34. COLOUR TELEVISION

by G. F. Newell

The introduction of colour television in this country is viewed with trepidation by some who believe that the colour television receiver is too complex for efficient maintenance by the service engineers, at present trained only in monochrome techniques. The radio industry faced a similar problem when high definition monochrome television was introduced. Before 1936 most engineers regarded the radio valve as a means of obtaining amplification of near-sinusoidal waveforms. The object was to obtain amplification with minimum distortion and minimum power consumption; the generation of triangular, rectangular and parabolic waveforms was unfamiliar.

A similar state of affairs occurred in the early days of the last war when many engineers were faced with the task of mastering the techniques involved in radar. The problem was overcome without great difficulty because of the train ing system which was developed and which has developed further today. The most complicated electronic circuit can be made to appear simple when separated into its component stages and the operation of each carefully explained.

In order that the servicing of colour television receivers may be of a sufficient standard from the beginning of public transmissions, it is essential that those engineers already skilled in the techniques of colour television write textbooks suitable for the vast number of engineers already skilled in monochrome techniques.

The recent publication of Colour Television, the first comprehensive book on the subject to be produced in this country, is an important step in the right direction. The book is a complete introduction to the American NTSC system of colour television, the most widely tested system so far developed. Although it is explained in terms of the 405-line standards, sufficient information is provided for the reader to apply the techniques to whatever television standards are finally adopted.

(from Engineering, 6th April, 1962)