getontheairSSTV in the field
Slow-scan television (SSTV) sends still images over voice channels. It is a niche POTA mode — valid for program credit when exchanged on permitted bands, but rarely the fastest path to ten QSOs. Use it for fun, public demo, or ISS/event ops.
Where SSTV lives
| Band | Typical calling (verify local band plan) | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| 20 m HF | ~14.230–14.240 MHz USB | USB |
| 2 m | 144.500 MHz FM (regional) | FM |
| ISS / ARISS | 145.800 MHz FM downlink | FM, Doppler correction |
European and US HF calling frequencies differ — listen before you TX.
Lightweight portable setup
The SOTA reflector KISS SSTV thread describes a practical summit approach:
- Smartphone with Robot36 (Android) or CQ SSTV (iOS)
- Handheld or compact VHF with VOX or manual PTT
- TRRS ↔ radio audio cable (Kenwood-style twin plug on many HTs)
- Low power (1–2 W FM) for short-range tests; HF via EFHW or vertical
Skip the laptop if weight matters — the phone camera becomes your TX image source instantly.
HF SSTV on iPhone — SSTV Pad (Black Cat Systems)
For HF from a picnic table, SSTV Pad from Black Cat Systems is a practical iPhone/iPad path for both receive and transmit. It supports the common Scottie / Martin / Robot / PD family of modes (exact TX vs RX mode lists live in the App Store description — check before you promise a rare mode on air).
Receive can be as simple as putting the phone near the radio speaker, or better, feeding speaker/headphone audio into the phone (cable or a clean Bluetooth audio path). Clipping and cabin noise still ruin decodes — keep levels modest and the mic path quiet.
Transmit needs audio from the phone into the radio mic or accessory jack, plus PTT — manual thumb switch, VOX if it behaves, or a Bluetooth PTT accessory when your radio supports it. Mic-jack pinouts are radio-specific; a custom adapter is often needed for TX. For RX-only demos, SSTV Pad plus speaker or Bluetooth audio is enough — you do not need a full CAT/Digirig stack just to watch 20 m paint a picture.
The US HF hub frequency remains around 14.230 MHz USB (listen first; regional band plans differ). Spot accurately as SSTV, not SSB.
If you prefer a laptop, a Digirig (or similar sound-card interface) into MMSSTV (Windows) or QSSTV (Linux) is the classic shack path and still works fine from a camper table when AC or a quiet inverter is available. For true backpack weight, stay on the phone.
ISS and satellite SSTV
ARISS events transmit SSTV from the ISS on 145.800 MHz FM. You do not need a tracking yagi for a high-elevation pass with a stock HT — but you do need Doppler discipline:
- Start slightly high (~145.805 MHz) as the station approaches
- Track 145.800 MHz near overhead
- Drop toward ~145.795 MHz as it recedes
Open squelch, record the pass audio, decode live or afterward. Ham Radio Prep ISS SSTV guide walks through handheld-only copy.
See also Satellites for pass prediction apps.
Audio interface hygiene
SSTV is sensitive to hum and clipping.
- Prefer fixed-level radio accessory or data port over speaker-mic jack when available.
- Use isolation transformers on sound-card lines if RF feedback appears (soundcard interfacing notes).
- Set TX audio so ALC barely moves — overdriven SSTV sounds like modern art nobody asked for.
POTA/WWFF operating notes
- Spot mode and frequency accurately — “SSTV 14.230” not “SSB 14.230.”
- Exchanges still need callsign and signal report for a valid QSO; image transfer is the payload, not a substitute for identification.
- Expect fewer hunters than FT8; schedule SSTV after you have minimum QSOs if the goal is activation credit.
- Public spectators love SSTV demos — good ambassador moment. See ethics.
Logging
Log mode as SSTV (or program-specific equivalent). Polo/N3FJP may require manual mode entry. Confirm export before upload.
Habits / gotchas / checklist (SSTV)
Related
- Satellites
- Software hub · FLdigi suite (different family of sound-card modes)
Notes & edits
Comments and proposed markdown sit in a queue. Nothing is public until it is reviewed. How this works.