Building a 1950s TV Transmitter! 

Here's the link to some more tests! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qFEFWfwg91g.html Playlist with cool analog videos coming soon, feel free to bug me about it.

I actually use multiple of those connected with dtv boxes, hooked them up to old fashioned TV sets, to still pretend that I’m still watching analog NTSC

As another note, your chosen modulator is transmitting on UHF stations. Most American TVs before 1962 were VHF-only (UHF cost extra) so they couldn't actually receive your signal. More importantly for you, rabbit ears are designed for VHF. If you get some UHF (or combo VHF/UHF) antennas you might get a stronger signal and a cleaner image. The most common old-school design you'll find is the loop antenna. That's why most tabletop antennas have a metal hoop on the base, it's not a handle.

What I liked about analog TV the most is that it was practically lag-free, what you saw was eseentially real-time if it came from the TV studio (a news report coming though a satelite link to the studio had a few seconds lag even in the analog days). As digital took over, true live TV was gone. Digital terrestrial TV signals need processing before broadcast, the lag can be more than 30s, digital cable TV does additinal processing of the already processed signal which can almost double this lag.

As somebody else here said the dark picture is most likely from the cheap HDMI->composite adapter. To get into the details a bit, American broadcasts have a 7.5 IRE "setup" (black level) while other regions (including Europe and Asia) don't. So a signal level which a Chinese TV sees as dark gray is seen by an American receiver as black and what the Chinese TV sees as black is seen as darker than black by the American receiver. An easy work-around is to increase the "brightness" in your receiver. This will work on almost any analog receiver but might not on all digital-based receivers.

This is actually super cool! I too watched a whole bunch of ATV shutdown videos. It’s crazy that analog tech was shutdown after so long and the snow is indeed a vibe.

i love the older 4:3 aspect ration on your video

Good on you for getting all this together and making it work. Just a point - if it was a 1950s tv transmitter it would be full of vacuum tubes. Solid state transmitters didn't really become a thing until the late 1960s / early 1970s. Keep up the interesting projects.

Analog sure was fun, I was one of the rare kids who had a portable TV in grade school. On the bus ride home I was able to watch TV channels over the air and at home I had a setup that let me watch cable by hooking it up to the antenna input (back when basic cable was also analog). When I was super little we used to have this boombox with a mini BW TV in it! it was amazing! For an analog signal, I'd use a VCR, you'd even have a convenient way of recording analog at the source so should you choose. Also, for still images, two great ways to make a picture look old with getting a digital camera with a CCD sensor (modern use CMOS) and using the built in Xenon flash.

Using this tutorial as a guide, I shall make my own TV station that broadcasts on UHF analog channel 58.

That fuzzy analog TV signal sure brings back some memories. I actually watched the analog-to-digital changeover as it was happening on that special June day back in 2009. It was weird for me to see all those TV channels in use for many decades suddenly turn to snow.

Glad my country still broadcast in analog format. This is a saver for many poor families that can't afford a modern TV.

That's exactly what I needed, some actual explanation on how to do it. I saw the antenna's man video, but I didn't quite understand the process to build the transmitter, but now this video is helpful. I very recently got a Radio Station/Cassette Player and Recorder/Television station (yep, all in one) with VHF channels pick-up. I really want to make some actual videos with that technique, so this is very, very helpful. Thanks man, I really needed that.

5:00 I remember analog TV ending in Brazil on December 31, 2023

I think my interest in this came from ham radio, for me it all started with an fm transmitter where I ran a 15 watt pirate radio station, and now I’m here, thanks for making this video

Well done making an analogue transmitter. We lost the last of our analogue TV here in Australia in December 2013. It was sad to see it all go. Incidentally, if a low VHF channel is used for analogue TV, the coverage distance can increase quite dramatically, especially during the summer months.

I have a great respect for people who goes above and beyond to make things actually look like they're broadcasting on Analog. This is great! Kind of reminds me of the Oddity Archive!

Ive thought of doing this too, got myself a bunch of Vintage cameras, even one with a CRT sensor. There is a lot of fun to be had with analog tech

ATSC was probably the worst thing that happened to rural viewers. We went from light snow that could be fixed by minor antenna adjustments on NTSC to a signal that made ear bleeding cracking and squealing noises with choppy video and “no signal”. We also went from 2 dozen station that were a different program to 20 channels that were the same 5 stations on 4 different frequencies. And only 3 of them maintain a good signal.

FCC is truly the worst. We need to take analog back somehow. Also this video is awesome.

