Slow Scan Television

Slow Scan Television was originally developed by Copthorne Macdonald VE1BFL.
Nowadays it is very easy to use slow scan thanks to easy interfacing between
computers and the various software now available to encode and decode SSTV pictures.

Software

• [MMSSTV] (supports CAT for PTT and data cable)
• [Multipsk] (supports data cable for PTT only)

There are many different programs available but I have covered the above as they are free for use.

To receive SSTV pictures all you need is a computer running the software with a soundcard and either a microphone attached to it or for best results a cable to go from your scanner/rig to your soundcard line in socket.

SSTV activity can normally be found on 144.500mhz (2 Meteres) and 14.230mhz (20 Meters)

One of the great advantages of analogue slow scan is as long as the tones are audible it is possible to receive the picture. Wether noisy or clear you can normally make out the picture. The downside to alot of the newer digital slow scan file transfer methods is that a good signal is required on 2 Meters. On HF however digital slow scan is at its best.

(Below pictures are low quality to allow faster page loading and are for reference only)

• Noisy Picture: 

A noisy but readable picture on 20 Meters

• Clear Picture: 

A clean image on 2 Meters

Spectrum of SSTV