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Groups > alt.folklore.computers > #155178 > unrolled thread

Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958)

Started byhancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
First post2015-12-14 08:28 -0800
Last post2015-12-16 21:33 -0800
Articles 20 on this page of 87 — 19 participants

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  Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-14 08:28 -0800
    REPOST Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-14 08:33 -0800
    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-14 11:54 -0500
      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2015-12-14 17:07 -0800
        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-14 23:25 -0500
          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-15 18:38 -0800
      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2015-12-14 17:11 -0800
        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-14 20:07 -0800
          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-14 23:29 -0500
            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Dave Garland <dave.garland@wizinfo.com> - 2015-12-15 00:15 -0600
    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-14 11:08 -0600
      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2015-12-14 17:57 +0000
    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) jhhaynes@earthlink.net - 2015-12-15 15:54 -0800
      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-15 19:12 -0500
        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Dave Garland <dave.garland@wizinfo.com> - 2015-12-15 19:41 -0600
        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) isw <isw@witzend.com> - 2015-12-15 23:07 -0800
          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu> - 2015-12-16 14:32 -0600
            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2015-12-16 22:59 +0000
              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-17 07:30 -0800
                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-17 15:07 -0500
                  Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-17 13:06 -0800
            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-17 14:56 -0500
              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2015-12-17 14:12 -0600
                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-18 19:43 -0500
                  Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2015-12-20 01:43 -0800
                    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-20 10:16 -0500
                      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-20 10:58 -0600
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2015-12-21 14:13 -0600
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-21 13:17 -0800
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-21 19:24 -0600
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Gene Wirchenko <genew@telus.net> - 2015-12-21 18:03 -0800
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu> - 2015-12-22 17:29 -0600
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-12-22 14:03 +0100
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-22 12:39 -0600
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) JimP <solosam90@gmail.com> - 2015-12-22 14:37 -0600
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-22 19:45 -0500
                                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> - 2015-12-23 10:53 +0000
                                  Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-12-23 23:42 +0100
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2015-12-21 21:48 +0000
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-22 07:41 -0800
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-22 11:22 -0500
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu> - 2015-12-21 17:29 -0600
                      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2015-12-21 13:58 -0600
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-21 13:07 -0800
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-21 15:40 -0600
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-21 17:09 -0600
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-21 17:29 -0600
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2015-12-21 17:03 -0800
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-21 19:28 -0600
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2015-12-22 15:46 -0600
                                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-22 19:13 -0600
                                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Morten Reistad <first@last.name.invalid> - 2015-12-23 23:25 +0100
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-21 17:04 -0600
                  Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2015-12-21 13:56 -0600
                    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-21 13:10 -0800
                    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2015-12-21 21:48 +0000
                      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-22 07:42 -0800
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2015-12-22 16:03 +0000
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-22 11:25 -0500
                    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-21 16:48 -0600
                      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-21 17:37 -0600
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-21 18:25 -0600
                      Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-22 07:46 -0800
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-22 11:24 -0500
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2015-12-22 11:28 -0500
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-22 15:20 -0600
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-22 19:51 -0500
                                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2015-12-23 17:18 +0000
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-22 19:33 -0500
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-22 09:47 -0800
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-22 15:17 -0600
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-22 13:31 -0800
                                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> - 2015-12-22 16:48 -0500
                                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu> - 2015-12-22 17:43 -0600
                                  Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Dave Garland <dave.garland@wizinfo.com> - 2015-12-22 19:35 -0600
                                  Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) tracymnelson@gmail.com - 2015-12-23 11:55 -0800
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-12-22 19:50 -0500
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-22 18:56 -0600
                              Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> - 2015-12-23 02:38 -0800
                                Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-23 13:55 -0600
                                  Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-23 14:12 -0600
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-22 12:28 -0600
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-22 11:06 -0800
                            Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2015-12-22 15:58 -0600
                        Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) Lawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx> - 2015-12-22 12:24 -0600
                          Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-12-22 11:09 -0800
    Re: Amperex #6977 subminiature indcator tube (1958) terry+googleblog@tmk.com - 2015-12-16 21:33 -0800

