Evening star., 1950-12-10

One OF CQeSe, proposed Dy Nbo.
was the field sequential" system.
This one involved the famed
spinning disc" and broadcast a
picture which could not be re-
ceived on present receivers with
out an adapter Ito bring in q
black and white picture). A
converter is needed in addition
on present sets to turn this to a
color picture.
Two Systems Differ
In Several Woys
Field sequential" means that
one field (half frame, or picture)
Is broadcast in one color, then in
a second, then in a third. This is
done so rapidly that your eye re-
tains a full color picture. To do
this. 1t seems to be necessary to
reduce the horizontal lines which
make up the picture (you can see
these If you get close to the
screen) from 525 to 405. That is
why a CHS color telecast produces
only a tumble of light patterns on
your TV set, which is made to
deliver a 525-line picture.
The other kind of color televi-
sion, the so-called "electronic"
system introduced by RCA, should
really be called the "dot sequen-
tial" system. This lights in Sc
quence colored dots on the view
ing tube. This obviously is much
more complicated process than
the CHS system, since there are
100000 dots in 525 lines on the
face of the RCA color tube as
opposed to the two fields of 202.5
lines each with which the CHS
system deals.
There is one great advantage to
the RCA system, however. 1t is
compatible" which means that
present sets can receive RCA color
telecasts as black and white and
that future RCA color sets could
receive either black and white or
color. Also, by retaining the 525-
line standard, RCA color produces
a sharper picture.
i On September /, 1850, the FEC
urged television set makers to pro-
duce so-called bracket" receivers,
capable of receiving both the 405
line and the 525 line picture. This
is the only time the commission
might really have looked silly,
since it was urging manufacturers
to get to work on the production
of something which hadn't been
invented.
The majority of the set-makers
declined this idea and on October
II, 1850, the FEC approved the
commercial use of color television
by the CHS system. RCA went
into that Chicago court and that is
where we stand today.
Most Of Deficiencies
Hove Been Corrected
CHS has system which works
now, produces brilliant, faithful
pleasing colors and is simple
RCA has a system which works
now (though 1t didn't work very
well last spring., produces faith
full. pleasing colors, is more COM
plicated and does not make your
present set obsolete.
i Comparison of the two would
not be fair unless they were seen
side by side. On the basis of last
Tuesdays showing of RCA's i'm
proved receivers. however, it is
safe to say that the FEC wouldn't
have dared to approve the CHS
system alone if RCA had been
this far along when the hearings
were conducted.
Most of the deficiencies the
commission found in the RCA
brand of color seem to have beer
corrected. The color fidelity nov
is very good, though this, like any
other system of reproducing color
fools you by seeing more than tht
eye. Just as CHS color once vieWec
in the control room turned {
blond out in the studio to vivie
strawberry blond, RCA color pick!
up reflected tints, the highlight
on the skin of a girl wearing {
green dress taking on greenisf
tinge, for instance.
The commission also complained
about the texture of the RCA colol
; picture, which now is excellent
!. about flicker" which is not nov
present, and about complicated
equipment in both transmitter ant
receiver. About the tranSmitter
we wouldn't know, but during
Tuesdays demonstration the re-
ceivers were turned on and no
touched even for minor adjust
ments during the program.
With color television indefinitel.
postponed and with more ant
more receivers which shouldn't b.
made obsolete going into use ever!
day, compatibility" has a gooe
chance of winning out in the end
It makes attractive color and {
fine black and white picture, too
now.
d
q @ y