Graham Shirville G3VZV operates the BVP7 during the live webcast of last weekend's Amsat-UK Space Colloquium

A Television Channel for Radio Amateurs

www.batc.tv started as an idea back in February
of this year.

The archive video library came on line some weeks ago
and although the material is a little old, it proves the system and better programmes are on the way.

This was followed by the ATV repeater channel which is again operational although one or two of the ATV repeaters are a little slow at connecting to our service, this should be complete in the next few weeks.

And, as many of you saw last weekend, the live channel is now operational. It was first used to televise the Microwave Weekend from Sheffield University and then the AMSAT-UK Colloquium live from Surrey University this past weekend.

This part of the site is planned as an open channel for radio amateurs to televise events.

If there is a downside to this technology, it is the expense.
It is commercial equipment, running commercial software from a commercial premises in Docklands maintained by an I.T company, and we pay for every byte coming into the streamer and every byte going to every individual watching.

BATC is a small club operating inexpensive subscriptions starting as low as £4 per year and funding this site may be a problem, so sponsorship has been adopted to maintain the service.

So far, most of the cost of the hardware, software and facilities rental has been covered, hence we are running. I would like to thank the sponsors who have come on-board to help this service get off the ground.

You can do your bit by going to http://www.batc.org.uk/
shop/index.htm and joining the BATC for as little as £4 on line. All members will receive CQ-TV magazine either on line or in the post depending on the subscription chosen.

The next issue will have full details of the sort of equipment you would need to stream an event. There is also the caption contest in every issue. Think of a funny caption to a photograph and the winner will be presented with an electronic Caption Generator, an ideal contribution for starting your streaming kit off.

Let me leave you with a few extracts of the live text over the AMSAT-UK Colloquium :

Trevor Brown, G8CJS

SM6NZV  good morning from Sweden, watching the presentations
F1AFZ  very good video and audio...fine !!
N6IFU  It is so great that we all can see the meeting. No I am not. It's 1:12 AM and everyone here I know is in bed. ATVers that is.
IW4DVZ  Good morning from Modena Italy ! Congratulations !!
OH2AUE  wonderful to be able to follow the presentations here in Finland
M3ZCP  The audio clarity has improved and the video quality is excellent. Essex UK
F5BQP  Superb of been able to follow up these presentation in live! Thanks WI7P  Watching from Utah. Good morning to all. Tnx to BATC
G1OCN  The London Olympics is a one-off....amateur radio is for life.   WB4LNM  Those of us unable to travel due to other committments appreciate BATC's transmission of this conference. WB4LNM, Gambrills, Maryland AMSAT #6966
anon  just been to www.batc.org.uk and joined the club as a thanks for this TV coverage
wa4sxm Thanks to AMSAT-Uk and BATC, enjoying the talks this morning
ZL1AOX  Good picture and audio here in ZL. Have a good Conference, de Ian
LA4FPA  30c here in Norway. And Im sitting here watching the streaming.!! S57BRK  TNX FER LIVE BROADCAST!
ON4HF  Nice audio and video. Thanks for sharing this to us.

www.batc.tv
www.batc.org.uk