[BC] Black Box circuits

[Thomas G. Osenkowsky]

My "Black Box" was literally black. It was a passive baseband
clipper. Two Zener diodes (RCA SK Series) very low voltage.
The Zeners were across the Composite Input BNC jack. The
hot side was connected to the high side of a 5k trimpot with the
wiper feeding the BNC Output jack. There was a SPST switch
in series with the Zener diodes.

You adjusted the Composite Output of your processor for
105%, 110%, 115% whatever amount of composite clipping
you wanted with the switch Off. Turn the switch On, placing the
diodes in line and adjust the 5k pot for 100% peaks. You had to
readjust the Pilot Level and possibly the Composite Level on the
exciter.

I used this at KC-101 when we signed on in summer, 1979. We
(legally) blew everyone off the dial. I used a modified Crown
crossover, three modified DBX 160's and a modified Harris
MSP-90 FM limiter. Not really fair since no one else was using a
composite clipper and this was before the FCC forbid pilot modulation
by the composite clipper.

I sold one to a NJ FM for $100! They had coverage into the NYC
market.

Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE