One of my client's was cleaning some old junk out of the basement. Looking at the pile waiting for the junk man I noticed this little B&W portable. Looking inside I saw some tubes so I grabbed it.

When I got it home I did the stupid thing and just plugged it in. Amazingly it works perfect! It's a 1974 model RCA AS 120W. The plastic cabinet cleaned up nicely, and the screen is nice and bright.

I also found that there is still a low power VHF station in my area! Video of the TV working here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m20PLeTUnw

Thanks,

-Jason

Nice score! I, too, like the older 12" B&W portables. And, '74 was the last year that RCA made a tube set.

Looks like vertical is a bit shrunken.

That's a nice one IMO

Looks like vertical is a bit shrunken.

I noticed that too, but I think it's just the broadcast? Snow fills the whole screen. I should hook it up to another source and see what I get.

-J

I can't understand why anyone would throw that away. That is a nice set and un such good working condition. i have a fondness for 12" black and white sets too.

How do these low power TV stations earn any revenue to keep broadcasting? I suspect most people do not know they are even on the air because everyone now is using a digital converter, cable, etc. Who is watching these stations?

We had an LP analog religious station that went dark, a few months after the DTV transition. The reason was there was not enough OTA viewership to keep it going, as most of their viewers were watching either via cable or satellite.

I suspect most people do not know they are even on the air because everyone now is using a digital converter, cable, etc. Who is watching these stations?

That station is on channel 6, which ends up as 88.7 on the FM dial. It's a spanish music station, I think the TV signal is just thrown in as a bonus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDCN-LP

-J

We have the Exact same thing here in So Cal. A Mexican religious channel 6 with full FM MPX carrier in it.

Cool set, I have one like it somewhere.

3KW doesnt seem very low power. With the right antenna in the right location that could cover a lot of people.