Use this to keep your analog TV's truly analog:

[drh4683]

I've got a few of these, perhaps they've been discussed before. Now with the DTV transition, I think now is a good time to inform those who want to still use their old TV how it was meant to be. I like the idea of the TV doing all the work, that is, no cables hooked up to it, no converters etc. While the days of the old TV being independent and receiving signals without any other source are nearly gone, heres something I think all the TV guys should own if you're like me:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wireless-UHF-Aud...3A1%7C294%3A50

Its small low powered UHF transmitter. Transmitts on channels 14-31, channels adjusted via potentiometer on the unit. Its actually a pretty decent little transmitter. In a metal case, self contained power supply, totally analog (lots of resistors, transistors and caps) so its completely serviceable if it ever breaks down. No chips or digital microscopic parts on the board like whats inside the converter boxes.

I will say one thing, when you first power it up, it does want to drift off frequency a bit, so you'll be touching the fine tuning of your TV set a few times through out the hour. After its been on for a few hours, its nice and stable. I leave mine on all the time, and it does have very good range. They work best on RCA sets because of the way the IF is tuned. You'll get some intercarrier buzz though any zenith tube type set using this box, which can be aligned out of course. Another plus is that you can adjust the luminance signal, and sound signal at the transmitter, and also has a switch so you can transmit a cross hatched test pattern, which is pretty nice. I have three of these hooked up to three converters of some of my favorite channels. This way, if I want to watch an old set (having UHF of course), I simply hook up the loop antenna to the set, tune the UHF dial and the only cord going to the TV is the power cord, which is the way I like it. Just thought I'd pass the word on. For what its worth, I used to see TONS of these on ebay from numerous sellers. Now, it appears that there is only one seller left. I suggest you grab them before they are all obsoleted, which is probably going to be very soon.

[mrr1]

Exactly what I use. Bought it off flea bay about 3 years ago to use with a security camera. It runs 24/7 and it still works great to this day.

[Cadillac Kid]

Or you could pick up an old analog broadcast transmitter on the cheap. Some Stations don't know what to with them.

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by Cadillac Kid

old analog broadcast transmitter on the cheap. Some Stations don't know what to with them.

Probably a market for them in 3rd world countries.

[Tony V]

Thanks for the tip Doug. I'm glad to see you posting again!
-Tony

[zenithfan1]

Hey Doug! Nice to see you back. I just bought one, I hope it works as good as you say.

[kx250rider]

I was searching for one of those, but didn't find one until you showed this one... Thank you! I'll get one and play with it. I wonder if anyone makes a VHF version?

Charles

[zenithfan1]

I was wondering that myself, I have many VHF only sets. I hope to find some commercial modulators on different VHF channels but no luck yet.

[drh4683]

I too wanted to find an equivalent set up for VHF only. I looked everywhere, and the best I could come up with was one of those little ramsey kits, it was for VHF channels 2-6 only. They're expensive, around $100 for the kit, but don't know how good the design is.

This UHF one works well on most any TV, but I noticed that on Zenith tube type sets, I get that intercarrier buzzing. Its not existant on an RCA type set though. The IF's are different on the Zenith and RCA's, so you'd have to touch up your IF on the zeniths to get it spot on.

I like the UHF one, even though its really slapped together. Hopefully he's not the same guy who ships these in nothing more than a bubble wrap envelope. I bought one and it came that way a while ago and it was all smashed up!

I stocked up and bought 6 of them last week. Ironically, they arrived on my door step on the 12th. I do remember the build quality being alot better on the older ones from about 5 years ago. I let some guy at work barrow it and then he quit and never heard from him again.

[drh4683]

Here's a pic of the inside, notice mine was a factory defect. Apparently a bad diode was chopped out and a new one tacked in.

[zenithfan1]

Just gotta love the lack of quality control and pride put into the cheap crap we're forced to buy. Look how crooked all the other part are put in. I may disassemble mine when it comes and put the G*d d*mn parts in right if it looks like that. I did better work at age 12.

[zenith2134]

Yeah, no wonder the stuff fails...

[zenithfan1]

Sad thing is, it was probably put together in a sweatshop by a kid YOUNGER than 12.

[drh4683]

probably true. Atleast they tested the thing and fixed it as opposed to just passing the defective unit. Normally, when I buy new electronics, I end up getting the defect then best buy wants to charge me the 15% restocking fee because I opened the box.

[zenithfan1]

Yep, been there too. I once bought some "KLH" speakers at Best Buy about 9 years ago. They were on sale for 99 bucks for some "12s" so I was all happy, I get them home, hook 'em up and what crap. Back in the box they went and I took them back (after peeking inside at a woofer). Turns out there was a bunch of defective ones and they had 'em fixed with cheap horrible woofers that didn't match the specs of the originals in any way. They had a little sticker on the magnet that said made in china, all the other drivers were labeled KLH. I took them back and they were all rude and said Oh, we're going to have to test them, in a smart ass tone. He came out of the room a few minutes later and said go get new ones. I opened 6 boxes and finally the last box had the right woofers installed. I sealed all the others with their tape gun that said best buy over and over on the tape and went on my happy way, they are in my living room right now because I'm restoring my CV D9s and Klipsch Forte II's. Sorry for the OT comment but wanted to share it.