Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Philips210 · 26th Apr 2022, 7:27 pm

Hi

Whilst working on my testcard generator project I came across a couple of panels from an Ayr Teletext add on unit. There are some very useful components on these panels, a TEA1002 PAL colour encoder with a 270ns luminance delay line and 4.43MHz chroma band limit filter coil, all very useful for my current project. There's a set of 5000 series teletext chips and a SAA5010 remote control receiver/decoder chip plus a whole TV front end (tuner/IF) etc.

I spotted a largish UHF modulator which appears to be made by Mullard, it's type number is KR01.
Can anyone help with any information on this module which would date from the early 1980s or late 1970s? A Mullard data book from about 1980 covering TV special components/assemblies would most likely have the data.

Also, I don't suppose there's any service information available for the Ayr Teletext add on unit is there?

Thanks.

Regards,
Symon

Philips210 · 26th Apr 2022, 8:20 pm

Hi.

Just to add to my previous post, there's a 12 digit Philips code on the modulator label, 3103 128 51200.

Regards,
Symon

Maarten · 26th Apr 2022, 9:28 pm

KR01 only means it was made in Krefeld, and had had one revision by the time it was manufactured.

Behind the KR01 would usually be a date code, hinting in which video recorder or laserdisc player it could have been used. 3103 means it was a design from Austria.

If I were to take a guess from the rest of the 12NC, it would be designed around 1982, possibly VR2120 or a VLP.

Philips210 · 26th Apr 2022, 10:45 pm

Thanks Maarten for your reply. So KR refers to the location of manufacture. The actual type number label must have come adrift. Looking again at the label reveals 138 after the KR01 which I assume must be the date code of week 38 of 1981. I'll have a closer look at the modulator tomorrow when back in the workshop and hopefully get some pics.

Thanks for the clue regarding VCRs, I hadn't considered that possibility. Perhaps then this type of UHF modulator would have been used in Philips Video cassette rcorders of the early 1980s, possible model VR2021, V2000 series?

I have the original sevice information for the VR2020 and VR2022 somewhere so I'll try to find that as well and check which modulators were used in those models. From the distant past I kind of recognise the appearance of it and I think the VR2020 series etc had something very similar.

Regards,
Symon

Maarten · 29th Apr 2022, 2:11 am

The label with the 12NC code and KR/date code is probably the only label that was ever attached as such modulators weren't separately commercialised by the components division so didn't need any other type designation. Given the 1981 date, VR2021 seems a very likely candidate.

The order number in the service documentation usually didn't correspond to that on the label, Philips Service used internal lookup tables for that and mostly printed 48xx service code numbers in the documentation. You can however check the pinout.

Philips210 · 29th Apr 2022, 11:08 pm

Hi Maarten.

I located the service manuals for the Philips VR2020 and VR2022 machines and a look through these didn't reveal any type number which agrees with what you said. In the manual the pin out appears to be the same as the modulator that I need data for. There are four pins to the modulator which I assume will be supply, ground, video in and audio in. I would have thought ground will be to the screen and not a separate pin for this. Unless the fourth pin is for another purpose. I'll have a closer look at the manual to work out the pin arrangement. I also have both VR2020 and VR2022 machines so I'll try to check on these next week.

I opened the solder side screening can lid and noticed a surface mount IC type TDA0820. Quite unusual for a 1981 product. Philips must have been one of the earliest to employ this technology.

Regards,
Symon.

Maarten · 30th Apr 2022, 12:42 am

Rudolf Drabek at Philips Austria did early work on this type of modulator (I think he wrote this on radiomuseum.org, but maybe it's on the tuner history site at maximus-randd.nl). The first version used the pre production type of this IC, and was first used in the N1500 VCR around 1972. They were quite ahead of their time!

I'm curious as to what you'll find in your own machines.

Pieter H · 1st May 2022, 5:35 pm

Hy Symon,

your module is a CCIR-I version of the 1980 REMO201 VCR modulator module.
You will find all details that I could find here https://www.maximus-randd.com/tv-tun...tml#vcrmodules.
At the bottom of the section you will find the 12nc exactly as you mentioned in post #2 : 3103 128 51200.
It was indeed launched with the VR2020 family.
You will also find the full story of the very early consumer RF IC TDA0820.

