Test cards and what? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Test Desk · 13th Dec 2019, 8:59 am

Firstly, I feel I must apologise for asking more questions than actually contributing to this board, but I don't have sufficient knowledge or experience of most subjects but I was GPO trained in telecoms and understand most basic principles of electronics and thermionic emission. Having said that, I enjoy this site even if I don't understand a lot of it.
So my question (finally) to the 405/625 TV community is: are you guys able to watch broadcast TV on your old sets via some kind of receiver/converter. I think I've seen reference to playing video so I imagine it's possible to convert Freeview? Please don't be afraid to get technical - I'll cope

peter_scott · 13th Dec 2019, 9:09 am

Yes, the answer is simple. The Aurora standards converter can convert 625 to 405 and generate a signal to supply directly to your television aerial socket. Likewise the Hedghog standards converter.

Peter

Nuvistor · 13th Dec 2019, 9:29 am

If you want to use Freeview, many only have an HDMI output, these converters will convert HDMI to UHF 625.
https://www.radios-tv.co.uk/communit...or/#post-98833

The Aurora and Hedgehog convert 625 to 405 has Peter states, you just need to be sure exactly your requirements.

Dave Moll · 13th Dec 2019, 10:10 am

And before the advent of the Aurora and Hedghog, there were the likes of the Domino, Pineapple and Dinosaur - all now extinct (or at least no longer in production).

In addition to using standards converters for instantaneous conversion from 625-line to 405-line signals, some older VHS recorders were able to record and play back 405-line signals, owing to the fact that they recorded a complete frame of video without any cognisance of the frame's internal structure. Later machines perform processing of the signal, such as substituting "drop-outs" from adjactent lines, which wouldn't work with the different structure of 405-line frames.

Heatercathodeshort · 13th Dec 2019, 3:07 pm

Just to prove the point. This picture was taken a couple of nights ago from a live transmission. The receiver is an unmodified 1953 15" Ekco 405 line receiver model TC196.
The standards converter in this case an AURORA, simply connected to the aerial socket. The Ekco is tuned to channel 1 Band one, the BBC Television Service London station originally at Alexandra Palace [later Crystal Palace] Regards, John.

Nuvistor · 13th Dec 2019, 4:04 pm

Hi John,
How did you feed the signal to the Aurora?

Heatercathodeshort · 14th Dec 2019, 2:46 pm

The AURORA accepts any standard 625 line video input from a Freeview box,
VCR, DVD player, camera etc. It Accepts sound and vision via RCA phono plugs. It also has a 'built in' test card that you can change to your preference. J.

cheerfulcharlie · 17th Dec 2019, 10:14 am

.....and to enhance your experience with old TVs... how about a nostalgic
(but accurate) screensaver clock for your computer.

http://625.uk.com/tv_logos/flash4.htm

Just a note these are 'Flash' files as I know some people have an objection/distrust to Flash.

Richard_FM · 17th Dec 2019, 2:27 pm

I used to look at 625.uk.com quite often but it's hardly been updated in the last few years.

13th Dec 2019, 8:59 am	#1
Test Desk Tetrode Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 61	Test cards and what? Firstly, I feel I must apologise for asking more questions than actually contributing to this board, but I don't have sufficient knowledge or experience of most subjects but I was GPO trained in telecoms and understand most basic principles of electronics and thermionic emission. Having said that, I enjoy this site even if I don't understand a lot of it. So my question (finally) to the 405/625 TV community is: are you guys able to watch broadcast TV on your old sets via some kind of receiver/converter. I think I've seen reference to playing video so I imagine it's possible to convert Freeview? Please don't be afraid to get technical - I'll cope

13th Dec 2019, 9:09 am	#2
peter_scott Dekatron Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 3,216	Re: Test cards and what? Yes, the answer is simple. The Aurora standards converter can convert 625 to 405 and generate a signal to supply directly to your television aerial socket. Likewise the Hedghog standards converter. Peter __________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterScott/videos

13th Dec 2019, 9:29 am	#3
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,222	Re: Test cards and what? If you want to use Freeview, many only have an HDMI output, these converters will convert HDMI to UHF 625. https://www.radios-tv.co.uk/communit...or/#post-98833 The Aurora and Hedgehog convert 625 to 405 has Peter states, you just need to be sure exactly your requirements. __________________ Frank

13th Dec 2019, 10:10 am	#4
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 5,922	Re: Test cards and what? And before the advent of the Aurora and Hedghog, there were the likes of the Domino, Pineapple and Dinosaur - all now extinct (or at least no longer in production). In addition to using standards converters for instantaneous conversion from 625-line to 405-line signals, some older VHS recorders were able to record and play back 405-line signals, owing to the fact that they recorded a complete frame of video without any cognisance of the frame's internal structure. Later machines perform processing of the signal, such as substituting "drop-outs" from adjactent lines, which wouldn't work with the different structure of 405-line frames. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

13th Dec 2019, 3:07 pm	#5
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,105	Re: Test cards and what? Just to prove the point. This picture was taken a couple of nights ago from a live transmission. The receiver is an unmodified 1953 15" Ekco 405 line receiver model TC196. The standards converter in this case an AURORA, simply connected to the aerial socket. The Ekco is tuned to channel 1 Band one, the BBC Television Service London station originally at Alexandra Palace [later Crystal Palace] Regards, John. Attached Thumbnails

13th Dec 2019, 4:04 pm	#6
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,222	Re: Test cards and what? Hi John, How did you feed the signal to the Aurora? __________________ Frank

14th Dec 2019, 2:46 pm	#7
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,105	Re: Test cards and what? The AURORA accepts any standard 625 line video input from a Freeview box, VCR, DVD player, camera etc. It Accepts sound and vision via RCA phono plugs. It also has a 'built in' test card that you can change to your preference. J.

17th Dec 2019, 10:14 am	#8
cheerfulcharlie Heptode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 708	Re: Test cards and what? .....and to enhance your experience with old TVs... how about a nostalgic (but accurate) screensaver clock for your computer. http://625.uk.com/tv_logos/flash4.htm Just a note these are 'Flash' files as I know some people have an objection/distrust to Flash.

17th Dec 2019, 2:27 pm	#9
Richard_FM Octode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Test cards and what? I used to look at 625.uk.com quite often but it's hardly been updated in the last few years. __________________ Hello IT: Have you Tried Turning It Off & On Again?