The last days of 405 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

irishtv · 18th Jul 2007, 1:16 pm

I was always under the impression that 405 line TV officially died out in 1985, but there's a claim on Digital Spy that some very remote areas did not lose 405 until as recently as 1993. Surely that's not true?

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...light=405+1993

paulsherwin · 18th Jul 2007, 1:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishtv

I was always under the impression that 405 line TV officially died out in 1985, but there's a claim on Digital Spy that some very remote areas did not lose 405 until as recently as 1993. Surely that's not true?

I can't see how that could be true. Small relay transmitters take their signals from the nearest main transmitter off air. Once the main system had shut down there would be no way to receive the signal. 625-405 standards converters were big expensive things then and it wouldn't have been practical to use one for small relays.

Actually, there weren't that many small 405 relay transmitters. Most were built with the introduction of the UHF networlk, as the signals didn't travel so well.

Possibly there is some confusion with 405 switchoff in the Irish Republic?

Paul

ppppenguin · 18th Jul 2007, 1:43 pm

I've never heard that one before. Paul Sherwin's reasoning is correct.

Eire turned off 405 before we did. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/405_line http://www.irish-tv.com/405.asp It appears they kept some of the 405 relays running after the main stations were switched off. Presumably by receiving 625 off air and converting to 405 at the relay.

irishtv · 18th Jul 2007, 2:09 pm

It was the North Donegal relays at Fanad, Moville and Letterkenny. They were not converted to 625 VHF until 1982. Since then they were further switched over to all 625 UHF about 10 years ago with the introduction of TG4, the Irish language TV channel.

Welsh Anorak · 18th Jul 2007, 2:10 pm

Hi
I have a friend in OFCOM and he agrees with Paul - they were surpised to learn that over 16 000 405-only sets were in use at the time!
Perhaps they are confusing 405 with VHF wired systems?

Glyn

Focus Diode · 18th Jul 2007, 10:57 pm

Agree with all the above. In the UK it was the mains stations which were the last to go in January 1985 where in Eire it was low powered relays. It seems 1983 was the date, rather than 1993!

The attachment shows a list of RTE TV Transmitting stations in January 1982. Note the "TRANSPOSERS (405) at the bottom.

Some features on past television, although otherwise excellent in every way, do give inaccurate information at times especially in technical areas. One example is the mention that 405-line transmitters were slowly switched off from the '70s, the last to close being Sutton Coldfield in 1982!

Cheers,
Brian

18th Jul 2007, 1:16 pm	#1
irishtv Triode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London, UK. Posts: 25	The last days of 405 I was always under the impression that 405 line TV officially died out in 1985, but there's a claim on Digital Spy that some very remote areas did not lose 405 until as recently as 1993. Surely that's not true? http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...light=405+1993

18th Jul 2007, 1:43 pm	#3
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: The last days of 405 I've never heard that one before. Paul Sherwin's reasoning is correct. Eire turned off 405 before we did. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/405_line http://www.irish-tv.com/405.asp It appears they kept some of the 405 relays running after the main stations were switched off. Presumably by receiving 625 off air and converting to 405 at the relay.

18th Jul 2007, 2:09 pm	#4
irishtv Triode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London, UK. Posts: 25	Re: The last days of 405 It was the North Donegal relays at Fanad, Moville and Letterkenny. They were not converted to 625 VHF until 1982. Since then they were further switched over to all 625 UHF about 10 years ago with the introduction of TG4, the Irish language TV channel.

18th Jul 2007, 2:10 pm	#5
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,925	Re: The last days of 405 Hi I have a friend in OFCOM and he agrees with Paul - they were surpised to learn that over 16 000 405-only sets were in use at the time! Perhaps they are confusing 405 with VHF wired systems? Glyn

18th Jul 2007, 10:57 pm	#6
Focus Diode Octode Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Borough of Gateshead, UK. Posts: 1,420	Re: The last days of 405 Agree with all the above. In the UK it was the mains stations which were the last to go in January 1985 where in Eire it was low powered relays. It seems 1983 was the date, rather than 1993! The attachment shows a list of RTE TV Transmitting stations in January 1982. Note the "TRANSPOSERS (405) at the bottom. Some features on past television, although otherwise excellent in every way, do give inaccurate information at times especially in technical areas. One example is the mention that 405-line transmitters were slowly switched off from the '70s, the last to close being Sutton Coldfield in 1982! Cheers, Brian Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Focus Diode; 18th Jul 2007 at 10:58 pm. Reason: Added attachment