Frequently Asked Questions About Sharp VCR’s

Q. My VCR is locked up and there is a key in the display. How do I turn that off?
A. The key indicates that your VCR is in the “Tamper Proof” mode. To disable this function, press and hold down the “Tamper Proof” button on your remote control for 4 seconds. The key will start to flash and then disappear.

Q. My remote control will not turn on my VCR.
A. The remote control that comes supplied with your unit is a universal remote. It is possible that it may be in the “TV” or “Cable” mode. We suggest pressing the VCR button next to the POWER button on the remote first, and then pressing the POWER button.

Q. The number keys on my remote control will not operate my television. Is that normal?
A. Yes, that is normal. The number keys are for use on the VCR. To change the channels on your television, we suggest using the channel up and down buttons.

Q. When using the “Timer” feature on my VCR, the unit does not come on at the specified time.
A. There could be a few reasons for this. We suggest checking the date and time in your menu. You may also consult your operator manual under “Setting the Clock”. Also check after the information for the program to be recorded is input, that the power to the VCR is shut off.

Q. Some of the buttons on my remote control are not working. What could be the problem?
A. You may need to reset the memory of your remote control. You can do this by: Taking the batteries out of the remote control. Press and hold down the POWER button for 20 seconds. (nothing will happen on your VCR during this time). Reinsert the batteries. Press and release the VCR button at the top of the remote. Press and release the POWER button. Your VCR should now turn on or off.

Q. My VCR won’t record from my camcorder, or from another VCR.
A. When you are dubbing from an external source, the most important step is to set the recording VCR to the Auxiliary mode. This is either done by pressing the Input button on the remote control or setting the VCR to channel “00”.

Q. My VCR menu is in another language and I cannot access the menu to change it.
A. To change the language, access Language in the menu and then select the correct language. Please see “Setting the Language” in your operator manual for further instructions.

Q. When I play back what I have recorded with my timer, all I get is a snowy picture.
A. There is a possibility that your VCR has no channels set into the memory. You can set the channels into memory by accessing the menu and selecting Channel Preset to verify that your channels are set in correctly. Please consult your operator manual for further instructions. If you still receive a snowy picture on playback, contact us at 1-800-BE-SHARP.

Q. I can’t record from my cable box with my VCR.
A. When you have a cable box, you need to verify that the VCR Output Channel is set to channel 3 or 4. The VCR Output Channel selector is located on the back of the VCR. Next, make sure your television is on channel 3 or 4 (the same channel as your VCR Output Channel) and your VCR is also on channel 3 or 4 and you see it in the display on the VCR. You would then set your cable box to the channel you want to record. If you still cannot record, please contact us at 1-800-BE-SHARP for further assistance.

Q. The volume button on my remote control is not working.
A. The Volume button on the remote control is for the TV function. We suggest programming your remote control to your specific television brand. Please see “Using Your Universal Remote Control” in your operator manual.

Q. The counter is being displayed on my television screen, and I can’t seem to get it off.
A. To remove the display from your television screen, press the On Screen button on the remote control.

Q. My VCR does not display the time when the unit is powered “On”.
A. To view the time on your VCR, press the Display button on the remote control. Please see “On Screen Display” in your operator manual for further information.

Q. How can I watch one program and record another?
A. After your recording has started, press the TV/VCR button towards the top of your remote control. Next, physically change the channel on your television and you will then be able to watch another program while your VCR is still recording the other program. If you still cannot watch another program, please call us at 1-800-BE-SHARP.

Q. My VCR counter is displaying a negative number.
A. This happens hen a tape is played in the unit and now rewound. To clear the clear the counter, press the Cancel button on the remote control.

Q. My VCR shows “A/V” in the display when I press channel up or down.
A. “A/V” indicates that your VCR is in the Auxiliary mode. To remove it, press the Input button on the remote control to remove it.

Q. My VCR keeps “tracking” all the time.
A. If the manual tracking does not clear the problem, you might want to check the distance between the VCR and your other electronic components. If the distance between them is less than 10 inches, the difficulty may be due to magnetic interference that the VCR is receiving. To correct this, simply increase the distance to 10 inches or more. If you still experience difficulty with tracking, please call us at 1-800-BE-SHARP.

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