Front view with ATV channel knob,
power on toggle switch and LED.
Built in a rugged Hammond 1590C diecast aluminum enclosure - 3.7 x 4.7 x 2.2 in.

Rear view with N antenna jack, F output jack
to TV and DC power jack.

Channel 3 receiver with A/V outputs

Want to check out ATV in your area but don't have a cable ready TV (cable ch 57-60) or need to be right on frequency and with more sensitivity? If you are not ready to transmit yet, then this downconverter is for you. The TVC-4S downconverts the 5 standard USA ATV frequencies - 421.25, 426.25, 427.25, 434.0 and 439.25 MHz - in the 420 to 450 MHz ham band down to your TV receiver on ch 3 or 4 - what goes in at 70cm, comes out on the TV channel. The frequency is locked to a crystal referenced synthesizer for accuracy and no temperature drift. 70cm Analog ATV will be around for a long time due to the high cost and complexity of transmitting DTV and the fact that new TV's must have analog cable tuners until at least 2012.

The rear of the downconverter has a N connector 50 Ohm antenna input and 75 Ohm F to the TV set. A DC power jack is used with the supplied 12Vdc wallplug power supply, or you can make a cable for portable battery or mobile operation. We stock a variety of 70cm antennas - download our catalogue page 3 on this downconverter, antennas and ch 3 receiver. The frequency is selected by a rotary switch tuning knob on the front.

This ready to go downconverter contains the sensitive TVCX-4S board with a low noise HJ-FET (less than .4 dB noise figure device) preamp and GaAsfet mixer stage in a die cast aluminum box with 120vac to 12Vdc wall plug power supply. You can run it on external +11 to 14 Vdc at 120 ma by your own DC power cable with a 2.1 x 5.5 DC power plug - Radio Shack 274-1569 - to connect to a battery or other supply. We also have the TVC-9S 33cm band downconverter for $159 and TVC-12S 23cm band version for $159.

Downconverters by definition, change one frequency down to another frequency. What ever signal or no signal goes in at that one frequency, comes out at the lower frequency. There is no signal processing or detection done or remodulation on to a carrier. Your TV is the receiver which does all the signal processing and detection. Our downconverters provide a lower noise figure preamp stage and mixer than can be found in a TV tuner which results in greater DX and less snow in weaker signals.

If you want video and line audio (A/V) outputs to drive a monitor, computer, camcorder, etc., that have this kind of input, add the Rch3 channel 3 receiver...$89. Infact, if you want both types of output, you can put a splitter - Radio Shack 15-1234 or 15-1235 - on the 70 or 33cm downconverter output and drive a TV or TV's as well as a monitor through the Rch3. The Rch3 receiver has a F jack ch 3 input, RCA jack A/V outputs and comes with wallplug AC power supply. Download the Rch3 app note to add squelch, S-meter or external 12Vdc power for portable or mobile applications.

It is best to select a TV that does not go to blue screen or automatic shut off when there is a snowy picture or no signal present. You dont want the TV to shut off while monitoring a local ATV repeater, searching for DX or aligning your beam. Some TV's require reprogramming the active channel memory so that you can use the open channel 3 or 4 in your area. The best way to do this is to connect the TV to your Cable TV service, then push the channel program button in the CATV mode. This should set the TV up to select most all VHF channels (catv and over the air channels 2-13 are the same frequency) even when no signal is present as is the case when connected to the downconverter and no one is on the air at that instant. New TV's will contain an analog cable channel tuner in addition to digital channels at least until 2012 to accomodate cable TV systems, but it is a good idea to keep your old analog only TV's for ATV work rather than trash them when you buy a new digital TV.

A net can greatly benefit getting ATVers by video to show and tell rather than trying to describe something by voice only - "Pictures are worth a thousand words." With ATV you can have full duplex audio - while one transmits and talks on the ATV sound subcarrier, everyone else can watch and listen on their cable ready TV set (cable ch 58, 59, 60) or TV with our downconverter, and at the same time talk back on a two meter FM voice frequency (better interaction and eliminates the long winded). How about setting ATV up at your ham club and transmitting the meeting live or by tape later to those members who cannot attend. The possibilities are endless.

Sending video is easy with your camcorder, video camera, digital camera, VCR, or any device with Video outputs that can output on an A/V cable and be seen in a video mointor, VCR or TV sets A/V inputs. Most camera mic's are amplified and output line audio which can be plugged into the ATV transmitters line audio input.

For more detailed information on How to Get Started on ATV, ATV DX Variables, go to the application notes and download these titles.

Build this 5W 70cm ATV Transmitter using the Videolynx VM-70X module..........$199
5 Watts can get you over 15 miles snow free line of sight using small OAL 5L-70cm beams at each end.

OK, so using the Videolynx VM-70X adjustable 0-5W pep 4 channel 70cm ATV Transmiter module is not exactly plug and play, but close and all we will have for a while until the market turns around. However, see our Specials page.

