Re-Transmission System at AARC

We updated our station equipment:

Photo of re-arranged equipment used for retransmitting NASA-TV. Photo of re-location of Videolynx 1.2GHz video transmitter

Equipment used for retransmitting NASA-TV. Re-location of Videolynx 1.2GHz video transmitter

Photo showing ATV uplink and downlink antennas

ATV uplink and downlink antennas. ATV uplink and downlink monitors.

Following are images from 2005:

Here are a collection of photos of our re-transmission setup at the Ames Amateur Radio Club. Some equipment is government excess that was transferred to the AARC, many other items are personally owned.

First two images are post landing photos added on August 9.

Photo showing picture taken as Discovery approached California coast. Photo showing a stack of recorded videotapes of NASA-TV.

This picture was taken as Discovery approached
California coast. TV set on right tuned to Events channel
showed EAFB runway. On the right are a stack of recorded videotapes of
NASA-TV with particular events and briefings.

Photo showing re-transmission equipment at AARC Photo showing another view of re-transmission equipment at AARC

Re-transmission equipment. Another view of re-transmission equipment.

Closer view of TV set on Ames Vidnet. Processing equipment is in
rack on the left. A smaller TV set on the right is tuned to another
NASA channel and is used to tape NASA-TV. Here is the rack containing the 50 watt 145.585 MHz audio
transmitter. It contains a modified Motorola Mocom 70 radio
and a Shackmaster controller.

Photo showing re-transmission equipment at AARC

On the right is the 1.2GHz VideoLynx Z23 transmitter.
It is mounted on a heatsink and a box fan since it is
transmitting for very long periods. This is a Videonics titlemaker that scrolls our station ID.

Here is a Videonics video and audio mixer used to combine
NASA-TV audio and the station CW ID. An auxiliary input
microphone can be used for voiceover for station announcements. This is the 1.2GHz loop yagi antenna aimed at the K6BEN video
repeater site. UHF yagi antenna is for receiving the UHF downlink.

Photo showing re-transmission equipment at AARC

In case the 145.585 MHz transmitter fails, a Bendix King radio
set on the same frequency is on hand for quick replacement. This older Icom radio is used for audio uplink to the K6BEN-ATV
repeater for audio carrier along with the TV transmission.

Photo showing re-transmission equipment at AARC

A fan is deployed to keep the older Icom radio cooler since it is
set on long periods of continuous transmission. Behind the console of the re-transmission equipment is somewhat
messy. Remote controllers are used for station operations.

Photo showing re-transmission equipment at AARC

Another view showing behind the console and extensive use of duct tape. Some decorations of fictional paint schemes for the orbiters.

Not everything is perfect at our station, we have a pile of unfinished
business on the other side of the room. Here is our station when first brought into operational state.
Objective was getting on the air, cleanup came later.

Photo showing re-transmission equipment at AARC

Once the dust settled, we began organizing our equipment and trying
different arrangements. Shown here is a Florida weather map on another
NASA TV channel. Here is the American Legion Post 380 J-pole 145.585 MHz antenna
at the new height of 40 feet AGL (was 25 feet).

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Equipment used for retransmitting NASA-TV.		Re-location of Videolynx 1.2GHz video transmitter


ATV uplink and downlink antennas.		ATV uplink and downlink monitors.


This picture was taken as Discovery approached California coast. TV set on right tuned to Events channel showed EAFB runway.		On the right are a stack of recorded videotapes of NASA-TV with particular events and briefings.


Re-transmission equipment.		Another view of re-transmission equipment.


Closer view of TV set on Ames Vidnet. Processing equipment is in rack on the left. A smaller TV set on the right is tuned to another NASA channel and is used to tape NASA-TV.		Here is the rack containing the 50 watt 145.585 MHz audio transmitter. It contains a modified Motorola Mocom 70 radio and a Shackmaster controller.


On the right is the 1.2GHz VideoLynx Z23 transmitter. It is mounted on a heatsink and a box fan since it is transmitting for very long periods.		This is a Videonics titlemaker that scrolls our station ID.


Here is a Videonics video and audio mixer used to combine NASA-TV audio and the station CW ID. An auxiliary input microphone can be used for voiceover for station announcements.		This is the 1.2GHz loop yagi antenna aimed at the K6BEN video repeater site. UHF yagi antenna is for receiving the UHF downlink.


In case the 145.585 MHz transmitter fails, a Bendix King radio set on the same frequency is on hand for quick replacement.		This older Icom radio is used for audio uplink to the K6BEN-ATV repeater for audio carrier along with the TV transmission.


A fan is deployed to keep the older Icom radio cooler since it is set on long periods of continuous transmission.		Behind the console of the re-transmission equipment is somewhat messy. Remote controllers are used for station operations.


Another view showing behind the console and extensive use of duct tape.		Some decorations of fictional paint schemes for the orbiters.


Not everything is perfect at our station, we have a pile of unfinished business on the other side of the room.		Here is our station when first brought into operational state. Objective was getting on the air, cleanup came later.


Once the dust settled, we began organizing our equipment and trying different arrangements. Shown here is a Florida weather map on another NASA TV channel.		Here is the American Legion Post 380 J-pole 145.585 MHz antenna at the new height of 40 feet AGL (was 25 feet).