Down But Not Out
Thank you Filo T. Farnsworth, for your invention almost 80 years ago. But if we’re seeing the test pattern, that means Carson is long over, the network has already read the Televison Code of Conduct, played the National Anthem, and now all we hear is a 1Khz tone. That means it’s time to go to bed.
Can anyone remember how to use one of these things, and does anyone still have a TV with the knobs in the back that allowed the adjustments?
Trust me, it was a whole lot harder to adjust the first colour TVs than any BW set. They were miserably designed, and the change in temperature of the chassis, when you took the back off, was your enemy. Some soft focus, slightly green vistas, were had until my dad got better equipment for his repair business.
Posted by Mojomatt
01/15/2007 at 03:59 PM
Can a modern TV be adjusted at all? My 8 year old CRT TV has only digital adjustments; and nowhere near as many as my PC’s CRT monitor. What is there to even adjust on the new plasma and LCD sets?
Yes, I do know how to use this pattern - you would be able to determine what your screens’ resolution was where the individual lines merged into a blur. (Note the 575 to 325 scale on the left of the bulls eye...) Nowadays we have magnificently sharp pictures and wonderful, clear and deep sound to complete and total shit. I miss the days of I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, the Lone Ranger and such. So I’m a freakin’ dinosaur.. And??
With the advent of LCD or Plasma the days of the TV repairman are limited. In keeping with our throwaway society there is little that can be repaired or salvaged from the from these devices. It is the old adage “Its cheaper to buy than repair” that rules the day. This, coupled with the changes in the ever changing specifications, dooms what we are typing on or watching to obsolesce the day we bring it into the house.
Posted by Mojomatt
01/15/2007 at 04:49 PM
In keeping with my personality, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Addams Family, and the Munsters were my favorites.
Posted by Mojomatt
01/15/2007 at 05:09 PM
I’m just hoping my current TV lasts for awhile longer. At 8 it’s already the longest living set I’ve ever had. If I can get another 6 years out of it then I’m hoping the price of these new uber-sets will have come down about 80%. I am NOT paying $5000 for a TV when the best thing on half the time is game shows.
I’ve heard that the broadcast HDTV date is now pushed back to 2009. I think it was 2005 originally. Someday ... meanwhile I’m like Jessica Simpson in that ad - “I have no idea what a 1080i standard is, but I want it.” That’s a great ad!