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#155445

From"Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net>
Date2015-12-21 17:37 -0600
Message-ID<ddrgqnF1opsU1@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#155437
"Lawrence Statton" wrote:


> "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> writes:
>> If it's like the U.S., and I think it is, the only "gap" in the TV
>> channels is between channel 6 and channel 7 with analog TV.  Of
>> course, it's a whole different thing now in the U.S. since TV
>> broadcasts have gone digital.
>
> Even in the digital era, the channel assignments have not changed.  2,3,
> and 4 are edge-to-edge, then a small (4MHz) gap, then 5 and 6, then a
> 94 MHz gap to 7 through 13.
>
> Then, several hundred MHz of "other services" to the bottom of the UHF
> band at 470 MHz up to the top of channel 69 at 800MHz.
>
>>> So I think the "continuous tuning" tv sets from the early days,
>>> actually did tune through it all, you were just supposed to ignore
>>> what wasn't tv. I'm not sure, it would depend on whether there was
>>> bandswitch or not.
>
> I've got about 40 vintage televisions, mostly post-war through the
> 1960s and none of them use 'continuous tuning' on VHF.  In fact, the
> only ones I have that DO are much, much later (80s) like the Watchman
> and the TV80.  My oldest set, is a 1939 Andrea and has the 'three
> channel' mod applied. (Upgrade from the original TWO channel selector).
>
> As of 1975, in the US, televisions were required to have detent tuning
> for UHF as well.

You collection is sadly lacking.  Crosley sets were mostly continuous tuning 
in the early days and they were a big player. I had a working RCA 630 TS 
that I traded to a collector for a largish Varaic like thing.  He had 
filched it from work so he made out like a bandit, but I knew that going in. 
I couldn't even figure out how to get a camera in and out of that place ....

I never did use the Variac. 

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#155446

FromLawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx>
Date2015-12-21 18:25 -0600
Message-ID<87egeftjlc.fsf@redbull.i-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-tickle-me>
In reply to#155445
"Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> writes:

> "Lawrence Statton" wrote:
> You collection is sadly lacking.  Crosley sets were mostly continuous
> tuning in the early days and they were a big player. I had a working

I have two Crosley sets -- a 7-inch "Suitcase Portable" from 1948, and a
(basket case) Swing-a-View (1947) and neither of them have continuous
tuning for VHF.  The S-a-V has only a eight-position selector, and there
are four plug-in modules in the chassis, each handling one or two
different channels (e.g. there was a 2/4 module, a 3/6 module and a few
single-channel modules (channel 1 [sic - 44-50 MHz ], 12, and 13 IIRC)

--NK1G

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#155467

Fromhancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
Date2015-12-22 07:46 -0800
Message-ID<55b39c04-0ac1-409e-882b-5026190ac8e4@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#155437
On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 5:48:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Statton wrote:

> I've got about 40 vintage televisions, mostly post-war through the
> 1960s and none of them use 'continuous tuning' on VHF.  In fact, the
> only ones I have that DO are much, much later (80s) like the Watchman 
> and the TV80.  My oldest set, is a 1939 Andrea and has the 'three
> channel' mod applied. (Upgrade from the original TWO channel selector).

Around 1947, TV transmission standards were changed.  The people
who already owned TV sets had to get them converted, but it appears
the manufacturers were willing to pay for the conversion.

