Quote:
Originally Posted by frenchy
If it was the set's fault, I wonder why it wouldn't do it on every satellite channel, or on antenna or other sources either. Even seems to vary by the content of a given channel (show vs. commercials etc.)
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"Audio buzz" is a common problem in older B/W sets and it certainly can vary depending on the source and also the content.
We have a satellite TV system (Hughesnet) and the audio volume does seem to vary from one channel to another. Noticeable even on our modern plasma TV.
Tweaking the AGC and the alignment is a good place to start.
On a couple of my older B/W sets, you can get bad audio distortion if you suddenly switch from a low-contrast scene to a high-contrast scene, such as big white letters on a black background. This is especially noticeable in my RCA 630TS, which has manual gain control rather than AGC. That set was aligned by a retired TV oldtimer, so alignment is not the issue. You can reduce the buzz by turning down the manual gain, but it's something you just have to live with, on such an old set.
Some DVD or VHS players can also overdrive the signal, creating buzz. I have never tried connecting a vintage TV to our satellite box, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear some buzz (or other distortion) from time to time.
A few years ago, I found an RF attenuator at Radio Shack, which you can use to reduce the output from a source. It's a little metal box with a More-Less knob on the front. Not sure what's inside -- perhaps just a potentiometer. Anyway, it works to reduce a too-strong signal.
I have been following the Zenith/Insignia DTV converter discussion (well, as much as I had the patience to read). Not sure if has any magic bullet solution to your problem, since it's specific to DTV converter boxes.
If your set sounds perfect with an antenna signal, but imperfect using the satellite receiver, perhaps your TV is just being overdriven. Those old sets were designed to receive antenna signals over the air. Some modern devices just seem to swamp them.
Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html