Colour is coming

The new ITA network of UHF (Bands IV and V) 625-line transmitting stations should begin to come into service in some main areas on 15th November 1969, and will build up to provide national coverage over the following years. About 25 main stations and a considerable number of relay stations are planned to be in operation by the end of 1971.

All these UHF stations will carry combined colour/black-and-white programmes from the time they are taken into service.

The programmes transmitted on this network will be simultaneously transmitted on the 405-line system by the existing network of VHF (Band III) stations in black-and-white only. These VHF transmissions will continue unaffected for a number of years yet – so that no receivers will be rendered obsolete.

The new network will not carry a ‘second’ Independent Television programme – but for the first time the ITV programmes will, in many cases, be available to viewers in the 625-line colour/black-and-white system.

Viewers who can already receive existing BBC2 UHF transmissions in black-and-white or colour should usually be able to receive ITA UHF transmissions (when available in their district) without any change in receiver or aerial system.

When all three British programme services are available in a particular district, it will be possible, if desired, to use a single-standard (625-line-only) receiver with a single UHF-only aerial. Such sets are likely to appear on the market.

The most important factor in obtaining good UHF reception is to use a good aerial (installed in the loft, or better still on a high outside mounting) in conjunction with low-loss feeder cable.

The key to good UHF pictures

Most UHF reception problems are due to the use of an inadequate aerial system or its poor location or installation. The strength of UHF signals varies a great deal depending upon how far away you are from the local transmitter, and the amount of screening from intervening hills and buildings. The weaker the signal, the more important is the need for a really effective aerial correctly positioned and aligned on the transmitter. An important part of the aerial system is the special cable (‘coaxial cable’) which links the aerial to your receiver. Different cables vary in efficiency, and it is most important for UHF reception that your aerial installer fits a good low-loss cable. A special leaflet ‘Good Viewing of Independent Television’, available from the ITA Engineering Information Service, gives full advice on aerials and other factors which help you to obtain good colour or black-and-white reception of ITA stations.

THE LIBERACE SHOW. Liberace with guest Anita Harris. (ATV)
1969 // THIS IS TRANSDIFFUSION