VE6AB Portable Ops
SSTV Picture Transmissions
So for some time I had been on the lookout for an SSTV handheld device, the VC-H1 introduced by Kenwood back in 1998.
Long obsolete, the VC-H1 was proving somewhat difficult to find, and when I did run across one, they seemed to be commanding a hefty price these days, as hams are snapping them up, probably because of the rekindled interest in SSTV, due to the ISS (International Space Station) transmitting SSTV images regularely on 145.800 MHz.
Well long story short, the drought for myself has ended, as I was fortunate enough to pick up the VC-H1 pictured here, and it has seen very little usage, being in pristine condition cosmetically and operations wise.
With the popularity of Slow Scan Television (SSTV) on the ISS, AMSAT also has brought back Experimenter’s Wednesday to AO-85.
Users are able to exchange pictures using Robot36 SSTV mode via the FM repeater on AO-85 during UTC Wednesdays, and the VC-H1 combined with the D72 is perfect for making SSTV image transmission contacts with other hams, the downlink frequency being 145.980 MHz (Doppler shift in play), and the uplink frequency being 435.170 MHz (center frequency), and a PL of 67Hz.
The VC-H1 combines an image-scan converter, CCD camera and LCD monitor in a compact battery-operated unit.
Although the VC-H1 was originally designed to connect up to the Kenwood D7 HT, the cable connector is still current with the speaker/mic connector used on the newer D72 as seen here, and may be used with the newer Kenwood D74, as well as with the Baofeng and Wouxun series of HT transceivers that use a similar Kenwood connector for the speaker/mic port.
The VC-H1 offers full compatibility with all of the standard SSTV formats. Uploads/downloads are quick and easy.
As well as viewing incoming pictures, you can review your own pictures prior to transmission. The built-in microphone & speaker can be used in place of a separate speaker-microphone for the D72 (D74 also) as seen here.
Up to 10 pictures can be stored in memory. This allows you to compare and pick the best shot to send. You can also store incoming pictures and protect them from unintentional deletion.
So that's where its at for the moment, however I will update with more info soon.....
Expand the photo for a closer look.....
In the field....
https://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-bVrqkrX
