|
Television Standards Converters, Modulators etc Standards converters, modulators anything else for providing signals to vintage televisions. |
|
Thread Tools |
11th Apr 2006, 2:58 pm | #1 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East London, UK.
Posts: 231
|
Modulators - who's got what ?
Hello People,
Continuing on from a previous conversation, who's got what modulator and what do you think of it's performance. I have a ETF modulator from America (via Steve McAvoy) and having only completed it a short while ago (considering i've had the board for over a year!!) i must admit that i think i'm getting really good results. I'm using it on a Bush TV12AM and a Pye LV20. Anyone have any views on who can supply the best 405 line tapes (films / documentries e,t,c) I recently got a semi pro vhs player from fleabay for a fiver +P&P and it gives great results (a PANASONIC AG 5260). Alan. |
11th Apr 2006, 3:10 pm | #2 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North London, UK.
Posts: 6,168
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
May I suggest you buy a standards converter and then you can show any material on your TVs. I will be reviewing the new Aurora converter very shortly and if the original was anything to go by it will be good. The new Aurora has an integral modulator switchable to any of the 13 channels and costs $260 (about £150). If you are at all serious about vintage TV it's difficult to argue at that price.
http://www.auroravideosys.com/converter/ |
11th Apr 2006, 3:14 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,130
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
The only modulator that I have in working order is the one integral to my Domino standards convertor.
I have an ETF modulator which I have gradually been building and is just about completed but as yet untested, which I intend to use for other 405-line sources such as my test card generator - currently running at 625 and feeding the Domino. If I ever succeed in acquiring a pattern generator with built-in modulator, I will investigate the possibility of installing the ability to switch between the internal signal and an external one. |
11th Apr 2006, 3:22 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,770
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Hi Basson Bloke and welcome, good to see another 405 Line TV enthusiast
In answer to your question, I use a Dinosaur modulator, unfortunately no longer available. With respect to 405-line video, mine is generated from a Pineapple based standards converter (built from odds and sods left over from the original project, with some some of my own mods). If you want a small relatively cheap (no price published yet AFAIK) "no fuss" standards converter, Aurora will very soon be producing one - If feel like getting more involved, also see the active threads on the Darius analogue converter and Kat Manton's standard PC standards converter. **Edit - while I was faffing around posting and making a cup of tea, I notice Jeffrey has given a price for the Aurora - Agreed, looks like a "no-brainer" price wise, I'll be sorely tempted to get one another at that kind of dosh, especially with modulator built in
__________________
Chris Last edited by evingar; 11th Apr 2006 at 3:28 pm. |
11th Apr 2006, 4:03 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW
Posts: 3,518
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
I too have the ETF modulator, and have built the "Darius Modulator" as discussed on this forum.
I do find the Darius unit to give better results, and I look forward to the standards converter to follow soon! Cheers Sean
__________________
Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished |
11th Apr 2006, 4:08 pm | #6 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,700
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Hi,
I've not got a working modulator as yet - and only one television set so far - a Sony 9-90UB dual--standard 9" portable - though now I can watch off-air TV and DVDs on them, 405-line sets (maybe 441 and 819-line sets too) may well proliferate. I have the bits to build Steve McVoy's modulator; but haven't built it yet - I'm too busy now on what has rapidly evolved into a multistandard PC-based PVR project. What I would like for myself is one single box with an HD-15 connector to connect to the PC graphics card, and an RF output, with channel and standard selection (which could be automatic.) I may well end up working on such a device; I've always wanted to learn more about digital frequency synthesis and this could be a good excuse Regards, Kat |
11th Apr 2006, 4:32 pm | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 2,533
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
I've still got my 'David Looser' modulator, going strong ever since 1983 and originally built before he published the design in Television magazine.
