VRAT Game; Identify the Tuner

Pye 731.  A similar one was used in the 725. model number CT22x Maybe CT222 ? 1975/6 ish at a guess?

Cheers Rich, I had a feeling you might know this one with your PYE knowledge, indeed you're correct CT222 👍 

So it was hiding in plain sight all along in my PYE brochure.

https://www.radios-tv.co.uk/pye/

OK, one before bed as I'm pooped, I believe this one is Philips.

This one is quite intriguing, especially the large glass bulb at the very top (remote control receiver?). An 8-array of red channel LED indicators and to the right a singular amber one. Two transistors, BC547 & BC548 and in the centre an i.c. ML238B which is the 8-Channel Touch control interface.

But what TV

@crustytv  Yes that's the set! I preferred the CT227 to be honest, Basically the same set but no drawer and buttons. It had a conventional 6 button push button unit - turn button to tune. The pots in the drawer were a bit troublesome after a few years due to tarnishing, the 227 was a plainer looking set. The cabinet had a rebated wood effect front a bit like the PYE G11 model.

Used a lot of these Pye Colour TV’s for my rentals. Generally very reliable. Yes the pots in the draw were troublesome with age and also tuner problems, drifting, was it the 04 or 05 tuner?. Many were repairable, lots of DJ’s.

I can't remember the number of the tuner, /05 was the commonest type so probably that. The IF gain module was a problem for dry joints, the little ceramic capacitors needed inching out of the print a bit as the ceramic coating extended down the legs could cause problems with a bad connection on the lead through, if you moved them back slightly and resoldered it cured the problem. I never needed to fit a replacement, but i did encounter them.

DR developments and or LEDCO made an aftermarket module but the picture was never as good, the definition was slightly poor and the AFC could be 'tricky'.  The biggest problem, and this was more with the 731 than the 725 was the capacitor on the A1 supply. When that went short if the set was left on it would kill the Tripler, then the LOPT then the line output Transistor. The Transistor's fixing bolts were soldered in which made it a bit of a pig to change. If the set was an older well cooked 731 this fault could write the set off.  The 725 didn't get as cooked as the 731 probably because of the larger cabinet for the 90 degree tube and also because without all the raster correction and extra convergence circuitry it was simpler and ran cooler anyway.

The two carbon 2R2 resistors on the tube base in series with the tube heater would flake their paint off and go high they didn't seem to like the line frequency. Then the heaters would go dim. Many a set was written off or boosted because of that problem. I would fit a 1R WW instead of the two carbon resistors, it sometimes took a few hours running to get the emission back but it usually did recover.  The CT222 /227  725 chassis was produced as a budget set to fill in until the G11 was ready, not as good as a late G8 maybe but it did well really. The same could be said for the G11 I suppose?!

The PYE chassis used the /06 version if the infamous ELC1043, the /05 IF output coil circuit was slightly different and gave a poorer IF response if one was fitted. I also remember the trick of pulling back the capacitor legs on the IF module while resoldering, worked a treat.

So doesn't anyone recognise the one in post #4?

Philips manufacture without a doubt, the 12NC code beginning 3113 on the socket underneath the customer controls confirms this but I don't know what model. If I was going to guess I would say it came from a G11 based set as the ML238 was an early tuning IC.

Yep G11 remote or text front panel.

Think it might be a Pye G11 rather than Philips?

Yes a Pye CT451 If my memory is correct..