Balbach Bridge on Amateur TV for San Jose Grand Prix W6SJC

W6SJC-2 camera on top of SJ convention center viewing Balbach foot bridge during 2007 San Jose Grand Prix race (third year). Camera was a Sony model CCD-TRV138. Transmission was from a PC Electronics UHF amateur television (ATV) transmitter feeding a 3-element yagi antenna by Centerfireantenna.com. Receive was done using a 6-element UHF yagi antenna and a cableready TV set. Video was taped on TV set with built-in VCR to record the transmission on 427.25 MHz or cable channel 58. Antennas were oriented horizontally polarized to reduce co-channel interference with W6SJC-1 on 433MHz (Almaden Blvd bridge).

Command Post at convention center consisting of SJ police, fire, SAR, EMS, and RACES wanted to view footbridges to observe if crowd congestion occurs which was a problem during the first SJ Grand Prix.

For more information on San Jose RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service), see http://www.sjraces.org

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Balbach
• Bridge
• Amateur
• television
• TV
• San
• Jose
• Grand
• Prix
• W6SJC

[ttacm11]

So this is the ccd trv-138 sony camera? how good is the quality and audio?

[k6mfw]

Yes but it is not broadcast quality and not highly rugged. At $200 is very cost effective, audio is relatively good also. Key reasons cam was chosen:

1. Composite video out, a must for use with ATV transmitters.

2. Easy to set onscreen display (callsign W6SJC)

3. Can disable "auto shutoff," camera must always be on when left unattended (most brands shut off after 15 min).

4. Able to run camera when external power source is connected (either AC or 12VDC adapter).

5. Not too big but not too small.

[ttacm11]

What camcorder did you use? The sony ccd trv 138? does it have a firewire

[k6mfw]

This is the analog version and it does not have firewire, mini-DV version is the one with firewire.

However, firewire would not be useful. Transmitter uses composite video (no, wifi is not an option. it is not free and and it is not widely available).

[staticbear76]

now thats hard static i love it