The ATV User's Group is a subgroup of the Auckland VHF Group, Club callsign ZL1BQ, comprising of persons interested in the transmission and reception of Amateur Television.
New Zealand has an Amateur allocation in the 615 MHz band which is Channel
E39 (European system).
[For readers outside New Zealand, we use PAL-B 625 line, 5.5 MHz sound
offset.]
Several Radio clubs around ZL run low powered TV (repeater) transmitters
on this channel.
It is important to foster experimentation and technical skills of Amateurs
using different modes.
The Auckland VHF Group TV repeater (run by the User's Group)
transmits 24 hours on Channel 39
consisting of a 'teletext' generator giving pages of interest which
cycles through up to 32 pages
with general information on local radio clubs and repeaters as well
as general interest. A second fixed pattern
can be seen between cycles of teletext pages.
The Hut where the repeater is located (elevn 320m asl) The antenna
arrays (12m pole)
Antenna arrays: Two selectable 443MHz 7-element beams for wide
coverage,
4 quad panels for 615.25MHz (Euro ch E39) TX.
2m and 70 cm band turnstiles for the 144.24, 432.24 MHz beacons operated
by the VHF Group.
A 23 cm band panel array is located below the 443 beams.
10 1/2 wave element panel array for the 23 cm band input.
The repeater repeates FM or AM TV signals transmitted by other Ham stations
uplinked on either
UHF or Microwave. The repeater is controlled by a Motorola 68HC11 microcontroller.
The repeater has capability of recieving the German stereo format [5.5-5.74
MHz sound carriers] as used in Europe and Australia, simpler for amateur
implementation. (NZ broadcasters use NICAM, encoders are to complex, and
expensive, for amateur use). The Output will be upgraded to transmit dual
sound carriers at some later stage.
Inside the hut housing the repeater.
The rack on the right is the repeater. (The rest are non amateur users)
Activity on Amateur TV in the Auckland region.
German stereo has been sucsessfully transmitted on the 23 cm band FM
TV between ZL1UJK and ZL1WTT.
Activity on the repeater appears anytime but there is an unofficial
net on Sundays ~7 pm onwards.
Matrial transmitted is of NO commercial origin (without permission )
and NO advertising. Content of
material may vary from test patterns to radio activities, general interest
tapes and private videos (fit for
public consumption). Also occasional SSTV (Slow Scan Televion) is displayed.
Wayne, ZL1UJK has some hard to get componants available suitable for
ATV construction projects.
NZ orders only. Check the list on ATV Components.
Amateur TV projects.
See some equipment constructed by some of those listed below.
Amateurs that contribute and participate in activites:
ZL1AAN, ZL1ABS,
ZL1VWM, ZL1BKG, ZL1BLB, ZL1TOF, ZL1TVQ,
ZL1UET, ZL1UJK, ZL1ULZ, ZL1UWQ, ZL1VFO, ZL1WTT and others.
There is quite alot of activity and interest on slowscan mode with
SSTV being shown on FSTV!
News from ATV activity from ZL is occasionaly published, via Mike ZL1ABS,
in CQ-TV magazine of the
BATC, British Amateur TV Club.
Also ATV-Quarterly from the USA.
Further information is on the Auckland
VHF Group page.
For more info about Amateur Radio in NZ(ZL) see NZART
Get into Amateur Radio and have fun!
73, ATV Users Group.
Michael's Home page 
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