The Old CATV Equipment Museum
Tube Amplifiers
Other manufacturers
The Cable TV amplifier
The Booster Amplifier
Electro Voice Tune-O-Matic 12 Channel Booster
Model 3000
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
John Walson on the use of the Electro Voice
Broadband Booster in his first system.
From the Cable Center Oral Histories
http://www.cablecenter.org/education/library/oralHistoryDetails.cfm?id=270
There were several versions of the
Electro Voice booster amplifier
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Electro Voice Tenna-Top Antenna Mounted
Broadband 12 Channel Booster Model 3010
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Electro Voice Tenna-Top remote power supply
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Electro-Voice Television Distribution System
Distribution Amp Model 3100
Donated by Kaz Majewski, of Centre TV, Wheeling West Virginia
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Examples Of The Early Booster Amplifiers
To See More Early Booster Amplifiers See
Section 1122, Broadband Settop Antenna Booster Amplifiers
Industrial Television Inc.
Broadband Booster Amplifier
Model Cascode Auto Booster
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Commercial Antensifier
Model CA-1-B
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Commercial Antensifier
Model CA-1-M
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Channel Master Television Booster
Model Katy-B
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
RCA Master-Tenna Amplifier
Model 3-L
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
RCA Master-Tenna Amplifier
Model 2BB
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Viking All Channel TV FM Booster
Model PB-1
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
The Splitband or Mixer Amplifiers
RCA Antenaplex Splitband Amplifier
Type SX-2LH MI-5105
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Martin F Malarky on the use of the RCA
Antenaplex Amplifier in his first system.
From the Cable Center Oral Histories
http://www.cablecenter.org/education/library/oralHistoryDetails.cfm?id=239
RCA Antenaplex Splitband Amplifier
Model MI-5301
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
RCA Antenaplex Broadband Amplifier
Model MI-5303
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Examples Of The Early Splitband and Mixer Amplifiers
Benco Television Associates Mixer Amplifier
Model UPK2
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Mixer Amplifier
Model MA4-1
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Mixer Amplifier
Model MA4-1-M
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Masterline Splitband Amplifier
Model MLA
Blonder-Tongue Model MLA "Masterline" VHF Broadband Amplifier. This
amplifier is part of Blonder-Tongue's MLA series of "Masterline" products.
Amplifiers in this series were "split-band" designs, incorporating two separate
amplifiers in a single housing: one amp for the high band and one for the low band.
Note that each amp has a separate level control. This particular amplifier was fitted
with PL-259 connectors, and amplified the following channels:
VHF Low band (Channels 2 through 6)
VHF High band (Channels 7-13)
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Masterline AGC
Model MAGC
The Masterline MLA series was also one of Blonder Tongues first amplifiers
which could be used with a remote AGC (Automatic Gain Control). The AGC
could adjust the signal levels to compensate for temperature variations
which alter the cable attenuation characteristics causing the signal levels to
change.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Masterline
Models MLA-B, MLA-C and MLA-FM
The MLA Splitband amplifier was a very successful design for Blonder
Tongue. The MLA and subsequent models were produced from around
1953 into the 1960's.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Blonder Tongue Powerhouse Line Amp
Model 1217
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
The Distributed Amplifier
Robert Allen Brooks on the first American Distributed Amplifier
From the Cable Center Oral Histories
http://www.cablecenter.org/education/library/oralHistoryDetails.cfm?id=212
Spencer Kennedy Laboratories
Model 212TV
Spencer Kennedy Labs 212C TV Instruction Manual
212C TV Chain Amplifier
Spencer Kennedy Labs 212C TV Upgrade Instructions
212C TV to 212D TV Chain Amplifier upgrade
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Spencer Kennedy Labs Pulse Amplifier Model 202DS
This was the original SKL Pulse Amplifier built in the USA using the EMI
Distributed Amplifier design. The amplifier was originally used to amplify fast
pulses for use with radar. The 202DS became the 212TV when it was
adapted to amplify TV signals.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Robert Allen Brooks on the first SKL Distributed Amplifier
From the Cable Center Oral Histories
http://www.cablecenter.org/education/library/oralHistoryDetails.cfm?id=212
The Original Pattent for the Distributed Amplifier
Courtesy of Graham Stubbs
Cable TV Historian, Author and Engineering Pioneer.