Despite the very limited offerings and high expense in the early 
1940s, it appears early experimental TV was very popular in New
York City in that era.  The NYT was full of articles about TV.
It's postwar future was eagerly anticipated.  In 1944, lots of
companies announced some postwar TV plans.  IBM sought microwave
channels for TV and data transmission.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#155475

FromMichael Black <et472@ncf.ca>
Date2015-12-22 11:24 -0500
Message-ID<alpine.LNX.2.02.1512221122520.18456@darkstar.example.org>
In reply to#155467
On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:

> On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 5:48:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Statton wrote:
>
>> I've got about 40 vintage televisions, mostly post-war through the
>> 1960s and none of them use 'continuous tuning' on VHF.  In fact, the
>> only ones I have that DO are much, much later (80s) like the Watchman
>> and the TV80.  My oldest set, is a 1939 Andrea and has the 'three
>> channel' mod applied. (Upgrade from the original TWO channel selector).
>
> Around 1947, TV transmission standards were changed.  The people
> who already owned TV sets had to get them converted, but it appears
> the manufacturers were willing to pay for the conversion.
>
ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after 
the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from 
something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making 
any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added 
to it.

Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good 
long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixties and 
"underground radio" that caused FM to boom.

   Michael


> Despite the very limited offerings and high expense in the early
> 1940s, it appears early experimental TV was very popular in New
> York City in that era.  The NYT was full of articles about TV.
> It's postwar future was eagerly anticipated.  In 1944, lots of
> companies announced some postwar TV plans.  IBM sought microwave
> channels for TV and data transmission.
>
>

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#155478

FromPeter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com>
Date2015-12-22 11:28 -0500
Message-ID<1089532850.472494299.458096.peter_flass-yahoo.com@news.eternal-september.org>
In reply to#155475
Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:
> On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> 
>> On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 5:48:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Statton wrote:
>> 
>>> I've got about 40 vintage televisions, mostly post-war through the
>>> 1960s and none of them use 'continuous tuning' on VHF.  In fact, the
>>> only ones I have that DO are much, much later (80s) like the Watchman
>>> and the TV80.  My oldest set, is a 1939 Andrea and has the 'three
>>> channel' mod applied. (Upgrade from the original TWO channel selector).
>> 
>> Around 1947, TV transmission standards were changed.  The people
>> who already owned TV sets had to get them converted, but it appears
>> the manufacturers were willing to pay for the conversion.
>> 
> ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
> doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after 
> the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from 
> something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making 
> any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added 
> to it.
> 
> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good 
> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixtiesh and 
> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.

FM has much better sound quality, but it is a lot like digital TV - you
either get the signal or you don't, there is no "almost".  AM is like
analog TV - you can tweak the tuning to get at least something, if not a
great signal.

-- 
Pete

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#155503

From"Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net>
Date2015-12-22 15:20 -0600
Message-ID<ddtt4lFk66qU1@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#155478
"Peter Flass" wrote:


> Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>
>>> On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 5:48:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Statton 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've got about 40 vintage televisions, mostly post-war through the
>>>> 1960s and none of them use 'continuous tuning' on VHF.  In fact, the
>>>> only ones I have that DO are much, much later (80s) like the Watchman
>>>> and the TV80.  My oldest set, is a 1939 Andrea and has the 'three
>>>> channel' mod applied. (Upgrade from the original TWO channel selector).
>>>
>>> Around 1947, TV transmission standards were changed.  The people
>>> who already owned TV sets had to get them converted, but it appears
>>> the manufacturers were willing to pay for the conversion.
>>>
>> ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
>> doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after
>> the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from
>> something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making
>> any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added
>> to it.
>>
>> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good
>> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixtiesh and
>> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.
>
> FM has much better sound quality, but it is a lot like digital TV - you
> either get the signal or you don't, there is no "almost".  AM is like
> analog TV - you can tweak the tuning to get at least something, if not a
> great signal.

Some FM receivers have a switch so you can turn sterol off.  It often has a 
nice side effect of reducing the hiss that results from a less than perfect 
signal. 

