Remembering Rediffusion Northampton by Tony Popple

The first modification to the system was when the AR105 was replaced by the AR107 also some of the audio amplifiers were changed to AA105’s these having 2N3055 as output transistors. When this was completed the next modification was the introduction of VCR working on the system. A double switch was installed but the sound via the loud speaker proved inadequate so the output from the FC100's were required to produce FM sound as well. Later it became necessary to use 2 invertors. The   IN106 proved difficult so the IN110 multiplex invertor (6 Channel) was introduced. Choosing the correct oscillators for these was rather difficult as there were 5 transmitters around the area giving different parts of the town an acceptable signal. They were. SANDY HEATH     SUTTONCOLDFIELD    WALTHAM/ OXFORD and the LOCAL repeater at Northampton
        ch 21 24 31   sandy                 ch 40 43 46    Sutton Coldfield    51 56 59    Northampton
        ch 57 60 63    Oxford              ch 55 61 64   Waltham
and the VCR   output ch32- 39 but mainly on ch35 or 36, so it was difficult to tune without interference from adjacent channels and locally received ones. Luckily all transmitters were not so strong in all parts of the town so it made it a little easier to tune.

How the System eventually finished up.

                              Kings heath   Aerial Site                                                                      Duston

                        FC100 's x 4       plus 3 x 405 receivers                                          AR107 x 7
                        AR 107 x 7                                                                               AA 105a   x 8
                        AA105A x 8                                                                              A619A      x 8
                       local feeder
                       AR 106   x6                                                                                           Rye    Hill
                         A623 x8                                                                                           AR106 x 7
                                                                                                                                 AA105A x 8

                                    Gladstone Road                                                                     Ambush Street
                                       AR101 x 7                                                                          AR113 x 6
                                                                                                                                 AA105A x 8
                                 Devonshire House
                                  AR107 x 7                                                                                Central Area
                                 AA105A x 8                                                                AR107 x 7 More reliable than AR106
                                                                                                                                    AA105A x 8
                                 Alliston Gardens
                     AR107 x 7   More reliable than AR106
                                     A623 x 8                                                                              Spencer Estate
                                                                                                                                   AR113 x 6
                                 Leicester Street                                                                         AA105 A x 8
                                  AR106 vision only

                                       Briar Hill
                                    AR107 x 7
                                   AA105A x 8

                              Lumbertubs Aerial Site                                                                 Lumbertubs Kiosk
                                  FC100 x 4                                                                                 AR113 x 6
                                  AA106 x 8                                                                               AA105A x 8
                               Radio Receivers x 4
                          Oven Controlled Oscillator TD70

                                      Exeter Place                                                                           Bouverie Street
                              Midi Head-End UHF Receivers                                                        AR106 x 4
                                      AA105A x 8
                                    Radio Receivers x 4

When all these systems were up and working another we had to start in dismantling some of the old VHF installations where the the new HF system had taken over, collecting many WB III's   and U60cw etc. this in addition to installing a few wideband UHF systems at new sites around the town. As the 625 line TV became more popular all the 405 systems were eventually dismantled just leaving about 20 UHF installations and the HF systems.