RCA VR636HF User manual

video cassette recorder
user's guide
VR636HF

Important Information
WARNING
To reduce the risk of fire or
shock hazard, do not expose
this product to rain or moisture.
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.
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
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. VR636HF
Serial No.
Purchase Date:
Dealer/Address/Phone:

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
7
First Things First.............................................................. 3
Setting up the VCR ......................................................... 7
Using the QuickSet Guide................................................................. 8
Using the Menu to Set Up features..................................................8
Language ..........................................................................................8
Digital Satellite System Setup...................................................... 9
Cable Box Setup ..........................................................................11
VCR Channels List.......................................................................13
ToAuto Channel Search......................................................13
To Change the SignalType...................................................14
ToAdd or Remove Channels .............................................14
Time and Date..............................................................................15
Auto Clock Set Feature.......................................................15
Set theTime Zone................................................................15
Set Daylight Saving ................................................................16
Set theTime and Date Manually........................................17
VCR Plus+ Channels...................................................................18
Additional SET-UP Features in the PREFERENCES menu.........20
Remote VCR1/VCR2 Option...................................................20
Auto Play........................................................................................21
AutoTV/VCR................................................................................21
EnergySaver...................................................................................22
Front Panel (VCR Display).........................................................22
PreferredTape Speed ..................................................................22
VCR Basics ..................................................................... 23
Remote Buttons..................................................................................24
Component Buttons ...................................................................24
VCR Function Buttons................................................................24
TV Function Buttons...................................................................25
Playing aTape .......................................................................................26
Automatic Rewind..............................................................................27
Tape Eject .............................................................................................27
Recording .............................................................................................27
Check the SafetyTab...................................................................27
Recording ...................................................................... 29
Recording features .............................................................................30
Express Recording (XPR) ..........................................................30
Timer Recording..........................................................................31
Timer Recording withVCR Plus+............................................32
Setting Up the Channel List................................................32
UsingVCR Plus+....................................................................32
Stopping aTimer Recording ......................................................34
Reviewing and Clearing Programs ...........................................34
Recording Broadcast StereoTV or SAP
(SecondAudio Program)............................................................34

TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
RecordingAudio Only ................................................................35
Playing BackAudio Only......................................................35
UsingTwoVCRs for Copying and EditingTapes....................36
Programming the Remote............................................ 37
About Programming the Remote ...................................................38
Programming the Remote to Control a TV ..........................38
Operate theTV ............................................................................38
TV Codes .............................................................................................39
Other Features .............................................................. 41
Picture Search Options .....................................................................42
Forward and Reverse Search ....................................................42
Slow Motion..................................................................................42
Commercial Scan (SEARCH Button) ......................................42
FrameAdvance.............................................................................43
Index Search..................................................................................43
Go-To Search................................................................................44
Tracking.................................................................................................44
Pro-Tect Plus™ Locking Feature ....................................................45
Time Counter......................................................................................45
On-Screen Displays............................................................................46
Audio Set-Up Features......................................................................46
Reception.......................................................................................47
Tape Playback................................................................................47
Connections .................................................................. 49
Things to Know Before Connecting Components.....................49
ConnectingYourVCR ........................................................................50
Jacks and Cables...........................................................................50
Choosing a VCR Connection..........................................................51
Advantages ofAudio/Video Cable Connections .........................51
Don’t Forget about theAutoTV/VCR Feature............................51
TV with RF Jack only .........................................................................52
TV withAudio/Video Jacks...............................................................53
TV with Audio/Video Jacks and Cable Box
to Unscramble Pay Channels Only.................................................54
TV with RF Jack and Digital Satellite Receiver.............................55
TV withAudio/Video Jacks and Digital Satellite Receiver.........56
Appendix: Reference .................................................... 57
Front Panel...........................................................................................58
Display Panel........................................................................................59
Back Panel ............................................................................................60
TroubleshootingTips..........................................................................61
LimitedWarranty................................................................................65
Specifications .......................................................................................66
Cleaning theVCR................................................................................66
Index......................................................................................................67

