Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmanian Inc.

Digital Amateur TeleVision (DATV)

Experimenter's Group

What is ATV/DATV?

ATV = Amateur TeleVision is the transmission of normal fast-scan television signals within the frequency spectrum allocated to amateur radio. In Australia it is the PAL standard for analogue TV.

DATV = Digital Amateur Television and in Australia it is the same as your normal Digital TV signal (DVB-T) however it is on slight different frequency of 446.5MHz. There is also the DVB-S (Satellite) used within the amateur radio community.

Regular Broadcasts/Groups:

Time & Day

Event

19:30 every Wednesday night (except REAST meeting night)

REAST ATV Experimenters Group  Analog ATV frequencies - 444.25MHz video & 449.75MHz audio and some audio may also be heard on Repeater 2 - 146.7MHz. Digital ATV Frequency - 446.5MHz DVB-T - 7MHz bandwidth. We are currently experimenting with Digital ATV using the DVB-T standard on 446.5MHz which can be received using a Set-Top Box or Digital TV.  Take a look at VK3RTV for a list of the STBs that work on this frequency. Early VK7 Broadcast on ATV  Dave VK4AO/7 & Justin VK7TW (photo VK7BEN) Alan VK7ZAR (sitting), Graham VK7ZGK and Yvonne VK4FLUV (photo VK7BEN) Warren VK7FEET our 100th subscriber to the VK7 Regional News Broadcast receiving his prize of a 2m/70cm Jpole. Comparison of 70cm Analog ATV and 23cm Digital ATV (DVB-S) thanks to Jack VK2TRF for loan of the Digital Exciter and to Tom VK7TL for the picture above NEW ATV STUDIO - March 2010 New Video & Audio Control Desk and Video Rack New Studio Arrangement with Cyclorama and Desk (Thanks to Paul VK7FPAH) with Chroma-Key Screen (Thanks to IKEA!) Cameras Looking at the Studio Desk ATV studio desk with titling from the new studio titling PC Close-up of the titling preview and then composite when combined with other studio images. Broadcasts may consist of historic broadcasts (Public Domain), ATV, special features, show and tell, interviews, club activities and interesting facts and figures. YouTube Videos: ATV Introduction Interview with VK7DY Interview with VK7KK Interview with VK7RO Saturday Afternoon Group Promo Thanks to Tony VK7FTCL, Sam VK7FSTL and Franck VK7FINF for the excellent work in producing these videos.

Transmission Frequencies

Analogue Fast Scan TV: Video: 444.25MHz - Audio: 449.75MHz

Channel: ATV Channel (Just below SBS Channel 28) 

Standard: PAL

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Digital TV: 446.5MHz (will need to manually tune on STB)

LCN: TBA

Standard: DVB-T

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Live webcam  http://batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=5 (select member stream - VK7OTC)

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How to Receive

You will need a UHF TV antenna with some gain pointed toward the top of the Queen's Domain to receive the ATV signals. These signals have a much lower power than the commercial TV stations on Mt Wellington.

For analogue reception you will need the antenna connected to a TV or tuner that can tune down below SBS (Channel 28) on the UHF TV band.

For digital reception you will need the antenna connect to a Digital TV receiver (set-top box or built in). You will need to manually tune 446.5MHz as this is not a standard channel number and most set-top boxes automatically skip this frequency.

If you can enter a frequency, then enter 446.5MHz, 7MHz bandwidth and then search on this frequency. If it finds a station on this frequency it will have the callsign VK7OTC.

A good article on receiving ATV signals can be found on the VK3RTV website.

Broadcast Schedule

Every Wednesday night except the first Wednesday night of the month (REAST Presentation night) is an ATV Experimenter's Group night.

We get underway around 7:30pm with a test pattern then head into our program for the night soon after this.

Interview audio usually also goes out on Repeater 2 - 146.700MHz.

Program Examples

Programs can consist of any combination of:

• On-air interviews with visitors, special guests and other interesting amateurs and non-amateurs;

• Public Domain/Creative Commons video presentations;

• Previous REAST Meeting Presentations (we have recordings of the last 7 years of REAST presentations);

• Outside Broadcasts;

• Other ATV enthusiasts sending their ATV signals to the studio and these being broadcast back out (ATV repeater);

• Re-broadcast of NASA TV from the satellite dish; or,

• Internet linking with other amateur organisations via skype and other video/audio over IP protocols.

Take a listen to the Sunday morning broadcast for information on what is going to be on at the Wednesday night ATV night.

ATV Library

We have over 200 presentations on DVD in our extensive ATV library.

These are available to REAST members for short-term loan.

A listing is available for members on the REAST Members Web Pages.

Links

VK ATV Groups:

• Television Gladesville & TVG

• Melbourne Amateur TV Group - VK3RTV

• Brisbane Digital ATV Group

• Sydney ATV Group

• NWTARIG - VK7RTV

• More to come!

VK Amateur ATV Sites:

• VK3KHB

• VK3AAZ

• More to come!

International ATV Groups:

• British Amateur Television Club

• Triangle ATV Association 

• Orange Country ARC (DATV Library)

• German ATV Group

• Irish ATV Club

• Worthing Video Repeater Group

Other ATV Sites:

• ATV Projects Site

• More to come!