Telephone in your TV?
- Thread starter goatfarmer
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filter-flo_rob
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Telephone feature
New to me too. Subscription television:
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenith_Electronics
Zenith was the first company to experiment with subscription TV, launching their Phonevision concept on station KS2XBS (originally broadcasting on Channel 2 before the Federal Communications Commission forced them to relenquish it to WBBM-TV). Their experiment involved a descrambler box mounted on the TV set, and plugged into the telephone lead.
Rob.
New to me too. Subscription television:
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenith_Electronics
Zenith was the first company to experiment with subscription TV, launching their Phonevision concept on station KS2XBS (originally broadcasting on Channel 2 before the Federal Communications Commission forced them to relenquish it to WBBM-TV). Their experiment involved a descrambler box mounted on the TV set, and plugged into the telephone lead.
Rob.
filter-flo_rob
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
- Messages
- 184
Sorry, forgot the rest of it.
When a preannounced broadcast was ready to begin, viewers would call an operator at Zenith who would send a signal with the telephone leads to unscramble the signal.
Rob.
When a preannounced broadcast was ready to begin, viewers would call an operator at Zenith who would send a signal with the telephone leads to unscramble the signal.
Rob.
ptcruiser51
Well-known member
Deregulation of Ma Bell
At the time these were introduced, you were finally able to buy and use phones from other than the telco. I worked in the phone company business office, and I do remember customers ordering service and mentioning that they were using this particular Zenith model. I have no idea how it worked, though.
At the time these were introduced, you were finally able to buy and use phones from other than the telco. I worked in the phone company business office, and I do remember customers ordering service and mentioning that they were using this particular Zenith model. I have no idea how it worked, though.
Wonder if it's worth getting?
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
They are very "Space Age"
looking. It's like the screen sits in (( shaped cabinet.
The ('s would be turned a quarter turn and that's what you'd see looking down at the top of the cabinet. That kind of tech in which caller and callee can't hear and speak
simultaneously. But fun to place a call and answer with your remote ! I think they are from the late 70's /early 80's.
looking. It's like the screen sits in (( shaped cabinet.
The ('s would be turned a quarter turn and that's what you'd see looking down at the top of the cabinet. That kind of tech in which caller and callee can't hear and speak
simultaneously. But fun to place a call and answer with your remote ! I think they are from the late 70's /early 80's.
whirlcool
Well-known member
The telephone feature in the Zenith television was an actual telephone. You ran a standard telephone wire from the phone jack on the wall to a jack on the back of the television set. When a call came in you "answered" it via the remote control. The callers voice came out of the television's speaker. The program you were watching was muted during the call. You could also dial out via the remote control. When you were doing this, you saw:
"Dialing XXX-XXX-XXXX" in white letters within a black block on the bottom of the screen. It worked just like a speakerphone.
I believe this feature was offered about 1981-83 or so. We bought a 1982 21" "table model" set in a wood cabinet that had this feature. Like most speakerphones of the time, it barely worked adequately. This was a System-3 television that had the feature.
"Dialing XXX-XXX-XXXX" in white letters within a black block on the bottom of the screen. It worked just like a speakerphone.
I believe this feature was offered about 1981-83 or so. We bought a 1982 21" "table model" set in a wood cabinet that had this feature. Like most speakerphones of the time, it barely worked adequately. This was a System-3 television that had the feature.
Space Command by Zenith
Jamie (chromacolor) has one of these sets in his collection of TV machines. It's just as Allen described, you never had to leave your chair if the phone rang - just hit the button on the remote!
Jamie (chromacolor) has one of these sets in his collection of TV machines. It's just as Allen described, you never had to leave your chair if the phone rang - just hit the button on the remote!
Zenith had some very innovative products during this era. Anyone remember their FTM-1490 (Flat Tension Mask) monitor?
It was one of the first flat-screen CRTs. Finest image I've ever seen on a computer monitor, even though it was small (14") and ran very hot. Its main heatsink must have weighed at least 15 pounds.
It was one of the first flat-screen CRTs. Finest image I've ever seen on a computer monitor, even though it was small (14") and ran very hot. Its main heatsink must have weighed at least 15 pounds.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Also, does anyone remember the "Zoom" feature Zenith had for a year or two right after the telephone feature. It allowed you to "zoom" in on things like football plays.
I saw it on a demo set at an appliance dealer and it looked like the feature should have been called "magnify".
I saw it on a demo set at an appliance dealer and it looked like the feature should have been called "magnify".
polkanut
Well-known member
My cousin had a Zenith with the built-in phone feature. The sound quality sucked. They only used the phone feature for about 6 months before they went back to using their conventional landline.
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