Hope it will help.
Cheers, Pieter

Philips210 · 1st May 2022, 10:19 pm

Hi Pieter and Maarten.

Thanks for the information. That's a very interesting website. Lots there to read through.
I will try to check my VR2020 and VR2022 machines in the coming week to see what modulator is employed.

Regards,
Symon

Maarten · 1st May 2022, 10:49 pm

If you do, I'd be interested in the label on the modulator as well as the serial numbers of the recorders themselves, as I'm analysing total numbers and production periods and locations. Linking that to parts is also interesting and makes it easier in the future to identify such parts.

Philips210 · 8th May 2022, 4:02 pm

Hi Maarten.

I think I gave you the serial numbers of my V2000 machines some time back but will list then again.
Actually, I don't have a Philips VR2020 but the Pye equivalent model 20VR20.

I finally got around to checking which modulators are fitted in both machines. I've also checked the associated aerial amplifier and tuner modules. The RF modulators certainly look the same or similar to the one in the Ayr Teletext Adapter.

Details as follows:

Philips VR2022/05 NR WD 15 227 8 2025722

RF Modulator has a green label attached with 3103 128 51205
MOD KR01 219

Aerial Amplifier has a white label with 3103 128 51260
BBV1 KR00 217 WE

UHF Tuner has a white label with 3122 127 25131
U342 KR21 2219a

Each of these modules together with other daughter boards has a label with 8206 which I think is a date code for overall assembly.

Pye 20VR20/05 NR WD56A 2200275

RF Modulator has a white label with 3103 128 51204
4955 WD7

Aerial Amplifier has a red label with 3103 128 51261
80387 WD1

UHF tuner has a white label with 3122 128 54253
U322 KY 23 108

Hope the information is helpful.

Regards.
Symon

26th Apr 2022, 7:27 pm	#1
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Hi Whilst working on my testcard generator project I came across a couple of panels from an Ayr Teletext add on unit. There are some very useful components on these panels, a TEA1002 PAL colour encoder with a 270ns luminance delay line and 4.43MHz chroma band limit filter coil, all very useful for my current project. There's a set of 5000 series teletext chips and a SAA5010 remote control receiver/decoder chip plus a whole TV front end (tuner/IF) etc. I spotted a largish UHF modulator which appears to be made by Mullard, it's type number is KR01. Can anyone help with any information on this module which would date from the early 1980s or late 1970s? A Mullard data book from about 1980 covering TV special components/assemblies would most likely have the data. Also, I don't suppose there's any service information available for the Ayr Teletext add on unit is there? Thanks. Regards, Symon

26th Apr 2022, 9:28 pm	#3
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator KR01 only means it was made in Krefeld, and had had one revision by the time it was manufactured. Behind the KR01 would usually be a date code, hinting in which video recorder or laserdisc player it could have been used. 3103 means it was a design from Austria. If I were to take a guess from the rest of the 12NC, it would be designed around 1982, possibly VR2120 or a VLP. Last edited by Maarten; 26th Apr 2022 at 9:55 pm.

26th Apr 2022, 10:45 pm	#4
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Thanks Maarten for your reply. So KR refers to the location of manufacture. The actual type number label must have come adrift. Looking again at the label reveals 138 after the KR01 which I assume must be the date code of week 38 of 1981. I'll have a closer look at the modulator tomorrow when back in the workshop and hopefully get some pics. Thanks for the clue regarding VCRs, I hadn't considered that possibility. Perhaps then this type of UHF modulator would have been used in Philips Video cassette rcorders of the early 1980s, possible model VR2021, V2000 series? I have the original sevice information for the VR2020 and VR2022 somewhere so I'll try to find that as well and check which modulators were used in those models. From the distant past I kind of recognise the appearance of it and I think the VR2020 series etc had something very similar. Regards, Symon Last edited by Philips210; 26th Apr 2022 at 10:56 pm. Reason: additional info

29th Apr 2022, 2:11 am	#5
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator The label with the 12NC code and KR/date code is probably the only label that was ever attached as such modulators weren't separately commercialised by the components division so didn't need any other type designation. Given the 1981 date, VR2021 seems a very likely candidate. The order number in the service documentation usually didn't correspond to that on the label, Philips Service used internal lookup tables for that and mostly printed 48xx service code numbers in the documentation. You can however check the pinout.

