Scan Converters

A scan converter is a device that converts images in one TV standard to another. In this case we interested in converting between SSTV (for transmission with voice radios) and NTSC/PAL so we can use Camcorders, TV monitors, etc. for creation and display of images.

This is the easiest way to get going. Just plug in audio and video cables, turn on the power, and it works.

In this chapter we'll take a look at these SSTV scan converters (in chronological order):

Related Software:


Robot 1200C

A few years ago anyone who was serious about SSTV had a Robot 1200C. There was no alternative. It is a complete system dedicated to SSTV. Just connect it to

It has 4 black & white modes (one compatible with original 8 second) and 4 color modes with different transmission times and resolutions.

It displays images with 256 x 240 resolution with 18 bits per pixel. That's more than 250,000 colors.

Robot Research
5636 Ruffin Road
San Diego, CA 61927

It also has a parallel port for connection to a home computer. Several different programs for transferring images to/from the 1200C and for performing various other functions are available.

GEST
Torontel
174 Bellamy Rd. N.
Scarborough, Ontario
Canada M1J 2L5
(905) 888 9054
or
Royal Electronics (Canada)
336 Goodram Drive
Burlington, Ontario
Canada L7L 2K1
(905) 637 9622
Hi-Res (for IBM PC)
Tom Jenkins N9AMR
5968 S. Keystone Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46227
(317) 784 6118
Robot Helper
William Montgomery VE3EC
482 Townsend Ave.
Burlington, Ontario
Canada L7T 2B3
(416) 681 0509
SCAN
Bert Beyt W5ZR
301 Tampico St.
New Iberia, LA 70560
(318) 365 5263

Replacement PROMs are available to give the 1200C other transmission modes such as Wraase, Martin, Scottie, and AVT. PROMs available from:

Martin Emmerson G3OQD
6 Mount Hurst Rd.
Hayes, Bromley
Kent BR2 7QN
England

See "SSTV with the Robot 1200C Scan Converter and the Martin Emmerson EPROM Version 4.0" in the July 1991 issue of 73 Amateur Radio Today for more details.

The 1200C was discontinued late 1992.

More information on Classic Robot SSTV Equipment.


DFM 1200C

A 1200C equivalent is available:

DFM 1200 USA Scan Converter
Felipe Rojas AB4QC
3475 Shady Woods Circle
Lawrenceville, GA 30244
or
Donald Lucarell K8SQL
265 Outlook
Youngstown, OH 44504
or
Muneki Yamafuzi JF3GOH
2-3-2, Ohyodonaka Kitaku
Osaka 531
Japan

The DFM 1200C is available in semi-kit form of 3 PC boards and the hard to find components. This allows you to build your own Robot 1200C clone at a significantly lower price.


SUPERSCAN 2001

The SUPERSCAN 2001 is similar to the Robot 1200C but a more modern design with several improvements. It can hold four 256 x 240 images with about 250,000 colors. New features include mouse support, titling without a computer, both parallel and serial interfaces, and a CMOS RAM with battery backup to save parameters.

Now available are:

The builder must gather up all the other components which go on the boards.

Contact:
Jad Bashour
55 Hampton Road
London N15 3SX
England
Tel. 081 889 0486


TSC-100

The Tasco TSC-100A Scan Converter was introduced at Dayton '94. It is an amazingly compact (5.5 x 1.6 x 8.5 inches) DSP-based device. It operates from 12 volts making it ideal for portable/mobile use.

U.S. distributor:

EDCO Electronic Distributors Co.
325 Mill Street
Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 938 8105


TSC-70

The Tasco TSC-70 ... to be continued ...


Click on this small image to see full size screen shot.

Robot Helper

Introduction

Robot Helper is a Mirosoft Windows 3.1 application designed to assist in the use of a Robot 1200c color scan converter. Robot Helper (RH) permits slow scan tv images to be stored on your hard disk and provides an easy to use disk storage manager, complete with thumbnail previews of all images. Images can be displayed in two on-screen full color preview windows before uploading them to the 1200c scan converter. A separate panel allows you to control the operation and mode of the 1200c directly from within RH. Robot Helper comunicates with the 1200c through a standard 8255 based interface. The interface port addresses are fully configurable from within the software.

Robot Helper will also run in the background under Windows, permitting the simultaneous use of other Windows programs to provide paintbox and image processing functions. Images may be also stored on remote servers and accessed over a local area network (LAN). Clip-art images can also be loaded directly off CD ROMs.

A few highlights

The idea behind RH was to not generate a 'kitchen-sink' application that tries to do everything. By running under Windows you can easily switch between other (off the shelf) programs to do your Photo retouching, painting, fancy titles etc.

Try it

Robot Helper is a Shareware software product. You are encouraged to give it a try for a short period of time and to upload it (without changes) to any BBS or On-Line service. If you find the program useful and wish to continue to use it past the short (ie 10 days) evaluation period you are requested to register the software by sending a cheque or money order for $45 US funds to:

William Montgomery VE3EC
482 Townsend Ave.
Burlington, Ontario
Canada. L7T 2B3

Registered users will receive a copy of the current release of Robot Helper and a printed users manual. Further development of the product is supported by your shareware registeration fees. New versions of Robot Helper will be made available through BBS systems and InterNet FTP sites. Current distribution sites include:

The author can be contacted via Internet email at:

William.Montgomery@cciw.ca, or
via AppleLink at: CDA0635.


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(C) Copyright 1995 John Langner.

JohnL@world.std.com