1978 Magnavox 25" Star System, Lost my Video - Page 2 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

radiotvnut · #16 08-17-2007, 01:51 PM

I'm sure a new fuse will fix the problem. There should be 6.3 VAC across pins 1 and 14 of the CRT. Use caution as there is 132 VDC potential between pin 1 and ground. I believe the reason that they placed a high DC potential on the filament was to minimize tube arcing. I also agree that this was one of the best Magnavox color sets made. Would your tuner by chance be the type that has those three colored levers and a yellow knob for programming the channels. One would almost have to have a degree in rocket science to program that thing. It would probably be worth getting that Sams for that set; but, I wouldn't be too quick to pay the $20 something Sams wants. I'll look through my extra Sams and if I have an extra copy; you can have it. You might check epay as well as some older TV shops. Most shops would probably be glad to sell you a Sams that old because most of them would laugh if someone brought a set that old in to be repaired.

#17 08-17-2007, 04:08 PM

Well the fuse brought back the video. I'll remember that one. Now that I have a picture, but it looks like I might have to go back inside to make a few adjustments. The verticle was rolling a bit and I used the external knob to stop the rolling, but it's stable with the black line in the middle of the picture. I can't get it stable with the external knob like it should be. What concerns me more however is a very pronounced strobe effect going on with the picture. It's like the picture is going on and off many times a second (that is, much less than it should to look seemless). Could I have changed the horizontal? I was real careful not to touch things inside.

Radiotvnut, if you find and extra copy I'd be happy to buy it from you. You've been a great help already. The lack of the glowing filament was key to seeing the real problem.

Thanks for everyone's help. I'm a whole lot closer to TV bliss than I was yesterday. The next time I take the back off I'll look for those levers, but I don't recall seeing them. Thanks again.

radiotvnut · #18 08-17-2007, 05:48 PM

The levers will be on the front behind a little door over the keypad. Your set may not have them. If it does not, be glad!! I think those hard to program tuners were on the circa. '74-'76 models. A good vertical module would probably solve the vertical sync issues and maybe the flickering. The problem with your module is probably bad electrolytic capacitors, dirty controls, or bad solder connections. I have an '82 Magnavox console that uses the modular T815 chassis that I think uses the same or similar tuner. Mine does play; but, the CRT is not too good. I rejuvenated it but I know it won't last long. I'll probably end up finding a tube for it and keeping it because no one around here wants it, not even for free.

#19 08-18-2007, 12:23 AM

Well guys, the project is all wrapped up. I found out that I was trying to set the vertical hold way to slow. I'm surprised the TV stoped rolling even with the bar in the middle of the picture. When I turned the vertical way up where it should be, the vertical locked in like it should and the flickering went away. The only adjustment in the back I made was to increase the vertical width a little bit so that from top to bottom, nothing but picture. A little tweak of the front panel controls and wow, what a beautiful picture. Great color, nice and sharp. If it weren't for you guys, some service tech could have taken me for a ride, a real long ride. After 30 years, this beautiful Magnavox is 100%. It's the center piece of my living room.

Radiotvnut, I don't have any levers, just the star system keypad on the console, and an identical keypad on the remote which works fine. And I am very glad!

I want to offer my heart felt thanks to everyone that was kind enough to post suggestions. If I had half a clue what I was doing, I'd be dangerous.
You guys are the best. Thanks again.

Carmine · #20 08-18-2007, 12:47 AM

I think the best way to thank old TV nuts is with a picture! I know I want to see it!

Bill R · #21 08-18-2007, 08:57 AM

The star system was my favorite. While mine did still work, it was used so much that the crt is really soft. It was turned on from about 5 am until sometime after midnight 7 days a week, with very few exceptions. Glad you got it working.

Bill R

jstout66 · #22 08-18-2007, 09:24 AM

Glad to hear you got it going!
I have a circa 1978 Magnavox (non Star) that has that odd tuning system with the levers. I WAS able to get it tuned in on channel 4, and run it off the cable box. However I can't figure out how to tune the other channels. If you get one tuned in, it throws the others "off". How the hell does one tune these? I thought my parents 1979 Sony was a bitch to tune, but this is WORSE.

grimer · #23 08-18-2007, 11:00 AM

fff

#24 08-18-2007, 07:23 PM

Yes indeed, I am happy and pleased to share some pictures of the Magnavox Star System that you great guys helped me save. It is working like a charm and all for the price of a fuse (a 5 pack of fuses actually). For 30 years old, this thing looks better than I do! Thanks again.

