Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Steve_McVoy · 31st Dec 2006, 1:37 am

Steve - I'd like some more details of the arrangement you use for your mechanical light source, and in particular of the perspex/frosted 'mixing rod'. It may well be a better solution than the fiber optic one.

Panrock · 31st Dec 2006, 11:39 am

Steve,

I'll go start a new thread dealing with this separate topic.... subject to the moderators' approval of course.

Steve

Paul Stenning · 31st Dec 2006, 1:04 pm

Fine with me (in a new thread).

tubesrule · 3rd Jan 2007, 3:51 pm

I just ran out of low cost convertors and am starting a new build in the next few days. I have decided to create firmware for the 30/32 line output discussed in this thread. Since this is a special build of the convertor (mostly parts left off) I don't want to build more of them than there is interest for. If interested people could PM me, I can get an idea for how many I should make. I estimate they will be available sometime in late January.

Darryl

DoctorWho · 7th Jan 2007, 7:29 pm

That's great news Darryl, I've just sent you a PM.

Peter.

ljones0 · 25th Feb 2007, 8:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Moll

... sound's like a live video version of Gary Millard's AVI2WAV (or its younger colour sibling). I wonder how feasible that would be.

Does anyone know of a program like that for linux?

ljones

tubesrule · 17th Apr 2007, 4:51 pm

I finally got around to finishing this project and would like to get an idea of how many I need to make since I will be ordering parts shortly. This single converter supports PAL and NTSC inputs and provides a selectable 30/12.5p Baird and 32/12.5p NBTV output. It also supports selectable output inversion to match the polarity of your lamp driver, and selectable output gamma correction. The cost is $210 including shipping and insurance to North America and Western Europe.

Darryl

DoctorWho · 17th Apr 2007, 5:42 pm

Please put me down for one Darryl. Thanks for making these available.

Peter.

ianm · 17th Apr 2007, 5:47 pm

Me too, please!

tubesrule · 24th Apr 2007, 1:23 am

Just a note that these converters are built and ready to go. I uploaded a first draft user manual to the web site.

Darryl

oldeurope · 27th Apr 2007, 2:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubesrule

Just a note that these converters are built and ready to go. I uploaded a first draft user manual to the web site.

Darryl

Hi Darryl, please make a link to the new web site.
My old link does not work any more, thanks.

Kind regards,
Darius

ppppenguin · 27th Apr 2007, 2:47 pm

Try this: http://converter.home.comcast.net/

DoctorWho · 27th Apr 2007, 3:18 pm

That's great news Darryl, thanks for making these available. I've sent you a PM.

All the best,

Peter.

oldeurope · 27th Apr 2007, 3:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppppenguin

Try this: http://converter.home.comcast.net/

Thanks Jeffrey, I updated it in my favorites list.

Kind regards,
Darius

tubesrule · 27th Apr 2007, 4:52 pm

Hi Darius,
That is the correct new address Jeff pointed to. Actually the old one got pulled just yesterday.

Darryl

ianm · 9th May 2007, 2:56 pm

Delighted to report that my 30/32 line standards converter arrived this morning. I'm very grateful to Darryl for making this converter available.

I haven't tried it out yet though, as I'm not sure what is required in terms of converting the composite video output into a signal that is suitable for a mechanical TV such as the one described in the thread below. I don't have any significant electronic design skills, it's unlikely I'll be able to come up with a solution on my own.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13264

I do have one of these, but will later construct something larger for easier viewing. For this reason, I have recently subscribed to the Narrow Bandwidth Television Association.

Thoughts of others? The technical specification can be found here:

http://converter.home.comcast.net/Single_User_Manual_1.0.pdf

tubesrule · 9th May 2007, 9:23 pm

Hi Ian,
I don't have one of the new Televisors here to try, but it looks like you should be able to connect the output of the converter directly to the input of the televisor.
I met Denis Asseman at Steve McVoy's connvention this past weekend, and he had one of these kit's with him, but I didn't bring a converter as I didn't know he would be there or I would have given it a go :-(

Darryl

ianm · 10th May 2007, 9:08 am

Hi Darryl,

Thank you for your response. I've just tried it out with a direct connection as suggested and it works perfectly.

I'm really pleased and I'd like to thank you once again for your efforts in producing this excellent converter.

tubesrule · 11th May 2007, 12:33 am

Hi Ian,
Thanks for verifying this. It looked like it should work this way, but you never know until you try it.

Darryl

DoctorWho · 15th May 2007, 9:39 pm

I have to say how very impressed I am with the converter's performance.

I had tried out 32-line video from a CD player and also from the soundcard of my PC, I had not been able to get a decent stable picture using either source and had concluded that the only decent picture I was going to get was of the in-built Testcard.

How wrong I was!! I connected up the converter to the Sky box, and fed the audio signal in to the near-by Ekco AC86 radio, turned on the radio for sound and the Televisor for vision. It just so happend that "The Weakest Link" was on and I was absolutely amazed at the picture quality on the little Televisor. Considering that the picture is 32 lines you can pick out a lof of information, and, even more surprisingly, the picture remains stable during scene changes, which was something I didn't expect. You cna make out walking, sets and faces, in fact, when you get a close up of someone you can easily recognise them.

I'm guessing that the signal from the CD player and the PC soundcard were both too compressed? The picture from the converter though really is stunning. This has really given me a totally different outlook on the original BBC 30-line transmissions, I can now see just how amazed people must have been when they say these pictures in their own homes. True, it would now be considered "Low Definition", but at 32 lines you can see much more than you would imagine.

