[Boatanchors] Old TV distribution amp

[Roger Shultz]

Oh Ron, you are stretching the memory! 

The PIP was as it indicates a plug in attenuator (pad) meant to reduce the
input level to the amplifier. AOC is something I'm fuzzy about (it had to be
40 years ago since I worked on them) but I think it was similar to an
automatic level control producing a more or less constant output. It may
have been Automatic Output Control. Jerrold was a high quality producer of
MATV gear at the time.

I don't recall the gain of them but I'm sure you could get a new one with
better everything for $25 where ever master antenna or distribution system
equipment is sold.

I think the 2300A used a selenium rectifier and they often failed, otherwise
they were reasonably reliable. I used these in two early CATV private
systems I maintained, one a 225 home underground plant and another 170
system in a mobile home park. Both systems had 100 foot towers with 4 bay
yagi's for low, high and UHF bands with antenna top pre-amps. The nearest
stations were 75 miles distant so we were really on the fringe. The home
development prohibited outside antennas and towers. Maintaining good levels
to the end point, the TV, was the challenge. Too much signal on the
distribution and those amps would cross-talk like crazy and the viewer would
see ghosts and other stations that mixed together causing all sorts of
complaints.

These were the days before every town was wired for cable so back then
making this stuff work was a tough job. I "fondly" remember climbing the
towers with ice on them, blowing snow to pull a pre-amp because they only
failed in winter. UGH! I did use a belt however but I still remember being
terrified.

I think for now that is about all I can remember!

73, Roger, NJ2R

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Bonddaleena at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 10:07 PM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Boatanchors] Old TV distribution amp

Hi, don't know where else to turn to for help. BAMA has no manuals for this 
item...
I recntly acquired a Jerrold TV distribution amp, Model 2300A. It has vacuum

tubes and it is in perfect shape. The frequency coverage is TV Channels 2 
through 13 and the FM radio band also. The tubes all test good and tonight I

tested it with a 100 mHz signal and it amplifies it quite well.
I was hoping to run into someone that worked with these amps back 'in the 
day'. There are a couple of devices that plug into the front panel that I do
not 
understand:
 
1. One of the small aluminum cans that plug in, is labled "Plug In Pad" and 
it's socket is labled "PIP". 
2. The other small can is plugged into a socket that is labled "AOC" and the

can is stamped "AOC  SP".
 
Anybody ever play with these? I have determined the amp was made in the late

50's (which should qualify it as a 'Boatanchor'), but it looks brand new....
 
 
thanks in advance for ANY help....
 
 
ron
 
N4UE



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