Weird and Wacky Engineering
VHF, VHF, wherefore art thou VHF?
Clive Maxfield
2/26/2013 1:17 PM EST
As you may recall from my recent And that's when I said "Doh!" blog, I recently came into the possession of an amazingly cool Jetson's-like television. (I am guessing this little beauty is circa the 1960s, but I'm not too sure, so if you have any information on this I'd love to hear it.)
The great thing is that this little scamp still functions as shown above. I would love to have it working here in my office, sitting on the corner of the desk muttering away to itself. The thing is that I need a VHF feed to drive it (the above pic was taken in a local TV repair shop where they managed to generate a suitable signal).
The problem, of course, is that no one transmits analog television signals anymore – everything has gone digital. So what am I to do?
Actually, while I think about it I should note that someone has disconnected the "Rabbit Ears Antenna" at the back and added a coaxial cable connector as shown below, so this will make things just a tad easier.
One option would be to pick up an old VHS video recorder along with a few tapes ("I Love Lucie," perhaps). However, that would get boring after a while. Also, I don’t want to spend my days waiting for VHS tapes to rewind (I've spent enough of my life doing that).
Given a choice, my #1 vote would be to have the ability to have the CNN (cable network news) channel playing all day in the background. That way I would actually have a clue what was going on in the world (if "it" isn’t on National Public Radio on my drive into work or back home again, then I don’t know about "it").
Perhaps not too surprisingly, I don’t have any form of cable here in my office. What I do have is a WiFi connection to the Internet. So, what I would ideally like is something like an Apple TV as discussed in my
Streaming your iPad videos thru a "Henry" blog. That is, I want a small box that can connect via WiFi to the Internet on one side and stream live television out of the other side. Ideally it should output VHF, but if it outputs a digital signal I need some sort of converter.
Any ideas?
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
Last but certainly not least, make sure you check out all of the discussions and other information resources at All Programmable Planet. For example, in addition to blogs by yours truly, microcontroller expert Duane Benson is learning how to use FPGAs to augment (sometimes replace) the MCUs in his robot (and other) projects.
The great thing is that this little scamp still functions as shown above. I would love to have it working here in my office, sitting on the corner of the desk muttering away to itself. The thing is that I need a VHF feed to drive it (the above pic was taken in a local TV repair shop where they managed to generate a suitable signal).
The problem, of course, is that no one transmits analog television signals anymore – everything has gone digital. So what am I to do?
Actually, while I think about it I should note that someone has disconnected the "Rabbit Ears Antenna" at the back and added a coaxial cable connector as shown below, so this will make things just a tad easier.
One option would be to pick up an old VHS video recorder along with a few tapes ("I Love Lucie," perhaps). However, that would get boring after a while. Also, I don’t want to spend my days waiting for VHS tapes to rewind (I've spent enough of my life doing that).
Given a choice, my #1 vote would be to have the ability to have the CNN (cable network news) channel playing all day in the background. That way I would actually have a clue what was going on in the world (if "it" isn’t on National Public Radio on my drive into work or back home again, then I don’t know about "it").
Perhaps not too surprisingly, I don’t have any form of cable here in my office. What I do have is a WiFi connection to the Internet. So, what I would ideally like is something like an Apple TV as discussed in my
Streaming your iPad videos thru a "Henry" blog. That is, I want a small box that can connect via WiFi to the Internet on one side and stream live television out of the other side. Ideally it should output VHF, but if it outputs a digital signal I need some sort of converter.
Any ideas?
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
Last but certainly not least, make sure you check out all of the discussions and other information resources at All Programmable Planet. For example, in addition to blogs by yours truly, microcontroller expert Duane Benson is learning how to use FPGAs to augment (sometimes replace) the MCUs in his robot (and other) projects.
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antedeluvian
2/26/2013 1:58 PM EST
I am not sure if you will be able to identify your model here without actually visiting, but you may find the MZTV Museum of Television (in Toronto) (http://www.mztv.com/) of interest. The new site doesn't seem to have a link to pictures of some of the TVs so try the gallery on this old one (http://www.mztv.com/newframe.asp?content=http://www.mztv.com/moses.html).
I got to see an exhbition several years ago during "Doors Open Toronto" and it was fantastic.
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Max the Magnificent
2/27/2013 2:02 PM EST
If I ever make it to Toronto I will make a point of visiting this museum -- thanks for sharing
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Wnderer
2/26/2013 3:30 PM EST
You forgot to sign up for your free digital TV converter box. http://www.dtv.gov/
Actually I think you should use it as the head of your robot avatar. Then it could roam the halls with the image from your web cam.
