VHS questions from a newbie

[radiodayz]

Hi, all,

I have a bunch of VHS tapes sitting around gathering dust, and I'm getting the urge to watch some of them again. I also have a couple of VCRs.

1. Is there any way to to test whether a VCR is in working order short of inserting a tape and seeing what happens? If one of my VCRs is working, I don't want to risk jamming it.

2. Do you need an RF modulator to connect a VCR to a 90s-or-early 2000s vintage TV, or are those just for DVD players?

Thanks in advance.