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#155521

FromMichael Black <et472@ncf.ca>
Date2015-12-22 19:51 -0500
Message-ID<alpine.LNX.2.02.1512221950440.19211@darkstar.example.org>
In reply to#155503
On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, Osmium wrote:

> "Peter Flass" wrote:
>
>
>> Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 5:48:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Statton wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> I've got about 40 vintage televisions, mostly post-war through the
>>>>> 1960s and none of them use 'continuous tuning' on VHF.  In fact, the
>>>>> only ones I have that DO are much, much later (80s) like the Watchman
>>>>> and the TV80.  My oldest set, is a 1939 Andrea and has the 'three
>>>>> channel' mod applied. (Upgrade from the original TWO channel selector).
>>>> 
>>>> Around 1947, TV transmission standards were changed.  The people
>>>> who already owned TV sets had to get them converted, but it appears
>>>> the manufacturers were willing to pay for the conversion.
>>>> 
>>> ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
>>> doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after
>>> the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from
>>> something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making
>>> any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added
>>> to it.
>>> 
>>> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good
>>> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixtiesh and
>>> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.
>> 
>> FM has much better sound quality, but it is a lot like digital TV - you
>> either get the signal or you don't, there is no "almost".  AM is like
>> analog TV - you can tweak the tuning to get at least something, if not a
>> great signal.
>
> Some FM receivers have a switch so you can turn sterol off.  It often has a 
> nice side effect of reducing the hiss that results from a less than perfect 
> signal. 
>
And car radios often have a variable effect, summing the channels together 
according to signal strength, so a noisy signal won't be noisier due to 
stereo, while a good signal has very good stereo separation..

   Michael

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#155545

FromCharlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid>
Date2015-12-23 17:18 +0000
Message-ID<n5el0g0212o@news6.newsguy.com>
In reply to#155521
On 2015-12-23, Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:

> On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, Osmium wrote:
>
>> "Peter Flass" wrote:
>>
>>> Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good
>>>> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixtiesh and
>>>> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.

Still, some stations carried on.  CHQM-FM went on the air in Vancouver
in 1960, playing mostly elevator music (and sometimes classical).
They're still going today - and, given that soft rock is the elevator
music of the '90s, one could argue that they're still playing elevator
music.

"Elevator music brings me down."  -- me

>>> FM has much better sound quality, but it is a lot like digital TV - you
>>> either get the signal or you don't, there is no "almost".  AM is like
>>> analog TV - you can tweak the tuning to get at least something, if not a
>>> great signal.

Not really.  The signal doesn't cut out, it just gets very noisy (probably
due to all the multipath reflections).  I often try to listen to KING-FM
in Seattle (over 100 miles away).  It's considered unlistenable by some
people, but is usually still recognizable - and it's the nearest FM
station that offers 24/7 classical music (mixed with membership pledge
drives).  Aggravating the problem is the new station that just started
up in Vancouver on 98.3 MHz, which pretty much wipes out KING-FM's signal
on 98.1 when you're downtown.

The local CBC station plays classical music, but only between 9 a.m. and
2 p.m., and their transmitter has what sounds like some sort of buffer
underrun problem that introduces a glitch about once a minute; it's harely
noticeable on loud, fast-moving music (like their pop segments), but for
slow classical pieces it's like Chinese water torture.  It's been going on
for over two years now, and nobody seems to give a damn.

>> Some FM receivers have a switch so you can turn sterol off.  It often has a 
>> nice side effect of reducing the hiss that results from a less than perfect 
>> signal. 

Another switch that you don't see much anymore is AFC (automatic frequency
control).  I guess the new tuners are stable enough to not need it.

> And car radios often have a variable effect, summing the channels together 
> according to signal strength, so a noisy signal won't be noisier due to 
> stereo, while a good signal has very good stereo separation..

This isn't so much due to some special design of car radios but to the
nature of the stereo FM signal itself.  For backward compatibility, the
main signal is mono (the sum of left and right channels), and a difference
signal (left minus right) modulates a 38-kHz subcarrier.  If the signal
is strong enough (and you haven't flipped the "mono" switch if you have
one), the receiver's stereo decoder kicks in.

-- 
/~\  cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs)
\ /  I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way.
 X   Top-posted messages will probably be ignored.  See RFC1855.
/ \  HTML will DEFINITELY be ignored.  Join the ASCII ribbon campaign!

