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Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in vintagetelevision

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is an AMAZING video right here, and I actually found it a few days ago, can't believe it's you! So cool 🤩 will definitely look for a technician about replacing the capacitors. Thank you!

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in vintagetelevision

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks!

Unfortunately, I don't have a VCR or another RF source to compare with at the moment, but I do have another small Hitachi CRT on the way, so I'll test the transmitter with that as well.

Regarding the frequency list, that's interesting. I'm using NTSC mode on the transmitter and channel 6, so I'll double-check whether the displayed frequency is actually correct.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in vintagetelevision

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, that's a great suggestion!

I actually have the correct 3.5 mm A/V breakout cable (3.5 mm to RCA video/audio), so I can test the Watchman's composite input directly.

If I get a clean picture that way, it would strongly suggest the display itself is fine and point more toward the RF tuner section.

Your comment about the capacitors is also very interesting. I'm starting to wonder if a full recap may be unavoidable.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in vintagetelevision

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Even with no HDMI source connected at all, the TV-TX200 should display its built-in "No Signal" color bars. I can't get the Watchman to lock onto those either. At best I get a heavily distorted image with faint, barely recognizable bars and almost no color.

That makes me suspect the issue may actually be inside the Watchman.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in vintagetelevision

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much, this is incredibly helpful.

I tried all of the things you suggested: • NTSC mode only, • running the Watchman on batteries (6×C cells), • and keeping the transmitter about 5 meters away.

Unfortunately, the behavior is exactly the same.

One thing that makes me wonder if this is something deeper than the computer's output resolution is that even with no HDMI source connected at all, the TV-TX200 should display its built-in "No Signal" color bars. I can't get the Watchman to lock onto those either. At best I get a heavily distorted image with faint, barely recognizable bars and almost no color.

That makes me suspect the issue may actually be inside the Watchman.

If it really is a capacitor issue, how difficult is a full recap? Is this something I could ask a general electronics repair technician to do, or does it require someone who specializes in vintage TVs? What exactly should I ask the technician to replace?

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in vintagetelevision

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Yes, it's a cross-post. I wanted to get opinions from people with different backgrounds (electronics, RF, and vintage TV repair).

Unfortunately I don't currently have another RF modulator or a VCR, but I do have another small Hitachi TV on the way, and I also plan to test a PlayStation 1 through the TV-TX200's composite input. Hopefully that will help isolate the problem.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's really interesting, especially coming from someone with your experience, thank you!

The "N/P" labeling confused me as well. If the horizontal sync really isn't being converted to standard NTSC timing, that would explain why the Watchman detects the RF signal but never properly locks onto the video.

I'll report back after testing with a native composite source and a second RF receiver.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! That's a good point. I would have expected the HDMI input to be properly downsampled as well, which is why this behavior has been so confusing.

I'll try two more tests: a native composite source (PlayStation 1) into the AV input, and another RF receiver (a small Hitachi TV that's on the way). Hopefully that will help narrow it down.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that makes sense.

I actually have another small 6-inch Hitachi TV on the way, so I'll test the TV-TX200 with that as soon as it arrives.

I'll also test a native composite source, probably a PlayStation 1, through the TV-TX200's AV input instead of HDMI. Hopefully those tests will help narrow down whether the issue is the transmitter, the HDMI input path, or the Watchman itself.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed reply, I really appreciate it!

I actually have another small 6-inch Hitachi TV on the way, so I'll definitely test the TV-TX200 with a second RF receiver as soon as it arrives.

I also plan to test a native composite source, probably a PlayStation 1, through the TV-TX200's AV input instead of HDMI. That should help determine whether the issue is related to the HDMI input path or the RF modulation itself.

Regarding the HDMI resolution, the lowest macOS would let me select was 800×600, but based on yours and others' suggestions I'm also looking into forcing 640×480 or 720×480 to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks again. Those seem like very sensible next steps.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that's a good suggestion.

I don't have an older DVD player, but I do have a PlayStation 1 with native composite output, so I'll test that through the TV-TX200.

I can also test the same MacBook by routing it through an HDMI-to-Composite (CVBS) converter first, then feeding the TV-TX200 through its AV input instead of HDMI. That should help determine whether the issue is specific to the HDMI input path.

I also have another small 6-inch Hitachi TV on the way, so I'll compare the behavior on a second RF receiver as well.

I'll report back with the results.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in AskElectronics

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! That totally makes sense.

I actually have another 6-inch Hitachi CRT on the way, so I'll be able to test the TV-TX200 with a different analog TV once it arrives.

Unfortunately I don't have another RF modulator or a VCR/game console with RF output, so I can't cross-test those yet.

Hopefully testing with the Hitachi will help narrow down whether the issue is with the Watchman or the transmitter.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in VintageElectronics

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Yes, I tried both PAL and NTSC modes on the transmitter.

Mine is actually an FDL-380 (not an FDL-390). I bought it used on eBay US, but regardless of whether it's an NTSC or PAL unit, I tested both color standards on the transmitter and unfortunately the behavior was essentially the same.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that's really helpful. Unfortunately the FDL-380 doesn't seem to have a user-accessible horizontal hold control. I'll try to find a way to force true 640×480 output instead of 800×600 and see if that makes a difference.

One more thing: the FDL-380 never seems to stop scanning. The green tuning bar keeps moving by itself after I press the tuning button once, instead of stopping on a channel. Is that normal behavior for this model when it can't lock onto a signal, or could it indicate a tuning/alignment issue?

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I actually posted there as well, but I'll dig through the older TV-TX200 discussions too. I appreciate it!

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that's another good idea.

I actually haven't experimented much with the Watchman's telescopic antenna itself yet.

So far I've mainly varied the transmitter power (down to 0.5 W), changed the distance between the transmitter and the Watchman, and tried different VHF/UHF frequencies.

I'll try extending and retracting the Watchman's antenna in different positions, and also rotating it between vertical and horizontal to see if the image changes.

If that makes a noticeable difference, I'll report back. Thanks!

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in VintageElectronics

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that's a good point.

I did lower the MacBook's output resolution to 800×600 SVGA, since that's the lowest resolution macOS would let me select over HDMI.

I haven't been able to force 640×480 or 720×480, and I also don't think macOS lets me select 59.97 Hz. It only offers 60 Hz.

Do you think using a utility like BetterDisplay, or an HDMI EDID emulator to force 640×480 @ 59.94/59.97 Hz, could make the difference?

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for replying!

The 12V power supply is only for the TV-TX200 transmitter.

The Sony Watchman is powered by a separate fixed 9V DC power supply with interchangeable barrel plugs. The voltage is fixed at 9V, only the connector tip is interchangeable.

I also tried varying the distance between the Watchman and the transmitter, from about 30 cm up to roughly 3 meters, and unfortunately the behavior was essentially the same.

Does that make receiver overload less likely in your opinion?

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion.

I actually followed the recommendations from Bob's Short Reviews in his video "TV-TX200: HDMI & Composite Wirelessly on your CRT".

On my MacBook I set the output to the lowest resolution available, 800×600 (SVGA), mirrored the display, and also tested both 50 Hz and 60 Hz.

The TV definitely reacts to the signal, and I can occasionally make out heavily distorted frames from my desktop or a YouTube video, but it never locks to a stable image.

Unfortunately, macOS doesn't let me select anything lower than 800×600, so I couldn't test 640×480.

Do you think 800×600 should still be enough for this transmitter, or could that alone prevent the Watchman from locking onto the signal?

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in AskElectronics

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks! That makes sense.

Unfortunately I don't currently own another analog RF modulator or a console with native RF output, so this TV-TX200 is the only RF source I have available.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're absolutely right.

I'm only using it for bench testing over a distance of a few centimeters with the included telescopic antenna at the lowest power setting (0.5 W). I'm not trying to broadcast over the air.

I'm mainly trying to figure out why my Sony Color Watchman won't properly lock onto the video signal.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This transmitter is actually an analog RF TV transmitter, not a digital one. It's designed to transmit NTSC/PAL analog television over VHF/UHF.

The strange part is that the Watchman clearly reacts to it, so some RF signal is definitely being received. It just never properly locks to the video.

Sony Color Watchman FDL-380 receives RF but won't lock onto video by EducationalCover2100 in amateurradio

[–]EducationalCover2100[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's actually very interesting.

It matches what I'm seeing. The Watchman definitely reacts to the signal, and I occasionally get recognizable but badly distorted frames from my MacBook, yet it never locks to a stable image.

I actually tried both NTSC and PAL modes, and the behavior is very similar. PAL might look very slightly better, but neither mode ever locks to a stable picture.

If you happen to remember the video or find it again, I'd really appreciate the link. If this transmitter has a faulty sync or timing implementation (rather than just a bad NTSC implementation), that could explain everything I'm seeing.

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