Extremely educational video is cool! I live in Brazil, and I remember exactly the day they turned off the analog TV signal in my city (it was in July 2018) and that's why this video brought me a certain nostalgia for when I watched everything with those drizzles. As for the dark image, this is a problem with the receiver (that is, the TV), as modern TVs have a tendency to distort the analog signal a lot, That's why the analog image comes out better on the CRT, as it comes out purer, unlike modern TVs, which try to improve the image, but in the end, they only make it worse. Random curiosity: Unlike the USA, which turned off the analog signal across the entire country in 2009, here in Brazil, the states were gradually making the transition. The first city to turn off the analog signal was São Paulo, in 2016, and then came some capitals, such as Belo Horizonte, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, etc. However, even today, in 2023, some more isolated cities still use the analogue signal, as not everyone in that place can afford to buy a digital TV. Some Brazilian states also campaigned for the transition from digital TV, and donated free converters from the national brand "Multilaser", and these converters came with a fixed modulator on channel 3 or 4, so these converters could be adapted even in TVs that do not have the RCA composite output. Sorry for my English, I used Google Translate in this comment

Very nice work both on your transmitter setup and for the video itself!

I was surprised to know that people stopped using analog, in certain countries there's local cable providers who takes digital tv and push it through analog while simultaneously transmitting the same signal for digital too, you can watch international channels like 4k on your old tv, I feel it's a blessing to still be able to see such antique tech being used till now and they still do the trick

When I was in kindergarten, i found an old crt at my grandparents house, and tried to build an analog transmitter, and almost instantly gave up, so thank you for making this! I'm gonna try it!

keep making stuff man, i love the content

This is an amazing way to achieve this film effect

this video was fantastic, im totally doing this now!

Interesting. I like how you managed to fit information in such a short video, nice. And I also like the editing.

I fly drones using the exact same tech on the 5.8ghz band for video link, I love it. I hooked an old camcorder into one of the video transmitters, then used my goggles to record the video without a tape. I also managed to hook one of the video receivers we use in the goggles to an old CRT, then watch people fly in low quality black and white. Analog is the coolest shit man.

love analog things

Really cool video! Definitely deserves more views! My country switched off analog signal in 2014. At that time I was around 8 years old. I had a CRT TV next to a window in a small area of house. I remember catching signals of the channels. Despite living in the capital, TV signal was poor and it was rare to have any signal without a big antenna on top of the block's roof because between Tbilisi TV tower and my house there is a small hill blocking the signal. I still remember catching Rustavi 2 and Public Broadcaster signals on that tv. It was the last time I saw an analog broadcast on that specific TV. Although that TV can catch FM radio signal when switched to 0 (AV) channel.

I like this technology too and hope people won't forget about it. Also I think it can be preserved well enough by implementing transmitters and receivers in software, with software-defined radio (SDR) technology.

Admittedly, I expected you to start soldering up a cool little circuit, and not just use bought thingies, but that's still quite cool! Reminds me of how I got my start with electronics.

If you haven't already, I'd suggest looking into ham radio and slow-scan TV.... both of which are relevant to your work here. Most ham radio operators still use analog formats, since they're so ubiquitous. If you enjoyed building this TV transmitter, you might enjoy building your own ham radios and talking with folks of all ages who are interested in similar topics. Slow-scan TV isn't as popular as it was during the 70s and 80s, but... it still pops up from time to time. Valve teased Portal 2 by including slow-scan TV signals in an update to Portal 1.

I love the little face you drew in the box x3

Somewhere in this world there was a place where analogue television was turned off very late, 6 years ago, it seems to me, and few people noticed the shutdown, because digital television had been working for 5 years by that time, and was much better than analogue, and people bought set-top boxes or new TVs. But that's not all, after turning off analogue television, a few years later it was turned on again, and it still works - you won't guess why.

This is an amazing video! You really deserve more subscribers:D

Though you say this video technology lacks clarity of modern technology, I fully understand why you did this. Same reason people build their own stuff whether it be a radio transmitter or an airplane even if it's already been done before. It's totally cool to actually build something that you can own. Like Tyler the Antenna Man, I sometimes use a modulator with antenna for shortrange wireless video. This technique has been around for decades, the transmitter or actually a modulator are designed for in-house TV distribution systems used in places like apartment buildings with a common antenna. Techies found they can use these modulators as low power transmitters, instead of connecting cable to distributers, connect it to an antenna and you are good to go. Its convenient modern TVs still have analog NTSC tuning, these can also be used for receiving amateur television. Example CATV Ch 57, 58, 59 (not Antenna Ch 57-59) receive on 421.25, 427.25, 433.25 MHz which are amateur radio frequencies. Put your TV into CATV mode, connect an outside yagi antenna pointed to a ATV station (if one is in your area) selected to either of those three channels. CATV Ch 58 the most commonly used. NTSC has a fascinating history, yes only a 4:3 aspect ratio, not HD of today's standards. They had to work with what was available. It first began as 60 Hz in 1951 but shortly after they wanted to increase to include a color TV signal. FCC kept that channel bandwidth fixed at 6 MHz, so to squeeze in the chroma signal, they changed scan rate to 59.94 Hz. When computers came along, those video signals set at 59.94 Hz to match available CRT monitors. When flatscreens appeared, they set scan rates to 59.94 Hz to match the computers. It's the same since then (exception certain gaming computers). So that modern HDMI, SDI, whatever scan rate frequency all from legacy created by engineers from early 1950s.

