REAST - Amateur TeleVision Experimenters Group

Time & Day

Event

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

REAST ATV Experimenters Group
ATV frequencies - 444.25MHz video & 449.75MHz audio and some audio may also be heard on Repeater 2 - 146.7MHz.

We are currently experimenting with Digital ATV using the DVB-S standard on 1283MHz which can be received using a Digital Satellite receiver. Thanks to Jack VK2TRF for the loan of the digital ATV equipment.

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:

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

Digital TV: 446.5MHz (TBC - OPERATING - Late May 2010)

LCN: TBA

Standard: DVB-T

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 may need to manually tune around the 446.5MHz area as this is not a standard channel number and some set-top boxes will automatically skip this frequency.

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;
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:

VK Amateur ATV Sites:

VK3KHB
VK3AAZ
More to come!

International ATV Groups:

Other ATV Sites:

ATV Projects Site
More to come!