Servicing info on RCA U70 UHF to VHF converter

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by joe_tbird

(mine's a Sylvania). It broadcasts the converted VHF signal across several channels, so I turn the VHF dial till I find one without a legitimate VHF signal to compete (usually channel 4 works best for my area). I then turn the UHF tuner on the set to the station I want. It's very touchy, so it takes a bit of trial and error to set everything up (you have to fine tune both the converter and the VHF tuner on the TV). It sure makes me appreciate the patience people must have had to buy and use one of these things instead of springing for a UHF set.

Joe

THis can explain why many early UHF TV stations failed. Many viewers probably would just go with an easily tuned in VHF station rather than bother with the UHF converter hassles. Around 1964 or so the FCC mandated that all new TV sets were to have UHF tuners. Helped a lot, but unless you were the only UHF in town, getting viewers to tune your UHF station in was still a two step process. Turn the VHF dial to "U", and then mess with the UHF dial. If you were the only UHF in town, most people probably have you set on the UHF dial and when the twist the VHF dial across "U" your station is there.

An exception would be if both UHFs were Spanish language, then that community would never leave the UHF band and only twist the UHF knob. Or
small towns with all 3 networks on UHF channels. Binghamton NY had 2 of the 3 networks on UHF, and one of the networks on channel 12 if I recall correctly. That would make for a lot of dual knob twisting....