VK3RTV
Encyclopedia
VK3RTV is an amateur television
station based in Melbourne, Australia. The station's repeater is located on Mount Dandenong
and is one of a number of audio and video repeaters licensed to Amateur Radio Victoria. The output of this repeater can be received by many but not all standard digital television receivers at the start of the UHF TV band, roughly where UHF Channel 16 would be if there was such a channel. The output of the repeater is only 30 watts and is at a much lower signal level than commercial, community and government TV broadcasters. A masthead amplifier would be of assistance in receiving the station but is not a necessity. An up to date list of Amateur TV capable Set Top Boxes or Digital TV receivers can be found at VK3KHB
or the VK3RTV web page.
Typical programs or video viewers can expect to see include Amateur Radio related videos, slideshows, electronics tuition, home videos, test patterns, sound experiments, retransmissions of amateur radio nets and videophone contacts with other amateurs and link ups with International Space Station, SKYPE links to other ATV groups across Australia or just about anywhere in the world.
The following regular programming has been noted:
Most Saturdays around 7.30 PM, Peter VK3PB shows and hour or two of educational or Amateur Radio related material including episodes of the IPTV show Amateurlogic. From time to time a digital fish tank, similar to live Fishcam which used to be shown on Community Television on Channel 31.
Most Fridays starting about 9.30 P.M. VK3KHB, transmits Astronomy related material as well as other subjects of interest.
Mode: DVB-T
Centre Frequency: 446.500 MHz
Modulation: 16-QAM
Guard Interval: 1/4
Code Rate: 2/3
IFFT Mode: 2K
Occupied Bandwidth 7 MHz
Lower Bandwidth Limit: 443.000 MHz
Upper Bandwidth Limit: 450.000 MHz
Output Power: 30 Watts
Antenna: 3 x Yagi, 120 degree pattern
Polarisation: Horizontal
Frequencies: 1250 MHz, 1283 MHz, 10410 MHz
Audio Carrier: 6 MHz subcarrier
Occupied Bandwidth: 18 MHz
Lower Bandwidth Limit: 1241 MHz, 1274 MHz, 10401 MHz respectively
Upper Bandwidth Limit: 1259 MHz, 1292 MHz, 10419 MHz respectively
Antenna: Phased Array
Polarisation: Horizontal, Horizontal, Vertical respectively
Mode: DVB-S TV
Frequencies: 1255Mhz, 1278 MHz
Symbol Rate: 5000
FEC: 3/4
Occupied Bandwidth: 6.5 MHz
Lower Bandwidth Limit: 1251.750Mhz, 1274.750Mhz respectively
Upper Bandwidth Limit: 1258.250Mhz, 1281.250Mhz respectively
Antenna: Phased Array, Bowtie, respectively
Polarisation: Horizontal, Horizontal, respectively
There are a small number of amateur television enthusiasts (amateur radio operators with television transmitting equipment) who transmit to the greater Melbourne metro area, Yarra Valley and surrounds via VK3RTV and is also watchable via the internet by digital link to the British Amateur Television Club's website in the UK.
Observed Stations: (silent key - VK3KBL - VK3LA)
VK3AAZ,VK3AOB,VK3AGJ,VK3BFG,VK3BCU,VK3CH,VK3FMD,VK3GE,VK3GMZ,VK3IV,VK3JDA,VK3KHB,VK3KOS,VK3LL,
VK3MN,VK3PB,VK3TMS,VK3TVZ,VK3WWW,VK3XOK,VK3XKD and VK3XZA.
