In This Issue: All Issues of CQ DATV Magazine Are Available For Free Download at
In This Issue: All Issues of CQ DATV Magazine Are Available For Free Download at
Editorial............................................................. 2
News & World Roundup......................................4
Conquering 10 GHz DVBT in S5 Slovenia.........8
New Satellite Receiver for 23cm and Repeaters
Using DVBS/S2............................................... 10
White Christmas to White Powder.................... 12
Diary of a POM in Western Australia.................15
Amplifier Output Power for Various
Modulations......................................................17
Printing Artwork onto PCB’s without UV...........28
One from the Vault........................................... 29
Information......................................................32
Coming up........................................................ 33
Production Team
Ian Pawson G8IQU Trevor Brown G8CJS
Terry Mowles VK5TM
Contributing Authors
Jim Andrews KH6HTV Trevor Brown G8CJS
Richard Carden VK4XRL John Hudson G3RFL
Rudi Pavlič s58ru
CQDATV was launched as a platform for exchanging ideas Richard, VK4XRL, has written another addition of digital world
from enthusiasts around the world. Like all platforms it has looking at domestic kit for DVBS2 reception of ATV.
had its highs and lows. The logic of producing this magazine
free of charge may have been revolutionary at the time, but Trevor has been looking back on the story behind a story we
it is hard to justify anything but, in the world of electronic published in CQDATV 63 about the Ampex sign coming down
publishing and volunteers that work without any in Redwood City.
remuneration.
Jim, KH6HT, has been investigating RF amplifier output power
for various modulations including DATV.
John G3RFL has found a DIY PCB toner transfer (no heat!)
and Etching method. It would seem that photosensitive
coated PCB materials are getting too expensive and John has
a quick and easy solution for avoiding the light box, film and
the expensive coated PCB.
The team have also added a long lost SSTV book to our
library. We hope to expand the Archive section in the coming
weeks by including other long lost publications.
CQ-DATV 64 - October 2018 Page 2
So please keep checking https://www.cq
datv.mobi/ebooks.php#vintage.
Something that did not make it into this issue is the Ancona
ATV contest so please, if you took part, we would love a
report so we can bring you the full story in the next issue.
The Boulder ATV Repeater, from it’s new location, reaches out
a really long distance. Plus the repeater is a true QRP
repeater, running only 5 Watts on DTV. On 70cm, it’s
transmitter shares a common antenna with the BARC 70cm
FM voice repeater. Computer predictions said we should be
able to reach into southern Wyoming. The computer said a
good site to test was just south of Cheyenne on I25 where
The above map is the predicted coverage area of our TV there are several microwave towers and also the Cheyenne
repeater. This assumes the remote station is using a 6 TV tower. It is 77 air miles from the repeater.
element (11dBi) yagi antenna at 30ft height. On 70cm, the
remote staion also needs to be using a 10 watt (rms, avg) On July 19th, Jim, KH6HTV and Don, AA6TV made a
DVBT transmitter. The online, RF propagation prediction DXpedition to Cheyenne to see if in fact they could both
program called Radio Mobile receive and transmit into the repeater. The DXpediton was
http://www.ve2dbe.com/rmonline.html was used to calculate timed to coinside with the Thursday afternoon ATV net. The
this map. More detailed maps are available at above photo is confirmation that it works ! This photo was
www.kh6htv.com in App. Note AN43c. Very detailed point taken by Don, N0YE, ATV net control. It was the TV image he
topoint RF path predictions can also be provided upon saw on his home TV screen after being repeated by our TV
request. repeater.
CQ-DATV 64 - October 2018 Page 4
Jim & Don received the 70cm, DTV signal from Boulder on a 6 DATVExpress Project
element yagi antenna with a 10dB margin. They were also
able to transmit a 70cm, 10 watt DTV signal back to the Art WA8RMC reports that there was a steady stream of orders
repeater, again with a 10dB margin (exactly as predicted by during August for MiniTiounerExpress receivers. Many of the
the computer program, Radio Mobile). orders are for customers in the European Union…..and
Charles is now waiting for more units to arrive from Art (that
On 23cm, they used a 3 watt, DVBT transmitter and a 24 is clear customs), in order to resume shipping to EU orders.
element, loop yaggi. Again,, they had a 10dB margin. The
last test was on 23cm with a 30 watt, FMTV transmitter. Charles G4GUO has fixed one bug for PLUTO units and has
They again got a P5 picture into the repeater. Dropping the prepared a zip of v1.25LP10 for Ken to test,
power down to 1/2 watt degraded the FM picture to P3. Ken W6HHC reports he has just received a v1.25LP10 zip file
from Charles for the Windows DATVExpress software.
While driving up to Cheyenne, Don and Jim monitored in the
car transmissions from the tv repeater. Don, N0YE, had the This software corrects a small (codewise) bug in the PLUTO
repeater turned on and transmitting a continuous DVD with support that allowed an RFcarrier to be produced in RECEIVE
“live” video and audio. Driving from Boulder east on Baseline mode after the PTT button was released from TRANSMIT. Ken
Road and then north on I25, we were able to verify the good plans to begin testing the new software version on PLUTO,
and bad areas as predicted by Radio Mobile. and LimeSDRmini, and DATVExpress hardware units before
uploading to the www.DATVExpress.com web site on the
To maximize the chances of success, the DVBT digital DOWNLOADS page.
parameters were set for a lower 720P resolution, QPSK
modulation and very aggressive Forward Error Correction of Charles G4GUO also reports he has been spending time lately
1/2 Code Rate. These parameters are used on the TV working on “predistortion” software for the DATVExpress
repeater’s transmitter and were also used for the Cheyenne software, that lower the distortion “shoulders” on the
transmitter. hardware RF output. The status is that he has sorted out a
nonobvious math problem and is now moving in a positive
For more details on these parameters, see my application direction for this new DATV feature.
note, AN39. (www.kh6htv.com)
Just a note that the v1.25LP10 software (DATVExpress DVB
As a side note, the BARC 2 meter (146.70MHz), FM voice Transmitter software for Windows) is available for download.
repeater was used to communicate between Cheyenne and This build of software fixes the PLUTO problem where an RF
Boulder. Running 50 watts, mobile, voice communication was carrier is sent out when clicking PTT to go back to STANDBY.
far worse than the DTV communication. The audio both ways This software now supports four hardware exciter boards:
over DVBT was perfect CD quality. The FM voice signals were DATVExpress (USB2)
very scratchy and difficult to understand. LimeSDR (USB3 or 2)
LimeSDRmini (USB3 or 2)
73 de Jim Andrews, KH6HTV
PLUTO (USB2)
The company is planning to launch its Nexø II rocket in Source Southgate ARC News
summer 2018.
This Week in Radio Tech
As an amateur organisation, the 55 members use their spare
time on the project, while at the same time having regular
dayjobs. At the annual general assembly, they elect a
chairman and boardmembers. Currently (2017), the
chairman is Kristian Elof Sørensen, who also leads the
Copenhagen Suborbitals maritime group.
Kirk works for the Telos Alliance, home to Axia audio over IP
radio mixers and Omnia audio processors, both very well
respected products.
The next day, Mauro IV3WSJ joined us. I tried first in a last
ditch attempt to receive Graziano and again failured! Mauro
then “took over” control it became the Mauro experiment.
This was the KOQIT K1 mini unit and is quite small measuring
about 120mm x 70mm. The front panel has two USB inputs
which could be used for WiFi and media (record or replay).
The rear panel has a +12v input from a power pack, a A/V
socket, a socket for the LED remote screen, plus an HDMI
output socket and a F connector for RF input.
Not quite as small, but never the less popular with DATV
operators in Australia is another receiver that’s worth a
mention and this is the STRONG Model SRT 4950E.
This one maybe not as elegant, but is ideal for DATV repeater
operation complete with signal indicator which is not available
on the KOQIT. It only requires interfacing from the signal
indicator to the repeater controller.
Ampex VR 1000 video tape recorder, note the two It’s rumoured that at NBC the orders came so fast that they
external racks, which are part of the machine were written on table napkins, by the sales staff.
The product launch was in April 1956 at NAB, but two days Ampex won an Oscar, several Emmys and a Grammy. In
before the convention the machine was demonstrated to 300 2008, Ampex declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was
CBS affiliates at the Conrad Hilton Hotel. The demonstration acquired by Delta Information Systems. Sad end to the
started with a speech by Bill Lodge VP of CBS. When this was company that invented video recording.
over, 20 monitors around the room showed the speech being
replayed, before the curtains were drawn back to reveal the Ray Dolby is a house hold name, these days for his work on
source of this replay. There was about 10 seconds of silence audio systems that carry is name, I always thought it a fitting
until they realised what was happening, followed by clapping tribute when in the 1980’s when I installed Dolby sound
and cheering, remember this was the first time anyone modules to a much later Ampex video recorder (VPR2) but
outside Amex had seen instantaneous replay of any event. that’s another story.
CQ-DATV 64 - October 2018 Page 14
There were also unsubstantiated rumours that part way What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this.
thought the development process Ray Dolby was inducted I'm turning into a sunworshipper no blasted rain like back
into the services and still thinking about the VR 1000 rang in Leeds !!
Ginsburgh to say he though they ought to change from AM to
FM and introduce a control track. But again these are only September 30
rumours. Had the back yard landscaped with tropical plants today.
Lots of palms and rocks.
Why the title well White Christmas is a reference to Bing No more mowing lawns for me!
Crosby’s famous song, which incidentally was used on the Another scorcher today, but I love it here.
radio to signal the American withdrawal from Vietnam . It's Paradise !
White powder, as video tape evolved and tape improved and
improved Memorex Chroma 90 developed a problem with the October 10
tape backing collapsing and delivering white powder that The temperature hasn't been below 35 all week.
clogged the machine and stopped the recordings being How do people get used to this kind of heat?
recovered, the same problem also happened to the 3M tape At least today it's windy though.
420 some months later. Keeps the flies off a bit.
Acclimatizing is taking longer than we expected.
Video recording rescued from 1964
https://www.dcvideo.com/news/2018/8/23/dcvideo October 15
restoresrare1964colortonightshow Fell asleep by the pool yesterday.
Got third degree burns over 60% of my body.
Missed three days off work.
Diary of a POM in Western Australia What a dumb thing to do..
Got to respect the old sun in a climate like this!
August 31
Just got transferred with work from Leeds UK to our new October 20
home in Karratha, Western Australia . Didn't notice Kitty (our cat) sneaking into the car before I
Now this is a town that knows how to live! left for work this morning.
Beautiful, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings. By the time I got back to the car after work, Kitty had died
I watched the sunset from a deckchair by our pool yesterday. and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stuck to
It was beautiful. I've finally found my new home. the upholstery.
I love it here. The car now smells like Whiskettes and cat shit.
I've learned my lesson though: no more pets in this heat.
September 13
Really heating up now. October 25
It got to 31 today. This wind is a bastard.
No problem though. It feels like a giant *?@#ing blow dryer.
Living in airconditioned home, driving airconditioned car. And it's hot as hell!
CQ-DATV 64 - October 2018 Page 15
The home air conditioner is on the blink and the repair man Hot and sunny, Hot and *?@#ing sunny.
charged $200 just to drive over and tell me he needs to order It never *?@#ing changes!
parts from *?@#!ing Perth .....The wife & the kids are It's been too hot to do anything for 2 *?@#ing months and
complaining. the weatherman says it might really warm
up next week. *?@#!.
October 30
The temperature's up around 40 and the parts still haven't November 15
arrived for the *?@#ing air conditioner. Doesn't it ever rain in this damn *?@#ing place?
House is an oven so we've all been sleeping outside by the Water restrictions will be next, so my $5,000 worth of palms
pool for 3 nights now. might just dry up and blow into the *?@#ing pool.
Bloody $600,000 house and we can't even go inside. The only things that thrive in this *?@#ing hellhole are the
Why the hell did I ever come here? *?@#ing flies.
You don't dare open your mouth for fear of swallowing half a
November 4 dozen of the little bastards!
Finally got the *?@#ing airconditioner fixed. It cost $1,500
and gets the temperature down to around November 20
25 degrees, but the humidity makes it feel about 35. Welcome to HELL!
Stupid repairman. *?@#ing thief. It got to 45 *?@#ing degrees today.
Now the air conditioners gone in my car.
November 8 The repair man came to fix it and said, 'Hot enough for you
If one more smart bastard says 'Hot enough for you today?' today?'
I'm going to *?@#ing throttle him. I wanted to shove the *?@#!ing car up his *?@#ing arse.
*?@#ing heat! Anyway, had to spend the $2,500 mortgage payment to bail
By the time I get to work, the car radiator is boiling over, my me out of jail for assaulting the stupid prick.
*?@#ing clothes are soaking *?@#!ing wet and I smell like *?@#ing Karratha!
baked cat. *?@#ing place is the end of the Earth. What kind of sick, demented *?@#ing idiot would want to
live here!
November 9
Tried to run some errands after work, wore shorts, and sat on December 1
the black leather upholstery in my car. WHAT!!!! The FIRST day of Summer!!!!
I thought my *?@#ing arse was on fire. You are *?@#ing kidding me!
I lost 2 layers of flesh, all the hair on the backs of my legs
and off my *?@#ing arse. (Anonymous)
Now the car smells like burnt hair, fried arse and baked cat.
November 10
The Weather report might as well be a *?@#ing recording..
Hot and sunny.
CQ-DATV 64 - October 2018 Page 16
Amplifier Output Power for Various
Modulations
Written by Jim Andrews, KH6HTV.
Reprinted by permission.
