mkb@rover.ri.cmu.edu (Mike Blackwell) (11/10/90)
I see that the latest DAK catalog is selling the "Pirate TV Station" video transmitter/receiver pair for US$80. Uses the 910-918 MHz band, and presumably transmits at least one aural sideband. Claims coverage over a typical house, but I suppose actual range is dependent on the construction techniques of your environment, among other things. Should be easy enough to modify for DC operation, but no indication of power consumption. Comes with little rubber ducky antennas. Looks like a nice cheap way to get video off your mobile robot (data too with a little work - it's easy enough to modulate on to audio at a reasonably high rate). Maybe some concern about interference from computers in close proximity, but since it's designed for VCR's etc which are pretty digital these days, maybe it won't be too bad. Anyway, just thought y'all might be interested. If anyone plays with one, let us know how it works out! Mike Blackwell mkb@rover.ri.cmu.edu
price@iris.usc.edu (Keith Price) (11/13/90)
In article <11040@pt.cs.cmu.edu> mkb@rover.ri.cmu.edu (Mike Blackwell) writes: >I see that the latest DAK catalog is selling the "Pirate TV Station" video >transmitter/receiver pair for US$80. Uses the 910-918 MHz band, and > Mike Blackwell mkb@rover.ri.cmu.edu We have used a similar device (US$50, other sources, Haverhills ads were for about $70. They can be tuned for any UHF channel from about 14 up) for some time for video only. Interference can be a problem, but is more due to position of the robot, people, receiver, etc. than due to electronic interference. All the same problems that you have with the "rabbit ears" antenna on a home TV -- i.e. it usually works. Keith Price price@usc.edu