I borrowed a Hi-8 camera and used my digital video camera as a pass thru device (analog to digital video) and captured the video via firewire. This is the best capture method I know of for a Hi-8 Tape. The streaking is actually on the tape it self and not caused by the conversion process. The RAW digital capture of the tape ended up around 32 Gigs, which would be pretty much would be a no go on the FTP. You could probably do a capture using Windows Movie maker using a standard video-in on a video card and using a set of RCA to 1/8" mini plugs into your sound cards line in, but the quality will be poor (but not as bad as what we have now of course). I just got done capturing a hi-8 tape to burn to DVD for the owner of the camera (that's was the borrowing fee)using the same method for the and his tape worked fine, so I think our tape must have got zapped
We can see if we can find a suitable way to mail a tape protected, and maybe you could dub the VHS tape. I would like to see Neil's better presentation too!
I've actually seen this type of streaking before due to a magnetic source. If I remember correctly the areas of with light colors are pulled towards the magnetic source streaking across the tape. Had something to do with the magnetics of the light colored information is pulled easier. But something magnetic would have had to been within approx. two inches of the tape, so it's hard to say what exactly happened. Mark's videos are a little better to follow along with the black background.