MA
A lot of TVs had a preset that was especially for video recorders and the like. We had a Philips where it was channel 0, I remember seeing older push button tuner Philips with a tape symbol on one button. It was similar to how some amps had one input that was meant to be used for record players
There was a difference, presumably something to do with the sensitivity/selectivity of the tuning on that preset. If we used our video on 0 it worked every time, if we tuned it into another, for example 8 it wouldn't lock onto it that well and when we tuned away and back to 8 it would be slightly off tune. I'm sure someone will know the precise reason
TVs in some parts of the world had tuners that could use the cable band too, you'd soon fill up 100 channels with that, UHF and VHF
I had an old portable colour TV with 8 presets which lasted for years, I was quite proud that it's last home (a flat I rented) I managed to fill all 8... I gave it a good send off
I think that the VCR tuning may have had more tolerance of unstable timing compared to broadcast signals, which were kept within very tight specs. VCRs with the tape mechanism couldn't match that.
I'm trying to remember when other UHF sources appeared - domestic video recorders must have been mid 1970s?
Then there were the bat and ball games - late 1970s (ours was black and white - next door managed to get a colour one!)
That’s my understanding. The use of 8 or 0 was because that preset loosened up the flywheel sync circuitry, which meant a more stable picture when playing back a tape. Of course you could still use the preset for a proper broadcast channel, but I seem to recall you’d get a bit of jitter doing so
Old school game consoles (the ones that only output as UHF) would need a preset. VHS recorders (before they adopted SCART as a standard needed a present, some TVs had Channel 0 "specifically" for this (God only knows why)
A lot of TVs had a preset that was especially for video recorders and the like. We had a Philips where it was channel 0, I remember seeing older push button tuner Philips with a tape symbol on one button. It was similar to how some amps had one input that was meant to be used for record players
There was a difference, presumably something to do with the sensitivity/selectivity of the tuning on that preset. If we used our video on 0 it worked every time, if we tuned it into another, for example 8 it wouldn't lock onto it that well and when we tuned away and back to 8 it would be slightly off tune. I'm sure someone will know the precise reason
Quote:
I'm sure the "99 channels" thing was just a gimmick, presumably because unless the TV supported multi-standards (PAL, SECAM and whatever the other European standard was) and you were stupid enough to lug it around on holiday with you (why anybody would carry a bulky TV like that on a plane or a boat is beyond me), it would be underused.
TVs in some parts of the world had tuners that could use the cable band too, you'd soon fill up 100 channels with that, UHF and VHF
I had an old portable colour TV with 8 presets which lasted for years, I was quite proud that it's last home (a flat I rented) I managed to fill all 8... I gave it a good send off
I think that the VCR tuning may have had more tolerance of unstable timing compared to broadcast signals, which were kept within very tight specs. VCRs with the tape mechanism couldn't match that.
I'm trying to remember when other UHF sources appeared - domestic video recorders must have been mid 1970s?
Then there were the bat and ball games - late 1970s (ours was black and white - next door managed to get a colour one!)
That’s my understanding. The use of 8 or 0 was because that preset loosened up the flywheel sync circuitry, which meant a more stable picture when playing back a tape. Of course you could still use the preset for a proper broadcast channel, but I seem to recall you’d get a bit of jitter doing so