'81 Realistic 5" B&W portavision - Videokarma.org TV - Video

radiotvnut · #1 07-11-2010, 10:58 PM

Several years ago, my cousin gave me this Realistic (Radio Shack) 5 inch "portavision" B&W TV after it died. It seems like that it had an intermittent problem when I got it and it's been buried in my shop for so long that I don't remember if I fixed it or gave up on it. I'll have to find a power cord to test it.

Anyway, it receives VHF/UHF as well as AM/FM radio broadcast. It will either run off of a 12V car cord, a standard 120 VAC power cord, or 9 "D" cell batteries. It also has standard screw terminals for the TV antenna with a selector switch to select the built in rod antenna (which is broken) or an external antenna. This set was made in Taiwan and is fairly heavy. I'm sure it would be very heavy with 9 "D" cells inside. I wonder if there would be enough room inside the case for the insides of a DTV converter. That way, this set could be portable again. And, I wonder who the OEM of this set was. The model number is 16-100. I actually remember, back in the early '80's, when this set was new and I seem to remember it having a good picture. I think it's safe to assume that this one is better than those "last gasp" $14.99 portable B&W TV's that were sold right up to the DTV transition.

NowhereMan 1966 · #2 07-15-2010, 09:52 PM

I remember my friend had one of those when we were in high school. He used it as a monitor to his TRS-80 Color Computer.

radiotvnut · #3 07-15-2010, 10:00 PM

Speaking of TRS80's, I remember those old TRS80 monitors that were actually a 12" RCA B&W TV, minus the tuner. There was a cover plate where the tuner would have normally been found. I saw one of those monitors at a flea market a few months ago; but, I didn't try to buy it.

compucat · #4 07-17-2010, 12:26 PM

I have one of those Realistic portable sets, the same model. I can tell you that they were a quality set back in the day. i too remember when they were new in the Radio Shack stores and I wanted one so bad. The reason they are so heavy is that there is a power transformer inside as well as metal brackets for various components. There are at least two circuit boards inside for sweep and signal. There is an assembly for the dial stringing. The cabinet is seriously doubt at DTV converter board can be made to fit inside. It is sad that apart from the radio these sets are now table top use only. The picture quality is great and they are well made. I am keeping mine in my collection. They show up on Ebay occasionally so you can get parts. I say fix it up and at least display it. It is from a time when portable black and white TVs were still considered a premium electronic product. Because of the DTV transition my vintage portable TVs are doing shelf duty but I do have a quality digital portable with a 16:9 wide screen. There is still great portable sets out there, they just don't have those cute little CRTs anymore.

radiotvnut · #5 07-17-2010, 01:06 PM

I will say that for anyone wishing to collect these small screen portables, now is the time to get them. Right now, they are very cheap and in some cases, free. In a few years, most of the surviving ones will wind up in the trash.

Just before the DTV transition, the local TV station did a call in Q/A segment. One caller asked about the use of portable battery operated TV's and the guy at the station basically told them that once analog broadcasting ended, those TV's would be useless as a portable and the only option would be to throw it away and obtain a portable with a DTV tuner.

NowhereMan 1966 · #6 08-01-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

Speaking of TRS80's, I remember those old TRS80 monitors that were actually a 12" RCA B&W TV, minus the tuner. There was a cover plate where the tuner would have normally been found. I saw one of those monitors at a flea market a few months ago; but, I didn't try to buy it.

I remember that too, I have the RCA TV it is based on down in the basement, it was made in 1975. I remember when I was in 7th grade in 1979, we only had one TRS-80 in the school, in fact, it was the only computer in the school. Using it was like magic.

NowhereMan 1966 · #7 08-01-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compucat

I have one of those Realistic portable sets, the same model. I can tell you that they were a quality set back in the day. i too remember when they were new in the Radio Shack stores and I wanted one so bad. The reason they are so heavy is that there is a power transformer inside as well as metal brackets for various components. There are at least two circuit boards inside for sweep and signal. There is an assembly for the dial stringing. The cabinet is seriously doubt at DTV converter board can be made to fit inside. It is sad that apart from the radio these sets are now table top use only. The picture quality is great and they are well made. I am keeping mine in my collection. They show up on Ebay occasionally so you can get parts. I say fix it up and at least display it. It is from a time when portable black and white TVs were still considered a premium electronic product. Because of the DTV transition my vintage portable TVs are doing shelf duty but I do have a quality digital portable with a 16:9 wide screen. There is still great portable sets out there, they just don't have those cute little CRTs anymore.

