Soooo....  a <insert disaster scenario here>  goes and distrupts your land line, cellular service, internet connection, and perhaps even your snail mail.  You really wanted to show the out-of-state relatives that you are now living under a tarp in 95 degree weather.  What to do, what to do?

Not a problem!  You wisely decided to forgo the purchase of another $2000 AR/ACOG combo, and spent your last tax refund on a $500 HF transceiver.

Using the SoundBlaster compatible computer that you are using right now, you simply plug your transceiver's data cable into the headphone and microphone jacks on your computer.  Using the slow scan television freeware software that you wisely installed on  your computer for just such an occasion, you find the picture that you took of your family's suffering, and hit the "send" button.  The computer converts the proof of your destitution (lets call it "sendlawyersgunsandmoney.jpg") into a digital signal resembling that of a phone modem, while simultaneously keying your radio to transmit.

Meanwhile, Uncle Fester, (who also has the same setup, and lives 550 miles away) checks his computer around lunchtime for incoming pictures on the "family calling frequency".  The pictures that you sent have been automatically saved on his hard drive.  He takes the appropriate measures, and peace and happiness ensue.

"Golly!", you think to yourself.  "I sure am glad that I made the investment in amateur radio, rather than buying that set of $350 handguards for my AR-15".  

Pics inbound.

Once HF gets opened up to no-codes, I'll be right on it.

550 miles on slow scan? Reliably? Hmmm...

Quoted: Once HF gets opened up to no-codes, I'll be right on it.

It's down to 5 wpm, you know.

Quoted: Quoted: Once HF gets opened up to no-codes, I'll be right on it. It's down to 5 wpm, you know.

Yep, it's not a difficult test to pass.

Quoted: 550 miles on slow scan? Reliably? Hmmm...

"Reliable" with the caveat that you are at the mercy of atmospheric conditions at any given time.  However, an experienced operator can work around this, and not waste his time attempting commo when conditions do not support it.

My current record is several thousand miles; from Iraq to Brazil.

Quoted: Quoted: 550 miles on slow scan? Reliably? Hmmm... "Reliable" with the caveat that you are at the mercy of atmospheric conditions at any given time.  However, an experienced operator can work around this, and not waste his time attempting commo when conditions do not support it. My current record is several thousand miles; from Iraq to Brazil.

Ya, I get ya.

I'll get my ticket one of these days, but it always seems to take a back seat to other things.

Quoted: www.wanadoo.co.uk/images/editorial/generalarticle/entertainment/Celebs/Bad_haircuts/waynes_world_sep05_rex_170.jpg

Yes, but with shorter hair.

Rock on!

And since your living under a tarp in 95 degree heat with no power, cell, or other such your powering this how?

Quoted: www.wanadoo.co.uk/images/editorial/generalarticle/entertainment/Celebs/Bad_haircuts/waynes_world_sep05_rex_170.jpg

Baaack into the dish on the back of mr. big's limo.

Quoted: And since your living under a tarp in 95 degree heat with no power, cell, or other such your powering this how?

Car+Invertor.

Quoted: And since your living under a tarp in 95 degree heat with no power, cell, or other such your powering this how?

Iraqi children peddling stationed bike generators.  They, of course, are not under the tarp.

Amateur radios operate off of any 12vdc source; car batteries, gell cells, etc.  The computer is likewise, through a commonly available inverter or cigarette plug adapter.

Power is not an issue.

Here's some random pics to illustrate:

A Spanish station sending me back the pic that I sent to them, which allowed me to make any necessary adjustments (increase power, change bands, etc.).  That is me in the inset picture, standing in front of a bunker northwest of Ramadi.


Same station, sending me his pic:


Much the same, this one from Russia:


This one came in real good; from South Africa:


From Turkey; not so good quality:


You never know who is out there listening.  Here is a Ukrainian station asking me for my callsign:


I don't have any good pics at the moment showing the interface cable, or of the program interface, maybe later, if there is any interest.

Quoted: ---snip some cool stuff--- I don't have any good pics at the moment showing the interface cable, or of the program interface, maybe later, if there is any interest.

When you get a chance, I'd like to see the setup.
Thanks.

Do those things do porn?

tag

Quoted: Do those things do porn?

You knew that was comming...  

That's being saved for the Team Forum.

double tap

Shameless bump, then I'll call it a day.


From Germany:


From Crete:


From Italy:


From Hungary.  That is me in the inset:


The little brat was making fun of me.  From Texas, IIRC:


A Polish station replaying the pic that I sent.  He wanted to see her without the "mustache":


Another one from the Italian station.  His engrish wasn't too good, but what he was trying to convey is that he really really has a low opinion of arabs (I was transmitting from Iraq):


Here is a crummy pic from a Russian cargo ship.  IIRC, he said he was on the Indian Ocean:


From the same ship, different radio operator:


....and finally one from Oman.  Addressed to whomever it may concern:

Got a link to the freeware? Can I work this on 2meters and 70cm?

MMSSTV freeware

...and here is a screenshot of the program interface:



It will work just fine on VHF/UHF.  You must operate in SSB mode, however.  AM/FM won't work.

I'm going to have to try this Gunny!

Cool avatar Yankee1911...

Tag

That is too cool. I wish I knew what in the hell you were talking about though

To sum it up in two sentences:  You can use the soundcard on your computer as a modem to convert images (such as .jpg or .bmp) to a digital audio format, which is then transmitted over the radio waves.  The digital audio is then decoded by the receiving station using the same equipment.

I guess it is kind of like sending a picture over your cell phone, except that no infrastructure is involved, other than the atmosphere.  No internet, cellular, or telephone company subscription required.

Also, it isn't a person-to-person thing (like email), it is more like a one-to-many thing (like arfcom).

Years ago I built a SSTV converter for my C64 computer then got into ATV. I think Robot used to make the SSTV converters years ago before the PC revolution. Big old boxes.

That Fucking Rocks!
Ive never heard of that

Lot of trouble. SHTF scenario. Im not worried about sending out pictures. I was thinking more of the line of cable access tv

Heh, heh.  It was just a contrived scenario for the purpose of illustrating a possible use for one of my hobbies.

Kind of like gunowners talking about attacking the mythical "UN convoy".  

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Vulcan94