Although only a few years after the original N1500, and the same format, the 1502 could hardly look more different. Gone is the wood and aluminium styling, replaced by a battleship grey plastic case, and the analogue clock has been upgraded to a digital timer. In fact all the controls - now all on the sloping fascia - have been re-worked, with the single exception of the rotary tracking knob on the left.
The operating keys are now set flush with the fascia, and the colour-killer, audio meter and audio level control have disappeared. A group of three lights show you when you are tuned in to a strong signal, and when you are picking up sound and colour. Obviously some transmissions were still in black-and white at the time, but quite when you'd have a strong signal but no audio I'm not quite sure... |
The carriage is an unusual tilting affair, released by a lever which also controls the power to the machine. This means that you can't eject without switching the machine off; however, this is more logical than it sounds as VCR format machines keep the tape laced as long as the power is on.
The 1502 added a still-frame button; when this was in the 'on' position, the picture being scanned by the heads was sent to the TV even when the tape was stopped. The still picture produced is surprisingly good, with no noise bars or other disruption. |  |
| The timer controls are hidden under a sliding cover below the clock, and allowed a recording to be programmed several days in advance - but only one recording could be set up. The clock and timer is backed-up by a battery so that power-cuts will not cause the machine to lose the time - or more seriously, the programmed recording. |
