French (ORTF) Low-VHF TV

The French TV system, with its 819-line picture, required an enormous 14-MHz
bandwidth - which amounted to a huge-percent wavelength change if a low-vhf
allocation were used for it.  F2 dispersion effects would likely preclude
anything close to a full-resolution picture with sound from ever being
received via that mode at a distant location.

   The lowest channel (F2) had AM sound at 41.25 MHz and the video carrier
at 52.4 MHz.  With offsets the sound could be on three spots (41.23, 41.25,
or 41.27).  One of the assigned transmitters was on Corsica (Bastia).  The
close proximity in frequency to the BBC 41.5 spot enabled rapid comparisons
of those various propagation paths to be made.

French TV Audio (23-k)

October 28, 1982 - (apx 1430 Z ?)

(any translations welcomed!)

   Some 15 years later it's hard for me to recall if the Bearcat 210-XL
scanner, or SX-62, or what was used to make this recording!

   Like the 405-line Band I BBC, this TV system was abandoned before Solar
Cycle 22 gave high enough trans-Atlantic MUF's.

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Page last modified November 12, 1997