Philips V2020/1/2/3 VCR

20 pin Philips A/V special connector at the Philips VCR.

The Philips VCR models V2020, V2021, V2022, and V2023 are part of the V-2000 cassette format, introduced by Philips in 1977. These decks share a proprietary 20-pin socket on the rear of the unit that carries all external audio and video signals, together with control lines for Dynamic Track Following (DTF), servo timing, and camera remote operation. The connector assembly is designated “Audio/Video In/Out 22 AV 5530/00” in the Philips parts list. Because the video signals on the connector are at head-level FM and chroma amplitude, external video feeds must be amplified before being applied to Pin 17, and the video output on Pin 18 requires buffering before it can drive a 75 Ω load.

Notes

• External video input (Pin 17) must be amplified to the correct signal level before being applied to the connector; direct connection of a line-level composite source is insufficient.
• Video output (Pin 18) requires an external buffer amplifier before it can drive a standard 75 Ω video line.
• Pin 6 (XON) goes high when channel “00” is selected on the deck, providing a logic signal suitable for switching external equipment.
• Pin 12 (NOT REC) and Pin 19 (NOT PB) are active-low status lines indicating the current transport mode; both are high in Stop mode.
• The service manual for the VR2020 (including the German-language service manual VR2020 SM PHILIPS DE) is archived on Internet Archive; schematic diagrams use circuit-board reference designators rather than a numbered pin list, so the pin assignments above derive from community documentation of the V-2000 system. No freely available primary Philips pin table has been extracted from the service manual.

Signals

• Pin 1 — External Audio Input — analogue audio signal fed into the deck from an external source.
• Pin 2 — Audio Output — internal feed to the UHF RF modulator; at modulator input level.
• Pin 3 — +12 V DC Output — regulated 12 V supply available to external accessories.
• Pin 4 — Bias Adjustment Test Point — test point used during servicing for bias-level adjustment.
• Pin 5 — Camera Remote Out — control output to a connected camera for remote operation.
• Pin 6 — External ON (XON) — goes high when channel “00” is selected on the tuner.
• Pin 7 — Remote In — receives control data from a connected camera.
• Pin 8 — Voltage Actuator Added — carries the voltage actuator signal for DTF head positioning.
• Pin 9 — Head to Frame Added Pulse — timing pulse relating head position to frame boundaries for DTF.
• Pin 10 — Ground for Head Frame Added — signal return for Pin 9.
• Pin 11 — Muting — low state indicates no signal applied; used to mute downstream circuitry.
• Pin 12 — NOT REC — active-low; goes low when the deck enters Record mode.
• Pin 13 — Mute All — goes low when external video input is selected, muting internal signal paths.
• Pin 14 — Mute Sound — goes low when external audio input is selected.
• Pin 15 — Playback Envelope Track Sensing (Envelope Curve) — analogue signal representing the RF envelope used for tracking control.
• Pin 16 — Ground for Pin 15 — signal return for the envelope sensing line.
• Pin 17 — External Video Input — composite video input; requires preamplification to the correct level before connection.
• Pin 18 — External Video Output — composite video output; requires a buffer before driving a 75 Ω load.
• Pin 19 — NOT PB — active-low; goes low when the deck enters Playback mode.
• Pin 20 — Ground for Pin 1 — signal return for the external audio input.

References

• Manual: VR2020 Philips (Philips V2020 Video Cassette Recorder) — official Philips VR2020 owner/service manual; confirms 20-pin rear connector in schematic diagrams (Internet Archive).

Category:Audio Video Connectors