Hi all,

I'm currently restoring a 1960 STC 'commander' TV set and would like some advice on the best way to test the set out once it's all working. I don't have anything that puts out an RF VHF signal.

Thanks in advance
Scott

An old VCR would do the trick.
A lot even had a test signal.
JJ

An old VCR is the easiest option, otherwise you will need to get a VHF RF converter. You used to be able to buy them from Jaycar but they may not stock them any more.

Maybe a major auction web site has listings for digital TV to analogue converter boxes? But be sure to get ones designed for the Australian market. American boxes will not work.

Unfortunately, an old VCR may not work. They generally put out a signal on channels zero or one. Channel zero was not used on Australian TVs until 1961, when they switched from 10 channels to 13 channels; and channel one was changed in frequency. It is possible that your TV was modified with the commencement of channel "O" in the mid '60s, with the edition of suitable biscuits, usually in the channel one position. This would only apply to TVs used in Melbourne or Brisbane, where the 0-10 network broadcast on that channel. I faced this problem myself, with an old Sanyo, which has no channel "O" biscuits.

Cheers, Stuart

If you have a choice, early JVC VCRs generally had channel 3 - 4 switchable converters. Panasonic and most others had 0 - 1 switchable.
JVC used to OEM for Rank and NEC amongst others.