AGAF at HAM RADIO 2007
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At the AGAF stand in pavilion A1 of Friedrichshafen fairground a short demo link of "laser beam ATV" 
was shown, developed by the "laser ATV record team" Wilfried DJ1WF and Tom DL9OBD from Hannover. 
Video modulation included a record of their latest world-record laser ATV transmision over 83,3 km 
distance (http://www.mydarc.de/dj1wf/Laser/Harz/Harz.html), a video on TV-AMATEUR production and 
another one on the weekly Munic ATV bulletin network around DB0QI, provided by DL2GA. Visitors at the 
stand repeatedly tested with their hand if the picture on the monitor really came from the 
video-modulated LED...

Our new-elected president Uwe Kraus DJ8DW took part at a talk in the big fairground foyer on "amateur 
radio digitization", presented by Norbert DK6XU from Hamburg. Uwe explained basics of digital modes 
like QPSK, QAM and GMSK and differences between MPEG2 and MPEG4/AVC. