Amateur Television Repeaters and Skycam

Repeater
Skycam
Slow Scan TV
Repeater

W5ZDN ATV-repeater. We have mounted an ATV repeater atop the Hillcrest Medical Tower, one of the highest points in McLennan County. The repeater listens on an input frequency of 910.25 MHz and retransmits on an output of 421.25 MHz (Cable channel 57). The repeater enables ATV communications from almost anywhere within McLennan County, and in some places beyond. The repeater is currently operational and open to any amateur use.


Sky Cam

The HOTARC Skycam is a color video camera mounted atop the Waco Hilton Hotel across the street from the Waco Suspension Bridge and Indian Springs Park. Using 2-meter FM radio signals, members can activate the camera and transmitter to control a pan-tilt head and point the camera in almost any direction. The video signal is beamed to the W5ZDN ATV-repeater. The Skycam is currently operational and open to all HOTARC members.

Here's some pictures of the Skycam being installed.
Click on the picture to enlarge it.



Left: The skycam's transmitter and ID board in the Hilton
Left Center: Tom Haddad (left) and Horace Bushnell (right) installing the Skycam
Right Center: Horace Bushnell installing the skycam
Right: The installed skycam


Slow Scan TV

Slow Scan TV is quite active in Central Texas. Larry Bush W5NCD has a repeater on 147.24 MHz dedicated to SSTV. Waco area hams frequently exchange sloc-scan images via 2 meters with this repeater. Of course, the image quality is superb (compared to the image degradation one typically encounters with HF SSTV). One of the latest developments permits sending of the images digitally which results in perfect images. Visit Larry's very helpful SSTV webpage to learn more about these opportunities to enjoy ham radio!