Surely there are no programmes on the 405 line system now so do you watch blank screens?!?
No, because it’s no great problem getting 405 line TVs to work with programmes recorded on a VHS (or Betamax) recorder. Most VCRs will record and play back 405 line material quite well, even though they were not designed to do this. Obviously the TV must be in good working order, then all you need do is build or buy a modulator which translates the video signal from your recorder onto a VHF channel suitable for the TV. Your video recorder already has a modulator which puts out a signal on channel 36, but 405 line TVs don’t normally have UHF tuners, so you need to make a VHF modulator. Also it has to be positive modulation, with AM sound, but those finer points are all covered in the design details. Modulators, Test Card C generators and 625-to-405 standards converters of excellent quality were available until recently from Dinosaur Designs but production has ceased for the time being. Negotiations for another individual to take over their construction fell through.