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#155517

FromMichael Black <et472@ncf.ca>
Date2015-12-22 19:33 -0500
Message-ID<alpine.LNX.2.02.1512221925250.19211@darkstar.example.org>
In reply to#155478
On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, Peter Flass wrote:

> Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>>
>>> On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 5:48:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Statton wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've got about 40 vintage televisions, mostly post-war through the
>>>> 1960s and none of them use 'continuous tuning' on VHF.  In fact, the
>>>> only ones I have that DO are much, much later (80s) like the Watchman
>>>> and the TV80.  My oldest set, is a 1939 Andrea and has the 'three
>>>> channel' mod applied. (Upgrade from the original TWO channel selector).
>>>
>>> Around 1947, TV transmission standards were changed.  The people
>>> who already owned TV sets had to get them converted, but it appears
>>> the manufacturers were willing to pay for the conversion.
>>>
>> ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
>> doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after
>> the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from
>> something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making
>> any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added
>> to it.
>>
>> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good
>> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixtiesh and
>> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.
>
> FM has much better sound quality, but it is a lot like digital TV - you
> either get the signal or you don't, there is no "almost".  AM is like
> analog TV - you can tweak the tuning to get at least something, if not a
> great signal.
>
Armstrong was building an FM network before the war, and one component was 
that at frequencies below 50MHz, where the FM band was originally, he'd 
intended to use the broadcast transmitter to get the network feed to the 
next location.  It apparently was working, though it was limited area.

But much of that work was erased when the band was moved after the war. 
The old receivers were no longer good, the momentum gone, and I'm not sure 
Armstrong rebuilt his network for the new band.  So while he was backing 
it before the war, it was haphazard afterwards.  So it became the place of 
classical music (which is logical) but that wasn't mainstream enough.  So 
a lot of FM stations after the war were marginal profit centres, if not 
losers, dependent on a successful AM station to pay the bills.  TV got 
lots of rules to support it (like the requirement that tv sets after a 
certain point must include UHF reception), FM didn't, so there was no rule 
that said AM radios had to include the FM band.  If people can't listen, 
then they won't tune in.  FM became kind of a wasteland.

So Tom Donahue got things rolling by buying time on an FM station in San 
Francisco, then getting advertisers and hiring announcers.  It really took 
off, so either that station became a rock station all the time, or they 
moved to another station that became a rock station.  And others followed. 
That gave a lot more reason to buy an FM radio, which of course probably 
meant more AM/FM radios available.

Now, nobody wants AM, and at least here, there is no more space for local 
FM stations, and we've lost some not so local stations because the 
frequencies have been used up by local stations.

   Michael

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#155483

Fromhancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
Date2015-12-22 09:47 -0800
Message-ID<e8956bc1-854c-483c-87f0-a5aaf5dea8a2@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#155475
On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 11:21:22 AM UTC-5, Michael Black wrote:

> ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
> doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after 
> the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from 
> something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making 
> any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added 
> to it.

Yes.  The old TV's would continue to get some sort of picture,
but not any sound.

As mentioned, the manufacturers came out to the homes to do the
conversions.  Given what people paid for their TV and expected
future use, it was worth it to them to spend the money.  But,
as the conversion to digital, there was controversy in advance
(lots of articles in the NYT about it.)


> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good 
> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixties and 
> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.

It seemed that until the mid 1960s, most plain radios were sold
with AM only; one had to buy an expensive radio to get FM along
with it.  Car radios had AM only, FM was an expensive option.

In the 1970s FM became standard.  I think it was still an option
for car radios, but only a modest extra cost.

People with good stereo systems had FM stereo.  By the 1970s,
serious music listeners would only listen to FM and poo-poo
AM radio as something for kids (top 40) or old people (news radio).

Geez, I remember audiophiles in the 1970s arguing about minor
nuances in their expensive stereos and records.  People spent a 
lot of money for those things.  It was a big status thing--
what brand and options you had.  It was funny seeing kids move
into a college dorm with their big system, including huge
speakers (strong enough to work in a football stadium).

