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Philips Video 2000

ByKevin Simon

Feb 8, 2010

Philips and other manufactures did a video system called Video 2000.This was first released in 1982. The V2000 format could record on tapes that where double sided ie could turn a 4hr tape into an 8hr tape by turning the cassette over (just like a audio tape). This format did well to start but the popularity of the VHS format took over and the format died

The 2020 was the very first V2000 VCR to be sold in the UK. By todays standard the VCR still appears to look high-tech despite its large size ( 54cm x 36.5cm x 15.2cm ) and its great weight ( 17.5kg ). One reason for its great mass was the two large AC mains motor which were used for the tape transport.

Like all V2000 VCR’s this model used Dynamic Track following which meant that there was no external tracking control. The tracking was performed electronically and the video heads followed the correct path guided by the action of the piezo-electric crystals they were mounted on.

The VCR did not have picture search or picture still modes but did feature a goto function which enabled the any part of a recorded tape to be easily located by means of key-pad mounted on the front panel. The key-pad was also used for timer/clock setting and was easy to use avoiding fiddly clock up/down buttons as found on other format VCRs.

Along side the tape counter/clock display was the channel display which indicated which of the 99 internal preset channels was tuned at any time. Most V2000 models were aimed at the European model and therefore had VHF/UHF multi-band tuners. Another feature available on the front panel was an auto-rewind function which when enabled would cause any tape to rewind when the end was reached. This was extremely useful if the VCR was left in record mode.

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By Kevin Simon

I run this blog & also self employed cleaning out fish ponds, but due to spinal problems not able to do as much, now started a youtube channel showing my converted Peugeot Partner micro camper also as interest in photography so now vlog about the trips and of course Lego figures out in the wild photos.

4 thoughts on “Philips Video 2000”
  1. We had one of these as our first machine. It was awesome but the only place to rent videos from was the “TV shop” we rented the machine from.

    First “video” I ever saw was Convoy – never forget your first one!!

    All my mates had VHS but to me V2000 was always a far superior system – I recall the picture quality being better as well as the double-sided tapes.

    Thanks for this article – bought back some great memories!

    1. Glad you liked the post & brought back some memories, yeah in there day the video 2000 was a great machines, we even had the wired video recorder and wired remote 🙂

  2. I don’t recall a wired remote version but I do remember the unit being absolutley enormous but very “cutting edge” as it sat next to the TV in the lounge.

    The “goto” and “auto-rewind” facilities were very good as I recall.

    1. If i remember right the remote through a large din connector, but think was on the later models, I forgot about the “goto” function 🙂

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