The Old CATV Equipment Museum The Early Years: Before CATV Tunable Settop Antenna Booster Amplifiers
This page illustrates Tunable Settop Antenna Booster Amplifiers. This device can be characterized as follows:
- Description: Low-noise, low-gain tunable narrowband RF booster amplifier.
- Intended Installation: On top of ("settop") or near a television set, within reach of the user.
- Frequency Range: Tunable across VHF Broadcast Band (Channels 2-13 + FM). For proper operation, the user was required to tune it to the same channel as the television set.
- RF Ports: One input port and one output port for connection to one television set. All ports were 300-ohm screw terminals for use with twinlead.
- Power Switching: Manual switch on front panel.
- Housing: Finished wood, painted metal or molded plastic, designed for settop installation in a residential setting.
Astatic Model AT-1 "Channel Chief" All-Channel Television Booster
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
Jerrold Model TV-FM Settop Tunable Antenna Booster
| Photo: Lew Chandler | |
Jerrold Model TV-FM Series B Settop Tunable Antenna Booster
| Photo:Lew Chandler | |
| Photo:Lew Chandler | |
Technical NoteThe TV-FM Booster included a single pentode vacuum tube and frequency-tuning circuitry. Series B also includes an adjustable output-impedance matching network called the "Match-A-Tran." The following figure is a schematic diagram of Model TV-FM Series B; note the Match-A-Tran circuitry at the right side of the diagram. The Match-A-Tran is adjusted by a knob on the rear of the unit.
Historical Note
Jerrold Electronics Corporation was founded in 1948 by Milton Jerrold Shapp. The Model FM-TV was one of its first products.
The Cable Center's Oral History Collection includes two oral history interviews relevant to the Model FM-TV:
- Milton Shapp
Transcript of an oral history interview conducted by David L. Phillips in 1986. In this interview, Shapp discusses the founding of the company.
- Frank Ragone
Transcript of an oral history interview conducted by Archer Taylor in 1999. Ragone was one of the principal design engineers of the Model TV-FM; in this interview, he describes the history of the product.
Masco "Super Sky Chief" Settop Tunable Television Booster
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
RMS "Video Preamplifier" Settop Tunable Television Booster
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
| Photo:Lew Chandler |
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