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The Old CATV Equipment Museum
The Early Years: Before CATV

Tunable Settop Antenna Booster Amplifiers

CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
Astatic Model AT-1 "Channel Chief" All-Channel Television Booster
Jerrold Model TV-FM Settop Tunable Television Booster
Jerrold Model TV-FM Series B Settop Tunable Television Booster
     • Technical Note
     • Historical Note
     • Instruction Manual (PDF)
Masco "Super Sky Chief" Settop Tunable Television Booster
RMS "Video Preamplifier" Settop Tunable Television Booster

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

Photo:Lew ChandlerHigh Resolution

Jerrold Model TV-FM Series B
Settop Tunable Antenna Booster

Photo:Lew Chandler

Photo:Lew Chandler

Photo:Lew ChandlerHigh Resolution

Technical Note

The 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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