Guys,
Firstly I am embarrassed by your hospitality and support!
Based on your advice I too have focused on the macrovision issue first and have come out with some interesting observations that I'd like to bounce by you first!
(then I'd love to move on to question 2).
(So, to set the scene and as a little reminder....
I am simply scart out of VCR to scart in on DVD recorder and rf cables chained as per Altis diagram)
If I simply watch or record the realtime tv channels from the VCR through the scart in on the DVD recorder then the picture is great. No macrovision problem. BBC1 coming into the VCR rf tuner passed to the VCR scart to the scart in on DVD recorder is fine.
If however I record BBC1 to VHS then play that VHS back the picture appears to have macrovision issue. All my tapes have the same problem including some I made decades ago
although some start ok and then it gradually 'macrovisions out' after a few minutes. I can only conclude therefore (and please tell me if I'm wrong) that the Matsui VCR is just sticking macrovision on anything it plays back. Would that be logical?
So, following a few site searches I am seeing stuff about "video picture stabilizers". Would this do the job or am I just a stupid gadget junkie with no respect for my electric bill! and has anyone got any advice or a recommended product to overcome this problem? (Unless anyone happens to know a hack or have a flash update for an old matsui vcr! joke!)
So, postponing on question 2 for the mo, any macrovision advice or a recommendation for an alternative vcr without this problem would be really welcomed!
Thanks as always!
peck