AlwaysLyceum · #25 08-18-2007, 07:44 PM

I love the look of the set!! I don't know much about these, so what does it mean that it's a star system? And, 5 stars for having a doilie on top of the set--it's a must!!!

radiotvnut · #26 08-18-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstout66

Glad to hear you got it going!
I have a circa 1978 Magnavox (non Star) that has that odd tuning system with the levers. I WAS able to get it tuned in on channel 4, and run it off the cable box. However I can't figure out how to tune the other channels. If you get one tuned in, it throws the others "off". How the hell does one tune these? I thought my parents 1979 Sony was a bitch to tune, but this is WORSE.

That's the same problem I ran into. I recently saw one of these sets at a thrift store and the owner had me playing with it trying to set the channels. After about a half hour; I gave up. I also remember having a T991 19" when I was a kid. I never got it powered up; but, it had the same goofy tuner and a soldered in rectangular battery inside the set. I know a retired Magnavox repairman; and, he hated that tuning system!

Bill R · #27 08-18-2007, 10:18 PM

That looks very much like my Star set. The star system set had a direct entry tuner with on screen channel display and a on screen clock. When you changed channel the channel number would fill the screen then shrink to the center of the picture and then disappear. As far as picture control the set used seperate presets for picture prefrences. To change the presets you pull the small silver knobs off the front control panel and then you can use a long thin screwdriver to change the presets. When the star system came out it was indeed state of the art. The original star sets, I don't recall the exact date around 1972 or 1973ish, did not have any tunning controls on the set. You had to have the remote to operate the set. After the first year they added the keypad on the set. 1978 was the last year for the star system. In 1979 they offered their frist inline large screen crt, and completely changed the model lineup. They also changed to ir remote control, and introduced "total automatic color". I think that is what they called it. My 1984 set also works, but as with the star set it had a lot of hours and the crt is weak. It had remote control, but I do not remember any special designation of the set.

Bill R

#28 08-18-2007, 11:36 PM

Bill, that's just how this set works. The channel numbers appear on the screen and then shrink in size till they are gone. The clock will appear in the lower left cornner when the channels are displayed, but will just disappear, not shrink.

I was told by a service tech that this technology was known as the "Random Access Tunning System" at Magnavox. It truly is random since you key in the channel you want without going through all the ones inbetween. When it came time to market it however, Magnavox decided not to call it the "RATS" system, but turned it around to make it the "STAR" system. Good move. With this system, there is no building a favorite channel list as we do today (adding or deleting channels). As a result, there is no "Up" or "Down" channel button. You must key in each 2 digit channel yourself. The Star System was without a doubt the first of its kind TV.

It was my first color TV I ever bought. I had gotten a good job and wanted to replace the 13" BW with the best there was ($875 at the time). It has moved from the southeast to the west coast, to new england and back south with me. It outlasted two wives and many cars. I won't let it go until I do!

Bill R · #29 08-19-2007, 01:35 PM

List price on that set here was $1250, so $875 was a good deal at the time. I paid $850 for mine, but I bought it through the service center/warehouse for the local Magnavox Home Entertainment Centers. So it never made it to the store. Mine was to replace the Philco roundie that is in another thread in the early color forum. While mine was under warrenty I had 2 problems, one was with the tuner. They sent a tech out and he just changed all the boards in the tuner. There is like 4 or 5 boards in the tuner cage. Later the set lost blue in the picture. There wasn't a tech available to make the call at the time so Rudell, the tech who knew I repaired sets, said you can do the same thing we would do and gave me a stack of modules and said just keep the one that solves the problem, and bring the rest back. I replaced the chroma processor module, and never had any other problems.

Bill R

radiotvnut · #30 08-19-2007, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill R

That looks very much like my Star set. The star system set had a direct entry tuner with on screen channel display and a on screen clock. When you changed channel the channel number would fill the screen then shrink to the center of the picture and then disappear. As far as picture control the set used seperate presets for picture prefrences. To change the presets you pull the small silver knobs off the front control panel and then you can use a long thin screwdriver to change the presets. When the star system came out it was indeed state of the art. The original star sets, I don't recall the exact date around 1972 or 1973ish, did not have any tunning controls on the set. You had to have the remote to operate the set. After the first year they added the keypad on the set. 1978 was the last year for the star system. In 1979 they offered their frist inline large screen crt, and completely changed the model lineup. They also changed to ir remote control, and introduced "total automatic color". I think that is what they called it. My 1984 set also works, but as with the star set it had a lot of hours and the crt is weak. It had remote control, but I do not remember any special designation of the set.

Bill R

A friend just brought me his 25" Magnavox console from the early '80's (date sticker missing) that uses the 25C1 chassis. That's the set that has the two large PC boards in the bottom of the cabinet that comprise the main chassis. The CRT is an inline type similar to what Zenith used in the System 3's. His TV has "STAR" on both the set and remote. His set has the Hi-Fi audio system feature. He claimed he paid around $1200 back then for the TV.