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Vintage (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/programmer_humor@programming.dev
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[–] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I don't recognize this... Is it some sort of RF switch for connecting a computer or game system to a TV while still passing through the antenna signal? Why does it have two cables coming out the side?

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    Yes, it's for an old game console or computer.

    There were two common ways to connect to the TV, and this box supports both: Coaxial (still around of course) and that flat ribbon cable, which ends in two separate U shaped clips. The screws on the bottom are for the clips on the ribbon cable from the physical antenna likely mounted on the roof.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

    I'm from Australia and I don't think I ever saw a flat ribbon cable there. The RF cables in Australia mostly use Belling-Lee connectors (that you just push in) rather than F-type like in the USA (that you screw in), and that's been a standard since the 1920s, so I don't think there's anything that predates it in Australia.

    Australia does use F connectors for cable internet, but that's mostly a legacy network now.

    Edit: Apparently Australia did use them and I'm just not old enough lol

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    We had 300 ohm ribbon back when we had VHF TV. When we went to UHF in the '90s we also changed to coaxial cable

    Coaxial cable works better at higher frequencies than 300 ohm, but needs shielding. 300 ohm doesn't need shielding as any wave that hits it hits phase and anti-phase at the same time and has no effect

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Ah, sorry I hadn't even considered that it would be different in other places (just times) - I'm in the US, and those flat ones were present here at least as late as the 1980s and likely 1990s.

    Cable Internet is very common in the US, in fact the most common kind. (2nd is DSL) So the F connectors (didn't know that name) are everywhere. Also still used for actual antenna connections.
    I am not sure if I have ever seen a Belling-Lee, but RCA used to be extremely common here until HDMI took over that role. (In fact RCA is what is on the switch box above to connect to the 'computer')

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