SSTV

Back on the Air with SSTV

After a long break from SSTV, I recently dusted off my radio equipment and tuned into 14.230 MHz. The familiar crackle of the bands greeted me like an old friend. It didn’t take long before I spotted a slow-scan TV (SSTV) signal — a faint but steady transmission calling out across the airwaves.

With DM780 fired up and the antenna aligned, the image slowly began to build line by line on my screen. As the colors filled in, a beautiful picture of a lighthouse appeared, accompanied by IU0SCE call sign I hadn’t seen in years. I quickly responded, sending back a simple image of my station and a greeting. A few moments later, I received a reply — my first SSTV contact in years.

There’s something special about SSTV — a blend of technology, patience, and creativity. It’s more than just a QSO; it’s a shared image, a piece of art that travels the world through the ether. And with that first contact made, I knew I was truly back in the world of amateur radio.