Our last TC70-20Sa ATV Transceiver was sold in April 2007 and unfortuneately, the 20 Watt power modules are no longer being made. To replace it, we offered the RTX70-1s 1 Watt transmitter built in a rugged Hammond 1590D diecast aluminum enclosure - 7.4 x 4.7 x 2.2 in, but these are now out of stock.

We stock the Videolynx 70cm ATV transmitter modules: 434, Z70A and the 0-5W VM-70X as shown in the photo on the left. You can operate it as it comes out of the box at 1/2 Watt out by soldering RCA jack to pig tail A/V cables and 11 to 13.8 Vdc power wires to the solder pads. The RF out SMA jack goes to the antenna - we have SMA to N jack adaptor. If you want to adjust up the power, the module will need to be connected to a heat sink or fan as shown in this application note download. The app note gives you a drill drawing template and parts list with sources - estimated total cost is $360 - if you want to package the transmitter module in the Hammond 1590D die cast aluminum box as shown above left.

Over the years we have gone back and forth between having available a transceiver or a transmitter that would pair up with a downconverter. The demand has always been about 50-50. So now we will go back to Transmitter plus downconverter. The advantage of using a separate downconverter is that you dont have to get a downconverter to use at the receive end of a public service event as you might if you only owned a transceiver. Also some areas may only operate through a crossband repeater and very little simplex. Separate units also offer a lower entry cost to 70cm ATV since a cable ready TV can be used initially to receive.

You might still be able to obtain one of our TC series 1, 10 or 20 Watt Transceivers on eBay, QRZ.com On Line Swapmeet or other used ham gear internet web sites. If you do, and it does not come with a manual, email us requesting one giving model number and any revision letter or date etched on the exciter board inside - always include your call letters when emailing us. If the transmitter or transceiver needs realignment or you need trouble shooting advice, contact us. Any of the older transmitters or transceivers may be repaired by us - assuming we have the parts - for $80 plus parts cost. See our repair policy.

70cm Antennas
DX running 1 Watt, 100 ft Belden 9913 or Times LMR400 coax can be snow free up to 30 miles if line of sight using the Directive Systems DSFO-25ATV antennas at both ends and over 150 miles with 40 Watts from an amp. They are one of the best designed (specifications) high gain (16 dBd - $194) and broadband beams for ATV. 40 Watts is plenty for most all line of sight applications. The hard part, however, is getting line of sight between the two antennas given the curvature of the earth, trees, buildings, etc. Non-line of sight cannot easily be predicted, but how strong a signal is on 2 meter simplex is a good indication that you might have a path - See ATV DX and ATV DX Records.

Note that even with home made ground planes at each end the snow free DX is 9 miles if running 40 Watts. If antenna size is limited for what ever reason, we also have the The Olde Antenna Lab 5 element 5L-70cm beam ($80) as shown at right that gives 8 dBd on a 31 inch boom, and 10 element 10L-70cm which gives 11 dBd on a 62 inch boom. Either beam will give you more than 25 miles even running 5 Watt with the Videolynx VM-70X transmitter module snow free line of sight ATV which is great for portable or just hitting the local ATV repeater. Also see Homebrew Antennas.

CB-35d Low Cost High Resolution 480 line Color Camera....$189

The CB-35d color camera is perfect for the ham shack, but also good for mobile or portable with our ATV transmitters with it's 480 lines of resolution using a 1/3 inch Sony CCD. 768(H) x 494(V) picture elements, .1 lux, AGC built in, >48 dB S/N ratio, switchable back light compensation, automatic white balance, automatic electronic shutter and optional auto iris control. 6mm adjustable focus CS mount lens supplied as well as a 12Vdc @ 300 ma / 110 VAC wall plug power supply (camera draws 150 ma and can run on external +11 to 13.8 Vdc - Make your own DC power cable with a 2.1 x 5.5 DC power plug to connect to a battery or other supply - Radio Shack 274-1569). Camera body is 4.1 x 1.8 x 2.25 inches and weighs 13 oz. NTSC 1 volt peak to peak composite video out BNC connector and RCA jack line audio.

LB-1000 Mini Color Camera....$79

For R/C applications or a low cost alternative even for home stations, we suggest the LB1000 mini color camera. 420 line resolution and built in mic with line audio output. Size is about 1.5" square, weighs just 3oz. and runs on +8 to +14 Vdc at 50 mA. It comes with lens and 12V wallplug power supply. For portable or R/C applications, make your own DC power cable with a 2.1 x 5.5 DC power plug - Radio Shack 274-1569 - for connecting to a battery (goes for >8 hrs on a 9V alkaline) or other supply.

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Hams, down load the catalogue pdf files.
Email us - - with your call letters if you have any questions not covered in this web site.

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