I picked this set up from Colourstar on Saturday.
This set must have been DERs top of the range back in the late 70s, it sports infra red remote control, teletext, 2 speakers and (I think) voltage synthesis tuning.
It really needed a good hoovering out and the many dry joints going over. The only fault I found was the EW diode was in the wrong way round its series resistor was open circuit and a fusible resistor had pinged.
After putting that right I reassembled and switched on. Up came a raster and the channel ident in the top corner. No sign of a picture or sound though, then it dawned on me. Maybe that big empty space on the signals panel should house a plug-in IF module like the later TX9s and TX10s.
Best regards
Mike
A late 1970s set there for sure.
Those IF units must have been made to plug in once they had a customer and were then aware of the sound offset for PAL I UK 6MHZ or PAL B/G export 5.5 MHZ.
It is indeed missing from that set.
I don't remember the original 9600 series having a plug-in IF strip. I was thinking because of the teletext facility that Thorn may have used a SAWF in the IF strip on this version?
Best regards
Mike
they did or some did have a plug in rc reciver.
the touch tunning could be a bit of a pain
as for age i think 1978/9
rob t
After some input from a chap "over the road" I think the set is missing its sawf if and demodulator module as Thorn called it in their TX9 chassis. I am assuming that's the major difference between the 9650 and the 9600
In the meantime it's keeping my Marconiphone 3000 company 
Best regards
Mike
Hi Mike, it's nice to see the 3000 working well. cheers,neil.
Hi Neil.
Yes the 3000 has behaved itself for the last 8 months or so. It gets about 2 hours a weeks use and although the tube is past its best. It is great for watching the old TOTP reruns on BBC4.
Best regards
Mike
After fitting a donated TX9 IF panel I've now got a picture. The tube measured ok on my 467. The picture is slightly out of focus, adjusting the focus control is a bit "ratchety" so that will need cleaning, but for now I'm just happy to see the old box lighting up 
Best regards
Mike
Hi Mike, it's nice to see a reasonable picture on the set before you've actually done any restoration work on it hopefully it will co-operate with you and keep going, and not cause you any headaches. cheers,neil.
Hiya Neil
I had gone over all the pcbs for dry joints before I powered it up.
I think the switch cleaner will be required next.
Best regards
Mike
Did this have a single "TUNE" button hidden behind a flap? If so, friends of ours had the Baird equivalent in about 1981.
"Yes, a bit of wet string may get you a good TV signal here on four channels, but you'll have to dry it out to get Channel 5!"
Correct, Thorn called it ramp tuning and it worked very well. When the red button was pressed the voltage ramped from 0 to 33v volts, when the micro saw valid sync pulses the voltage increase would slow then it would look for the AFC S curve from the IF then store the tuning voltage in memory. The only fly in the ointment was that leaking 1.2v Nicad.
John.
The SAW filter is PCC-001 In the cct diagram.
Crikey, I'd forgotten about this set.
You're right, it did have a red button for tuning. I had to replace the back-up battery to cure it's memory loss.
The set ended up with Graham of Imogen fame.
Best regards
Mike
Did this have a single "TUNE" button hidden behind a flap? If so, friends of ours had the Baird equivalent in about 1981.
Referred to as the "self destruct button" ?
I've still got my one if anyone would like it ? .
Cheers
Neil.
I did like these sets, back in the day, and if I was ever considering a console set, this one would be high on the list (and probably easy to get, unlike the other one I was thinking of).
"Yes, a bit of wet string may get you a good TV signal here on four channels, but you'll have to dry it out to get Channel 5!"
Were there sets of this type not in the rental companies' branding?
"Yes, a bit of wet string may get you a good TV signal here on four channels, but you'll have to dry it out to get Channel 5!"
The Thorn chassis guide here lists 11 Ferguson and 2 Ultra models fitted with either 9600 or 9650 versions. I have to admit that other than the 3734 I've not seen any others in the flesh or even in brochures.
John.
@jayceebee I'll probably have to chase up photos of the actual models - I've not actually seen a ramp tune one that wasn't a Baird. Still, it may be a starting point.
"Yes, a bit of wet string may get you a good TV signal here on four channels, but you'll have to dry it out to get Channel 5!"