Then 'quad' cut, starting another revolution.





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#155502

From"Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net>
Date2015-12-22 15:17 -0600
Message-ID<ddtsv3Fk4d7U1@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#155483
<hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:

> On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 11:21:22 AM UTC-5, Michael Black wrote:
>
>> ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
>> doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after
>> the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from
>> something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making
>> any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added
>> to it.
>
> Yes.  The old TV's would continue to get some sort of picture,
> but not any sound.
>
> As mentioned, the manufacturers came out to the homes to do the
> conversions.  Given what people paid for their TV and expected
> future use, it was worth it to them to spend the money.  But,
> as the conversion to digital, there was controversy in advance
> (lots of articles in the NYT about it.)
>
>
>> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good
>> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixties and
>> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.
>
> It seemed that until the mid 1960s, most plain radios were sold
> with AM only; one had to buy an expensive radio to get FM along
> with it.  Car radios had AM only, FM was an expensive option.
>
> In the 1970s FM became standard.  I think it was still an option
> for car radios, but only a modest extra cost.

I'm quite sure it is no longer an option in the USA. There are laws 
requiring that, if a car radio exists, it must receive FM. I am not sure 
when this was effective, the Carter era is my best guess. 

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#155504

Fromhancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
Date2015-12-22 13:31 -0800
Message-ID<52421a5b-33f5-48e9-a497-4ab0e21df5e2@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#155502
On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 4:17:26 PM UTC-5, Osmium wrote:
> > It seemed that until the mid 1960s, most plain radios were sold
> > with AM only; one had to buy an expensive radio to get FM along
> > with it.  Car radios had AM only, FM was an expensive option.
> >
> > In the 1970s FM became standard.  I think it was still an option
> > for car radios, but only a modest extra cost.
> 
> I'm quite sure it is no longer an option in the USA. There are laws 
> requiring that, if a car radio exists, it must receive FM. I am not sure 
> when this was effective, the Carter era is my best guess.

I think for a long time, car radios are now a standard feature.  If
the buyer wants a high end radio, they get a credit for it.

Many years ago (50) car radios were an option and some people didn't 
get them.  Actually, I don't think they were that cheap, IIRC,
maybe $50 and that was in the 1970s--serious money back then.  I
don't know the technology, but I think car radios had to have some
specialty circuitry to let them play without interference from the
spark plug ignition.  Indeed, I think Motorola developed that, and
that's how the company got its name.

I remember a big innovation was an embedded antenna in the windshhield
instead of a stick aerial.  In cars I had that had it, that made a big
improvement in sound reception.  However, not all cars had it, and
even some cars that had it went back to the stick aerial.

In the old days, vandals would often break off car aerials.  Gangs
would use them as a weapon.  Ours was broken and it was a b***** to
fix.

(They told me it would cost a lot of money just to pull out my
cassette player, let alone repairing or replacing it.)


I also remember in the old days that high end car audio and CB was
a target for thieves.  They'd break in the car and rip out the
radio, destroying the dashboard in the process, and leaving very
expensive repairs.

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#155507

FromPeter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com>
Date2015-12-22 16:48 -0500
Message-ID<1396966494.472513640.560965.peter_flass-yahoo.com@news.eternal-september.org>
In reply to#155504
<hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 4:17:26 PM UTC-5, Osmium wrote:
>>> It seemed that until the mid 1960s, most plain radios were sold
>>> with AM only; one had to buy an expensive radio to get FM along
>>> with it.  Car radios had AM only, FM was an expensive option.
>>> 
>>> In the 1970s FM became standard.  I think it was still an option
>>> for car radios, but only a modest extra cost.
>> 
>> I'm quite sure it is no longer an option in the USA. There are laws 
>> requiring that, if a car radio exists, it must receive FM. I am not sure 
>> when this was effective, the Carter era is my best guess.
> 
> I think for a long time, car radios are now a standard feature.  If
> the buyer wants a high end radio, they get a credit for it.
> 
> Many years ago (50) car radios were an option and some people didn't 
> get them.  Actually, I don't think they were that cheap, IIRC,
> maybe $50 and that was in the 1970s--serious money back then.  I
> don't know the technology, but I think car radios had to have some
> specialty circuitry to let them play without interference from the
> spark plug ignition.  Indeed, I think Motorola developed that, and
> that's how the company got its name.
> 
> I remember a big innovation was an embedded antenna in the windshhield
> instead of a stick aerial.  In cars I had that had it, that made a big
> improvement in sound reception.  However, not all cars had it, and
> even some cars that had it went back to the stick aerial.
> 
> In the old days, vandals would often break off car aerials.  Gangs
> would use them as a weapon.  Ours was broken and it was a b***** to
> fix.
> 
> (They told me it would cost a lot of money just to pull out my
> cassette player, let alone repairing or replacing it.)
> 