29th Apr 2022, 11:08 pm	#6
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Hi Maarten. I located the service manuals for the Philips VR2020 and VR2022 machines and a look through these didn't reveal any type number which agrees with what you said. In the manual the pin out appears to be the same as the modulator that I need data for. There are four pins to the modulator which I assume will be supply, ground, video in and audio in. I would have thought ground will be to the screen and not a separate pin for this. Unless the fourth pin is for another purpose. I'll have a closer look at the manual to work out the pin arrangement. I also have both VR2020 and VR2022 machines so I'll try to check on these next week. I opened the solder side screening can lid and noticed a surface mount IC type TDA0820. Quite unusual for a 1981 product. Philips must have been one of the earliest to employ this technology. Regards, Symon.

26th Apr 2022, 8:20 pm	#2
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Hi. Just to add to my previous post, there's a 12 digit Philips code on the modulator label, 3103 128 51200. Regards, Symon

30th Apr 2022, 12:42 am	#7
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Rudolf Drabek at Philips Austria did early work on this type of modulator (I think he wrote this on radiomuseum.org, but maybe it's on the tuner history site at maximus-randd.nl). The first version used the pre production type of this IC, and was first used in the N1500 VCR around 1972. They were quite ahead of their time! I'm curious as to what you'll find in your own machines.

1st May 2022, 5:35 pm	#8
Pieter H Tetrode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Waalre, Netherlands Posts: 67	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Hy Symon, your module is a CCIR-I version of the 1980 REMO201 VCR modulator module. You will find all details that I could find here https://www.maximus-randd.com/tv-tun...tml#vcrmodules. At the bottom of the section you will find the 12nc exactly as you mentioned in post #2 : 3103 128 51200. It was indeed launched with the VR2020 family. You will also find the full story of the very early consumer RF IC TDA0820. Hope it will help. Cheers, Pieter

1st May 2022, 10:19 pm	#9
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Hi Pieter and Maarten. Thanks for the information. That's a very interesting website. Lots there to read through. I will try to check my VR2020 and VR2022 machines in the coming week to see what modulator is employed. Regards, Symon

1st May 2022, 10:49 pm	#10
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator If you do, I'd be interested in the label on the modulator as well as the serial numbers of the recorders themselves, as I'm analysing total numbers and production periods and locations. Linking that to parts is also interesting and makes it easier in the future to identify such parts.

8th May 2022, 4:02 pm	#11
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: Mullard/Philips KR01 UHF Modulator Hi Maarten. I think I gave you the serial numbers of my V2000 machines some time back but will list then again. Actually, I don't have a Philips VR2020 but the Pye equivalent model 20VR20. I finally got around to checking which modulators are fitted in both machines. I've also checked the associated aerial amplifier and tuner modules. The RF modulators certainly look the same or similar to the one in the Ayr Teletext Adapter. Details as follows: Philips VR2022/05 NR WD 15 227 8 2025722 RF Modulator has a green label attached with 3103 128 51205 MOD KR01 219 Aerial Amplifier has a white label with 3103 128 51260 BBV1 KR00 217 WE UHF Tuner has a white label with 3122 127 25131 U342 KR21 2219a Each of these modules together with other daughter boards has a label with 8206 which I think is a date code for overall assembly. Pye 20VR20/05 NR WD56A 2200275 RF Modulator has a white label with 3103 128 51204 4955 WD7 Aerial Amplifier has a red label with 3103 128 51261 80387 WD1 UHF tuner has a white label with 3122 128 54253 U322 KY 23 108 Hope the information is helpful. Regards. Symon