Amateur Television in Central Ohio Art Towslee WA8RMC

Amateur Television in Central Ohio

Art Towslee

WA8RMC

ATV Topics

• What is ATV?

• What does the ATCO Club do in ATV?

• Is there an ATV Repeater in Central Ohio?

• If I “tuned in”… what would I see?

• How do I Tune In?

• What kind of equipment is used?

• Where can I get more information?

First ATV’ers?

• In 1927, Philo Farnsworth took out a Patent on a electronic TV system. Bell Labs transmitted pictures on the air.

• During the same year, the first coast to coast radio broadcasting network was inaugurated.

What is ATV? (Fast Scan)• A special Amateur Radio broadcast mode conforming to

commercial analog broadcast TV standards.• Standard analog TVs, Cameras, VCRs or any device conforming

to NTSC (US) standards are used by HAM TV Stations.

• Q: What bands can I transmit video ATV signals (fast scan)?• A: All above 420 MHz. 439.25MHz most common.• Q: How far can I exchange video with another station?• A: With normal 10 watt stations, about 30-40 miles.

(current 440 MHz land record is over 800 miles).• Q: What Ham license level do I need?• A: Technician or higher.• Q: Can I use a TV and Camcorder I already own for ATV?• A: Yes! More later.

ATV Distance Records(as of 2006)

• 440 Mhz (Land) 831 Miles

• 440 Mhz (Water) 2550 Miles

• 1200 Mhz 373 Miles

• 2.4 GHz 65 Miles

• 5.7 GHz 134 Miles

• 10 GHz 639 miles

• 24GHz 188 miles

ATCO Club Topics

The ATCO GroupRepeater System Public ServiceWhat’s PlannedHow to Contact

ATCO

*

The ATCO Group

• Formed in 1982• 85 ATV Club Members• Tuesday 9pm Net on 147.48 • Hi Profile ATV Repeater • Quarterly Newsletter• Internet Home Page• Spring & Fall Events• Pizza Parties• Signal streaming on internet

The ATCO Repeater System

• High Profile• Open Access• Multi-Band Inputs &

Outputs• Beginner User Friendly• High Up-Time• Normal repeater for

general amateur use

• Principle purpose to support Severe Weather Spotters

• Public Service

ATCO RepeaterInput Frequencies

• 70 cm 439.25 MHz VSB (H)• 23 cm 1280 MHz DATV (V)• 23 cm 1280 MHz FMATV(V) • 13 cm 2398 MHz FMATV(V)• 3 cm 10.45 GHz FMATV(H)• 449.975 MHz NBFM (voice)

(outputs to 446.35

& 147.48 MHz)The Repeater is located here…

ATCO RepeaterOutput Frequencies

• 70 cm 427.25 MHz 40 watts (H) (Cable Channel 58)

• 23 cm 1245 MHz 10 watts (V)

(Digital QPSK)

• 23 cm 1260 MHz 50 watts (V)

• 13 cm 2433 MHz 15 watts (V)

• 3 cm 10.35 GHz 1 watt (H)

• 446.350 NBFM (voice) 5 w (V)

(repeats 147.48 audio) …And the antennas are here.

ATCO RepeaterSystem Features

• Weather RADAR• Bulletin Board Automatic

(30min) & Touch Tone• DATV output on 1245 MHz• Beacon Mode• Roof Top Camera viewing

Down Town Columbus • User Commands on 147.48

and 449.975 MHz

ATCO Public Service

• Wx RADAR Program• Columbus Police • “Red White & BOOM!”• Airport Disaster

preparedness drill • Central Ohio ARES• TOSERT bike race

“Hams & Public Service”

Short range

Long range

Roof Camera

TT 697 (NWS) TT “264” (CMH)

Time Warner Weather Radar Channel 4 Local Radar

Repeater ID’s

ATV Signal Reports

P0 (I think I see you!) P1 ( I see you!) P2 ( I can tell its really you!)

P3 (Good Picture) P4 (Strong, a little snow) P5 ( Channel 10 Like!)

ATCO Bulletin Board TT 285 (“BUL”) +92

Frequently Used Command CodesOn 147.48 Touch Tone.....

• TX ID

• Bulletin Board

• Roof Top Camera

• Wx RADAR

• A whole bunch more...

• Every 30 Minutes

• See ATCO Newsletter

• 264 (CMH) & 697 (NWS)

ATCO Repeater SystemPlanned Improvements

• Links to other ATV repeaters

• More remote inputs• Lightning strike scope • More...

ATCO Events

• Tuesday Night Net, 147.48 @ 9pm

• Spring and Fall Meetings & Events

• Antenna measuring events

• Tour TV Stations

• Columbus Hamfest/meetings/presentations

• Red, White & Boom

• Quarterly newsletter

• Model Airplane CAM

• Pizza Parties

What would I see if I “tuned in”?

Lots of Stuff!

KB8ZLBGreenfield, Oh

Pete

WA8RMCInstalling Roof Camera

W8DMR, BillColumbus,Oh

KB8YMQ, JayColumbus, Oh

WB8CJW, DalePowell, Oh

KB8WBK, DaveJersey, Oh

N8KQN, TedFranklinton,Oh

K8AEH,WilberReynoldsberg, Oh

And even more test patterns!

Mobile ATV!W8RUT

Take ATV on the Road!!

ATV Transceivers439 MHz

$60 Color Camera

1 Watt transceiver

20 Watt Transceiver

70 cm ConverterPC Electronics

2.4 GHz TransmitterRe-packaged Wavecomm

Satellite Receivers are often used on 23cm

Cost: $5-25 at Hamfests

Comtech boards are also available for 23 & 13 cm.

1200 MHz Transmit board with module cover removed

1200 MHz receive board

How Do I “Tune In?”

• Cable Ready TV or VCR in “STD” mode tuned to Cable Channel 58

• Connect antenna (disconnect cable!) Outside antenna best, “rabbit ears” may work if you are in the CMH area.

• Listen on 2 meters 147.48…. Watch for bulletin board every half hour

• Tuesday nite net, 147.48 @ 9pm (lots of video check-in)

Tuesday Nights @ 9 pm is the best time to see all of these and more stations…Otherwise you might see just….

Also look on the hour and half hour for Bulletin Board

Remember!Cable channel58 and externalantenna!

More Info About ATV

• ATCO Internet Home Page:

WWW.ATCO.TV

• Quarterly ATCO Newsletter: contact WA8RMC

• ATVQ Magazine: www.atvquarterly.com

• Net: Tuesday 9pm 147.48

• PC ELECTRONICS: www.hamtv.com

• DOWN EAST MICROWAVE: www.downeastmicrowave.com

hamtv.comwww.

Questions?

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