|
|
This is only a preview of the April 1994 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 28 of the 96 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments. For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues. Articles in this series:
Items relevant to "Remote Control Extender For VCRs":
Items relevant to "Sound & Lights For Level Crossings":
Items relevant to "Discrete Dual Supply Voltage Regulator":
Items relevant to "Low-Noise Universal Stereo Preamplifier":
|
Product Review
G-Code: the easy way
to program your VCR
Are you one of the millions of Australians
who can’t or can’t be bothered programming
your VCR to record? If you are, this new
product, called G-Code, could make it a
whole lot easier.
By LEO SIMPSON
G-Code is a small plastic box which
you program with numbers from “TV
Week”. The G-Code Instant Video
Programmer then controls your VCR
via its infrared LEDs and you no longer
have to worry about the intricacies of
programming.
The G-Code Instant Video Programmer is claimed to work with any of
82 Silicon Chip
90 brands of VCR. The only proviso is
that it must have an infrared remote
control. G-Code controls the VCR by
emulating the remote control functions of record, channel selection
and stop.
The G-Code Programmer looks like
a small version of a portable CD player
and measures 99mm wide, 120mm
deep and 32mm thick. Like a portable CD player, it has a liquid crystal
display and a lift-up lid but instead
of a CD compartment it has an array
of pushbuttons, as can be seen in the
photo below. There is an array of numerical buttons plus buttons marked
Cancel, Review, Weekly, Once, Daily
(M-F) and Add Time.
Not shown in the photo is a row of
seven smaller buttons which are used
in the initial setting up of the unit.
These are labelled Video, Cable/Sat,
Channel, Clock, Alter, Save & Enter.
When (and if) you buy the G-Code
unit, you first have to tell it what brand
of VCR you have. You do this by sitting
the unit near your VCR which should
be switched into the standby mode.
You then enter the two digit code
which is peculiar to your brand of
VCR and press the ENTER button. For
example, the code for JVC models is
21. That done, the VCR should turn on
as it is addressed by the G-Code unit.
You then press the SAVE button and
continue to set G-Code unit’s clock
with the date and time.
Having set the date and time, you
then have to tell it which TV stations
are received on your VCR and what
channel numbers are allocated to
them. Again, this is a straightforward
procedure, set out in the brief and
well-written manual.
Finally, you can run a test to make
sure that everything is set up correctly.
You place a blank tape in your VCR
and turn it off, then key in the highest
channel number your VCR is able to
receive.
For example, if your VCR can receive 15 channels, you key in 0015
and then hit the “Once” button. The
G-Code Programmer flashes an orange
LED to indicate that it is transmitting
and it turns on your VCR, selects channel 15, makes a brief recording and
then turns the VCR off again.
From then on, the unit is ready to go
and you can program it to make your
VCR record at any time. Initially, the
G-codes will be featured in “TV Week”
magazine but it is expected that all
major TV guides will quickly adopt
the codes.
The procedure is quite simple. Say
you want to record a program such as
“The Bill” on ABC TV. Look up “TV
Week” and note the digital code – this
can range from three to eight digits and
appears to be quite random.
Enter the code and the liquid crystal
display will indicate the stored channel, time and date, and the length of
tape required to record the program.
At the appointed time, the G-Code unit
will operate your VCR, and provided
it has a blank tape cassette inside,
it will record the program and then
switch the VCR back into standby
mode. Magic, eh?
The G-Code Programmer can store
up to 12 shows to be recorded at various times and you can review these
times by pushing the Review button.
You can program up to 27 days in
advance. The unit will flag any clash
between programs to be recorded and
you then have the option of cancelling
a particular program. You can also arrange to add extra time, in increments
of 15 minutes, to cater for a program
running over time.
The G-Code Programmer runs from
four AAA alkaline cells and battery
life is estimated to one year under
normal usage. When the battery is
due to be replaced, a “LO BATT”
message will be indicated on the
LCD panel.
We had a sample G-Code Programmer for this review and I set it up with
my 7-year old Sharp VCR. The setting
up procedure took about five minutes
and it all went exactly according to the
book. Indeed it is quite uncanny to see
your VCR silently turn itself on and go
into record mode when you know you
have not touched the machine or its
remote control and it is has not been
programmed itself.
Programming the G-Code Programmer is much easier than fiddling with
the itty-bitty buttons on your VCR,
even to one familiar with the procedure. Instead of kneeling down and
peering at poorly lit buttons on the
VCR, you can sit at a table in good light,
and simply punch in the numbers for
each program to be recorded.
So why have we had to wait so long
for this product? It has been available
overseas for some time under various
names. In the USA for example, it is
known as VCR-Plus. It was developed
by Gemstar in the USA and is now
being distributed exclusively in Australia by Philips Consumer Products.
Initially, the G-Code numbers will be
used in “TV Week” magazine and are
expected to be eventually licensed to
most major TV program guides.
The G-Code Programmer comes
with a cradle which can be positioned on top of your VCR, with the
unit slightly overhanging the front.
However, you can position the unit
virtually anywhere in an average
sized room since it has infrared LEDs
aiming from its back corners as well
as the front – this unit really does
seem to have been well thought out.
And if you get into any strife while
setting it up or using it, Philips has
a toll free number (131 124) to help
you sort it out.
The G-Code Programmer is priced
at $129 and will be available Australia-wide from department and electrical stores. It comes with a 6-month
SC
warranty.
Subscribe now to the largest faults & remedies library in Australia
✱
✱
1994 manuals are now available.
Our database is regularly updated with
information supplied by technicians
such as yourself.
✱
Exclusive backup service by qualified
technicians.
✱
✱
Over 10,000 faults and remedies on
file with flow charts and diagrams.
Covers Colour TVs and VCRs of all
brands sold in Australia
EFIL
Phone or fax now for your
FREE information package
ELECTRONIC FAULT INFORMATION
Reply Paid 4
P.O. Box 969 AIRLIE BEACH 4802
Ph 079 465690 Fax 079 467038
April 1994 83
|