That's one thing I really like about my Nissan - the dashboard panel that
covers the radio, etc. just snaps in and out.  To remove the radio is a
couple of screws.
> 

> I also remember in the old days that high end car audio and CB was
> a target for thieves.  They'd break in the car and rip out the
> radio, destroying the dashboard in the process, and leaving very
> expensive repairs.
> 
> 



-- 
Pete

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#155515

FromJon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu>
Date2015-12-22 17:43 -0600
Message-ID<TrWdnQ-NZ8-vfeTLnZ2dnUU7-fudnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#155504
hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:


> I remember a big innovation was an embedded antenna in the windshhield
> instead of a stick aerial.  In cars I had that had it, that made a big
> improvement in sound reception.
1976 Chevy Vega?  It was a dipole, two hair thin wires right up the center 
of the windshield, then they turned 90 degrees and headed outward.
Worked quite well on FM, quite poorly on AM.


Jon

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#155524

FromDave Garland <dave.garland@wizinfo.com>
Date2015-12-22 19:35 -0600
Message-ID<n5ctm2$s7l$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#155515
On 12/22/2015 5:43 PM, Jon Elson wrote:
> hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
>
>
>> I remember a big innovation was an embedded antenna in the windshhield
>> instead of a stick aerial.  In cars I had that had it, that made a big
>> improvement in sound reception.
> 1976 Chevy Vega?  It was a dipole, two hair thin wires right up the center
> of the windshield, then they turned 90 degrees and headed outward.
> Worked quite well on FM, quite poorly on AM.

I'd expect that with a dipole, it would work (on FM) quite well when 
you were driving toward/away from the station, but poorly if you were 
driving at a tangent. The stick antennas were omnidirectional. That 
might explain why the embedded antenna didn't really catch on big.

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#155555

Fromtracymnelson@gmail.com
Date2015-12-23 11:55 -0800
Message-ID<9db6b158-8ae5-4118-a463-9ff9a795eda5@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#155515
On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 6:43:47 PM UTC-5, Jon Elson wrote:
> hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
> > I remember a big innovation was an embedded antenna in the windshhield
> > instead of a stick aerial.  In cars I had that had it, that made a big
> > improvement in sound reception.
> 1976 Chevy Vega?  It was a dipole, two hair thin wires right up the center 
> of the windshield, then they turned 90 degrees and headed outward.
> Worked quite well on FM, quite poorly on AM.

My 1987 Porsche 944 has this, as well as an RF amplifier in-line. Reception is poor, unless the
RF amplifier is switched off, in which case it becomes nonexistent.