Amateur television
Amateur television is the transmission of Broadcast quality video and audio over the wide range of frequencies of allocated for Radio amateur use. ATV is used for non-commercial experimentation, pleasure and public service events...
station based in Melbourne, Australia. The station's repeater is located on Mount Dandenong
Mount Dandenong, Victoria
Mount Dandenong is both a mountain and small township/suburb of Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 35 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
and is one of a number of audio and video repeaters licensed to Amateur Radio Victoria. The output of this repeater can be received by many but not all standard digital television receivers at the start of the UHF TV band, roughly where UHF Channel 16 would be if there was such a channel. The output of the repeater is only 30 watts and is at a much lower signal level than commercial, community and government TV broadcasters. A masthead amplifier would be of assistance in receiving the station but is not a necessity. An up to date list of Amateur TV capable Set Top Boxes or Digital TV receivers can be found at VK3KHB
or the VK3RTV web page.
Transition to Digital
VK3RTV has been converted to digital transmission only, after 30+ years of analogue transmission since 1979. VK3RTV is now broadcasting with two Standard Definition digital channels (576i). The transition from analog to digital was partly funded by the Wireless Institute of Australia and users / viewers of the service.Programming
Amateur Radio Operators are restricted in terms of the content they may transmit in that the transmission of "entertainment" is not allowed. However Amateur Radio Operators are nonetheless able to transmit a wide range of educational material related to Amateur Radio, electronics and many other subjects.Typical programs or video viewers can expect to see include Amateur Radio related videos, slideshows, electronics tuition, home videos, test patterns, sound experiments, retransmissions of amateur radio nets and videophone contacts with other amateurs and link ups with International Space Station, SKYPE links to other ATV groups across Australia or just about anywhere in the world.
The following regular programming has been noted:
Most Saturdays around 7.30 PM, Peter VK3PB shows and hour or two of educational or Amateur Radio related material including episodes of the IPTV show Amateurlogic. From time to time a digital fish tank, similar to live Fishcam which used to be shown on Community Television on Channel 31.
Most Fridays starting about 9.30 P.M. VK3KHB, transmits Astronomy related material as well as other subjects of interest.
Repeater Output (DVB-T Digital Transmission)
Mode: DVB-T
Centre Frequency: 446.500 MHz
Modulation: 16-QAM
Guard Interval: 1/4
Code Rate: 2/3
IFFT Mode: 2K
Occupied Bandwidth 7 MHz
Lower Bandwidth Limit: 443.000 MHz
Upper Bandwidth Limit: 450.000 MHz
Output Power: 30 Watts
Antenna: 3 x Yagi, 120 degree pattern
Polarisation: Horizontal
Repeater Inputs
Mode: FM TVFrequencies: 1250 MHz, 1283 MHz, 10410 MHz
Audio Carrier: 6 MHz subcarrier
Occupied Bandwidth: 18 MHz
Lower Bandwidth Limit: 1241 MHz, 1274 MHz, 10401 MHz respectively
Upper Bandwidth Limit: 1259 MHz, 1292 MHz, 10419 MHz respectively
Antenna: Phased Array
Polarisation: Horizontal, Horizontal, Vertical respectively
Mode: DVB-S TV
Frequencies: 1255Mhz, 1278 MHz
Symbol Rate: 5000
FEC: 3/4
Occupied Bandwidth: 6.5 MHz
Lower Bandwidth Limit: 1251.750Mhz, 1274.750Mhz respectively
Upper Bandwidth Limit: 1258.250Mhz, 1281.250Mhz respectively
Antenna: Phased Array, Bowtie, respectively
Polarisation: Horizontal, Horizontal, respectively
Known users of VK3RTV
There are a small number of amateur television enthusiasts (amateur radio operators with television transmitting equipment) who transmit to the greater Melbourne metro area, Yarra Valley and surrounds via VK3RTV and is also watchable via the internet by digital link to the British Amateur Television Club's website in the UK.
Observed Stations: (silent key - VK3KBL - VK3LA)
VK3AAZ,VK3AOB,VK3AGJ,VK3BFG,VK3BCU,VK3CH,VK3FMD,VK3GE,VK3GMZ,VK3IV,VK3JDA,VK3KHB,VK3KOS,VK3LL,
VK3MN,VK3PB,VK3TMS,VK3TVZ,VK3WWW,VK3XOK,VK3XKD and VK3XZA.