405-line UK TV

Ye olde English TV camera?

Or find out the specifications and synthesize a test pattern using a microcontroller.

Here is a whole web page about that question:

I read in sci.electronics.design that Andrew wrote (in ) about '405-line UK TV', on Wed, 5 Jan 2005:

Put a 'help wanted' lineage ad in 'Television' magazine. Free. Email plain text to t.winford[at]highburybiz[dot]com

You could probably modify a monochrome security camera to 405 lines. Reduce the line scan frequency to 10125 Hz. You would need to invert the video into a modulator: 405 used positive modulation.

Any VGA card, a copy of X-windows (under linux), and the right modeline, would get you composite video of the right format. Add a TV capture card, some software (mplayer will work) and you've got a standards conveter.

You could make a suitable VHF oscillator for band III and modulate it with a simple test pattern generated with a microcontroller.

Leon

Thanks to all who replied. When I posted the question I thought it so obscure that I never tried a Google search as I never anticipated how popular old 405-line TV's would be! A simple search such as

This may be of interest:

sPoNiX

Older analogue VCRs can record and play 405 lines - some vintage TV clubs produced tapes. You can also buy a 625 to 405 converter :

Here is some more info :