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#155520

FromMichael Black <et472@ncf.ca>
Date2015-12-22 19:50 -0500
Message-ID<alpine.LNX.2.02.1512221948220.19211@darkstar.example.org>
In reply to#155502
On Tue, 22 Dec 2015, Osmium wrote:

> <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
>
>> On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 11:21:22 AM UTC-5, Michael Black wrote:
>> 
>>> ANd so did the FM band.  I have the impression the FM broadcast band was
>>> doing better than tv as WWII started up, a lot more receivers.  And after
>>> the war, things got rearranged, so the FM broadcast band was shifted from
>>> something like 44 to 50MHz up to 88 to 108MHz (where it is now), making
>>> any existing receiver useless unless it was modified or a converter added
>>> to it.
>> 
>> Yes.  The old TV's would continue to get some sort of picture,
>> but not any sound.
>> 
>> As mentioned, the manufacturers came out to the homes to do the
>> conversions.  Given what people paid for their TV and expected
>> future use, it was worth it to them to spend the money.  But,
>> as the conversion to digital, there was controversy in advance
>> (lots of articles in the NYT about it.)
>> 
>> 
>>> Some argue that that was fatal for the FM broadcast band, it took a good
>>> long time to recover, and it seems like it was the late sixties and
>>> "underground radio" that caused FM to boom.
>> 
>> It seemed that until the mid 1960s, most plain radios were sold
>> with AM only; one had to buy an expensive radio to get FM along
>> with it.  Car radios had AM only, FM was an expensive option.
>> 
>> In the 1970s FM became standard.  I think it was still an option
>> for car radios, but only a modest extra cost.
>
> I'm quite sure it is no longer an option in the USA. There are laws requiring 
> that, if a car radio exists, it must receive FM. I am not sure when this was 
> effective, the Carter era is my best guess. 
>
I'm not sure about that.  After a certain point, people didn't want AM 
only, and somewhat later, didnt' want AM.  I remember ads in ROlling Stone 
circa 1976, Arlo Guthrie and other musicians in ads for third party car 
radios, and FM was seen as a good thing, which I think preempted any need 
for a ruling about including FM.  But I'm not certain.

   Michael

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#155522

FromLawrence Statton <lawrence@senguio.mx>
Date2015-12-22 18:56 -0600
Message-ID<87mvt2rni9.fsf@redbull.i-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-tickle-me>
In reply to#155502
"Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> writes:
> I'm quite sure it is no longer an option in the USA. There are laws
> requiring that, if a car radio exists, it must receive FM. I am not
> sure when this was effective, the Carter era is my best guess. 

I am reasonably certain if it is true, it is far after Carter, since he
left office in 1980, and my father bought a Dodge in 1984 that came with
an AM-Only radio.

So - second term of Bonzo at the earliest.

--NK1G

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#155530

FromQuadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca>
Date2015-12-23 02:38 -0800
Message-ID<d0c4cc7c-941a-4a0d-8382-9b52298d0181@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#155502
On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 2:17:26 PM UTC-7, Osmium wrote:

> I'm quite sure it is no longer an option in the USA. There are laws 
> requiring that, if a car radio exists, it must receive FM. I am not sure 
> when this was effective, the Carter era is my best guess.

I'm astonished to hear that.

I know that for safety, there were laws that required that car radios have the 
ability to go to pre-set channels with push-button tuning; those laws were 
around for a long time.

Ah: the first radio with this kind of tuning was developed by Delco in 1938, so 
that law must have been introduced afterwards.

John Savard

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#155554

From"Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net>
Date2015-12-23 13:55 -0600
Message-ID<de0chfF8kbeU1@mid.individual.net>
In reply to#155530
"Quadibloc" <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca> wrote:

> On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 2:17:26 PM UTC-7, Osmium wrote:
>
>> I'm quite sure it is no longer an option in the USA. There are laws
>> requiring that, if a car radio exists, it must receive FM. I am not sure
>> when this was effective, the Carter era is my best guess.
>
> I'm astonished to hear that.

This has been like looking for a white crow! I have spent a huge amount of 
time looking for this and pretty much failed.  I let it rest for a while and 
then go back to it.  I finally found a single reference, here is the crucial 
part, retyped by me:  It was very vivid in my mind so I just kept persisting 
until I found it. A truly awful law and a violation of our mythical 
freedoms.

"The government mandated the auto manufacturers make car radios FM 
compatible, the rest, as they say, is history"

http://www.cengagebrain.com.mx/content/9781133966364.pdf 

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