RCA VR554 User manual

USER’S
GUIDE
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VR554
®

i
Cautions
Safety 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
To reduce risk of fire or
shock hazard, do not
expose this product to
rain or moisture.
WARNING
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
Caution: To reduce the risk of electric shock, match the wide blade of plug to wide
slot, and 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.
Care and Cleaning: Use a soft cloth or the dusting attachment of your vacuum cleaner to dust your
VCR. Remove dust from the ventilation holes.
Plastic surfaces are easily scratched and can be marred by alcohol and various
solvents. Avoid excessive use of oil-based furniture polishes since the materials
used in the cabinet will accumulate more dust. A nonabrasive, antistatic cleaner/
polisher is recommended.
Product Registration
Please fill out the product registration card and return it immediately. Returning the 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: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
VR554
The VCR Plus+ system , C
3
, and PlusCode are registered trademarks of Gemstar Development Corporation.
The VCR Plus+ system is manufactured under the license from Gemstar Development Corporation.
COMMERCIAL ADVANCE
®
and MOVIE ADVANCE
®
are registered trademarks of SRT, Inc.; Jerry Iggulden inventions licensed in association with Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc.

1
Table of Contents
First Things First .............................................. 3
Setting Up the VCR ......................................... 7
Using The Menu To Set Up Features ................... 8
Language Selection ........................................ 8
Digital Satellite Receiver Setup ..................... 9
Cable Box Setup ........................................... 10
VCR Channels List ......................................... 13
To Auto Channel Search ........................ 13
To Change the Signal Type ................... 14
Adding or Removing Channels .............. 14
Time and Date .............................................. 15
Auto Clock Set Feature .......................... 15
Set the Time Zone .................................. 15
Set Daylight-Saving Time ....................... 16
Setting the Time and Date Manually .... 17
VCR Plus+ System Channels ......................... 18
VCR Plus+ System Worksheet ...................... 19
Additional Set-up Features................................ 20
Remote VCR1/VCR2 Option ......................... 20
Auto Play ...................................................... 21
EnergySaver .................................................. 21
Front Panel Brightness (VCR Display) .......... 22
Preferred Tape Speed ................................... 22
VCR Basics ....................................................... 23
Remote Buttons ................................................. 24
Component Buttons ..................................... 24
VCR Function Buttons .................................. 24
TV Function Buttons..................................... 25
Playing a Tape .................................................... 26
Automatic Rewind ............................................. 26
Tape Eject ........................................................... 27
Recording ........................................................... 27
Check the Safety Tab .................................... 27
Recording ........................................................ 29
Recording Features ............................................ 30
Express Recording (XPR) .............................. 30
Timer Recording ........................................... 31
Timer Recording with VCR Plus+ System .... 32
Setting Up the Channel List ................... 32
Using the VCR Plus+ System .................. 32
Stopping a Timer Recording .................. 34
Reviewing and Clearing Programs ........ 34
Using Two VCRs For Copying and
Editing Tapes ............................................. 35

2
Table of Contents
Program the Remote .................................... 37
About Programming the Remote ..................... 38
Programming the Remote to Control a TV ...... 38
Operating the TV ......................................... 38
Other Features ............................................... 41
Commercial Advance ......................................... 42
Marking ........................................................ 43
Playback ........................................................ 44
Display........................................................... 44
Movie Advance................................................... 45
Picture Search Options....................................... 47
Forward and Reverse Search ....................... 47
Slow Motion ................................................. 47
Frame Advance ............................................. 47
Index Search ................................................. 48
Go-To Search................................................. 48
Tracking .............................................................. 49
Pro-Tect Plus™Locking Feature ........................ 49
Time Counter ...................................................... 50
On-screen Displays ............................................. 50
Connections.................................................... 51
Connecting Your VCR ......................................... 52
Jacks and Cables ........................................... 52
RF Jacks and Coaxial Cables (F-type) ..... 52
A/V Jacks and Cables (RCA-type) ........... 52
Choosing a VCR Connection ........................ 53
Advantages of A/V Cable Connections ....... 53
TV With RF Jack Only ................................... 54
TV With A/V Jacks ........................................ 55
TV With A/V Jacks and Cable Box to
Unscramble Pay Channels Only ................ 56
TV With RF Jack and Satellite Receiver ....... 57
TV With A/V Jacks and Satellite Receiver.... 58
Reference ........................................................ 59
Front Panel ......................................................... 60
Display Panel ...................................................... 61
Back Panel .......................................................... 62
Troubleshooting Tips ......................................... 63
Questions and Answers About
Commercial Advance ...................................... 67
Specifications...................................................... 68
Cleaning the VCR ............................................... 68
How to Find Your TV’s Video Input Channel .... 69
Warranty ............................................................. 70
Index ................................................................... 71

