|
June 1963 Radio-Electronics
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics.
See articles from Radio-Electronics,
published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
|
According to a two-page spread
in the June 1963 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine, the Winegard Colortron
antenna was considered the world's best performing VHF all-channel TV antenna for
its size and price. It was designed specifically for color TV and featured a "genuine"
gold anodized finish for permanent protection. The Colortron model C-42, priced
at $34.95 ($364
in 2025 money - an inflation factor of more than 10x), "is known for its near-perfect
performance, with high sensitivity, sharp directivity, and an exact 300 Ω
non-reactive impedance on every VHF channel from 2 to 13". The Colortron amplifier,
which employed two nuvistors, overcomes service problems and limitations of other
amplifiers, delivering clean, clear pictures without smear. The buffering action
of that amplifier is what provided the "exact 300 Ω non-reactive impedance"
across the band.
Winegard Colorton Antenna
 Why the Winegard Colortron Antenna is World's
Best
Designed Especially for Color TV
Genuine Gold Anodized Finish for permanent protection
Winegard all channel yagi patents - U.S. Pat. 2,700,105 - 2,955,289/Canada -
51,934
Colortron Model C-42
$34.95 list
The world's best performing VHF all channel TV antenna, size for size and dollar
for dollar, is the Winegard Colortron. The Colortron is more nearly perfect than
any other all channel antenna made. It is the only all channel antenna you can buy
that carries a factory written guarantee of best performance.
Here's Why Colortron is Best
1. A perfect all channel, high gain TV antenna would have the
following characteristics:
- the sensitivity of a well-engineered cut channel yagi of equal physical length
on each of the 12 channels.
- sharp directivity. A single frontal lobe and absolutely no pick-up of signal
from back or sides on any channel.
-it would have an exact 300 ohm non-reactive impedance on every VHF channel 2
through 13.
2. There are several basic designs for high gain, all channel
TV antennas. For practical reasons, only two of these are used today.
(A) The all channel yagi that incorporates only 2 driven elements - but many
directors. This design was invented by John R. Winegard in 1954. Until then, the
high efficiency of the yagi was limited to single channel antennas.
(B) The all channel antenna that incorporates a multiplicity of driven elements
in a single plane. These are End-Fire arrays.
This basic design was first used for TV in 1952. Some end-fire antennas are called
"log periodic".
It is a Scientific Fact that a single 1/2 wave director element
* will absorb 4 times more signal energy from a TV wave than a 1/2 wave driven element**.
Because of this indisputable fact, the Winegard Colortron all channel yagi uses
multiple directors to get its gain - not multiple driven elements.
To obtain a near perfect impedance match across the entire VHF TV band, it takes
only two driven elements. More than two driven elements will not improve the match
any more than extra wheels would improve a car. The only purpose of driven elements
on a TV antenna is to transfer the signal energy to the line.
As every antenna engineer knows, a well-engineered cut-to-channel yagi (with
but one driven element and many directors) is superior to any other design when
peak performance is desired on a single channel. The same fact holds true for best
results in all channel reception ... the yagi design is the most efficient, sensitive
ever created on a size for size basis.
Compare Polar Patterns
Winegard C-42 Yagi. Polar patterns from Polar coordinate
Recorder Speedomax Type G.
Note uniform directivity patterns and high uniform front-to-back ratio on all
channels.
Note absence of spurious lobes and total absence of side pick-up.
End-Fire "Log Periodic" model comparable with C-42. Polar patterns
taken from same recorder.
Note large variation between directivity from channel to channel. Note reduced
front-to-back ratio from C-42. Note spurious lobes (especially on high band) which
pick up interference. Also has undesirable side pick-up on low band.
Compare Frequency Response Curves
Winegard C-42 Yagi shows consistent sensitivity across all
channels. No roll-off on ends of bands, no suck-outs to ruinn color reception.
End-Fire "Log Periodic" (in same price range) shows varying
sensitivity across the bands. Peaks in middle of bands with sharp roll-offs on ends.
Serious suck-out in middle of channel 3.
***
Perfect Partner to the Colortron Antenna ... the TwinNuvistor Colortron
Amplifier
Winegard's revolutionary new circuit, employing 2 nuvistors, enables the Colortron
to overcome the service problems and limitations of other antenna amplifiers. Colortron
will not oscillate, overload or cross modulate because it takes up to 400,000 microvolts
of signal input. This is 20 times better than any single transistor amplifier.
The Colorton amplifier will deliver clean, clear, color pictures or black and
white, sharp and bright without smear. It can be use with any good TV antenna but
will deliver unsurpassed reception when used with a Colortron antenna.
Nothing on the amplifier is exposed to the elements - even the terminals are
protected. A rubber boot over the twin-lead keeps moisture out. Colortron comes
complete with an all AC power supply with built-in 2 set coupler. Colortron model
AP-200N 300 ohm input and output $39.95 list. Model AP-275 300 ohm input 75 ohm
output $44.95 list.
Now What are the Basic Differences Between These Two Types of Al Channel
Antennas?
One big difference is in sensitivity. The Winegard Colortron patented yagi with
multiple directors has far more ability to absorb signal power from a TV wave than
multiple driven element antennas. In fact, all fringe-type antennas with multiple
driven elements have one or more directors out front. Why add directors if the multiple
driven elements are supposed to be so efficient? The reason is obvious ... directors
are added to get the gain they can't get with extra driven elements.
Another big difference is in directivity. The Winegard Colortron patented yagi
has far better directivity characteristics than multiple driven element antennas
and the directivity pattern is essentially the same on every channel. The Colortron
has no signal pick-up from the sides (as you can see above). It offers no receiving
surface to side signals and has no complex phasing problems to cause extra pick-up
lobes. It has minimum pick-up from the back.
On the other hand, multiple driven element antennas have large side lobes because
the driven elements are always out of phase at some frequencies in the TV band -
particularly on the high band.
The Winegard Colortron excels, too, by having the best 300-ohm match in the industry
- an average VSWR of better than 1.5 to 1 across both bands.
In addition to its performance superiority, the Winegard Colortron has the finest
quality construction and permanent gold anodizing for weather protection. A personal
examination of a Colortron tells this quality story far better than words.
(The polar patterns and frequency response curves above have been illustrated
to give you a basis of comparison between Winegard's popular Colortron Mod. C-42
and a highly advertised multiple driven element antenna which we have tested (along
with other models in this line.) Constant testing of all new outdoor TV antennas
proves to our satisfaction that no other design equals or excels the Winegard Colortron
in quality or performance. We are so positive of this performance superiority that
we put a written guarantee on it.
For technical data sheets write today!
There's an Extra Bonus of Qualify and Performance in Every Winegard Product
Colortron Antenna Model C-44 - Gold Anodized $64.95
Colortron Antenna Model C-41 - Gold Anodized $51.90
Colortron Antenna Model C-42 - Gold Anodized $34.95
Colortron Antenna Model C-41 - Gold Anodized $24.95
Nationally advertised month after month. Advertised in LIFE
Winegard Antenna Systems
3013-6 Kirkwood • Burlington, Iowa
* Directors are elements connected electromagnetically (not by means of phasing
lines) to the driven elements.
** Driven elements are connected together with phasing lines and the transmission
line is attached to these elements.
|
