Purchasing an Aurora - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

sexton_mallard · 28th Jul 2018, 4:37 pm

I'm after a 405 line aurora and sent an email to Crowthorne Tubes last Tuesday from the email link in https://www.crowthornetubes.co.uk/ to enquire but not yet received a response. I see a cached message in google with 'LATEST AURORA STOCK. 4 IN STOCK on MAY 1ST 2018.....' so I'm probably being impatient and Gerry will get back to me? Has anyone recently had contact with Gerry?

Thanks in advance. I'm Just determined to get a picture on my KB telly once I have solved the no raster problem!

Richard_FM · 28th Jul 2018, 6:06 pm

I did see one on eBay recently, but it doesn't seem to be on sale now.

peter_scott · 28th Jul 2018, 6:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sexton_mallard

I'm Just determined to get a picture on my KB telly once I have solved the no raster problem!

How determined are you?

This method is much cheaper than a standards converter but you would need to build a modulator.

Peter

sortedradio · 28th Jul 2018, 8:35 pm

Hi Dom,
Gerry has some stock coming to the UK around 3rd August. I had an email from him on 20th July saying there were 3 left, of which I ordered one. Hopefully that means he will have two left in stock!

sexton_mallard · 9th Aug 2018, 5:31 pm

Thanks Martin. Gerry has responded and hopefully I should be able to order one soon.

sexton_mallard · 16th Aug 2018, 11:51 am

My Aurora arrived today

Sideband · 16th Aug 2018, 12:30 pm

That's it then! The number of 405 TV's will now increase slowly (or quickly perhaps depending on availability of the necessary funding....). You won't regret buying one of these little wonder-boxes. Beware the RF output is quite high and some earlier sets might overload. You'll just need a 6db attenuator.

sortedradio · 16th Aug 2018, 1:37 pm

I've had mine a couple of weeks now and all I've managed to do is make up a F plug to coax cable! I have 3 405 line sets to tackle, a Murphy V310, a Pye BV20 and an Ambassador TV15CR. I'm not sure which one I will start with, although I have treated the Pye for woodworm so that's a start I suppose. I'm really looking forward to trying the Aurora but time is my enemy at the moment, and I've got to go on holiday next week..........

backintime · 17th Aug 2018, 11:12 am

Hi Martin, I'm keen to get one! I couldn't find the price though - how much did it cost you?

Paul Stenning · 17th Aug 2018, 11:31 am

https://www.crowthornetubes.co.uk/ and scroll down, £200 + delivery.

sexton_mallard · 18th Aug 2018, 10:59 pm

Now up and running!

Using my Sony 9-9UB switched to 405 with the aurora connected to a HDMI2AV converter and have been using it as a second monitor from the HDMI output of a laptop. I have yet to make a transformer, I merely wound 2 foot of wire around the telescopic aerial and got a reasonable picture.

I even got a fuzzy picture via the telescopic aerial in another room! The HDMI2AV converter has to be run from a external power source when connected to a HDMI freeview tuner, the hash from the wall-wart broke through the sound. I could read text on the TV screen and sound quality is surprisingly good. The set's tube is a bit tired but not bad for a almost 50 year old set which had probably never had the back off. Now to get back to that KB telly which refuses to give me a raster!

winston_1 · 19th Aug 2018, 10:26 pm

Those sets have an external aerial socket on a 3.5mm jack plug. No need to wrap wire round the telescopic rod.

Hunts smoothing bomb · 30th Aug 2018, 6:59 am

Rather than just tell you what you should have done rather than "what you have done" I thought I'd actually comment on the picture quality that the little HDMI2AV box is producing. I think that is a great little box of tricks and for so little money I have just gone and bought one myself!!

Looks good.

Cheers

sexton_mallard · 30th Aug 2018, 4:44 pm

Thanks Lee. I only lashed this together quickly to see the Aurora work. I used the telescopic aerial with the wire only because I have not rigged an isolation transformer yet. 16:9 to 4:3 aspect conversion might be a problem with the HDMI2AVI via the PC, but I just corrected that with the display driver software. The wall wart powering the HDMI2AVI when connected to the freeview tuner that I used was putting a mains hum on sound but when it was powered via the PC HDMI port the sound quality was really good.

radiograham · 31st Aug 2018, 5:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sexton_mallard

Now to get back to that KB telly which refuses to give me a raster!

Hi Is that the KB I sold you the Lopt for, how are you going on with it? was the old one us, also can I ask where did you buy the HDMI 12AV from. Regards Graham.

sexton_mallard · 5th Sep 2018, 8:02 pm

Hi Graham, still battling away...

Update coming up soon on the thread:
(https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=106257). For the HDMI2AVI I can't recall exactly if it was ebay or Amazon but the thread on it is here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=110721

Hunts smoothing bomb · 13th Sep 2018, 7:48 pm

I bought mine from eBay, 7 quid Inc postage!

It works a treat!

Cheers

28th Jul 2018, 4:37 pm	#1
sexton_mallard Hexode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland. Posts: 437	Purchasing an Aurora I'm after a 405 line aurora and sent an email to Crowthorne Tubes last Tuesday from the email link in https://www.crowthornetubes.co.uk/ to enquire but not yet received a response. I see a cached message in google with 'LATEST AURORA STOCK. 4 IN STOCK on MAY 1ST 2018.....' so I'm probably being impatient and Gerry will get back to me? Has anyone recently had contact with Gerry? Thanks in advance. I'm Just determined to get a picture on my KB telly once I have solved the no raster problem! __________________ Dom Less snakes...more ladders!