First Things First
3
Welcome To Your New VCR...
To help you get started using yourVCR with as little reading
as possible,we’ve put all the basic information needed in the
first three sections. To help you along,there’s even an initial
set-up feature the first time you turn on yourVCR which
walks you through several set-up steps at once.
Getting Started
Before this first step,though,learning about the time and
date,your remote control’s features,working with channels,
and basic video tape operations are essential to get all you
can out of theVCR.Once you are comfortable with these
features,feel free to refer to other sections because they
cover the more detailed information.
What Remains?
The final sections of this manual contain playback and
recording information,a detailed connections section,and a
reference section including troubleshooting tips,warranty
information,and an index.
READ ME!
These note boxes give you tips for
your new video cassette recorder.
5
➣➣
SETTING UP THE VCR
2
First Things First
1
➣
RECORDING
3VCR BASICS
4
➣
OTHER FEATURES
7
6
CONNECTIONS
➣
5
➣
PROGRAM THE REMOTE
5
➣
8REFERENCE

First Things First
4
Step 1: What’s in the Box?
The following items come packed in the box:
•VCR
•Remote control
•RF coaxial 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 the batteries into the remote’s back panel. Match the
positive (+) and negative (–) ends of each battery to the
diagram inside the battery compartment.
3. Replace the cover.
STEP 3: Connect your VCR
If you connect your VCR to your home antenna or cable system
and then to your TV, use the VCR’s ANT. IN and RF OUT jacks for
a good signal as shown to the right.
If you have a TV with AUDIO/VIDEO jacks, use the jacks for a
better connection. Refer to the section, Connections, toward
the back of the manual, for additional connection options.
STEP 4: PLUG IN THE VCR
Your VCR’s power cord has a plastic band strung through the
blades. Remove plastic band before plugging the cord into
the power outlet. To remove band, cut with a pair of scissors
and pull it free of the blades. Once the plastic is removed, match
the wide blade of the power cord to the wide slot in the AC
outlet. Be sure to insert the plug completely.
VCR
TV
CABLE/
ANTENNA
CABLE, CABLE BOX, OR ANTENNA
3 CH. 4
ANT. IN
RF OUT
VIDEO AUDIO
OUT
IN
REV
RECORD
INPUT AUDIO
VIDEO
TRACKING
STOP•EJECT
TAPE SPEED
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POWER
CHANNEL
INPUT
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REVERSEPLAYFORWARD
RECORDSTOPPAUSE
INFOSEARCH
MUTEGOBACK
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CLEARMENUSPEED

