Slow-Scan Television (SSTV)

Slow-Scan Television (SSTV)

Frequencies	3 MHz,450 MHz
Frequency Range	3 MHz - 450 MHz
Mode	USB, LSB, NFM
Modulation	FM
ACF	Line per minute
Emission Designator	—
Bandwidth	2.5 kHz
Location	Worldwide
Short Description	Slow-scan television (SSTV) is a method for picture transmission used by amateur radio operators to transmit and receive images.
I/Q Raw Recording	Download file
Audio Sample

Slow-scan television (SSTV) is a method for picture transmission used by amateur radio operators to transmit and receive images. The most popular modes of SSTV are Robot, Scottie, and Martin.

A technical term for SSTV is narrowband television. Analog broadcast television signals requires 6 to 8 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz of bandwidth, because it transmits 25 or 30 picture frames per second (in the NTSC, PAL or SECAM color systems), but SSTV usually only takes up a maximum of 3 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz of bandwidth. It is a much slower method of still picture transmission, usually taking from about eight seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the mode used, to transmit one image frame.

SSTV uses analog frequency modulation, in which every different value of brightness in the image gets a different audio frequency. In other words, the signal frequency shifts up to create brighter pixels and shifts down to create darker pixels. Color is achieved by sending the brightness of each color component (usually red, green and blue) separately.

Sync is 1100 to 1300 HzHertz (Hz), unit of frequency, defined as one cycle per second (1 Hz).; channel information is 1500 to 2300 HzHertz (Hz), unit of frequency, defined as one cycle per second (1 Hz)..

SSTV has been used in popular culture, including secret easter eggs in the video games Portal and Portal 2 by Valve. It was also used in the famous entertainment site Newgrounds, for their opensource video game Friday Night Funkin. << The mode used for the resulting image was Scottie 2, and decodes to a note made by the author about how the internet has evolved along with its culture, how it was formed, etc.

The reddit article to prove this image here: https://www.reddit.com/r/FridayNightFunkin/comments/kk9j1v/the_possible_friday_night_funkin_arg/

Modes

Original Image:

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Robot

Description

SSTV Robot was developed by Robot Research Corporation. Used to send images over HFHigh Frequency (3-30 MHz) and VHFVery High Frequency (30-300 MHz) frequencies. The most popular modes in use today are Robot 36 and Robot 72.

Samples

Robot Modes

	Robot 8 B/W	Robot 12 B/W
Sample
Waterfall

	Robot 24	Robot 36	Robot 72
Sample
Waterfall

Additional Images

This SSTV signal is from a fleetsatcom pirate at 252.150 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz Robot 72 image Robot 36+ B/W

Martin

Description

SSTV Martin was developed by Martin Emmerson, and was originally included as a ROM enhancement for Robot Research's SSTV units. Martin mode scans 256 lines instead of the standard 240. This is usually to give HAM operators 16px of banner room above or below their image for their callsign and other text. Martin is primarily used in Europe.

Samples

Martin Modes

	Martin 1	Martin 2
Sample
Waterfall

Scottie

Description

SSTV Scottie was developed by Eddie Murphy GM3BSC, and was originally included as a ROM enhancement for Robot Research's SSTV units. Scottie mode scans 256 lines instead of the standard 240. This is usually to give HAM operators 16px of banner room above or below their image for their callsign and other text.

Samples

Scottie Modes

	Scottie 1	Scottie 2	ScottieDX
Sample
Waterfall

Additional Images

An SSTV Scottie 1 example by Strange Beacons: An SSTV Scottie 1 example captured in Hungary in January 2016 at 15:00 UTC http://gabucino.hu/tmp/13205kHz_IQ-2.wav http://gabucino.hu/tmp/13204kHz_AF-USB.mp3 Example received image from Scottie 1 SSTV. A lot of distortion due to fading in the SSTV signal.

Decoding Software

Android Apps

• DroidSSTV
• Robot36

Black Cat Software

• Black Cat SSTV Windows, MAC OS
• Black Cat SSTV app for IPhone, IPad, ITouch
• MultiMode Cocoa

Linux

• QSSTV
• SlowRX

Mac OS

• MultiScan 3B

Windows

• ChromaPix downloads and others
• EasyPal
• Hoka Code 300-32
• JVComm32
• MixW
• MM-SSTV
• MultiPSK
• RadioCom 6
• RX-SSTV
• Sorcerer
• W-Code
• W-Spectra

Professional Equipment/Software

• Rohde&Schwarz CA100

Encoding Software

• SSTV Encoder (Android)

SSTV frequencies

HFHigh Frequency (3-30 MHz) Bands

Band	Freq. (kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz)	Mode	Notes
160m	1890	LSBLower Side Band Modulation
80m	3730	LSBLower Side Band Modulation	Europe
80m	3845	LSBLower Side Band Modulation
	6925	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)	Pirate Transmissions
40m	7165	LSBLower Side Band Modulation	Europe
40m	7171	LSBLower Side Band Modulation
40m	7180	LSBLower Side Band Modulation	Proposed
30m	10132	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)	MP73N Mode Only
20m	14230	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)	Alternates: 14227 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables) 14233 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)
15m	21340	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)
	27700	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)	Pirate Transmissions
10m	28680	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)

Adapted from Wikipedia

VHFVery High Frequency (30-300 MHz)/UHFUltra High Frequency (300-3000 MHz) Bands

Band	Freq. (MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz)	Mode	Notes
6m	50.680	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation
6m	50.950	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)
2m	145.500	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation
2m	145.550	USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)
2m	145.600	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation
2m	145.625	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation	Australia
2m	145.800	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation	ISSInformation Sending Station in an ARQ link (The station sending information to the recipient). Usually the signal that's longer in duration than the short RQ (Repeat Request) bursts from the IRS. Downlink Call: RS0ISS
1.25m	223.850	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation
70cm	433.775	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)	Australia
70cm	430.950	NFMNarrowband Frequency Modulation USBUpper Side Band Modulation (Radio, referring to reception and modulation mode)Universal Serial Bus (Computer, referring to USB Ports and cables)

Video Examples

• SSTV Transmission & Decode
• Portal Update 3/1/2010 (transmission received) SSTV and CW Morse Code
• SSTV decoding via smartphone app next to radio

Additional Links

• RadioScanner.RU SSTV
• Wikipedia SSTV
• SSTV modes
• K3UK's Quick and Dirty Guide to Narrow Bandwidth SSTV
• SSTV Scope (in French)