RADIO AND TV RECEIVERS

Most call a TV receiver as TV. Earlier Radio receiverwas called as Radio. 
Probably it might have been due to convenience in usage.  In this posting also 
radio receiver is told asradio and TV receiver as TV. I recollect studying 
valve type TV receiver in themodern physics class in the college during 
1964.Transisters was just gettingintroduced at that time.  A nostalgiclook in 
to radios and TV. Nothing serious in this posting.

Sincerely,

Gopalakrishnan 29-1-2022

1Valve typeradios.

These radios were bigger in size. These radios had a magic eye whichshowed the 
strength of the signal received from a radio station transmitter tuned.A copper 
wire was erected on terrace for a length of about 10 feet. It wasconnected to 
two small ceramic insulators. These ceramic insulators had twoholes.  Copper 
wire was connected to oneof the holes of them and using the other end it was 
tied to pole. Copper wirewas extended to the radio through an insulated copper 
wire and connected to apin. This was connected to radio. We had to insert the 
pin tightly to the holeprovided in the radio. Radios operated from AC power. 

Signals from many foreign radio stations could be obtainedin radio on tuning. 
This is due to reflection in Appleton layer of theatmosphere.  In India the 
transmissionwas terrestrial, and only nearby radio signals could be obtained.  
Local stations relayed the transmission from centerslike New Delhi. Radio was 
kept on a stand in hall and connected to a powerpoint. Everyday newspaper had 
the programme of the nearby stations. People referredto Newspaper to ensure the 
time of good programmes. 

Murphy and Philips were leaders in manufacturingradios.  Later period antenna 
was erectedwith in room, it was a copper mesh connected to insulator plates. 
Nails werefixed and the mesh was erected in hall and the insulated wire 
extended toradio. Nobody thought the meshwould mar the appearance of the room. 

While living in rented homes, the owners used tocharge an extra amount for 
Radio’s power consumption. 

2 Transistorradios

Transistor radio receivers appeared later, smaller insize which had telescopic 
antenna fitted on it. The antenna was a rod and itcould be pulled as required 
to receive weak signals. Transistor radios workedon battery. Some people 
connected transistor radio to power socket through a battery eliminator. 
Thepower voltage was reduced to 12 volts DC by the eliminator. Radio 
transmissionwas only up to 10 PM in the night. 

 Till theappearance of black and white TV, radios were kept in high prominence. 
Nowwhile travelling in cars we listen to radio, radio signals are received 
throughan antenna fitted on car. In remote areas now also people listen to 
radios. 

3. Radio license

Yearly one had to pay radio license. It was paid inpost office. This practice 
was stopped sometimes after the appearance of TV.Onetime license fee was 
charged for TV also in earlier times.

4 TV usingresistances and transistor

The earliest TV had no integrated circuit using chips.They were made using 
transistors and resistances and a step down transformer inthe TV was used for 
this. However picture tube required 240V AC. These wereblack and white TVs 
smaller in size of a radio.

Unlike radio, there were many manufacturers for TV.Philips and Murphy were not 
in the field.

5 TV using IC 

After some time TV using IC appeared. TV size becamelarge. Some of thebrands 
coming to my recollection are Salora, Dyanora, Orson, konark, and 
Beltek.Depending on the size of picture tube price was increased. The size of 
the TVwas measured diagonally. 

6. Colour TV

Keltron from Kerala supplied TV to Bangalore, wherecolour transmission was 
there. In Kerala there was no colour Transmission atthat time. BPL was a leader 
in colour TV manufacturing. A costly TV was Sony. Evennow many homes have 
picture tube type TV as main TV or second TV.

7 Assembledmother board

Electronic shops came with assembled mother board withnew features later. 
Rather than purchasing new TV most replaced the motherboard. Expert technicians 
did it even in residences. 

8. Change inpicture tube. 

The size of picture tube decided the TV dimension and itsprice. TVs where 
placed in different types of stands in the hall.

8 Antennas.

To receive the TV signals large size antenna waserected on roof top using GI 
pipe. Yagi antenna was erected and connected to TVusing flat cable.  This was 
till cable TVbecoming common. 

9 Cable TV.

These operators received signals from differenttransmission stations and 
extended through cable to homes. Their cable wastaken tying to electric poles. 
They received the signals in special largedishes. Cable TV eliminated roof 
antenna. Where cable TV was not available roofantenna continued. Cable TV 
operator charged monthly for the connectioncharges. Later they also came via a 
set up box for connection. 

10 Flat TV

Instead of oval picture tube appeared flat. This hadmain advantage as sharp 
pictured could be tuned. Flat TV continues in manyhomes.

11. Satellitetransmission and dish antenna.

With satellite transmission signals could be clearlyobtained using a dish 
antenna. The signals were received in a setup box andconnected to TV. In the 
south in Chennai, First came Tatasky (now Tata play). Initiallythey had to be 
recharged using phone and the card purchased details.  Now we can recharge 
easily using ATM card.Later many other companies appeared. Sun TV, Videocon 
D2h, Dish EV, Airtel TV etc.are important players in the field. 

12. LCD, LED,Plasma TV

With gradual reduction of picture tube TV, these typeof TV eliminating picture 
tube started appearing. Now we get mostly LED andplasma TV. However their sizes 
are large, weight is lesser than picture tubeTV. Lately MI TV has appeared 
which uses a different software using android IClike in a smart phone. 

13. DoordarshanTransmission.

We can get setup box and dish antenna to getdoorsarshan transmission. 
Doordarshan channels are free. Very few privatechannels also we can see along 
with. All doordarshan channels in India are available.Comparing to other 
channels doordarshan programmes are more informative. 

In othertransmissions also doordarshan are available free of charge. I have a 
TV connection exclusively with Doordarshan programsin my home. Often I listen 
to them. These signals come with clarity. 

 

 

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