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Author Topic: Video on Vintage TVs  (Read 4545 times)

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Vigo

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Video on Vintage TVs
« on: August 05, 2020, 01:28:57 am »
Looking for some thoughts and advice from the video geniuses here. I bought a couple mid-century TVs and plan to collect a bunch of digital files of tv shows, commercials, etc and be able to play it all on a loop when the TV's are on. Have it as a statement piece in the room. There are a million ways to skin this cat, so I wanted ideas on the most reasonable approach to accomplish this.


So one question, two issues I'm mulling over:

The first solve is the most reasonable way to convert what will probably be an HDMI signal to a two pronged antenna terminal. I know I can get a series of converters and work down the chain from modern HDMI down, but what is the most reasonable option that is cheap enough and clean.

The second is can anybody recommend a device that will play the video files. Looking for a cheap, low profile solid state device solution I can leave on 24/7. Would also need to output in a full screen format so I am not getting black bars on the top and bottom. Would a pi or cheap media player like this do the trick? I am not going to be actually interfacing with the video, mostly needs function to plays videos at on a loop, bonus points if it shuffles videos.

This is one I had in mind.
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-Full-HD-Portable-Digital-Player/dp/B008NO9RRM





Drnick

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2020, 09:19:34 am »
I have no idea on converting signal best,  but if you don't include a couple of scenes from "I Love Lucy" I will be sorely dissapointed :)

I would look at something like this although I am UK not USA :) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HDMI-to-RF-Coaxial-Converter-Box-W-Remote-Control-HDMI-to-Coaxial-Analog-UK-Plug/402334544570

As for media player,  any old Android TV Box will do, I would imagine you could pick up an older android tv box for about $10, you can setup playlists and the like through kodi. You don't really need a new one unless you are planning on playing 4k or something :)

https://kodi.wiki/view/Basic_playlists,  for random you can put it in party mode :)

Hope that is of a bit of help :)

Mike A

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2020, 09:52:02 am »
I will be zero help here, but I can be a cheerleader.

This is cool.

pbj

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2020, 04:04:32 pm »
 Did none of you ever hook up a console to an old TV at your grandparents?

No old VCRs laying around?

Composite from your pi to an rf modulator will be your easiest route. Prepare yourself to spend $30 on something that's otherwise worthless.

Osirus23

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« Last Edit: August 05, 2020, 04:44:53 pm by Osirus23 »

Hoopz

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2020, 05:42:52 pm »
Did none of you ever hook up a console to an old TV at your grandparents?

No old VCRs laying around?

Composite from your pi to an rf modulator will be your easiest route. Prepare yourself to spend $30 on something that's otherwise worthless.
I have 3 VCRs in the garage for stuff like this.  And maybe a half dozen antenna connectors. Easy solutions.

BadMouth

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2020, 09:37:39 pm »
No experience with them, but cheap ($20-25+) digital tv tuner boxes usually have composite out and the ability to play video from a usb drive.
They also have the RF modulator built in. (because their purpose is to make old TVs work with modern signals)

Random examples that came up during a search:
https://smile.amazon.com/Mediasonic-Digital-Converter-Function-HW130RN/dp/B081TPB6D7/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=digital+tv+tuner&qid=1596764030&sr=8-4
https://smile.amazon.com/Converter-Recording-Multimedia-Playback-Function/dp/B07Z3MC7G7/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=digital+tv+tuner&qid=1596764030&sr=8-11

EDIT: Just FYI, the FCC has been reassigning and reshuffling frequencies to sell off bandwidth to cell phone companies.  An oddball old tuner may or may not get all the channels in your area if that was also a hope. 

SIDE NOTE: When T-Mobile advertises that their signal goes further, they are getting away with it because they bought the lowest frequency (circa 600mhz IIRC). 
Lower frequencies travel further=our signal goes further.  It has nothing to do with actual coverage.   :lol

DOUBLE EDIT: This one has the Ch 3/4 switch so you know it's down with old TVs: https://smile.amazon.com/Mediasonic-Digital-Converter-Function-HW130RN/dp/B081TPB6D7/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&fst=as%3Aoff&qid=1596765110&refinements=p_89%3AMediasonic&rnid=2528832011&s=electronics&sr=1-3
« Last Edit: August 06, 2020, 09:55:10 pm by BadMouth »

BadMouth

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2020, 10:10:04 pm »
You'd still need a 300 ohm adapter like Osirus23 linked above.

nitrogen_widget

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2020, 11:35:13 am »
Did none of you ever hook up a console to an old TV at your grandparents?

No old VCRs laying around?

Composite from your pi to an rf modulator will be your easiest route. Prepare yourself to spend $30 on something that's otherwise worthless.
I have 3 VCRs in the garage for stuff like this.  And maybe a half dozen antenna connectors. Easy solutions.

I found a few VCR's I forgot about in a closet.
never even thought about using them for things like this.
was going to donate them.
now i'll keep them for my CRTs.

Also, I love how these old TV's look.
Had someone offer me one for free they found in a barn yrs ago.
but, all the tubes were missing and my NOW ex-wife threw a fit because I was thinking of bringing it home.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2020, 11:37:32 am by nitrogen_widget »

Vocalitus

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2020, 06:30:01 pm »
Go to a Goodwill.  I tend to see the spade connector to coaxial switch boxes from time to time.




Your mileage will vary.

tommyinajar

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2020, 09:51:50 am »
Did you ever get it going? I noticed a lot of my old TV'S didn't work for long or at all when I plugged them in years ago. I imagine the caps, at min were bad.

newmanfamilyvlogs

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2020, 11:14:59 am »
Mostly offtopic, but with regards to the content to play on such a tv...
With advancements in AI generated audio and video, I'm hoping that one day it will be possible to create a function facsimile of the 'Optimal' video from  "SCP-147" http://www.scpwiki.com/scp-147 in so far as to have randomly generated plausible video fragments.
Having played with the OpenAI Jukebox project, I believe it's 100% possible to produce what would be the radio equivalent.
« Last Edit: November 19, 2020, 11:21:50 am by newmanfamilyvlogs »

fallacy

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Re: Video on Vintage TVs
« Reply #12 on: November 19, 2020, 10:33:35 pm »
I always thought it would be cool to get a 70’s, 80’s, TV and somehow use this site as the source for content on shuffle when you turned it on.

https://www.my70stv.com/
https://www.my80stv.com/