To send and receive pictures, the first thing you need is a computer with a sound card and an interface between the sound card and your radio.
First the interface - there are many good fully assembled interfaces you can purchase. My favorite is the RASCAL from BUX Comm which comes in both kit form and fully assembled. The fully assembled RASCAL is $35, but if you are handy with a soldering iron, the kit is only $20 and is very easy to assemble. Everything is supplied including all cables, connectors, components, case and circuit board. The best features of the RASCAL is that it is a totally isolated design with isolation transformers and an optoisolator, and it doesn't need an external power supply! After you have it assembled, you can also use it for PSK31 and other digital modes.
OK, now you need SSTV software. I have tried every windows based SSTV software package out there, and none of them beat the freeware package MMSSTV. MMSSTV was developed by the very prolific JE3HHT, Makoto (Mako) Mori. Do yourself a favor and check this one out first. Also make sure to go through his very informative SSTV Primer on the same page.
Finally, where do you find SSTV on the band? Well, the most popular frequency by far is 14.230 MHz. Below is a list of other popular frequencies:
- 2m - 145.5
- 6m - 50.680
- 10m - 28.680, 28.690, 28.700
- 15m - 21.340
- 20m - 14.230, 14.233, 14.236
- 40m - 7.158, 7.170, 7.173, 7.228
- 80m - 3.845, 3.857
- 160m - 1.840~1.865, 1.910~1.916
One last thing, but it's important. Use your voice! Ask if the frequency is in use before you send a picture. After every picture switch to voice mode and find out if anyone received it, and how it looked. SSTVers talk to each other between every picture, and it's considered rude not to.
See you on SSTV!
-David / N9KT