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Testing Session
Next test session is Sept 8th


 

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The ECATS Page!
Intro to ECATS

The Emerald Coast Amateur Television Society was the name I gave to a group of local ATV enthusiasts. Other than as a name for my repeater controller building fun, we haven't been active in years. WIth the influx of new, younger hams in recent years, I would like to revitalize the group and that means putting a repeater on the air!

Repeater Status

Still working on the plans for a repeater, tho changes in the new RO omnibus will make remote bases a legal proposition. I have a site that already has a 70cm and 23cm antenna with 3/4" hardline at ~150ft AMSL. I just need to get the repeater built. I think I will opt for getting some kind of remote base with maybe 1296 in and 427.25 out (no duplexers required). Comments and suggestions are solicited. Stay Tuned!

ECATS Repeater Controllers

Many years ago I realized that a PC could be used to make an ATV repeater controller, so I decided to embark on building a PC based repeater controller. It has gone through several major architectural evolutions over the years, but has not actually been on the air as a repater except for testing at the house. I have taken a hiatus from building for some time now, other interests, etc. I will attempt to document the generations of ECATS controller here:

  • Generation #1, XT Based SBC
    • simple video generation of text and graphics
    • No live overlay
    • No Video Through
    • ID Via Graphics screen, text screen or via Morse over PC speaker.
    • Built into rack mount black box.
    • Software loaded from floppy at boot. (ECATS.EXE VER 1)
    • Single tasking OS (DOS)
  • Generation #2, 486 based minibox
    • simple video generation of text and graphics with external device
    • No live overlay
    • No Video Through
    • ID Via Graphics screen, text screen or via Morse over PC speaker.
    • Small form factor PC case
    • Software loaded from floppy at boot. (ECATS.EXE VER 1 or 2)
    • Multitasking OS (Windows 3.11)
  • Generation #4, Random PC (> Pentium I) controllers w/ ATI All In Wonder
    • simple video generation of text and graphics
    • Live overlay of incoming video
    • Video Through
    • ID Via Graphics screen, text screen or via Morse over PC speaker.
    • Standard PC Cases
    • Software loaded from floppy at boot. (This version never completed)
    • Multitasking OS (WIndows 95 and up)
However, I have recently become interested in the ATV repeater idea again, see above. I have started collecting parts and am pulling out the old controller software and blowing off the dust. With the advent of Home Theatre, the MythTV projects and the plethora of PC based video cards with TV out functions, there should be some easy to use hardware with some software examples to tie it all together and make a decent controller.

Using your PC as a Test Pattern Generator

I've blogged about this before, but For now I have put together a page of test pattern gifs that can be downloaded and used with a VGA TV out ard to produce test patterns and various signals for quality measurement of your video gear!

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