Old DXTV!

[Focus Diode]

My apologies for the belated feedback to your very interesting uploads John. The reception report from Ashington is interesting indeed. Many thanks for uploading these pages.

Mendlesham wouldn't be a problem using the same horizontal polarisation as Burnhope. The signals must've been pretty strong from Emley Moor seeing that was vertically polarised. Back in 1963 (until 1968) this transmitter carried Granada TV (The North) at weekdays and ABC Television (Midlands and North) at weekends.

I received Emley Moor ch10 myself in 1984 in Newcastle during trops using an indoor "V" aerial!

Found some photos taken on a Kodak Instamatic 126 camera yesterday I thought I'd upload. Please excuse the quality at times and the screen corner cut off in places!

1). Channel TV Fremont Point 9-2-82 Trops
2). JRT Zagreb Yugoslavia FuBK 16-05-82 SpE
3). TVP Poland 20-05-82 SpE
4). BRT VTV2 PM5544 12-08-81 Trops
5). FR3 taken in Torquay on a modified KB KV025/1 VC52 set 21-07-83.

Unless stated the photos were taken in Chippenham, Wiltshire using a 20" Thorn 1500 chassis receiver (Upconverter, supplied by Hugh Cocks for VHF reception).

Cheers,
Brian

[Focus Diode]

And more. I'm sure I have more somewhere which I'll look for.

1). TVE 1 SpE taken Chippenham, Wilts 11-12-81. An example of "out of season"SpE reception.Thorn 1500 20" set fed via upconverter supplied by Hugh Cocks.
2). MTV-1 Hungary clock 8-83 Torquay on a Thorn 1400 23" receiver (Ferguson 3655)
3). RUV ISLAND caption 20-06-83, a regular in Torquay that summer. Same 1400 set.
4). TVE ARAGON colour bars received in Newcastle July 1984 on same Thorn 1400 set.

Cheers,
Brian

[radioredcat]

Excellent photo's again Brian brings back happy memories i do have some more photo's which i will upload them in a few days as i am decorating at the moment.

Andy

[John Marsh 01]

Photos with an Instamatic - brings back memories!

I too had a Hugh Cocks upconverter. I was happy with the results from just an indoor, wire dipole. No photos survive the various moves & upheavals since, but I remember getting USSR and Scandinavia as well as Germany, Spain etc.

I had literally piles of TVs; the valve ones which were available for peanuts in the early-mid '80s. A dual-standard Ferguson pulled in Belgium on UHF, on a dipole. I remember using a GEC set with the upconverter; not sure of the model... is there a good GEC TV museum site?

Attached: Charles Rafarel's column from December 1963, with a look at the Continental systems and receiving 819 lines on a 405 line set.

A feature article from April 1963, on the DXTV possibilities with the new dual-standard receivers.

[SteveCG]

... talking of DX-TV...

I heard on RTE (Ireland) Radio this morning that Analogue TV is to cease there on (I think it was) the 24th of Oct next year. So all we'll be left with are memories...

[Focus Diode]

Hi John,

Great uploads, cheers for these.

I too had a GEC set, a model 2017 when in Chippenham, which differed from the more common 2018 by employing VHF Radio in addition to tv. I used to get excellent results from Croydon ch9 via trops using an indoor "V" aerial made from old curtain rails! On the main Wenvoe ch5 "X" Crystal Palace ch1 was present at all times. Ch2 North Hessary Tor (quite weak), ch3 Rowridge (good), nothing on ch4 being cut off Northwards and first class ch5 Wenvoe.

The UHF performance was poor however, which was sorted on buying an Electronic Mailorder set side aerial amplifier. This dramatically improved results,( but later found less effective on a good gain Thorn 1500) and worked well during an excellent tropo spell in the latter half of 1979 with excellent Holland & Belgium plus from the uk Anglia (Sudbury) noise free and the usually moderate strength Hannington Southern TV signal overloaded!

Happy memories.

