Putting It All Together

Today a lot was done. First we got a plastic container for a project box. Then we determined all the items we needed and went back and gathered all of the stuff needed (foam,a metal strip,lock,slip conectors,screws, nuts,bolts,spliter,wire,and wire connectors). First we measured and cut the piece of foam, and placed it in the project box. With the foam in the box it cushions all the components. Then we made our own dipole antenna out of some wire and spare plastic. We used a formula out of my ham radio tech manual to determine how long it should be. Then we added handles and a lock.

Next we worked on the power switch that will run the camera and the transmitter. We got it wired in for just the transmitter for now, but we are trying to figure out how to attach 2 batteries so they run both transmitter and camera from one power source.

Portable TV arrived yesterday

Picked up this TV which HAS A CABLE TUNER at Overstock.com for $32. Shipping hurt though. It can be powered by 12 volts, has an external antenna port and a nice 7" screen. It comes will all the cables and connectors we need too. This will be the center piece of the receiver.

Some photos of this weekend's successful test

I was very excited to start seeing components arriving in the mail. We got the transmitter first, then a couple of mini-cams. Saturday we started using alligator clips to attach the camera/transmitter/antennas/TV/batteries/switches together just to see our first ATV signal on screen. Somehow it worked! We got a signal on TV without any direct connection. Now that we know it works, I need to start to assemble the components into a small, neatly organized device with hopefully a single power supply and a single power switch. A handheld ATV station! Then we can start testing range.

(Click on a photo to enlarge it.)

Transmitter and testing

This week the transmitter came in the mail. We now have all the materials needed to start testing. We also tested the UHF frequency from our house to hanalani schools. It works pretty well, but it disorted the T.V. signal to any T.V.s on the channel 59 (which is the same and the ham radio 434.000) near by. Next we are planning to put together and test the transmitter this weekend. If it works we would have had our first ATV transmit on the air.

Transmitter delayed

Message from Videolynx:

Sorry for the delay. The Z70A's are just going through the last bits of assembly. Should have it in the mail on Monday the 13th or sooner.

Ravi KA3NNJ
Videolynx

Measuring the distance

Today my dad and I measured the distance between Hanalani and our house. It ended up being 0.96 miles apart. Our transmission will have to cover this distance.


Hanalani
N21º 26.478
W158º 00.580

Home
N21º 26.667
W158º 01.458

Getting some materials

Today my Dad ordered a transmitter so that we can test it when it comes in. It is a Video-lynx Z70A 70cm Mini Video/Audio transmitter. It is the miniature transmitter that I am planning to use. The entire manual can be found here.

Doing Some More Research

Today I read an introduction to ATV from Amateur Television Quarterly. I learned that it can be fun and fairly inexpensive. I also learned all the things you can do with it.

Started Blog

Today my dad and I made my Literature Review and put all my sources of information.
Literature Review

“An Introduction to Amateur Television” QST 1993, part 1 April, pp.19-23, part 2 May, pp. 43-47, part 3 June, pp. 35-41

ARRL, The ARRL Handbook For Radio Communications, Newington, CT, ARRL The National Association For Amateur Radio, 2006, pp. 9.38-9.43

PC Electronics, “ATV, Where To Start”, July 2003, http://www.hamtv.com/pdffiles/ATVstart.pdf

Giandomenico, Don (N6YIY), “Wireless Video For Remote Control Aircraft”, http://www.transmitvideo.com/don_article.html

Shimabukuro, Rodney, Interview With KITV Chief Engineer, Nov. 2006 (pending)

Kahl, Henry, Interview With KH6HAK, Nov.2006 (pending)