Thank you Darryl for the hard work you put in so that we can watch live television on 30 and 32 lines.

31st Dec 2006, 1:37 am	#21
Steve_McVoy Pentode Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA Posts: 150	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Steve - I'd like some more details of the arrangement you use for your mechanical light source, and in particular of the perspex/frosted 'mixing rod'. It may well be a better solution than the fiber optic one.

31st Dec 2006, 11:39 am	#22
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,561	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Steve, I'll go start a new thread dealing with this separate topic.... subject to the moderators' approval of course. Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

31st Dec 2006, 1:04 pm	#23
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,158	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Fine with me (in a new thread). __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

3rd Jan 2007, 3:51 pm	#24
tubesrule Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 325	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. I just ran out of low cost convertors and am starting a new build in the next few days. I have decided to create firmware for the 30/32 line output discussed in this thread. Since this is a special build of the convertor (mostly parts left off) I don't want to build more of them than there is interest for. If interested people could PM me, I can get an idea for how many I should make. I estimate they will be available sometime in late January. Darryl

7th Jan 2007, 7:29 pm	#25
DoctorWho Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Devon Posts: 850	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. That's great news Darryl, I've just sent you a PM. Peter.

17th Apr 2007, 4:51 pm	#27
tubesrule Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 325	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. I finally got around to finishing this project and would like to get an idea of how many I need to make since I will be ordering parts shortly. This single converter supports PAL and NTSC inputs and provides a selectable 30/12.5p Baird and 32/12.5p NBTV output. It also supports selectable output inversion to match the polarity of your lamp driver, and selectable output gamma correction. The cost is $210 including shipping and insurance to North America and Western Europe. Darryl

17th Apr 2007, 5:42 pm	#28
DoctorWho Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Devon Posts: 850	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Please put me down for one Darryl. Thanks for making these available. Peter.

17th Apr 2007, 5:47 pm	#29
ianm Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 348	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Me too, please! __________________ Regards Ian McLaughlin, BVWS member

24th Apr 2007, 1:23 am	#30
tubesrule Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 325	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Just a note that these converters are built and ready to go. I uploaded a first draft user manual to the web site. Darryl

27th Apr 2007, 2:47 pm	#32
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Try this: http://converter.home.comcast.net/

27th Apr 2007, 3:18 pm	#33
DoctorWho Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Devon Posts: 850	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. That's great news Darryl, thanks for making these available. I've sent you a PM. All the best, Peter.

27th Apr 2007, 4:52 pm	#35
tubesrule Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 325	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Hi Darius, That is the correct new address Jeff pointed to. Actually the old one got pulled just yesterday. Darryl

9th May 2007, 2:56 pm	#36
ianm Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 348	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Delighted to report that my 30/32 line standards converter arrived this morning. I'm very grateful to Darryl for making this converter available. I haven't tried it out yet though, as I'm not sure what is required in terms of converting the composite video output into a signal that is suitable for a mechanical TV such as the one described in the thread below. I don't have any significant electronic design skills, it's unlikely I'll be able to come up with a solution on my own. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13264 I do have one of these, but will later construct something larger for easier viewing. For this reason, I have recently subscribed to the Narrow Bandwidth Television Association. Thoughts of others? The technical specification can be found here: http://converter.home.comcast.net/Single_User_Manual_1.0.pdf __________________ Regards Ian McLaughlin, BVWS member

9th May 2007, 9:23 pm	#37
tubesrule Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 325	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Hi Ian, I don't have one of the new Televisors here to try, but it looks like you should be able to connect the output of the converter directly to the input of the televisor. I met Denis Asseman at Steve McVoy's connvention this past weekend, and he had one of these kit's with him, but I didn't bring a converter as I didn't know he would be there or I would have given it a go :-( Darryl

10th May 2007, 9:08 am	#38
ianm Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 348	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Hi Darryl, Thank you for your response. I've just tried it out with a direct connection as suggested and it works perfectly. I'm really pleased and I'd like to thank you once again for your efforts in producing this excellent converter. __________________ Regards Ian McLaughlin, BVWS member

11th May 2007, 12:33 am	#39
tubesrule Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 325	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. Hi Ian, Thanks for verifying this. It looked like it should work this way, but you never know until you try it. Darryl

15th May 2007, 9:39 pm	#40
DoctorWho Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Devon Posts: 850	Re: Request for a 32 (and if possible a 30) line standards converter. I have to say how very impressed I am with the converter's performance. I had tried out 32-line video from a CD player and also from the soundcard of my PC, I had not been able to get a decent stable picture using either source and had concluded that the only decent picture I was going to get was of the in-built Testcard. How wrong I was!! I connected up the converter to the Sky box, and fed the audio signal in to the near-by Ekco AC86 radio, turned on the radio for sound and the Televisor for vision. It just so happend that "The Weakest Link" was on and I was absolutely amazed at the picture quality on the little Televisor. Considering that the picture is 32 lines you can pick out a lof of information, and, even more surprisingly, the picture remains stable during scene changes, which was something I didn't expect. You cna make out walking, sets and faces, in fact, when you get a close up of someone you can easily recognise them. I'm guessing that the signal from the CD player and the PC soundcard were both too compressed? The picture from the converter though really is stunning. This has really given me a totally different outlook on the original BBC 30-line transmissions, I can now see just how amazed people must have been when they say these pictures in their own homes. True, it would now be considered "Low Definition", but at 32 lines you can see much more than you would imagine. Thank you Darryl for the hard work you put in so that we can watch live television on 30 and 32 lines.