I did this! I have a collection of crts and did this instead of running cables to all the TV's. I'm hoping I can find a more powerful amplifier to broadcast a little further

Man you just gave me the excuse I need to make my own Transmitter now. I have waaaaaaaay too many CRT TVs that are just sitting around not doing anything. Time to change that. Also Hi 32 Year old Millennial here. I love to see younger people getting into tech that I grew up when I was your age and now I feel old 💀

Incredible

Wow! that's cool.

4:38 I like how you moved the captaions so it doesn't block text. Great work btw

I put a HUGE antenna on my modulator and connected a camera far away from my house. Now I watch the image 18 km away

Something I did recently was hookup a settop box to the AV input on my secondary VCR and ran the output VIA the RF Ariel cable to the TV and after some tuning I got an analogue transmission of digital TV. two analogue channels picked up the signal, (looked almost identical to a VHS) The VCR was acting as a modulator and transmitter. Analogue video is just so fascinating, old and reliable.

Recently purchased a 1960s solid state TV, going to use this tutorial for it as the video connector it takes is so outdated theres no other way. Thanks!.

Excellent explanation I did the exact same thing in 2020 and worked great. When using the RF Modulator I recommend the UHF Band there are low interferences compared to VHF Band. The downside is that UHF has lower range than VHF similar to Wi-Fi 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. And the coaxial cable should only be RG6 or RG6U. Don't use RG59 or 3C2V cables, you have great signal loss especially on UHF band. Next time I recommend a digital RF modulator, make sure it has HDCP and two inputs. Digital is much better.

You’re voice is awesome

so underpopular, good work!

Years ago l bought an AV transmitter unit for an early black and white security camera l had. It operates on the old analog uhf system so l could in theory set up my own analog tv channel,with no competitors! I will have to dust it off and find an oldvideo camera with rca plugs and try it out.

Wow!!! How did you figure all this out?? Well presented and entertaining!!

This is the best video I have seen regarding the issue of an analog TV transmitter I have seen so far, and probably the best one there is!

I have a setup with my dad's rf transmitter and a phillips antenna, and a memorex portable B&W tv. It's really cool, and sometimes Iput fake emergency alerts.

Nice!

When you want no privacy at all

nice job

hey so i actually did this! (yes i have much time on my hands) and my sony watchman could actually pick it up! it looks amazing! thanks for the tutorial.

I ordered the stuff to do this I’m excited

I didn’t know it was quite so easy! Might give it a try with a (PAL) BG transmitter - I have a 1973 B&W TV with a built-in antenna, and already connected it to digital TV using an SD decoder that outputs to SCART and a modulator. But doing it over the air would be very cool.

Not the same thing, but I hooked up an antenna to a VCR I got from a thrift store recently via RF Out on the back of the VCR and then an antenna to an old CRT TV I have, and I'm watching the VCR, "wirelessly", on "Channel 3" on the TV. The antenna from the VCR has to be touching or at least be millimeters away from the antenna/cord that's plugged in the TV because the signal is so weak. It's the only experience with some sort of broadcast "analog TV" I've ever had. I'm only 21, but I love old tech, and I will get an amplifier soon, and maybe even an RF modulator. The TV is a classic old design, rabbit ears too, but I thought I'd never use it again and I needed an antenna for a weather radio I had so I ripped one of the antennas off so it only has one now. I could tape it back on so it really feels like an old TV with an old antenna (don't really need the antenna in the radio anymore). The speaker also got busted a while ago so no sound comes from it, and until a few days ago, I haven't used it for months, but when I did the VCR thing I mentioned before, I realized I had another old radio that could tune into VHF and UHF channels, so I put that near the antenna from the VCR, so that plays the sound, and the TV plays the picture. I love that little setup I have.

Welp, time to break the FCC's law!

Nice job! I really liked the video, also I am thinking of doing this myself

Simon Tech Tips 🐐

In the Netherlands (Europe) we switched to Digital as the first of Europe in 2006 and in 2021 the last ever analogue signal was transmited over cable television. Here in the Netherlands some kind of television subscription is more popular than in the USA since it is more restricted and protected from watching it without subscription. So in the Netherlands you could get a cheap digital television box from the biggest television subscription provider to receive digital signals if you still where using one of the analog television signals that where left over until 2021 with and old CRT television.