28th Jul 2018, 6:06 pm	#2
Richard_FM Octode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Purchasing an Aurora I did see one on eBay recently, but it doesn't seem to be on sale now.

28th Jul 2018, 8:35 pm	#4
sortedradio Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 529	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Hi Dom, Gerry has some stock coming to the UK around 3rd August. I had an email from him on 20th July saying there were 3 left, of which I ordered one. Hopefully that means he will have two left in stock! __________________ Martin BVWS member GQRP Club

9th Aug 2018, 5:31 pm	#5
sexton_mallard Hexode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland. Posts: 437	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Thanks Martin. Gerry has responded and hopefully I should be able to order one soon. __________________ Dom Less snakes...more ladders! Last edited by sexton_mallard; 9th Aug 2018 at 5:32 pm. Reason: typo

16th Aug 2018, 11:51 am	#6
sexton_mallard Hexode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland. Posts: 437	Re: Purchasing an Aurora My Aurora arrived today __________________ Dom Less snakes...more ladders!

16th Aug 2018, 12:30 pm	#7
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,106	Re: Purchasing an Aurora That's it then! The number of 405 TV's will now increase slowly (or quickly perhaps depending on availability of the necessary funding....). You won't regret buying one of these little wonder-boxes. Beware the RF output is quite high and some earlier sets might overload. You'll just need a 6db attenuator. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

16th Aug 2018, 1:37 pm	#8
sortedradio Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 529	Re: Purchasing an Aurora I've had mine a couple of weeks now and all I've managed to do is make up a F plug to coax cable! I have 3 405 line sets to tackle, a Murphy V310, a Pye BV20 and an Ambassador TV15CR. I'm not sure which one I will start with, although I have treated the Pye for woodworm so that's a start I suppose. I'm really looking forward to trying the Aurora but time is my enemy at the moment, and I've got to go on holiday next week.......... __________________ Martin BVWS member GQRP Club

17th Aug 2018, 11:12 am	#9
backintime Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: London, UK. Posts: 26	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Hi Martin, I'm keen to get one! I couldn't find the price though - how much did it cost you?

17th Aug 2018, 11:31 am	#10
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 8,652	Re: Purchasing an Aurora https://www.crowthornetubes.co.uk/ and scroll down, £200 + delivery. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

18th Aug 2018, 10:59 pm	#11
sexton_mallard Hexode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland. Posts: 437	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Now up and running! Using my Sony 9-9UB switched to 405 with the aurora connected to a HDMI2AV converter and have been using it as a second monitor from the HDMI output of a laptop. I have yet to make a transformer, I merely wound 2 foot of wire around the telescopic aerial and got a reasonable picture. I even got a fuzzy picture via the telescopic aerial in another room! The HDMI2AV converter has to be run from a external power source when connected to a HDMI freeview tuner, the hash from the wall-wart broke through the sound. I could read text on the TV screen and sound quality is surprisingly good. The set's tube is a bit tired but not bad for a almost 50 year old set which had probably never had the back off. Now to get back to that KB telly which refuses to give me a raster! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Dom Less snakes...more ladders! Last edited by sexton_mallard; 18th Aug 2018 at 11:06 pm.

19th Aug 2018, 10:26 pm	#12
winston_1 Hexode Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London, UK. Posts: 464	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Those sets have an external aerial socket on a 3.5mm jack plug. No need to wrap wire round the telescopic rod.

30th Aug 2018, 6:59 am	#13
Hunts smoothing bomb Octode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK. Posts: 1,402	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Rather than just tell you what you should have done rather than "what you have done" I thought I'd actually comment on the picture quality that the little HDMI2AV box is producing. I think that is a great little box of tricks and for so little money I have just gone and bought one myself!! Looks good. Cheers __________________ Lee

30th Aug 2018, 4:44 pm	#14
sexton_mallard Hexode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland. Posts: 437	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Thanks Lee. I only lashed this together quickly to see the Aurora work. I used the telescopic aerial with the wire only because I have not rigged an isolation transformer yet. 16:9 to 4:3 aspect conversion might be a problem with the HDMI2AVI via the PC, but I just corrected that with the display driver software. The wall wart powering the HDMI2AVI when connected to the freeview tuner that I used was putting a mains hum on sound but when it was powered via the PC HDMI port the sound quality was really good. __________________ Dom Less snakes...more ladders! Last edited by sexton_mallard; 30th Aug 2018 at 4:51 pm.

5th Sep 2018, 8:02 pm	#16
sexton_mallard Hexode Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire, UK & Co. Cork, Ireland. Posts: 437	Re: Purchasing an Aurora Hi Graham, still battling away... Update coming up soon on the thread: (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=106257). For the HDMI2AVI I can't recall exactly if it was ebay or Amazon but the thread on it is here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=110721 __________________ Dom Less snakes...more ladders!

13th Sep 2018, 7:48 pm	#17
Hunts smoothing bomb Octode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK. Posts: 1,402	Re: Purchasing an Aurora I bought mine from eBay, 7 quid Inc postage! It works a treat! Cheers __________________ Lee