Using HRD's DM-780 on SSTV

SSTV is a new mode to me... Despite having been a ham since 1974, I got my first glimpse of SSTV while visiting a ham friend in Wilson NC, Calvin WA4UQC (now SK) sometime around 1988. He would often be on 20 meters, receiving SSTV images. I thought it was pretty cool, but forgot about the mode for a number of years. In early 2009, I downloaded a copy of Ham Radio Deluxe from http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/ and found that it had SSTV built in. I already had a Buxcomm Rascal Interface, so I jumped right into this mode. It has become a lot of fun to me to operate this mode. I often spend many hours with one of my rigs on 14.230, listening and downloading pics...though I don't send a lot (yet).

Buxcomm Rascal Interface on SSTV

I've said this before, but I'll say it again... the best $50 I've _EVER_ spent on my shack was when I bought a Rascal Soundcard/Rig Interface from Buxcomm. I had never even heard PSK31 or other digital modes of that sort... When the Rascal came in the mail to me, I had it opened, installed, and making my first contact on the air in less than 30 minutes. It was a beautifully simple plug and play operation, and came with all cables and software needed to get it up in running in just minutes. You can find it on Buxcomm Communications' website at http://www.buxcomm.com/. It doesn't get any easier or less expensive to get on the digital modes than this! I've also made a mod to the Rascal for keyed CW, so I wouldn't have to change cables when I operated in CW (not MCW) mode. I've posted info and a drawing about this on the site, and you can see it by clicking HERE.

For the Rascal CW Mod, click HERE. For the Rascal Remote Operation, click HERE.

SSTV Computer @ WB4IUY

The SSTV computer here at WB4IUY is homebrew. It uses a generic case, 300w power supply, 80gig HD, has multiple USB ports, conventional serial ports, 4 gig ram, and a 3ghz processor. The metal case is grounded to the shack's central grounding system, and has all I/O passing through ferrite snap-on cores for noise suppression. It does a great job, and is full-time backed by a UPS.