Did you miss CAT 24 ?
It’s all about Amateur Television!
Well CAT 24 is a Convention for Amateur Television (CAT) and was run in 2024. These are run each year by the
BATC (British Amateur Television Club).
This year it was in two parts, one a face-to-face meet and the other a very professional live stream. The face-to-face part took place in Coventry in August this year. This included a test and fix-it session, which looked at QO-100 and portable station demonstrations. Also if you were having trouble setting anything up (including laptops) you were advised to bring it along and the experts will try to help you.
CAT 24 Part 2 online took place on Saturday 26 October: The program started at 10:00 (09:00 UTC) and ran
through till 15:00 (14:00 UTC).
There were some last-minute changes to the programme, however, I thought the event was excellent.
It’s not too late for you to catch up on what happened the BATC have an awesome YouTube channel which can be
found at https://www.youtube.com/@BATCOnline/featured
There are lots of informative videos for you to enjoy and get a feel of what the BATC gets up to. I would also
like to point out that the BATC Magazine has to be the best publication in Amateur Radio.
If you are interested in Getting started in ATV then this is the place to start https://wiki.batc.org.uk/Getting_Started
The BATC
The British Amateur Television Club (BATC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1949 to support amateur television enthusiasts in the UK and worldwide. BATC provides resources, technical guidance, and a vibrant community for individuals interested in both analogue and digital amateur television.
They produce regular publications, such as CQ-TV magazine, which covers technical projects, news, and developments in amateur broadcasting. BATC also manages a streaming service that broadcasts members’ video content and live events, including conventions and technical workshops. Dedicated to advancing the art and science of amateur television, the BATC fosters a collaborative environment for all skill levels.
DATV
Digital Amateur Radio Television (DATV) is a modern adaptation of amateur television, using digital transmission methods to broadcast video and audio over radio frequencies. Unlike analogue ATV, DATV employs digital encoding techniques, like MPEG and DVB, which provide higher-quality video with reduced bandwidth.
This advancement enables amateur operators to transmit clearer images and sound over longer distances, even in low-signal conditions. DATV is widely supported by clubs and organizations like the British Amateur Television Club (BATC), offering a platform for experiments in digital broadcasting, educational projects, and the exploration of emerging technologies in video and data transmission within the amateur radio community.
