JVC GR-D72U digitial camcorder headaches

I had this JVC camcorder since 2003 but didn't use it much. When I tried to shoot something recently, it is no longer working. Symptoms is as follows.

LCD is working; lens cap is off; all menu items are working fine; playback previously recorded tapes. However, the screen or the viewfinder shows blank when I tried to record. Nothing is recorded on the tape.

After some search, it turns out that this is a well know problem for JVC camcorders: manufacture fault on CCD. JVC UK handles this problem before 10/1/2007 , but I need to try my luck at JVC US.

After calling the JVC customer support number, it turned out that they have set up a special program called "CCD program" which deals with such factory defects. I need to send my camcorder (without any accessories) to the JVC factory service center in California and they will fix the problem in about 2~4 weeks's time. JVC will pay for all the cost, but I need to pay for the one-way UPS/Fedex shipping fee for sending the camcorder to the service center.

I eventually got the camcorder back around 2 weeks. There is a sticker in the package saying that the CCD has been replaced. The unit now works fine.

Test drive

Jump start my first blog post.

Ok, this blog will be a place to note down some everyday life events. Most of them are of no significance to anybody else at all. That's why the title is "nothing by nobody".

After trying for a couple of changes on this blog site. I want to register my first complaints :-)

The publishing process of the blog takes a long time. Even though the prompt says that it will take a few minutes if you have large posts, it is actually taking a few minutes even if my changes are very small (e.g. when I only edited one line of text.). This problem went away after I have used the blog for a while, maybe it is just the first 2 or 3 posts.