Whats the easiest way of getting 405 lines?

[Lloyd 1985]

Hi
definately get an aurora!!! I put off buying one for about 2 years, now I have one, its fantastic! it mostly gets used on my TV22, its dead simple to use, and you don't need a video input all the time, since it has a test card programmed into it well worth their money, and don't take up much space!

regards,
Lloyd.

[Sean Williams]

A simple RF signal generator modulated with a 400hz tone will produce some nice bars on the screen..... It is what I used in the beginnng.

Sean

[llama]

Here are my thoughts on getting started on 405, in a step-by-step and learning fashion (for what they’re worth!).

I’d start by building a simple feedback oscillator using a reasonably high ft transistor. Biased to conduct, a coil in the base circuit of maybe 5 turns and a couple of turns in the collector should make it sing nicely. Not knowing the channels required, some experimentation is needed – say twiddling a tuning trimmer and/or squeezing or separating the coil turns. The TV should show a huge peak signal when the frequency is about right.

Then I’d put a carbon-granule microphone in series with the supply. Whistle into it. (It provides amplitude modulation). Bars should appear on the screen.

At this stage I’d probably feed a 625 line signal into it – a single diode should provide some modulation. Obviously the line stage won’t lock but at least some moving images should result.

A second option is to build a signal+sync combiner. Then a simple logic counter can generate a line sync and some bars. You could even build a 1, 2, 4, 8 D-to-A convertor to make some nice grey-scale bars.

As an alternative to the oscillator, you could try to get hold of an RF modulator suitable for band 1 or band 3. In fact, I discovered a bag at the weekend labelled “Rediffusion modulator” which you’re welcome to and which I’m sure someone round here could tell you how to press into service.

Some ideas which I hope you find useful and good on yer for wanting to start in a learning way.

Graham

[bobsterkent]

I've only got 1 405line TV but the aurora makes sense, it gives you full flexibility to watch what ever you like

[howard]

Hello Julie,

I managed to borrow an Aurora from a forum member to get my Bush TV22 working but that's got to go back now, so I've ordered my own from Crowthorne Tubes. The next batch of six is arriving from the USA next week, only one is left so if you decide to get one then order it now. The estimated price is £166, which is expensive, but the Aurora does work very well.

http://www.crowthornetubes.com/radios.htm

Howard

[Heatercathodeshort]

£165 Howard, I reckon that is quite cheap considering the import duty and VAT. I'm sure I paid a bit more than that when I purchased mine from the States a while ago now. Worth twice the price..Regards, John.

[ppppenguin]

List price is $230, about £144 at current £/$ rates. You would be very lucky to get away with £20 for VAT, duty and handling fees. £30 seems nearer most folks experience.

Consumer electronics is only cheap when made in very large quantities. Aurora is made in batches of less than 100. The price is a bargain for what it does - a complete* zero hassle "plug and play" solution for running your 405 tellies.

*You need to provide a cheap "wall wart" power supply

[Boom]

My Aurora came to just under £190 all in when the pound was on the floor. It was still money well spent.

[FERNSEH]

Hi John And Jeffery,
The Aurora is an absolute bargain, there nothing on the market to touch it. Even better when one considers that the five channel modulator is part of the deal. It's worth bearing in mind that my first attempt at building standards converters was way back in the mid 1980s and the costs to build them was in the order of four figures.

DFWB.

[murphyv310]

Hi.
The Aurora is the best converter you can buy, I have two NTSC 405 line converters and an old multistandard one, I also had two mono 405 line converters that have been passed on. These converters are "cheap" when you consider the technology used and the fact they are made on tiny productiion runs. The quality of manufacture is excellent and the results are every bit as good as was the last of the broadcast converters.

Any serious collector should have one or two or three!!
No collusion with Darryl here but ever so satisfied.
Cheers
Trevor

[chipp1968]

I have two !

[BassoonBloke]

Hi Julie ,

Check your PM's for info about my modulator that i offered if you're still interested .

Alan.

[ENGLISH VICTOR]

There is only one problem with buying an Aurora, you will be so impressed you will probably be inclined start hunting for more 405 T.Vs.
Victor.

[audiomagpie]

Yes, I'd fully agree with that statement!!

Greg

[murphyv310]

Hello again Julie.
Of course I would recommend buying an Aurora but with cash flow etc not everyone could afford one even myself now I have to watch the pennies.
I can copy tapes for you onto VHS or Beta to get you started so PM me if interested.

[beery]

Hi Julie,
a few years ago I designed a very simple 405 line pattern generator.
It is very small and cheap to make and produces proper 405 line interlaced patterns (at a very slightly lower than standard line and frame rate) using a PIC chip.
I've never published this design by the way, but you are welcome to it.
I should have enough bits to build one.
However you will still need a modulator.
I have made these in the past using David Looser's design as a basis but eliminating the crystal and using standard TOKO coils.

Cheers
Andy

BTW if anyone else on the forum is interested in building my pattern generator I can publish it on another thread.

[BGmidsUK]

I would be interested in that if you are happy to post the info!


Brian

[HamishBoxer]

I paid mega money years ago and bought the "Dinosaur" ,made by D.Grant BBC.Superb mind.

David

[murphyv310]

Hi.
Although the "dinosaur" was good in its time it really isn't in the league of the Aurora. The Aurora is far more cost effective and does not have the artefacts of the older designs.
I have been looking at the thread and wonder if Julie is still watching what's going on as I don't see any further replies. I hope she hasn't given up as it's good to see the lasses on here too.
I have had no contact per post 35!

[Brian R Pateman]

Julie last logged in to the forum on 19th March so it would appear that she is an infrequent visitor.