ATV System Planner for the ATV User


All ATV signals are governed by the environment in which they are installed, You MUST have near line of site or better view to the repeater or your signals will be seriously degraded or not useable

The use of this tool can aid in the planning and implementation of an Amateur Television Station in your ham shack.

What do we need to use ATV?
To answer that, you must decide where you want to talk, there are other ATV Systems in the area. This page will focus on using the WB6ASU ATV Repeater.

Like every radio system you need the proper components:

Antenna System
Receiver System
Transmitter System
Power Supply

You will notice I have identified the components into systems. ATV is NOT like any other mode you have ever worked! We will take each system and discuss it.

Antenna System -
The most common mode used in ATV is called "Full Duplex", this means you can see your own signal being repeated back to you.
This often does require the use of two antennas or a cross band duplexer. For now we will focus on antenna choices and options.
The WB6ASU ATV Repeater uses 1277 Mhz to transmit out on and we use 915 Mhz to talk into the repeater.
This means for the ATV equiped Ham Shack you will need a 1277 Mhz Receive antenna and feed line, that feed line should be kept as short as possible and should be 1/2 inch hard line or better. All connectors must be "Type N".

This also means that for your Transmit antenna you will need to use a 915 Mhz antenna and feed line, that feedline can be 1/2 inch "SuperFlex" or better hardline. All connectors must be "Type N".

Receiver System -
An ATV Receiver System consists of a Video Reciever and a TV Monitor with External A/V Inputs. We use Comtech Receivers, we take the standard A/V outputs and plug them into the A/V Inputs on the TV Monitor. Pretty basic, the receiver uses programmable switch settings to program the Receive Frequency into the receiver.

Transmitter System -
An ATV Transmitter System consists of a Video Camera, a Microphone and a Video Transmitter. We use Comtech Transmitters, we take the standard A/V output from the Camer an Microphone and plug them into the Video Transmitter. The transmitter is connected to the transmit antenna.

Power Supply -
A Power Supply would consist of a supply capable of delivering 13.8 VDC and in some cases 24 VDC. Current ratings of at least 5 amps regulated.