Fig. 2 709B Amplifier operating as an FM voice Fig. 3 709B Amplifier acting as an AM voice
transmitter. FM spectrum with 1kHz tone and 5kHz transmitter. This is the output RF voltage waveform
deviation. Magenta = max. output of 80 watts. Yellow for a 1KHz tone at 99% modulation. Spectrum
= low power of 2 watts. Spectrum analyzer settings: Analyzer settings: Vert = linear detector, 100% = 50V
10dB/div & 5kHz/div, 50kHz span, BW = 100Hz, VBW = 50 watts (PEP). span = 0, horiz. sweep = 5ms, BW =
= 100Hz. 30kHz, VBW = 30kHz. Pavg = 12.5 watts = 41dBm
SSB: For Single Side Band (SSB) service, to maintain Fig. 5 shows the spectrum of the FT817 transmitter when
linearity, the max. peak output (PEP) should also be limited putting out a 1 watt (PEP) (30dBm) signal.
to the 1dB gain compression point. Thus, for the 709B, it
should be rated at 50 watts (PEP) (47dBm). Fig. 6 (next page) shows the 50 watt (PEP) output from the
709B Amplifier.
SSB tests were performed using a Yaesu FT 817 SSB
transmitter. This transmitter is capable of 2.5 watts (PEP)
when working on it’s internal battery. The output was
attenuated with a 30dB, 20 watt attenuator, plus an Continued next page...
adjustable step attenuator and used as the test signal input
to the 709B amplifier.
This is your free ATV magazine.
The transmitter was set to 441.000 MHz, upper sideband, Please consider contributing an article!
and modulated with a 1 kHz tone.
CQ-DATV 64 - October 2018 Page 19
Fig. 6 SSB output from the 709B Amplifier when
driven to 50 watts (PEP) (47dBm) output power by a 1
kHz, USB test signal. 10dB/div. & 1kHz/div.
Note: that the spurious CSC on the lower sideband has come
up to about 30dB below the CSC on the upper sideband.
This demonstrated that QPSK is very resilient to amplitude At this level, the output power was 42.7dBm (19W) and the
compression, much like the results with FM. shoulder was 21dB. Thus for 64QAM, the shoulder
requirement is even more stringent and should be set no
The same tests were performed using 16QAM and 64QAM. higher than 33dB.
For 16QAM, when the output power was increased to
CQ-DATV 64 - October 2018 Page 26
These above tests show the necessity of providing
considerable “head room” in a DTV transmitter. The head
room is the difference between the acceptable rms output
power and the amplifier’s max. saturated output power. From
the final results reported in the table on page 1, the
minumum head rooms required are: QPSK = 10dB, 16QAM =
10.5dB and 64QAM = 11.2dB
REFERENCES:
3. Figs. 20.3 & 20.6 come from Ref. [2] pages 373 & 378
Once you have a transfer you can etch in the conventional Written by John Hudson G3RFL
way, my favourite is a Ferric Chloride solution which works
well with my bubble bath, but the author in the video has a In a senior moment, I managed to damage my RF dummy
preference for plastic forks to agitate the solution. Load, by using it on a 13cms transmitter that was more than
capable of delivering 120W. So it was time to consider a
Will it save money, Yes a WiFi connected printer from ARGOS replacement and an upgrade to cope with the higher power
is just £59 Levels.
This process does not need special PCB at £8 a go and the I started by purchasing a 50ohm 250W surface mount
savings will it will soon pay for the printer! resistor. The resistor I chose has a specification (see data
sheets below) that will enable it to be used up to at least
My thanks to Ted G4MXR and Dave G3ZGZ. who have also 2GHz,and cost £7. I have seen some on eBay for about the
tried the process and Gareth Burrows for the original idea. same price, but only 150W versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVhSCEPINpM
Editors note: For those that want try direct printing to pcb
material here is but one of many articles for using an inkjet
printer, but be warned, it is not for the feinthearted:
https://www.instructables.com/id/ConvertinganInkjet
PrintertoPrintPCBs/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Modificationofthe
LexmarkE260forDirectLaser1/
It was a simple task to drill the heat sink and mount the
resistor applying a liberal dosage of heat transfer compound.
I folded the TAB back over itself onto its top and filed an "N"
type connector plug, filing the centre pin down as much as
possible as this goes over the resistor and compression
touches the resistor tab, carefully not over tightening it or
you will break the resistor.
The 12V fan I chose came from CPC and was designed for Completed unit ....so far
use on PCu/P and cost just over £7.
See next page for Data sheets.
When the fan arrived I fitted it and repeated the experiment
with the two meter source, once the heat sink became to hot
to hold, I powered up the fan, and after only a few minutes
the temperature dropped to just a few deg above room
temperature.