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OmegaMan
2/27/2013 11:03 AM EST
Yes, great idea! It would look cooler than Sheldon's telepresence robot.
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Max the Magnificent
2/27/2013 2:05 PM EST
Re the digital TV converter -- you are right, I never signed up for one, but my friend Brian LaGrave stopped by my office earlier this morning on his way to visit a customer and he gave me one unopened in its original box -- I'll report back on ho wit works as soon as I find a moment to try it out (I need to get an antenna first)
Also I LOVE the idea of using it on a Telepresense robot
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bk1
3/1/2013 12:31 PM EST
Max,depending on the strength of the digital signals in your area and the construction of the building you're in, the rabbit ears may work as an antenna for the DTV box. Just use a 300ohm-75ohm balun to connect the ears on the TV to the DTV box, and the one already on the TV to connect to the DTV box output. Hide the DTV box behind the TV, and you have a working TV, pulling in off-air signals with its own rabbit ears!
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betajet
2/26/2013 3:40 PM EST
This should work: Get a Raspberry Pi and run Raspbmc (Raspberry Pi Media Center, www.raspbmc.com). Put RasPi's composite video and stereo audio outputs through an RF Modulator to convert to VHF channel 3 or 4.
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Max the Magnificent
2/27/2013 2:06 PM EST
Thanks for the suggestion -- but first I'll try the digital to analog converter Brian just gave me (see comments above)
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David Ashton
2/26/2013 4:53 PM EST
Max, @Betajets's suggestion of using an RF modulator is good - you can then feed ANY video output from anything (you can even get PC cards with video outputs) to your TV.
If you can pick up a defunct VHS recorder (another visit to Mock?), they usually have an RF video/sound modulator in them and you can adapt them to PC or DTV Set-top-box outputs - but it will probably involve a bit of getting your hands dirty. And since Australian video standards are different from yours, you won't be able to send it to me to fix :-) though most TVs these days are multi-standard.
You may be able to buy something which has video/audio inputs one end a a VHF feedout the other end, I'm not sure where though....
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Max the Magnificent
2/27/2013 2:06 PM EST
David -- check out my comment above about the converter Brian just gave me
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David Ashton
2/27/2013 5:40 PM EST
I didn't realise that anything-to-VHF converters were still so readily available. I'd probably get more fun out of taking one out of a dead VCR, but then I'm a masochist... :-)
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betajet
2/26/2013 5:38 PM EST
I found a bunch of RF modulators at amazon.com. Just search for "RF modulator" in "Electronics". I think it's video game consoles that keep them manufactured -- when you replace the family CRT with a nice flat-screen, give the kids the old CRT to use with a video game console.
If you use RasPi, make sure you get one with audio inputs since its composite video doesn't have sound.
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betajet
2/26/2013 5:41 PM EST
Edit: If you use RasPi, make sure you get an RF modulator with audio input jacks since RasPi's composite video output doesn't have sound.
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Phil16v
2/27/2013 3:20 AM EST
Of course the RasPi composite video doesn't include sound. Composite video never does. It was broadcast on another frequency, usually 5.5 or 6 MHz above the video carrier, so any modulator with sound will have two inputs.
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DarkMatter
2/27/2013 12:25 PM EST
By the way, the "added a coaxial cable connector" is called a balun.
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Max the Magnificent
2/27/2013 2:07 PM EST
Cool Beans -- thanks for the info
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David Ashton
2/27/2013 4:20 PM EST
@darkmatter - what you mean is "I hope they used a balun..." ??
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Rcurl
2/27/2013 1:23 PM EST
If you want an "off-the shelf" solution, you might want to look a set-top streaming box like Roku, WDTV Live, or Boxee. My favorite is the WDTV Live because it will stream just about any video format you can throw at it. In addition to the HDMI output it has composite video and audio that you can plug into an inexpensive modulator which will put it on channel 3 or 4 for your TV.
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Max the Magnificent
2/27/2013 2:08 PM EST
Thanks Rick -- let's see how that digital to analog converter Brian gave me (see above) works first...
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Bellhop
2/27/2013 4:20 PM EST
You might want to have some fun with a "flying spot scanner". I thought that they were just the nuts when I was a teen! It's a natural for analog video. Yea, I'm a little off topic, but I'm easily distracted.
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Max the Magnificent
2/27/2013 4:33 PM EST
What are you .... "Oooh, Shiny!"
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mike_m
2/27/2013 6:33 PM EST
That TV may still be useable depending on where you live.
If you live in an area where standard digital Television does not cover due to terrain or distance then translator stations, which are typically run by private individuals or community groups, are allowed to provide television service by the use of translator stations which are not yet required to use digital modulation.
