning on the VCR for the first
time starts the Interactive Setup feature.
STEP 7: Interactive Setup
The first time the VCR is turned on, Interactive Setup—a brief
series of on-screen menus—appears.These menus assist in
setting up several of the VCR’s features. Use the remote’s
number buttons to select options.
1. Press 1 for English, 2 for Español (Spanish), or 3 for Français
(French).
Select a language.
Seleccione un idioma.
Choisissez une langue.
1>English
2 Espanol
3 Francais
˜
˜
The remaining Interactive Setup menus will appear in the
language you choose. Follow the on-screen instructions to
complete the process.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
6
STEP 8: Access the Menus
When you’ve completed Interactive Setup, try out theVCR’s
regular on-screen menus.The MENU and number buttons let
you access, select, and change menu items. For example, to
change the Auto Play setting, you would do the following:
1. Press MENU to bring up the VCR MAIN MENU.
VCR MAIN MENU
1 Timer Recordings
2 Time
3 Channels
4 Preferences
5 Language
0 Exit
2. Press 4 to display the PREFERENCES menu .
PREFERENCES
1 Remote Control: VCR1
2 Auto Play: ON
3 EnergySaver: 2:00
4 Tape Speed: SLP
0 Exit
3. Press 2 to switch Auto Play to ON or OFF.
PREFERENCES
1 Remote Control: VCR1
2 Auto Play: OFF
3 EnergySaver: 2:00
4 Tape Speed: SLP
0 Exit
See Setting Up the VCR for detailed information about the
Auto Play feature. Once you understand how to use the
menus, move on to the next section.

SETTING UP THE VCR
7
Set-up Features
Below is a list of set-up features that you may want to
set up before you begin using your VCR for the first
time:
• Select a language
• Set for use with a cable box
• Set up VCR channel list (Auto Channel Search)
• Set automatic daylight-saving time
• Set the time and date
• Set the Remote VCR1/VCR2 feature
• Set the Auto Play feature
• Set the EnergySaverTM feature
• Set the preferredTape Speed 5
➣➣
SETTING UP THE VCR
2
FIRST THINGS FIRST
1
➣
RECORDING
3VCR BASICS
4
➣
PROGRAMMING THE
REMOTE
6
5
7
OTHER FEATURES
➣➣
CONNECTIONS
7

SETTING UP THE VCR
8
Using the Menu to Set Up Features
You can set up features by using the menu system. Each feature
is explained in this section.
Language
Select your preferred language, and the on-screen displays will
appear in that language.
1. Press MENU to display the VCR MAIN MENU.
VCR MAIN MENU
1 Timer Recordings
2 Time
3 Channels
4 Preferences
5 Language
0 Exit
2. Press 5 to display the LANGUAGE menu.
LANGUAGE
Select a language.
1>English
2 Espanol
3 Francais
Press MENU to continue
3. Press 1 for English, 2 for Español (Spanish), or 3 for
Français (French).
Cable Box Setup
This setup applies only when all channels are received through
the cable box. The VCR will automatically enter the output
channel of the cable box when programming your VCR for timer
recordings.
On-screen Menus
Not all the VCR screens are shown in
this manual when explaining
the features.