EMI Distributed Amplifier Model RE 703
Donated by Martin, developer and owner of the site
"Mastervision Television and Radio Relay Service"
http://www.aeolian-hall.myzen.co.uk
Although developed later when the English market was able to support
Cable TV the designs were very similar. The main difference between the
SKL Amp and the EMI amp was the EMI Amp was built for use with the
European PAL Video format and the European power specifications.
Because of this it used European components.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Introduction for the EMI Cable TV equipment line and the move
to address the American and Canadian markets.
Donated by Martin, developer and owner of the site
"Mastervision Television and Radio Relay Service"
http://www.aeolian-hall.myzen.co.uk
Spencer Kennedy Laboratories Distributed Amp
Model 222A
This was the production 12 Channel amplifier SKL put on the market
replacing the model 212TV. The 5 channel (low band) version was the
model 211. This design was commonly referred to as a Chain Amplifier due
to the "chain" of tubes that were used. Spencer Kennedy Laboratories was
acquired by Scientific Atlanta in the early 1970s and was the basis for their
line of Cable TV distribution products. We know them as Cisco today.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Spencer Kennedy Laboratories Distributed Amp
Model 222B
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Spencer Kennedy Laboratories ALC (Automatic Level Control)
Model 830A-M
At the same time Spencer Kennedy Labs using EMI specifications designed
one of the first separate AGC (Automatic Gain Control) units to adjust the
signal levels to compensate for temperature variations which alter the cable
attenuation characteristics causing the signal levels to change. SKL called
the unit an Automatic Level Control or ALC.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Here are more examples of the early Cable TV amplifiers
Entron Inc. Hi VHF Amplifier
Model HRA-400V
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Entron Inc. Low VHF Line Terminating Amplifier
Model TDA-114R
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Entron Inc. Low VHF Bridging Amplifier
Model BA-134R
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Entron Distribution Line Amplifier
Model ABX-40R
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Entron Inc. Broadband Amplifier
Model FA-283
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
RCA Master-Tenna TV Amplifier
Model 5BBV
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
RCA Master-tenna Amplifier
Model 7LHP
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Benco Television Associates Amplifier
Model Pacemaker
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Benco Television Associates Amplifier
Model Senior BB-500
From the pioneer John Zimmerman Family
Benco Television Associates was a Canadian Cable TV equipment provider.
In the early 1960's they merged with Cascade Electronics and Delta
Electronics to form a new company called Delta Benco Cascade. In the late
1960's Delta Benco Cascade was acquired by Blonder Tongue and the
equipment line was incorporated under the existing Blonder Tongue name.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Delta Electronics All Band Cascader Amplifier
Model ABHL60
Donated by Kaz Majewski, of Centre TV, Wheeling West Virginia
In the early 1960's Delta Electronics merged with Cascade Electronics and
Benco Television Associates to form a new company called Delta Benco
Cascade. In the late 1960's Delta Benco Cascade was acquired by Blonder
Tongue and the equipment line was incorporated under the existing Blonder
Tongue name.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Viking Cable Co. Broadband Amplifier
Model VIK 940
Donated by Bill Karnes
Pioneer Engineer and founding member of the SCTE.
Viking later split off the Cable TV equipment division (Viking Cable Co.) and
changed the name to Vikoa Inc. which later became Coral Electronics.
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Early Viking Cable Co. Broadband Amplifier
Model VIK 940
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Viking "The Mighty Thor"
Bridging Distribution Amp
Model 946
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Channel Master Corp. VHF Distribution Amplifier
Model 7030
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
Channel Master Corp. VHF Distribution Amplifier
Model 7050
 | | Photo:Lew Chandler |
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