• Frequency limit for valves

    From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 14 09:56:36 2022
    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but when I tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt inductance etc,
    of the circuit made it impossible to get above around 200 mhz. Obviously
    when Transistors came along this changed, then came te problems with capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I just wondered how they managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on band 4 and 5? I suspect its tied up with the way they were tuned using effectively tuned lines, but they worked surprisingly well.

    Brian

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  • From Liz Tuddenham@21:1/5 to briang1@blueyonder.co.uk on Thu Apr 14 11:58:41 2022
    Brian Gaff (Sofa) <briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but when I tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt inductance etc,
    of the circuit made it impossible to get above around 200 mhz. Obviously
    when Transistors came along this changed, then came te problems with capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I just wondered how they managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on band 4 and 5? I suspect its tied up with the way they were tuned using effectively tuned lines, but they worked surprisingly well.

    The initial problem was inductance in the cathode leads which was common
    to the input and output circuits and gave unwanted frequency-dependent feedback. By using dual connections to the cathode, each circuit could
    be connected separately to remove the common inductance; then the
    remaining inductances of the lead-outs were taken into account in the
    tuning components. Even the humble EF80 had dual cathode connections.

    As the frequency went up further. the earthed grid configuration became
    almost universal, but the 'acorn' triodes with metal-to-glass seals and
    special 'bulkhead' valve holders were expensive and inconvenient. For
    domestic tuners, valves with very short lead-outs were developed and
    multiple grid connections were distributed around the base pins to
    effectively put an earthed screen right across the middle and earth the
    grid in many places (thus reducing stray inductance). Some
    manufacturers turned the electrode assembly on its side to give shorter
    leads.

    There is a lot of information on valve development in Philips Technical
    Review and the Mullard adverts in Wireless World arond that period.


    --
    ~ Liz Tuddenham ~
    (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
    www.poppyrecords.co.uk

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  • From williamwright@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 14 15:46:27 2022
    On 14/04/2022 09:56, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but when I tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt inductance etc,
    of the circuit made it impossible to get above around 200 mhz. Obviously
    when Transistors came along this changed, then came te problems with capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I just wondered how they managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on band 4 and 5? I suspect its tied up with the way they were tuned using effectively tuned lines, but they worked surprisingly well.

    They were very noisy and got worse and worse very quickly.

    Bill

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  • From tony sayer@21:1/5 to All on Thu Apr 14 22:33:57 2022
    In article <jbqqe2Fmv4pU2@mid.individual.net>, williamwright <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> scribeth thus
    On 14/04/2022 09:56, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but when I >> tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt inductance etc, >> of the circuit made it impossible to get above around 200 mhz. Obviously
    when Transistors came along this changed, then came te problems with
    capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I just wondered how they
    managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on band 4 and 5? I suspect its >> tied up with the way they were tuned using effectively tuned lines, but they >> worked surprisingly well.

    They were very noisy and got worse and worse very quickly.

    Bill

    PC88 RF amp and PC86 Local Osc/Mixer..

    Then came transistor tuners and made decent reception possible:)

    Especially for us out in the sticks trying to receive Xtal place at some
    65 miles distant!. Converted quite a few TV's to take a transistor tuner
    with decent results!.


    BF180 and BF181 was it in them;?...
    --
    Tony Sayer


    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person.

    Give him a keyboard, and he will reveal himself.

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  • From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to All on Fri Apr 15 09:48:08 2022
    That is very interesting. That must have passed me by at the time then. I
    guess there is always a way around such problems its a case of thinking
    outside the box or valve in this case!
    Brian

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    This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
    The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
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    Blind user, so no pictures please
    Note this Signature is meaningless.!
    "Liz Tuddenham" <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:1pqegld.1gr2ndv6agl86N%liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid...
    Brian Gaff (Sofa) <briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but when
    I
    tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt inductance
    etc,
    of the circuit made it impossible to get above around 200 mhz. Obviously
    when Transistors came along this changed, then came te problems with
    capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I just wondered how they
    managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on band 4 and 5? I suspect
    its
    tied up with the way they were tuned using effectively tuned lines, but
    they
    worked surprisingly well.