It was quite hefty, you're right. That reminds me of the time my buddy tried to make his TRS-80 Color Computer "transportable" in the early 1980's. He came in with this huge backpack on and then he showed me what was in it. The TRS-80 Coco came out, then the cassette recorder and finally the 5 inch TV set. It was so funny although I'd like to think he was ahead of his time.

We've been hanging out for over 30 years and now one of my bosses at work.

radiotvnut · #8 08-01-2010, 10:09 PM

I actually remember owning a portable radio shack computer that I think was based on the TRS80. It had a 12" green monochrome monitor, a 5" floppy disc drive, the CPU, and keyboard that was all housed in a self contained, luggable, carry case. It was highly obsolete by the time I got it, had a bad disc drive, and I junked it. I kept the 12" green CRT for the longest time and came real close to sticking it in a 12" B&W set just for fun.

radiomojo · #9 08-01-2010, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

I will say that for anyone wishing to collect these small screen portables, now is the time to get them. Right now, they are very cheap and in some cases, free. In a few years, most of the surviving ones will wind up in the trash.

Just before the DTV transition, the local TV station did a call in Q/A segment. One caller asked about the use of portable battery operated TV's and the guy at the station basically told them that once analog broadcasting ended, those TV's would be useless as a portable and the only option would be to throw it away and obtain a portable with a DTV tuner.

I recently got a Zenith Spirit of 76 9" B&W that will work on both mains and 12 volt. I noticed the DTV converter box I have also is 12 volt so I plan on making a cigarette lighter cable for the converter box. I also need to figure out the connection on the Zenith and make a 12 Volt cable for it. This will be my go to TV in case of power outages.

Does anyone make a DTV converter for portable TVs. Seems like there would be a small market for it.

Rod

radiotvnut · #10 08-02-2010, 12:55 AM

I've seen some DC operated DTV converters; but, I don't think I've seen one made especially for these small portable TV's. I'm thinking of finding one of the many AC/DC 12" B&W TV's that were made and mounting the insides of a suitable DTV converter inside the TV.

radiotvnut · #11 08-02-2010, 01:01 AM

Speaking of these little TV's, someone who is out of touch with reality was trying to sell a 5" '90's era action brand portable for $35! They were going on about how it worked great and would be perfect for outdoor use, etc. I mean, COME ON! The TV didn't cost that much when new and do these people not realize that these TV's are virtually useless as a self contained portable? I have several of those little 5" cheap Chinese portables from the late '90's-near present and they were all free. They were either trash finds or sets that people gave me when the DTV transition took place. So, anyone thinking they will get $35 for one of these is dreaming.

Trance88 · #12 08-03-2010, 01:05 PM

I have an 81' Zenith portable that looks somewhat similar although it has a drum style tuning dial. It has an alarm clock built into it too but it's broken.

*zenithfan1* · #13 08-03-2010, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

I've seen some DC operated DTV converters; but, I don't think I've seen one made especially for these small portable TV's. I'm thinking of finding one of the many AC/DC 12" B&W TV's that were made and mounting the insides of a suitable DTV converter inside the TV.

I was thinking of that also, we should start a thread on it and throw ideas around. I bet we could retrofit some nice sets without doing *too* much harm in the process.

radiotvnut · #14 08-03-2010, 04:19 PM

Here's my theory. Many of these converter boxes don't even have buttons on them. My plan is to open one up, determine what voltages it takes to operate it, find those voltages somewhere on the TV chassis, and connect everything together. For those boxes that don't have buttons, I could mount the IR sensor in front of the TV's speaker. Then, I could mount some sort of holder to the side of the TV for the remote control. I'd probably be the only person in town who had a 12" B&W TV that was remote controlled and would receive DTV broadcast.

dieseljeep · #15 08-03-2010, 09:27 PM

Gentlemen: I have several small screen color sets with the idea of building a convertor inside. I dont think the voltage exceeds 12 volts. I purposely bought one that ran off a wall wart. I returned it because was not very sensitive. One set I have has a battery compartment. I'll keep you posted. Dave