I heard that no VCR has a stereo modulator, so if you use the RF output to go to your TV, you will get mono sound regardless of what the tape audio is...
anyone know the truth??

Hmmm... Cable TV comes in on that same RF cable, and if a show is broadcast in stereo, a little light on my TV lights up. When it is lit, their is definitely a stereo sound. You've got to have a stereo TV and in your case a stereo VCR, though.

Dave

I've never seen a VCR that produced stereo sound through the RF output. Too costly. Honestly, if you're TV doesn't have RCA-inputs it's time to upgrade -- or forget about using stereo sound!

OK, guys... anyone have a good idea how to test this? I know I get stereo thru the Terk OTA antenna and always got stereo from CableTV. so it's obviously very easy to have stereo audio thru RF cable.

I'll have to admit, though, that I ignore the RF output of all my equipment, and use the RCA left and right outs to get the sound out.

All my VCRs are stereo, and conveniently accessed enough that I'll gladly run the test. I just need to know how, other that by listening, one can verify stereo is being sent.

Dave

Okay guys everyone is missing the obvious. When the cable is passed "through" the vcr by-passing the tuner of the vcr it can pass stereo if it is a stereo broadcast(cable or off-air). However if you play a tape through RF on the VCR it will be mono.

RF is a carrier signal, so it's nothing really until it's demodulated and decoded.

If you have a stereo VCR then it will demodulate a stereo RF signal into stereo and will be passed through it's RCA stereo outputs.

The RF pass-through to the TV is just that, a pass through.

It is then up to the TV to demodulate the signal. If your TV is not stereo, then it will not output in stereo.

Paul

Here's a quote from Dolby Labratories:

"While the RF output that lets you play a VCR over channel 3 or 4 on your TV can deliver stereo from the VCR's internal tuner, it will provide only a mono signal from tapes, even those that are recorded in stereo."

I suppose the problem is this. To receive a stereo signal via RF cable, the TV includes a DBX/MTS stereo decoder. The signal that comes from cable TV or an antenna already has the encoded signal, this is done by the broadcasting station.

When playing back a tape through the RF output on channel 3 or 4, your VCR would also require a DBX/MTS stereo encoder -- that costs money, and frankly most stereo TVs already include RCA inputs meaning that the majority of people using the RF connection only have a mono television set any ways. So, they don't include it and instead pass only mono audio.

Guess what?

My very first "stereo" VCR is a panasonic circa 1990. I've since added a Go-Video and a JVC to my VCR collection.

Stereo VHS tapes played from my Panasonic via it's RF cable to my 1990 Sharp TV with the sound OUT from the TV to my Optimus A/V receiver via RCA cables is two channel stereo as indicated by the receiver.

The same configuration except using the newer Go-Video produces Mono at the receiver. The same configuration except using the newer JVC produces Mono at the receiver.

Go Figure.

Dave

You probably paid a fortune for that VCR at that time -- I paid over $1000 for a really slick VHS machine in 1992, and it's still going strong (better SP quality than any other machine I've seen). Back then things were built better. These days, saving 15 cents on manufacturing costs is priority-one.

I've read this thread but cannot tell if there is an agreed upon answer...is there?

Yes: All current and the majority of past VCRs do not output stereo sound on the RF connector.

The complete answer is the VCR will not give stereo on the RF output when playing a tape. It will give stereo on the RF output from it's tuner or from a pass-thru RF signal.

If you need stereo composite/audio to RF modulation, there is a device available that will do it.

Smarthome sells a couple of models - see Theater 2001, for example.

This is totally correct. If you go rf out of you're vcr or your sat receiver for that matter it is not stereo.

to david b. i also have three vcr , and the same type oof set up , and only my first stereo vcr ,like yours will send stereo rf ,the other two will not when playing a tape , although they are fine with the rca outs