Soviet Elektronika VL-100 TV in USA

[Jon F]

Hi, I have an Elektronika VL-100 TV which I believe is SECAM. It’s a neat set with a well thought out design including a folding chassis for servicing. I’ve already started re-capping it and have strong raster and white noise.

My question is how would I go about feeding a signal from an NTSC source? NTSC-SECAM AV converter + some sort of SECAM RF modulator?

Thanks!

[Electronic M]

My first choice would be a multistandard VCR ( especially since I have one), but if it is a monochrome set you may be able to get away with a SECAM RF modulator fed from an NTSC A/V source....I understand PAL and NTSC deflection frequencies are close enough to work with each other (sometimes needing.an RC time constant tweak to work).so maybe SECAM would work too.

[Sandy G]

Seen those Soviet Bad Bois on Der Bay for years... Always about half, kinda, sorta wanted one, but figgered getting the damthing here to Greater Bugtussle from Zaphorojetistan much less gettin' it to WORK would be a miracle on the order of the Loaves 'n' Fishes.. Will be interested in viewin' YOUR progress..

[AlanInSitges]

They made about a zillion of those sets; you see them for sale here in Europe from time to time. A little Googling will lead to quite a bit of technical information, including an extremely thorough description of the entire circuit and what each component does.

That set is from the pre-SECAM era; it would have received CCIR system D, which was 625 lines, 50 frames, on VHF only, with an 8MHz channel width. It will probably sync to an NTSC signal with some twiddling, though forget about audio working.

[Jon F]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Still have 7 or so capacitors to replace, waiting for them to arrive. So far connecting my NTSC RF modulator on CH3 through the antenna gets some weak diagonal lines, that’s about it so far.

[colorfixer]

Originally Posted by AlanInSitges

They made about a zillion of those sets; you see them for sale here in Europe from time to time. A little Googling will lead to quite a bit of technical information, including an extremely thorough description of the entire circuit and what each component does.

That set is from the pre-SECAM era; it would have received CCIR system D, which was 625 lines, 50 frames, on VHF only, with an 8MHz channel width. It will probably sync to an NTSC signal with some twiddling, though forget about audio working.

Couldn't one just retune the audio subcarrier frequency?

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by colorfixer

Couldn't one just retune the audio subcarrier frequency?

It would be simpler to get an RF modulator from the region it came from and let it work on the right RF spacings.

[Mr Hoover]

Hi,
This is the sort of modulator you need.
Does system D 6.5 MHz audio video
spacing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDM68-Modul...bsNZJYw7qUtliQ

It has an HDMI video input,
there's a cheaper version with
audio/video in via RCA connectors.
Best to think of this as a system D
receiver rather than SECAM.Most of
E.Europe ditched SECAM in favour of
system D PAL some years before digital
switchover.System D monochrome was around a long time before colour came along.
System K was the UHF variation with a
different vestigial sideband width,that's
why it's described as D/K.
Regards,
Hugh.

[AlanInSitges]

Originally Posted by colorfixer

Couldn't one just retune the audio subcarrier frequency?

I suppose you can; I have a few US-made sets here that I want to make work with PAL B/G from my transmitter. I guess I'll find out!

[Mr Hoover]

If you use the modulator I put the link to
you can just select 4.5 or 5.5 MHz audio.
Some US 4.5MHz sets retune ok to 5.5 (W.Europe)
some don't do so well,vision IF needs widening
out or sound is weak.

[Jon F]

I picked up the RCA AV jack version of this modulator and it does work, video and audio. Awesome.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079JXQKQJ..._gRRaEbHKMWYMX

TV has an unstable picture currently, once finished recapped hopefully it is sorted, will post update-

[Sandy G]

Always have heard that Soviet consumer grade stuff like TVs & radios was pretty dreadful, do you find that to be the case here ? The higher end stuff for doctors, engineers bossmens was apparently much better, but what Ivan & Igor had to make do with was not-K-mart & worse grade of quality. I'm not trying to really kick on the Soviets, I just don't know... I have an East German big wooden table top radio, its about as good as any of the gazillions of its W. German cousins that flooded over here about 10 years after the war, & a little pocket AM/LW Russian transistor set that "Sorta" picks up AM & LW, but their bands must not be anything close to ours. So close, & yet so incredibly far..

[Mr Hoover]

That TV was badged as the Rigonda
VL100 in the UK.There was a sales promotion where you collected
tops from Cornflake boxes,sent them off
with a certain amount of money and got a Rigonda TV.If you Google Rigonda and Cornflakes it does take you to a UK TV forum where repairs on the set are talked about.

[Mr Hoover]

Here's the link to the UK forum
posting.
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=959740

[Sandy G]

Danke Schoen !