Ferguson 1500 series Television

[kan_turk]

I always found the practice in GB of not fitting VHF tuners in sets as absolutely daft - talk about shooting yourselves in the foot and ensuring that your sets were useless in every other country on the planet - converters were absolutely not the answer as to produce one with adequate performance would have made the exercise uneconomic - I shouldn’t complain as I made quite a few bob converting sets from GB that had been acquired by unsuspecting punters

Originally Posted by winston_1

Indeed. I had a big argument with Philips technical as I needed a set for Stevenage. So I was not the only one. Their take on it was that there was no point in fitting something what was not needed. My argument was that it was needed in Stevenage and elsewhere. They told me to get an upconverter. I said the quality was not good enough. Interestingly some years later, late 90s, Philips started fitting multiband tuners to UK sets. Perhaps the penny dropped at last! I solved the Stevenage problem with a Grundig, that was before they were part of Philips.

[Richard_FM]

I bought a 21" Philips set in 2001 which had a multiband tuner, & was probably designed for sale all over Europe. I'm not sure if it could tune SECAM, but I think it could manage PAL B/G.

When 405 lines ended was their any consideration to use VHF for future TV broadcasts?

Conversely some countries didn't use UHF at first, I've seen pictures of Australian portable sets with a badge where a UHF tuner knob would have been, like many UK spec ones missing a VHF tunner. New Zealand & Brazil were other countries that were late to use UHF.

[Newgirl2013]

Hi Simon
Thanks very much
My camera didn't take a very good picture though
Best wishes
Sharon

[Newgirl2013]

Better pic

[Electricdreams]

Originally Posted by Newgirl2013

Better pic

Looks great!

[Uncle Bulgaria]

Excellent! A satisfactory ending. Well done thermionic.

[Newgirl2013]

Got a slight problem with the 1500
I've connected a DVD player via a modulator
However the set seems to have too much gain
On playing a DVD I have a buzz on sound depending on what picture or text is showing and on showing Test Card C I have backed the Contrast control right back
There seems to be too much gain, how do I reduce the gain or does it need an attenuator on the aerial socket?

[Welsh Anorak]

An attenuator would do the trick - get a variable one. Otherwise didn't the 1500 have a local-distant preset or was that just the 1400?

[dazzlevision]

Originally Posted by Welsh Anorak

Otherwise didn't the 1500 have a local-distant preset?

Yes, it does have a tuner gain / local-distant preset on the main board.

[Hybrid tellies]

I am sure the 1500 did have a local distance control which will be worth while adjusting. If memory serves me correctly you adjust until the picture starts going grainy hen back off slightly until picture is clear.
Otherwise as others have stated try attenuating the incoming RF signal.

[Hybrid tellies]

Originally Posted by Richard_FM

I bought a 21" Philips set in 2001 which had a multiband tuner, & was probably designed for sale all over Europe. I'm not sure if it could tune SECAM, but I think it could manage PAL B/G.

When 405 lines ended was their any consideration to use VHF for future TV broadcasts?

Conversely some countries didn't use UHF at first, I've seen pictures of Australian portable sets with a badge where a UHF tuner knob would have been, like many UK spec ones missing a VHF tunner. New Zealand & Brazil were other countries that were late to use UHF.

I don't think there was any intention to use either of the VHF bands in the UK for TV broadcasting that's why all new British single standard 625 sets were just fitted with a UHF tuner. VHF band 3 being handed over for PMR use.

[Newgirl2013]

Thanks everyone for your help

[Richard_FM]

Originally Posted by Hybrid tellies

I don't think there was any intention to use either of the VHF bands in the UK for TV broadcasting that's why all new British single standard 625 sets were just fitted with a UHF tuner. VHF band 3 being handed over for PMR use.

OK I thought so.

[Newgirl2013]

Yesterday I received my variable Attenuator
On adjusting it and the 'Local / Distant' control on the Ferguson all was ok
This morning I watched a film 'Cornwall the land od legend' and there was no buzz, or overloading
All is fine now