For instance mountainous regions of the Western US still have some VHF translators broadcasting over the air using NTSC video.
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Max the Magnificent
2/28/2013 12:45 PM EST
Ah, but I'm based in Huntsville, Alabama, which is a high-technology nexus in a flat area -- as far as I know we are squeaky-clean digital these days...
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mike_m
2/27/2013 6:48 PM EST
Another thing, that's a early 1970's vintage Panasonic TV which was actually nicknamed the FLYING SAUCER.
It was not fun to work on repairs with that TV set either due to the way it comes apart.
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Max the Magnificent
2/28/2013 12:44 PM EST
Thanks for the info -- it's good to know what it is...
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Steve5678
2/28/2013 2:38 PM EST
FWIW, I use a DTV to VHF converter box at my house in the mountains with my 15 year old Panasonic 32" tube set. Works fine for the 3 or 4 channels I can get, though, since I am in a fringe area, the reception gets "blocky" at times. This is a lot more annoying than the analog snow I used to have before the conversion to digital.
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Max the Magnificent
3/1/2013 10:12 AM EST
I agree -- I hate when the digital signal freezes
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Greg1975
2/28/2013 2:45 PM EST
"I don’t want to spend my days waiting for VHS tapes to rewind (I've spent enough of my life doing that"
I'll take rewinding VHS after my movies over the modern-day unskipable logos/warnings/ads jammed in the beginning of DVDs & BluRays. The optical disc authors have become either obnoxious or lazy (unsure which).
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David Ashton
2/28/2013 3:58 PM EST
And any VHS player produced since Noah was in the ark does auto-rewind at the end of the tape anyway (and it's a good opportunity to make a cup of tea / fetch another beer :-)
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Max the Magnificent
3/1/2013 10:14 AM EST
I don;t think I ever had a VHS player that did auto-rewind -- you must have lived in the post end of town
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Max the Magnificent
3/1/2013 10:12 AM EST
I agree -- all I want to do is watch the DVD, not see reams of un-blockable adverts
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ost
3/1/2013 3:59 AM EST
Remember the Commodore VIC20? It had external RF modulator, but most RF modulators do UHF band only.
I remember having this old B/W (1959 model) TV with VHF input only. With the help from some grown-ups, I managed to get my hands on this modulator for VHF range, so I could get my Commodore VIC20 and 64 to run on it, but Im afraid they're all buried now (except for the TV wich is stacked up on some attic).
That was desperate times for a young geek.
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Max the Magnificent
3/1/2013 10:14 AM EST
Actually I think my TV has a UHF band also
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vandamme
3/1/2013 2:37 PM EST
There still are some low power stations in analog. Nothing you'd want to watch, probably. We use a converter on our old boob tube and it works fine. Puts out a channel 3 signal. They sell them online, but are a staple of garage sales.
Or, you could put a 7 inch tablet in place of the CRT guts. That would be cool.
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clive99
3/2/2013 10:17 AM EST
Clive:
I have three analog TV's at three different locations out in the country. I have the digital converter boxes connected to the analog TV's and everything works fine. Because of the distance from the TV stations, I use outside antenna's but if you are close to the TV stations, a set of external rabbit ears, available at most Radio Shacks, will work fine.
As far as connecting other sources to old TV's others have mentioned the RF modulators. They to are still available.
Clive
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Max the Magnificent
3/4/2013 1:17 PM EST
Hi Clive -- I think you are the first Clive I've met here on EE Times (for those who don't know, Max is my nickname -- my given name is Clive)
Thanks for the input here -- Max (sorry, Clive)
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WKetel
3/2/2013 9:00 PM EST
You can have a system that will display anything that you can see on your computer screen. Many portable computers already have the composite video output connector, often it looks similar to the external mouse or keyboard connector, except for having seven pins. Or purchase a scan converter, VGA in and composite video out. Then the "TV modulator" gets the composite video and the audio from the computer earphone connector. Set the modulator to channel 3 or 4 and you are all set. If the rabbit ears on your TV set are connected, connect a similar pair to the modulator and you are good for a few feet of broadcast range. If not, use a piece of cable to connect it to that Balun on the back of your set. Even Radio Shack has sold those modulators, so that is one more potential source.
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Max the Magnificent
3/4/2013 1:18 PM EST
Good input -- thanks for sharing
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AustinTim
3/30/2013 10:43 PM EDT
Max,
Did the digital converter work? If you want one of those anything inputs to VHF I've got one in a closet I can send you... Doesn't look like i'll ever need it.
-tim
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