ATV talkback for activity days / contests
Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 2:52 pm
Talkback always seem to be a bit of an issue with both TV and Microwaves in general. Currently we use the following:
144.750 FM - Horizontal or vertical? Whilst fine for local talkback it actually may not go as far as the TV signals unless you run big beams! Then the beams can be large and unless you are running 146MHz, just one more thing to remember and you have to work out how to switch between t/b and 146 TV - plus it doesn't work when Tx on 146.
www.dxspot.tv - whilst a very useful facility, it requires a PC (which may be in use for MiniTuoiner) and an internet connection of at least 3G - not always easy when on a high top.
Mobile phones / text - work OK but is one to one and you can't call CQ!
In the future, we may be able to use an FM channel on the geostationary satellite - but this would require more kit and another dish!
One thing we all seem to carry is a mobile phone and probably a smartphone and it has been suggested that we should try Whatsapp as a TV talkback facility - I am already in a local group of 24GHzers and ARISS operations group and it seems to work well both before and during an event. Benefits include:
Multiple group chat - with the ability to mute the bing noise on each group - and one to one chat.
Basic chat seems to operate on very low bandwidth connections (E).
Available on all smartphones and Windows PCs (you need a mobile account to run it on a PC).
Whatsapp seems relatively harmless and has free national and international coverage.
What do people think - we could set up Southern, North West, North East and Midland groups plus a National group which you call CQ on and you mute everything apart from the National and your own area group. All it takes is one person to set up each group then invite people to join.
Just an idea....
73 Noel
144.750 FM - Horizontal or vertical? Whilst fine for local talkback it actually may not go as far as the TV signals unless you run big beams! Then the beams can be large and unless you are running 146MHz, just one more thing to remember and you have to work out how to switch between t/b and 146 TV - plus it doesn't work when Tx on 146.
www.dxspot.tv - whilst a very useful facility, it requires a PC (which may be in use for MiniTuoiner) and an internet connection of at least 3G - not always easy when on a high top.
Mobile phones / text - work OK but is one to one and you can't call CQ!
In the future, we may be able to use an FM channel on the geostationary satellite - but this would require more kit and another dish!
One thing we all seem to carry is a mobile phone and probably a smartphone and it has been suggested that we should try Whatsapp as a TV talkback facility - I am already in a local group of 24GHzers and ARISS operations group and it seems to work well both before and during an event. Benefits include:
Multiple group chat - with the ability to mute the bing noise on each group - and one to one chat.
Basic chat seems to operate on very low bandwidth connections (E).
Available on all smartphones and Windows PCs (you need a mobile account to run it on a PC).
Whatsapp seems relatively harmless and has free national and international coverage.
What do people think - we could set up Southern, North West, North East and Midland groups plus a National group which you call CQ on and you mute everything apart from the National and your own area group. All it takes is one person to set up each group then invite people to join.
Just an idea....
73 Noel
I'm in N Cumbria so I guess that makes me in the N West, so if anyone else considers themselves in the N West or somewhere that I might possibly work (NE area?) send me your mobile number by PM and I'll set up a group chat.