First Things First
3
Hi, my name is Liz…
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 of yourVCR’s features.
Read the First Three sections
The first three sections of the manual introduce
you to yourVCR,and show you how to set theVCR
up and use the on-screen menus.Reading these
sections gives you the basic information you need
to use yourVCR.
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
➣
OTHER FEATURES
7
6
Connections
➣
5
➣
PROGRAMMING THE
REMOTE
5

First Things First
4
Step 1: Unpack 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 in the 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 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.
If you have a TV with AUDIO/VIDEO jacks, use the jacks for a
better connection. Refer to the Connections section, toward the
back of the manual.
VCR
TV
CABLE/
ANTENNA
CABLE, CABLE BOX, OR ANTENNA
3 CH. 4
ANT. IN
RF OUT
VIDEO
AUDIO
IN
OUT
L
R

First Things First
5
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.
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 ANTENNA 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 to see the
signal. See the TV Owner’s Manual.
STEP 6: turn on the vcr
The first time you connect your VCR and turn it on, a menu
screen appears. This is the beginning of the QuickSet Guide
which helps you to set up specific features of the VCR. If you
choose not to use this Guide, you can set up each feature
individually.
Go to the next step to understand how to move through and
change items in the menu system.
STEP 7: Access the 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:
VCR Viewing Channel
When using the ANT. IN and RF OUT
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 the
TV’s video input.

First Things First
6
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 Audio
8 Language
0 Exit
2. Press 6 to display the PREFERENCES menu.
PREFERENCES
1 Remote Control: VCR1
2 Auto Play: ON
3 Auto TV/VCR: ON
4 EnergySaver: 2:00
5 Front Panel: AUTO
6 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 Auto TV/VCR: ON
4 EnergySaver: 2:00
5 Front Panel: AUTO
6 Tape Speed: SLP
0 Exit
See Additional Set-Up Features for detailed information
about the Auto Play feature.
STEP 8: SET UP THE VCR
Once you understand how to move around through the menus,
go to the next section to set up your VCR.

7
Setting Up the VCR
on-screen guide and Additional
Set-up features
Below is a list of set-up features that you may want
to set up before you begin using yourVCR for the
first time.
• Using QuickSet Guide
• Select a Language
• Set up for a Digital Satellite System
• Set up for a Cable Box
• Set upVCR Channel List (AUTO CHANNEL
SEARCH)
• SetTime Zone and Daylight Savings (Auto Clock)
• Set theTime and Date Manually
• Set upVCR Plus+ Channels
• Set the RemoteVCR1/VCR2 feature
• Set theAuto Play feature
• Set theAuto TV/VCR feature
• Set the EnergySaver feature
• Set the Front Panel feature
• Set the PreferredTape Speed feature
7
5
➣➣
Setting Up the VCR
2
First things first
1
➣
recording
3VCR Basics
4
➣
OTHER FEATURES
7
6
Connections
➣
5
➣
PROGRAMMING THE
REMOTE
5

8
Setting Up the VCR
USING THE MENU to set up features
You can set up features by using the menu system. Each feature
that appears in the QuickSet Guide is explained in this section
as well as a few others you may want to set up before you
begin using your VCR.
language
Select your preferred language, and the on-screen displays will
appear in that language.
On-Screen Menus
Not all the VCR screens are shown in this
manual when explaining the features.
Using the QuickSet guide
The QuickSet Guide is an automated procedure that helps you
set up your VCR. The first time you turn on your VCR, the first
screen of the Guide appears.
Select a language.
Seleccione un idioma.
Choisissez une langue.
1 English
2 Espanol
3 Francais
˜
˜
Just follow the step-by-step procedures until setup is complete.
Some of the feature options may not apply to your VCR
configuration.
If the menu does not appear:
• Make sure TV is tuned to the same channel as the 3 CH.4
switch or TV’s video line input.
• Make sure 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 choose to set up the VCR options individually, then go to
the next section.
If you ever need to manually enter setup.
1. Press MENU to display the VCR MAIN MENU.
2. Press 5 to display the Setup menu.