Colortrak
Encyclopedia
Colortrak was a trademark used on several RCA
color TVs
throughout the 1970s to the 1990s. After RCA was acquired by General Electric
in 1986, GE sold the RCA consumer electronics line to Thomson SA
. RCA televisions with the Colortrak branding were mid-range models; in comparison to the low-end XL-100
chassis or high-end Dimensia or Colortrak 2000
chassis in consumer sets (the professional version of the Dimensia model, or versions with BNC
inputs, the designation was "Lyceum TV
" for a short period in the early to mid 1980s). RCA discontinued use of the Colortrak brand, replacing with the Entertainment Series designation by 2001. Some models like this with the design quirks mentioned below have also been marketed under the GE
name as both RCA and GE's brand names are marketed by Thomson SA
.
and S-video
inputs to the Colortrak lineup. These inputs allowed owners to easily connect a stereo audio/video source, like a Video Cassette Recorder, LaserDisc player
, or with use of an RCA SelectaVision CED videodisc players
to the television. For example, early composite video-equipped RCA sets were to coincidentally be tuned to Non-broadcast channel 91 to display a composite video signal, if a set was equipped with more than one input, subsequent inputs are designated to channels 92 to 95, which are usually accessed from the remote control
. However, when manufactures learned that accessing input mode within numeric channels pressing channel up/down was feasible, channel 9x channels were dropped from future models.
, the antenna/cable inputs of many models of RCA TV's would occasionally malfunction. The station being watched would seem to cut out and the picture went to snow. Wiggling the cable sometimes cured the problem, suggesting that it was just a bad connection. The problem was common and widespread enough that it actually led to a class-action lawsuit. This problem occurred in other models of RCA TV's, too, such as the high-end Dimensia model.
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
color TVs
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
throughout the 1970s to the 1990s. After RCA was acquired by General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
in 1986, GE sold the RCA consumer electronics line to Thomson SA
Thomson SA
Technicolor SA , formerly Thomson SA and Thomson Multimedia, is a French international provider of solutions for the creation, management, post-production, delivery and access of video, for the Communication, Media and Entertainment industries. Technicolor’s headquarters are located in Issy les...
. RCA televisions with the Colortrak branding were mid-range models; in comparison to the low-end XL-100
XL-100
XL-100 was RCA's name for their lower-end models of televisions produced from the 1970s to the early 1990s. It only had a standard 75 ohm unbalanced dipole coaxial cable input. After RCA was acquired by General Electric in 1986, GE sold RCA's consumer electronics line to Thomson SA...
chassis or high-end Dimensia or Colortrak 2000
Colortrak 2000
Colortrak 2000 was one of RCA's brand names for their high-end television models produced from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, the other being Dimensia. The RCA Colortrak, however, was not a high-end model. The Colortrak 2000 chassis was identical to the Dimensia tabletop model. Colortrak 2000s...
chassis in consumer sets (the professional version of the Dimensia model, or versions with BNC
BNC connector
The BNC connector ' is a common type of RF connector used for coaxial cable. It is used with radio, television, and other radio-frequency electronic equipment, test instruments, video signals, and was once a popular computer network connector. BNC connectors are made to match the characteristic...
inputs, the designation was "Lyceum TV
Lyceum TV
The RCA Lyceum TV was a commercial monitor/receiver with a large input/output panel on the back, and a long grounded plug. During the mid-80s, RCA released the Colortrak 2000, a television identical to the Dimensia table-top model. Even though the Colortrak was considered the mid-range model,...
" for a short period in the early to mid 1980s). RCA discontinued use of the Colortrak brand, replacing with the Entertainment Series designation by 2001. Some models like this with the design quirks mentioned below have also been marketed under the GE
Gê
Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay....
name as both RCA and GE's brand names are marketed by Thomson SA
Thomson SA
Technicolor SA , formerly Thomson SA and Thomson Multimedia, is a French international provider of solutions for the creation, management, post-production, delivery and access of video, for the Communication, Media and Entertainment industries. Technicolor’s headquarters are located in Issy les...
.
Design Quirks
During the early 1980s, RCA responded to increased demand for component televisions with monitor capabilities by adding compositeComposite video
Composite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...
and S-video
S-Video
Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...
inputs to the Colortrak lineup. These inputs allowed owners to easily connect a stereo audio/video source, like a Video Cassette Recorder, LaserDisc player
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
, or with use of an RCA SelectaVision CED videodisc players
SelectaVision
The Capacitance Electronic Disc was an analog video video disc playback system developed by RCA, in which video and audio could be played back on a TV set using a special needle and high-density groove system similar to phonograph records....
to the television. For example, early composite video-equipped RCA sets were to coincidentally be tuned to Non-broadcast channel 91 to display a composite video signal, if a set was equipped with more than one input, subsequent inputs are designated to channels 92 to 95, which are usually accessed from the remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
. However, when manufactures learned that accessing input mode within numeric channels pressing channel up/down was feasible, channel 9x channels were dropped from future models.
RF Input
Apparently due to a bad solderSolder
Solder is a fusible metal alloy used to join together metal workpieces and having a melting point below that of the workpiece.Soft solder is what is most often thought of when solder or soldering are mentioned and it typically has a melting range of . It is commonly used in electronics and...
, the antenna/cable inputs of many models of RCA TV's would occasionally malfunction. The station being watched would seem to cut out and the picture went to snow. Wiggling the cable sometimes cured the problem, suggesting that it was just a bad connection. The problem was common and widespread enough that it actually led to a class-action lawsuit. This problem occurred in other models of RCA TV's, too, such as the high-end Dimensia model.