|
General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
15th Nov 2022, 12:22 am | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Kirk Michael, Isle of Man
Posts: 2,346
|
100 years of BBC
On the 10pm news tonight, they were celebration the BBC 100 years since first broadcast. Some time in the Science museum (I think), but it was first "trailed" with the announcement "2LO calling, 2LO calling" and there were two superimposed whistles, though not in the Science museum part.
Am I right in thinking such whistles are always superhet receiver related, and that there was no such thing 100 years ago? OK, just me being picky, or WRONG,but would like to be certain. Les. |
15th Nov 2022, 12:40 am | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 983
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
A beat between two carriers has always been so, no need for a superhet to show this up.
But, back then the chances were pretty minimal to be sure. The people who produce this stuff wouldn't have a clue in reality.
__________________
"Behind every crowd, there's a silver Moonshine" Last edited by Cruisin Marine; 15th Nov 2022 at 12:51 am. |
15th Nov 2022, 2:09 am | #3 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,800
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Whistles from maladjusted super-regen receivers quite common in days before superhets. Superhets were the cure for these problems.
But as said above, the producers of these programmes aren't likely to have a clue. There are unwritten laws in film and broadcasting: If an old radio is shown, there must be whistles as sound effects. If a horse is seen, there must be a whinny or snort heard, even if you can see it keeps its gob shut... and so on. David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
15th Nov 2022, 10:43 am | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Carmel, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, UK.
Posts: 1,498
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
As Eckersley said - "Don't do it, please don't do it"! I recall having a fist shaken at me from next door when messing around with a one-valve regen. receiver!
|
16th Nov 2022, 10:52 am | #5 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,571
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Quote:
To be fair, though they may sometimes be clueless, a lot of the people making these features they will have minimum time to do it. They grab the first thing in the SFX library and any further research is out of the question. The second rule is that drama is more important than accuracy. In my experience, when similar situations have cropped up and my knowledge has allowed me to lend some authenticity I have often been slapped down. The ‘suits’ are only interested in shifting the job: what can be got away with and that the average customer will accept is the norm. When pointing out the most glaring of issues to one very frustrating fellow I worked with his usual response was a cussed “I don’t care!” I used to make a note on the job sheet of the conversation in case there should be some come back. Our stuff had longer exposure to scrutiny than a TV or radio programme. |
|
16th Nov 2022, 11:40 am | #6 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
These programmes and news features are made for a general audience, most of whom will have no understanding of the issues involved. The 'olden days' cues used for TV footage are even worse - monochrome conversion, fake dirt on the image, desaturated colour, bizarre 'lines' supposedly simulating 405 pictures etc. The assumption seems to be that the audience consists of idiots (which may actually be accurate in many cases).
|
16th Nov 2022, 1:29 pm | #7 |
Pentode
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 134
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
I have seen much more recent archive (around 20 years old or less) video broadcast getting this 'horizontal lines' treatment too, (and this on footage that was archived by broadcasters, not a domestic recording).
Is it to simulate analogue co-channel interference? (and if so, what's the point? and It isn't as if everyone suffered from it, and if they did it might only have been occasional) Co-channel with analogue, where offsets were used, led to a very fine venetian blind pattern similar to the above effect deliberately done on some archive footage when rebroadcast Last edited by colourking; 16th Nov 2022 at 1:37 pm. |
16th Nov 2022, 1:43 pm | #8 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,952
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Quote:
__________________
I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk. |
|
16th Nov 2022, 3:19 pm | #9 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 1,571
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Quote:
* taste is often substituted ** Other nationalities are available and are no doubt similar in this respect |
|
16th Nov 2022, 3:29 pm | #10 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hythe, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 626
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
As I was watching the news about the 100years of the BBC I noticed a shot of aerials above a row of houses, so just had to go on iPlayer and take a screen grab. Imagine the radiated signal from one of these with an oscillating regen!
|
16th Nov 2022, 4:13 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,081
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
I would be more inclined to respect the BBC overall if they reiterated their catastrophic shortcomings regards Cliff Richard, and also the Late Late Breakfast Show. (to mention but two.) All i heard them say on the day of the centenary was their history had 'sometimes been tragic'. To mark this occasion i feel some humble pie is due, even if it's not the first serving.
If they've already done this, then i withdraw the criticism- to some extent. Dave |
16th Nov 2022, 5:39 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,820
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
|
16th Nov 2022, 5:41 pm | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,820
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Amazing pic, thank you. All obsolete (for "local" stations) as soon as the ferrite rod came along, I suppose.
|
16th Nov 2022, 6:44 pm | #14 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,952
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Quote:
Long outdoor wires were so consigned to the crystal-set or TRF types, or those more interested in hearing transatlantic/European stations on their upmarket six- or seven-valve radiograms/consoles. Ferrite rods were a post-WWII invention.
__________________
I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk. Last edited by G6Tanuki; 16th Nov 2022 at 6:50 pm. |
|
16th Nov 2022, 6:55 pm | #15 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Most houses retained their longwire aerials until the 60s though, and most 50s 'main sets' still expected an external aerial. There was no reason for people to take them down unless they fell down in a gale. My parents' modest interwar semi still had a longwire until about 1965 - I remember the knife switch on the windowsill for use in thunderstorms.
|
16th Nov 2022, 7:53 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,081
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Yes, as a kid we had a knife switch on the window frame connected to nothing at all (this was the seventies) It had a token ceramic handle.
|
16th Nov 2022, 7:57 pm | #17 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Culcheth, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 637
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Quote:
My Gran's house had a knife switch on a window frame. It was about 2 inches long, and had been painted over so many times it was hard to recognise it at all. There were no signs of wires, so I had no idea what it could be switching. Now I know. Thanks, Buzby |
|
16th Nov 2022, 8:05 pm | #18 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Knife switches were indeed often left in place when the wiring was removed, sometimes because they were firmly painted in place after several coats of Dulux, and sometimes because removal would require redecoration.
|
16th Nov 2022, 8:32 pm | #19 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,952
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
I never came across knife-switches, though I _do_ remember in the 1960s getting a tingle when as a junior-school kid I '[ecovered' a porcelain Egg-insulator from a disused wire-antenna that clearly was still connected to an AC/DC receiver.
__________________
I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk. |
24th Nov 2022, 3:03 pm | #20 |
Diode
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 8
|
Re: 100 years of BBC
Sorry but I have never heard of these. What was a Knife Switch? LOL
|