Steve CG- Andy has proven good trops are possible with DTV so it won't all be bad news with the loss of analogue.

Cheers,
Brian

[HamishBoxer]

Used to love reading Charles column and of course Roger Bunney both top men at the time in dx.

David GM8JET

[Focus Diode]

More DX nostalgia for you. Haven't yet found the off screen shots I'm sure are around somewhere.

1). CHIPPENHAM 9th March 1980: Hand rotatable Fuba XC343, a most excellent aerial directed to Southern TV Hannington. In the background are the "main" fixed aerials for Mendip UHF and Wenvoe VHF Radio. Except for CH5 Wenvoe was poorly received. Despite the six elements only adequare reception could be achieved under normal conditions. At the end of 1981 a Telerection "Multimus" 3-element aerial was added to the rotatable pole.

2). CHIPPENHAM 23rd February 1979: Fixed VHF Television aerials: Wenvoe CH5 "X" and horizontal BIII for ATV Membury ch12. The "X" served well for SpE catches.

3). Typical Southern TV reception on a Thorn 1500 set. Chippenham 10th August 1980

4). Interesting DXTV handout I received in January 1980. Note the comment re the different line standards to us at VHF!

5). JRT chE3 on the Ferguson 3655 (BRC 1400 chassis)

Pictures 1-3 were taken on a Kodak Instamatic 126 camera.

[HamishBoxer]

PS Still got my "instamatic"

David

[DrZarkov]

I've made some recordings of sporadic-E receptions in summer 1986 on Super 8 film. I've converted it a couple of month ago and put it on Youtube: http://youtu.be/z3t4N_9bRI0

Common guest were in the early morning hours stations from the Sovietunion, (you can read "Leningrad" on a testcard ibn film, changing at about noon to scandinavian stations, in the later afternoon I had many receptions of the mediteranean countries. Almost every day! Until now I think 1986 was the best year for sporadic E here in my area (West Germany near the Dutch border, very close to Venlo). With good tropospheric conditions I had very often Britsh TV from the locations Wrotham and/or Tacolneston. It is still possible on FM radio (with a good arial practically the whole year, except with very bad weather), Freeview is not getting that far.

[radioredcat]

I have to say excellent photo's again Brian as i have a soft spot for the old band 1/3 aerials that used adorn the roofs.
The southern photo i also remember well as well as the Yugoslavian photo.

Dr Zarkov what can i say that video of yours is a brilliant montage for tv dxing and german dxers are still doing well today but of course less transmitters to receive but better quality reception due to less interference from other transmitters.
The situation over here is different as in 1985 when our 405 line system closed and band 1/3 was turned over to PMR and the interference became so bad i gave it up.
In 2009 i was in contact with a german dxer and i tried band 1 dx and had some good results 2010 wasn't as good but this year band 1 is impossible to dx with being 1 KM of a PMR station doesn't help.

I will upload some more photo's later in the week.

Andy

[Focus Diode]

Agree wholeheartedly with Andy's comments above. Following the introduction of PMR attempting BI DXing became difficult and most annoying. I also quit around that time.

Dr Zarkov's upload of his Super 8 films is excellent. Interesting to note the many signals regular in the UK at that time!

I had some excellent BII VHF radio tropo catches in the late '80s/early '90s when in Newcastle despite using a home constructed aerial (actually inner coax cable "cut" for BII in a downstairs flat!), including London's Jazz FM and Essex Invicta Radio. The latter confirmed my reception on writing to them and sent me a car sticker!


Cheers,
Brian

[terrykc]

You could start a war if you're not careful!

Invicta is Kent!

[Focus Diode]

Oops! You're absolutely right Terry. Sorry about that.

Brian

[Focus Diode]

Recently found some negatives of DXTV shots I thought were long lost I'm pleased to include here. Sorry for the quality, if only digital cameras were around in those days! The TV shots were taken from a 20" Thorn 1500 set fed with an up-converter. Note the old unique TVR Romania test card.