    The initial problem was inductance in the cathode leads which was common
    to the input and output circuits and gave unwanted frequency-dependent feedback. By using dual connections to the cathode, each circuit could
    be connected separately to remove the common inductance; then the
    remaining inductances of the lead-outs were taken into account in the
    tuning components. Even the humble EF80 had dual cathode connections.

    As the frequency went up further. the earthed grid configuration became almost universal, but the 'acorn' triodes with metal-to-glass seals and special 'bulkhead' valve holders were expensive and inconvenient. For domestic tuners, valves with very short lead-outs were developed and
    multiple grid connections were distributed around the base pins to effectively put an earthed screen right across the middle and earth the
    grid in many places (thus reducing stray inductance). Some
    manufacturers turned the electrode assembly on its side to give shorter leads.

    There is a lot of information on valve development in Philips Technical Review and the Mullard adverts in Wireless World arond that period.


    --
    ~ Liz Tuddenham ~
    (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
    www.poppyrecords.co.uk

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  • From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to williamwright on Fri Apr 15 09:51:36 2022
    Well, I have to say, that they were no more noisy than the early Transistor ones. The later ones using varicap tuning were better in that respect but
    worse in their rejection of adjacent channels.
    I think the Valve tuners I first encountered were made by Plessy, with very squat valves. At least when new they seemed pretty good noise wise and
    seemed not to drift either.
    Brian

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    This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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    Blind user, so no pictures please
    Note this Signature is meaningless.!
    "williamwright" <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote in message news:jbqqe2Fmv4pU2@mid.individual.net...
    On 14/04/2022 09:56, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but when
    I
    tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt inductance
    etc,
    of the circuit made it impossible to get above around 200 mhz. Obviously
    when Transistors came along this changed, then came te problems with
    capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I just wondered how they
    managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on band 4 and 5? I suspect
    its
    tied up with the way they were tuned using effectively tuned lines, but
    they
    worked surprisingly well.

    They were very noisy and got worse and worse very quickly.

    Bill

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  • From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to tony sayer on Fri Apr 15 09:55:00 2022
    Something like that, these often also used the vhf tuner as an extra
    amplifier switched into that mode by a line from the IF strip. These were
    the old Dual Standard sets with Bowden cables operating many switches around the set mechanically. It certainly made the muscles in the fingers stronger.

    Brian

    --

    This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
    The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
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    Blind user, so no pictures please
    Note this Signature is meaningless.!
    "tony sayer" <tony@bancom.co.uk> wrote in message news:PnJAX1DFNJWiFwxL@bancom.co.uk...
    In article <jbqqe2Fmv4pU2@mid.individual.net>, williamwright <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> scribeth thus
    On 14/04/2022 09:56, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but when >>> I
    tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt inductance
    etc,
    of the circuit made it impossible to get above around 200 mhz. Obviously >>> when Transistors came along this changed, then came te problems with
    capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I just wondered how
    they
    managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on band 4 and 5? I suspect >>> its
    tied up with the way they were tuned using effectively tuned lines, but
    they
    worked surprisingly well.

    They were very noisy and got worse and worse very quickly.

    Bill

    PC88 RF amp and PC86 Local Osc/Mixer..

    Then came transistor tuners and made decent reception possible:)

    Especially for us out in the sticks trying to receive Xtal place at some
    65 miles distant!. Converted quite a few TV's to take a transistor tuner
    with decent results!.


    BF180 and BF181 was it in them;?...
    --
    Tony Sayer


    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person.

    Give him a keyboard, and he will reveal himself.



