What 'Essentials' Electronics Topic would you like to Learn More About?

How about TV or radio transmission? A history of the technology and techniques currently employed. Maybe a dabble on what to expect in the future.

Sean

The history of the legacy analog systems is fascinating!

Firstly the battle with competing standards.

From the progression from Black & White to its superposition of colour information whilst keeping compatibility. Pure Genius!!

The history of the 29.97Hz and 25Hz frame rates and colour standards NTSC, NTSC 4.43, SECAM and PAL.

The challenges transposing 24 FPS film to the abovementioned frame rates.

But from the consumer point of view - Ugh! All of those decades of imperfect reception - ghosting, wobbly pictures & interference.

Although the digital systems are vastly superior they are relatively boring.

G'Day,

Wow you knowledge of television signal standards is impressive.

Television repair was an add on course in my 1981 final year of Electronic Technology. Fixing them was a skill I wasn't good at. More like overwhelmed when I got the back of the TV. That 25K high voltage tube stem sticking out the back was intimidating.

I did get some pleasure out of building a cable TV descrambler. I found it fascinating the  decoding was carried on the step of the horizontal flyback pulse. Shades of stenography.

Sean

Cheers Sean!

Fixing old TVs was full of Extra High Tension - No Yoke-ing!

What's just as scary was that many TVs had live chassis.

Even LCD screens that use fluorescent backlighting (even in Notebook computers) have High Tension circuits.

Cheers Sean!

Fixing old TVs was full of Extra High Tension - No Yoke-ing!

What's just as scary was that many TVs had live chassis.

Even LCD screens that use fluorescent backlighting (even in Notebook computers) have High Tension circuits.

Shocking !

MK

I remember well. There was this oscope back in the day. A Hickock I think. And the intensity knob well had HV on it and my other hand was on the case. Well I got tossed! Upon unplugging it from the wall and opening it up. You could see a metal shaft running to the back of the scope. The next day I brought in a ceramic flex coupler and installed it by cutting the shaft in two and then shorting the one side. I know I was not in High School yet maybe in 7th or 8th grade. From then on I learned the lesson: Only one hand on the gear the other in my pocket! No jewellery or rings while on the bench.

a spoiled yoke.. LOL