I also found an early rotatable UHF set up, utilising an old caravan log periodic aerial tied to the guttering. This was replaced by the good old Fuba XC343 by 1980. Nevertheless I did get some good catches with the log periodic during trops.

Cheers,
Brian

[Hybrid tellies]

No pictures as did not have a suitable camera. During the early 1970,s living in west Cornwall on 405 with just loft aerials during an intense Sporadic E opening saw BBC1 Scotland via Rosemarkie floating in the background of our local BBC1 on ch2. During such openings I heard sound from French Spanish Portugese and Italien TV stations, no picture of course as our TV was 405 only. During tropo openings we got strong band 3 signals from St Hilary on ch10, Chillerton Down on ch11 and a 3 way clash between Croydon,Stockland Hill and Fremont Point on ch9. On UHF again with our loft aerial Stockland Hill, Crystal Palace, Ridge Hill and Rowridge were regular visitors.
In the early 1980,s whilst living near Bath, I changed the plates on my RBM A640 dual standard set and just using a 5' wire aerial I received clear 625 line pictures on band1 from across Europe including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Sweden Russia and most of the Eastern bloc countries during summertime Sporadic E openings.

[ntscuser]

Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies

During such openings I heard sound from French Spanish Portugese and Italien TV stations, no picture of course as our TV was 405 only.

I've received pictures from France on a dual-standard set working in 405-line mode (another RBM A640). It was during a dense fog in the afternoon in the mid-1970s. There were two pictures side-by-side and the programme was an interview with a French politician.

Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies

In the early 1980,s whilst living near Bath, I changed the plates on my RBM A640 dual standard set and just using a 5' wire aerial I received clear 625 line pictures on band1 from across Europe including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Sweden Russia and most of the Eastern bloc countries during summertime Sporadic E openings.

During the summer heatwave of the early 1970's our RBM A640 routinely picked up Sporadic E signals from Spain and on one occasion Greece on a vertically polarized Band I/III aerial facing the wrong way! Mind you we were located on a hillside with a spectacular view to the south and east.

[Dave757]

Hi,

In the late 1960's I lived in a small 'back' house well hemmed in with 3 adjacent neighbours, and facing Birmingham City Football ground across the 'Tilton Road End.'

The television in use was a Ferguson 3624 which had a full set of 'biscuits' fitted. This was used with a V aerial on the wall, fed to the set via a Labgear preamp powered with one of those 9 volt batteries that looked like a C cell.
Nothing seemed to be out of range of it. Regular reception included Tyne Tees TV, Wales and West, Anglia, Southern, Yorkshire, London ITV and Granada. Plus of course the local programmes on Channel 4 and 8.

I always watched the Friday X film on Granada Ch 9, and I wonder if anyone remembers how Granada closed down with a picture of their building with the lights gradually going off, and shutting down as the last light was extinguished. Then of course London ITV came through on the same channel.

Of course it must all have been due to reflection from the stands or the lighting in the football ground, but it was wonderful!
I moved from there to the outer suburbs of Birmingham, and that lovely DX had all vanished. Happy Days!

Kind regards,

Dave.

[SteveCG]

I well remember the early '80s for strong DX (UK as well as Foreign). As others have said, there was little that did not eventually appear - provided you had the patience of an angler !

[Focus Diode]

Wonderful memories there, many thanks for sharing them with us. The mention of the Granada closedown shows how unique each ITV region was in those days. In the mid '70s, despite being part of Trident at the time Yorkshire and Tyne Tees were also very different. There was an occasion due to a strike at YTV they took the programmes from Tyne Tees for a few weeks including the "Today At Six" news programme. I never got to see how Emley Moor transmitting Tyne Tees programmes opened up unfortunately!

Steve- despite much patience I never achieved my ambition to receive Bilsdale in Chippenham. We were screened to the North in that area. The Swedish TV2 at UHF was received on one occasion but sadly not TTT.

Dave- sounds remarkable and not far short of a miracle TTT on ch8 could be received despite your local Lichfield on the same channel.

Cheers,
Brian