    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Liz Tuddenham@21:1/5 to tony sayer on Fri Apr 15 18:20:55 2022
    tony sayer <tony@bancom.co.uk> wrote:

    In article <jbqqe2Fmv4pU2@mid.individual.net>, williamwright <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> scribeth thus
    On 14/04/2022 09:56, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but
    when I tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt
    inductance etc, of the circuit made it impossible to get above around
    200 mhz. Obviously when Transistors came along this changed, then came
    te problems with capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I
    just wondered how they managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on
    band 4 and 5? I suspect its tied up with the way they were tuned using
    effectively tuned lines, but they worked surprisingly well.

    They were very noisy and got worse and worse very quickly.

    Bill

    PC88 RF amp and PC86 Local Osc/Mixer..

    The noise figures for those triodes were pretty good because they didn't
    suffer from the partition noise of a pentode. I suspect there would
    have been other causes for the noise, such as poor gain distribution in
    the early stages of the receiver or mechanical problems in the tuner
    made worse by the heat of the valves.

    The Eddystone 770U used a 6AM4 in earthed grid configuration and a 6AF4A oscillator with a 'crystal mixer'; it covered 150 to 500 Mc/s in six
    ranges. With an I.F. bandwidth of 20Kc/s the S/N ratio was 15dB for 10 microvolts input (75 ohms) modulated at 30%. A double triode was used
    in cascode as the first I.F. amplifier because the signal was still too
    low at that point for a pentode to give a good S/N ratio. All the
    television sets of that era (as far as I remember) used a pentode in
    that position, so that might have accounted for the higher noise level.

    The higher gain of a transistor tuner may have delivered a larger signal
    to the first I.F. stage and that would be wbere the improvement in S/N
    ratio occurred.


    --
    ~ Liz Tuddenham ~
    (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
    www.poppyrecords.co.uk

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  • From tony sayer@21:1/5 to All on Wed Apr 20 23:35:52 2022
    In article <1pqgsmk.13b7rpd1fg44sgN%liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid>,
    Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> scribeth thus
    tony sayer <tony@bancom.co.uk> wrote:

    In article <jbqqe2Fmv4pU2@mid.individual.net>, williamwright
    <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> scribeth thus
    On 14/04/2022 09:56, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
    When BBC 2 first came on the uhf tuners were using tiny valves, but
    when I tried to use them this way, I often found that the inbuilt
    inductance etc, of the circuit made it impossible to get above around
    200 mhz. Obviously when Transistors came along this changed, then came
    te problems with capacitance making them unstable, but I digress, I
    just wondered how they managed to get these valve uhf tuners to work on >> >> band 4 and 5? I suspect its tied up with the way they were tuned using
    effectively tuned lines, but they worked surprisingly well.

    They were very noisy and got worse and worse very quickly.

    Bill

    PC88 RF amp and PC86 Local Osc/Mixer..

    The noise figures for those triodes were pretty good because they didn't >suffer from the partition noise of a pentode. I suspect there would
    have been other causes for the noise, such as poor gain distribution in
    the early stages of the receiver or mechanical problems in the tuner
    made worse by the heat of the valves.

    The Eddystone 770U used a 6AM4 in earthed grid configuration and a 6AF4A >oscillator with a 'crystal mixer'; it covered 150 to 500 Mc/s in six
    ranges. With an I.F. bandwidth of 20Kc/s the S/N ratio was 15dB for 10 >microvolts input (75 ohms) modulated at 30%. A double triode was used
    in cascode as the first I.F. amplifier because the signal was still too
    low at that point for a pentode to give a good S/N ratio. All the
    television sets of that era (as far as I remember) used a pentode in
    that position, so that might have accounted for the higher noise level.

    The higher gain of a transistor tuner may have delivered a larger signal
    to the first I.F. stage and that would be wbere the improvement in S/N
    ratio occurred.


    Well as maybe but i do remember the first transistor ones we had that
    were or made UHF 625 like TV possible out this way, till the mighty
    Sandy heath transmitter came on lime!..

    No more 18 element aerials on long chimney poles and head pre-amps and
    that all now gone!
    --
    Tony Sayer


    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person.

    Give him a keyboard, and he will reveal himself.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)