New Aurora converter - now for sale in UK - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ppppenguin · 2nd May 2006, 12:22 pm

Due to postal delays and Darryl's kindness I now have 2 of the new Aurora standards converters. As you would expect they are both the 405 line system A version.

http://www.auroravideosys.com/converter/

One of these is my official review sample, the other is for sale. The price is $260 (about £150) payable to Darryl via credit card or paypal plus the £21.36 import duty and handling charge I had to pay. This is actually the lower of the 2 import duties, the other one cost me almost £30.

If you want it, I can bring it to the NVCF or post at cost (either £4.50 or £5.70 for next day special delivery depending on final package weight)

I don't want to publish my review ahead of time but I can assure you that you won't be disappointed. There is just one minor issue that we are trying to resolve. There is some patterning that can occur on higher channels but even if we don't find a full solution it certainly won't affect my overall recommendation.

Danny · 2nd May 2006, 10:56 pm

Hi I know its a bit off topic but i think the paterning is outside interferance
ive tried to get modulators on higher channels and get so much outside noise the picture is unwatchable maybe DAB or mobile phones ?
i look forward to seeing one of these working in the flesh.
But is channel 4 affected?.
Danny

ppppenguin · 3rd May 2006, 6:37 am

I'm pretty sure it's not outside interference, if only because of the number of channels that can be affected. DAB is present on some of the higher channels but I really don't think that's the problem. Channels 1-3 are completely clean, channel 4 is very good and it's easy to keep the picture clean, most others are very good if you take good care with RF connections. Worst is probably ch10.

Mobile and cordless phones (except the old analogue cordless ones which could affect ch2) are at much higher frequencies so they won't be a problem.

There will be a demonstration of several converters at the NVCF.

oldeurope · 3rd May 2006, 7:21 am

Good morning,
connect the output with the spectrum analyzer input.
Switch off the aurora. Now you can see outside noise.
Switch on the converter and off the modulator. Look for noise of the converter. Than you can see which channels are clean. Than switch it to bypass mode, modulator on.
Look for noise around the vision carrier. Hope that helps.
I think the noise on the higher channels comes from the converter logic
and the noise on the lower channels from the modulator IC's.

Kind regards
Darius

ppppenguin · 4th May 2006, 1:40 pm

The "spare" converter is now sold.

Still working on the patterning and hope to finish later today.

ppppenguin · 4th May 2006, 6:13 pm

Actually "sold" isn't quite the right word. Darryl has very generously agreed to donate it to the Vintage Wireless Museum. At present the Museum uses a BBC CO6/509 converter plus a modulator that I built for them many years ago. While it all works, the converter needs a certain amount of TLC.

2nd May 2006, 12:22 pm	#1
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,167	New Aurora converter - now for sale in UK Due to postal delays and Darryl's kindness I now have 2 of the new Aurora standards converters. As you would expect they are both the 405 line system A version. http://www.auroravideosys.com/converter/ One of these is my official review sample, the other is for sale. The price is $260 (about £150) payable to Darryl via credit card or paypal plus the £21.36 import duty and handling charge I had to pay. This is actually the lower of the 2 import duties, the other one cost me almost £30. If you want it, I can bring it to the NVCF or post at cost (either £4.50 or £5.70 for next day special delivery depending on final package weight) I don't want to publish my review ahead of time but I can assure you that you won't be disappointed. There is just one minor issue that we are trying to resolve. There is some patterning that can occur on higher channels but even if we don't find a full solution it certainly won't affect my overall recommendation.

2nd May 2006, 10:56 pm	#2
Danny Heptode Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Walsham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 516	Re: New Aurora converter - now for sale in UK Hi I know its a bit off topic but i think the paterning is outside interferance ive tried to get modulators on higher channels and get so much outside noise the picture is unwatchable maybe DAB or mobile phones ? i look forward to seeing one of these working in the flesh. But is channel 4 affected?. Danny

3rd May 2006, 6:37 am	#3
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,167	Re: New Aurora converter - now for sale in UK I'm pretty sure it's not outside interference, if only because of the number of channels that can be affected. DAB is present on some of the higher channels but I really don't think that's the problem. Channels 1-3 are completely clean, channel 4 is very good and it's easy to keep the picture clean, most others are very good if you take good care with RF connections. Worst is probably ch10. Mobile and cordless phones (except the old analogue cordless ones which could affect ch2) are at much higher frequencies so they won't be a problem. There will be a demonstration of several converters at the NVCF.

3rd May 2006, 7:21 am	#4
oldeurope Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Solingen, Germany Posts: 727	Re: New Aurora converter - now for sale in UK Good morning, connect the output with the spectrum analyzer input. Switch off the aurora. Now you can see outside noise. Switch on the converter and off the modulator. Look for noise of the converter. Than you can see which channels are clean. Than switch it to bypass mode, modulator on. Look for noise around the vision carrier. Hope that helps. I think the noise on the higher channels comes from the converter logic and the noise on the lower channels from the modulator IC's. Kind regards Darius

4th May 2006, 1:40 pm	#5
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,167	Re: New Aurora converter - now for sale in UK The "spare" converter is now sold. Still working on the patterning and hope to finish later today.

4th May 2006, 6:13 pm	#6
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,167	Re: New Aurora converter - now for sale in UK Actually "sold" isn't quite the right word. Darryl has very generously agreed to donate it to the Vintage Wireless Museum. At present the Museum uses a BBC CO6/509 converter plus a modulator that I built for them many years ago. While it all works, the converter needs a certain amount of TLC.