I also now have the modulator which came as part of the Domino converter, with its input now available for independent access. (yes, Malcolm did give me permission to do this ) Steve |
11th Apr 2006, 5:11 pm | #8 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Halesworth, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 413
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Hi all well I have a Domino, and a half built Etf modulator for Birmingham, I can see a few secondhand standards convertors coming onto the market if the Aurora is being sold for £150, I could be tempted at that sort of money as you get a lot of standards and I have often wanted to buy a few foreign sets but was put off by the fact I would have to get convertors for them, but of course we now have Kats offering as well as Darius, spoilt for choice !!!! regards Den
|
11th Apr 2006, 5:30 pm | #9 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North London, UK.
Posts: 6,168
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
|
|
11th Apr 2006, 6:32 pm | #10 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Halesworth, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 413
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Jeffrey I stand corrected I was prob thinking of the original, still I suppose for the money its still a reasonable deal, much better than having to build one regards Den
|
11th Apr 2006, 6:44 pm | #11 | |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,770
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
__________________
Chris |
|
11th Apr 2006, 6:49 pm | #12 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North London, UK.
Posts: 6,168
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
|
|
12th Apr 2006, 4:33 pm | #13 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Solingen, Germany
Posts: 727
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Building a modulator yourself makes still sense.
For a transconductance modulator you need ony the oscillator and the transconductance modulator transistor. Two transistors. Look here for fundamentals : http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold.../uvb/uvb_e.htm From the aurora output you need only a PNP emitter follower for the biasing. I read that the aurora gives no output in the bypass mode. So you need an UVB for the biasing if you want to playback 405 vhs tapes etc. I'll make loaded boards for the npn vision positiv modulator in summer and will sell them with ready aglined London/Birmingham filters. Kind regards Darius |
12th Apr 2006, 5:03 pm | #14 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North London, UK.
Posts: 6,168
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
If you have a standards converter why would you want to use 405 line tapes anyway? |
|
12th Apr 2006, 6:00 pm | #15 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Solingen, Germany
Posts: 727
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
The same reasons why you make tapes on 625. I have some 405 films I don't have in 625. Of course you can playback vhs with the aurora modulator in bypass mode. That is why it has this mode. Kind regards Darius |
|
12th Apr 2006, 6:02 pm | #16 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,130
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
|
|
12th Apr 2006, 6:05 pm | #17 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Solingen, Germany
Posts: 727
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
Kind regards Darius |
|
12th Apr 2006, 6:40 pm | #18 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 40
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
Hi Darius, Absolutely right If given an unlimited budget to buy at least one of all the commercially produced, and excellent I'm sure, standards convertors / modulators, I'd still 'need' to build one myself (which may not be so excellent but hopefully work reasonably). The other facet, for me personally, is to self-design it, even if some basic concepts are borrowed from elsewhere. So, even with the temptation to buy a low cost Aurora at that price, the recent purchase on ebay of the correct video card and download of Gentoo Unix to set-up one of Kat's 405 line PVR's, and watching the analogue convertor schematics and kit developing nicely, I'm still persisting with bits of veroboard, various fifo's and eproms to build something unique. To do this requires an interest in modern and vintage electronics however. This is where I think some of the distinction lies between folk who want to do it all for the technological challenge, and others who just want an easy signal source to enjoy their vintage electronics. Each to their own Graham. |
|
13th Apr 2006, 4:34 pm | #19 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 3,274
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
Quote:
Peter. |
|
15th Apr 2006, 6:10 pm | #20 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Devon
Posts: 850
|
Re: Modulators - who's got what ?
I use a very old modulator, built way back in the late 1980's and based on David Loosers excellent design. It's been going strong ever since and gives superb results. It has an extremely powerful output and can be received quite a distance away. he only downside is that it causes localised interference on UHF - but I can live with that. It is Channel 1 only.
My standards converter is a hand-made unit constructed for me by David Boynes (thanks again David), it's a superb unit and is in use every day. It is housed in a metal case and gives very good 405 pictures. 405 is on in our house daily. Peter. |