Some modulators have HDMI input on them now. So you probably didn't need the converter but this is excellent info.

Early digital camcorders add a cool effect too.

i was in a hotel in bosnia a few months ago and they still have analog tv there

I like your thinking. "I did something terribly inefficient. But, hey. It's fun!" I'm looking at radio frequency communication alternatives and yes, it's inefficient considering the internet exists today. But it's fun! nice video, new sub

The analog receiver on tvs is on there for most cable company or convert boxes because the coaxial leg on the box's send out a analog signal on ch. 3 and 4.

80s 90s computer video cameras music consoles are my hits

I know I'm late but it's due to your set up. With the HDMI signal is getting downgraded twice once from the av adapter and a second time from the RF modulator. To fix this I'd suggest skipping the av adapter and just get an HDMI to RF modulator.

This is a fun little project that makes a neat effect. I must point out that amplifier was designed to plug into a TV aeriel input, not run as a transmitter. Analogue TV with a decent signal was a crystal clear picture. It was only in poor reception areas it looked like what you have there. The bandwidth was a lot higher for the video than the equivalent digital resolution in pixels was too, that's why even direct A-D or D-A video never looks like true analogue broadcast actually looked. It's also why flat screen TVs looked like crap when we trued to use them on analogue signals and old game consols.

Who would've thought such simple stuff to get on Amazon can recreate a portable anologue tv transmitter! You can create a channel in realistic retro style without special effects with just about 100 dollars from purchasing the required materials!

I use a similar rig that I used a vintage candy tin (insulated with a rubber mat inside) to put the electronics in. I use it for my vintage analog portable LCD TV collection. Unfortunately some of the "cheaper" models like Casio lacked any AV input and still rely on channel 3 to receive a broadcast. This setup facilitates a broadcast, and with some of the analog TFT color portables, you can even play classic videogames over the air as NES and consoles up to PS2 still have composite output. Here's a challenge, find a good sized O gauge train building, integrate the electronics into the building, and get a train tv /radio broadcast tower for I think it's still $16.79 at Walmart for the kit. Put a single antenna through the center of the tower and you now have a very good looking "actual" broadcast tower from the 50s.

I need a damn analog tv transmitter

turkey still has analog tv! and i experienced analog

IIRC modern TVs still have analog tuners mainly to accommodate devices like VCRs which using RF can be used on channels 3 or 4

Nice video. I ordered the parts and I am waiting for them. Also do you know what the power output is, and what is the range that this can transmitt, and also how I can increase/decrease the range of the transmitter and also how to increase the power output?

Just wow

you can also build a portable one! i did this a week ago. might showcase it on my channel this week or so

Excellent video and tutorial, great work! How did you manage to get the final video feed (the one displayed in analog on your TV) into a digital file and uploaded to RU-vid? Did your TV have a built-in video capture mode, or did you use a separate video capture device?

I also think it's amazing

It would be so cool instead of connecting the antena to a tv, connect it to a VCR and record the video on tape, the signal lost effect + real vhs effect woule so cool!!!

if this was an actual product. take my money

SO REAL! How is the transmitter recorded with?

Hello from Republic of Moldova 🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩! Here, in the Republic of Moldova, analog television transmission stopped completely only last year, in 2022. The transmission was in SECAM D/K, PAL D/K format

My country still heavily relies on Analog TV (PAL) +FM broadcasting and I think that it's fine. It's free to air and especially Radio broadcasts are the kind that's more useful and effective in desperate situations like covering what we are missing from a cricket match during power interruptions for instance.

wow, muy chulo, bien hecho, quieres un buen reto, intenta hacer el modulador y transmisor con componentes basicos (transistores, capacitores, resistencias, inductores, etc), para una distancia de 1m no necesitas amplificador a si que se simplifican mucho las cosas. avisa me si lo intentas

A more powerful, yet more expensive option is to use an agile modulator. Pretty much a large, commercial-grade RF modulator. Blonder Tongue makes some of the best, I recommend the AM60-550b.

I made a tv transmiter with a dvd player a modulator and an apmlier then i conected a big homemade antenna and it transmited a 50 meters

I’d love to do this for my analog horror series, if it’s still popular

Hey everyone! It's been a while...

this don't seems 50's

dude nice job one question tho: where all the videos come from (ik its from the transmitter but where all the stuff come from that the transmitter transmit?)

hey, very cool project! Do you have any recomendations of receivers that could convert this signal to a pc?

0:31 the reason that they still have analog tuners is because a lot of countries still have analog TV.

You will make cool friends bc of this dw :)

Cool my country (Myanmar) doesn't have any digital channels except MRTV (they're currupt af) also channel ME entertainment (owned by MRTV) we still use analog. Anyways subbed

analog vibes

you dont even need an hdmi > composite because you can just use vhs tapes or dvds