Older portable TV/VCR works, but has no picture, only audio.

[karudden]

We just bought a small Symphonic TV/VCR combo for $4 and didn't expect any miracles, but the VCR totally works! So does the audio; but there is no picture. We thought it might be that the brightness is just turned all the way down, but how can you adjust it if you can't see any images or icons on the screen? Or if it's a physical part, is that something that can be replaced at all? Thank you!

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Video system on the VHS tape may not be compatible with video system on the TV (eg PAL versus SECAM versus NTSC).

 

[BFG-9000]

On a CRT, the hardware adjustment for brightness/gamma is the lower knob on the flyback transformer. Never touch the upper knob because that one adjusts the focus. There are usually only the two knobs on it.

Since you have to disassemble the case to reach this knob, I like to drill a hole in the back of the case in case I ever need to adjust this again (just like fluorescent bulbs, CRT tubes are rated in thousands of hours to half brightness so any CRT left on all of the time will need this tweaked at some time). Avoid touching the spark-plug wire between the transformer and the tube because it can kill you, and it would suck to die over a $4 TV.

If this doesn't help then you have discovered the reason it was for sale.