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From: brown@nicmad.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Re: VHS copying
Message-ID: <466@nicmad.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 14-Dec-85 19:59:52 EST
Article-I.D.: nicmad.466
Posted: Sat Dec 14 19:59:52 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Dec-85 03:59:46 EST
References: <931@ihlpa.UUCP>
Reply-To: brown@nicmad.UUCP (Mr. Video)
Distribution: net
Organization: Nicolet Instrument Corp. Madison WI
Lines: 32

In article <931@ihlpa.UUCP> heneghan@ihlpa.UUCP (Joe Heneghan) writes:
>I'm planning to copy some tapes from one HIFI VHS to another.
>I'm going to buy a gold plated video connector and use the
>standard connectors for the audio. I was wondering if I
>needed to do anything else. Someone told me I needed a
>"copycat" box because of the "tape guard". I would appreciate
>any info. on this subject. Thanx in advance.

No, you don't need anything else.  The old style copyguard hasn't been
used on tapes for quite a few years now.  Besides, most table-top VHS
decks will ignore the copyguard, which is probably one reason why it was
dropped.

But, some tapes are now recorded with Macrovision anti-copy signal.  When
the movie 'Cotton Club' came out, I checked it over to see how it worked.
Well, needless to say, it will be easy to defeat.  But, the designers of
Macrovision have said that refinements have been made and I have yet to
see what it looks like.  But, I am assuming that it will also be defeatable.
Because they can't put any protection information directly in the video
picture area, it has to be placed into the sync area.  That allows
someone to make something that will defeat it.

Time will tell how well Macrovision does.  BTW, there is talk of it
showing up on one or more cable pay channels, directly from the
supplier, like HBO.
-- 

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