First Things First
5
STEP 5: Tune THE TV
Tune the TV to the VCR viewing channel. The VCR viewing
channel is channel 3 or 4 or the TV’s video input.
•If you connect your VCR using the ANT. IN and RF OUT
connectors with RF coaxial cable, set the 3 CH. 4 switch to
channel 3 or channel 4 —the channel you want to use on
your TV.
•If you connect your VCR using the AUDIO/VIDEO jacks
with audio/video cables, select the TV’s video input with
the remote control’s INPUT button to see the signal. If you
have trouble understanding the Video Input Channel,
look to page 69 for a more detailed explanation.
STEP 6: Turn on the VCR
Press POWER on the VCR’s front panel or the VCR button on the
remote control to turn on the VCR. The first time you turn the
VCR on, a menu screen appears. This is the start of an initial set
up which helps you set different options for your VCR.
Step 7: Initial Setup
The first on-screen menu during the initial set up asks which
language you prefer to use for your VCR. Use the remote
control’s number buttons to select options.
Select a language.
Seleccione un idioma.
Choisissez une langue.
1 English
2 Espanol
3 Francais
˜
˜
1. Press 1 for English, 2 for Español (Spanish), or 3 for Français
(French).
The remaining menus throughout the set up will appear in the
chosen language. Just follow the step-by-step procedures until
setup is complete.
If the menu does not appear:
•Make sure the TV is tuned to the same channel as the 3 CH. 4
switch or the TV’s Video Input Channel (see page 69 for more
information).
VCR Viewing Channel
When using the ANT. IN and RF OUT
jacks to connect your VCR, tune your
TV to channel 3 or 4.
The 3 CH. 4 switch on the back of the
VCR determines which TV channel is
used to see the VCR’s output.
When using the AUDIO/VIDEO jacks
to connect your VCR, tune your TV to
the TV’s Video Input Channel with the
TV and INPUT buttons on your
remote control. For more information
about selecting your video input
channel, see page 69.
3 CH. 4
VIDEO AUDIO
ANT. IN
RF OUT
OUT
IN
AUDIO/VIDEO OUT Jacks 3 CH. 4 Switch

First Things First
6
•Make sure the VCR indicator is on in the VCR display if you
connected your VCR using the ANT. IN and RF OUT jacks.
•Check your connections.
If you chose to set up your VCR options individually, then go to
the next section.
STEP 8: Access the menus
The MENU and number buttons let you access, select, and change
your VCR’s preferences. For example, to select a different
preferred on-screen language than the one you selected during
the initial set up, do the following:
1. Press MENU to display the VCR MAIN MENU.
VCR MAIN MENU
1 VCR Plus+
2 Timer Recordings
3 Time
4 Channels
5 Setup
6 Preferences
7 Language
0 Exit
2. Press 7 to display the LANGUAGE menu.
LANGUAGE
Select a language.
1>English
2 Espanol
3 Francais
Press MENU to continue
3. On the remote control, press 1 for English, 2 for Español
(Spanish), or 3 for Français (French).
All other on-screen menus are worked within similar ways
using the remote control to follow on-screen instructions.
See Additional Set-Up Features in the next section for
detailed information about accessing menus.
Next Section: Learn VCR’s menus
Now that you understand how to move around through menus,
go to the next section to set up individual menus of your VCR.

7
Setting Up the VCR
Additional Set-up features
Below is a list of set-up features that you need to
set up before using yourVCR for the first time.
• Select a Language
• Set Up for a Digital Satellite Receiver
• Set Up for a Cable Box
• Set Up a VCR Channel List
(Auto Channel Search)
• Auto Clock Set Feature
• Set Time and Date Manually
• Set Up VCR Plus+ System Channels
• Set the Remote VCR1/VCR2 Feature
• Set the Auto Play Feature
• Set the EnergySaver Feature
• Set Front Panel Brightness Feature
• Set the Preferred Tape Speed Feature 5
➣➣
Setting Up the VCR
2
FIRST THINGS FIRST
1
➣
RECORDING
3VCR BASICS
4
➣
OTHER FEATURES
7
6
CONNECTIONS
➣
5
➣
PROGRAM THE REMOTE
5
➣
8REFERENCE

8
Setting Up the VCR
Using The Menu To Set Up Features
You can set up your VCR’s features by using the remote
control’s buttons to enter your choices from on-screen
instructions. Each menu item is explained in this section.
You can set up features individually by using the menu system.
Each feature that appears in the initial set up is explained in
this section as well as a few others you may want to set up
before you begin using your VCR.
Language Selection
1. On your remote control, press the MENU button to display
the VCR MAIN MENU.
VCR MAIN MENU
1 VCR Plus+
2 Timer Recordings
3 Time
4 Channels
5 Setup
6 Preferences
7 Language
0 Exit
2. Press 7 to select the LANGUAGE menu.
LANGUAGE
Select a language.
1>English
2 Espanol
3 Francais
Press MENU to continue
3. Select English, Español (Spanish), or Français (French) by
pressing the appropriate number on the remote control’s
key pad.
On-Screen Menus
Not all the VCR screens are shown in
this manual when explaining the
features.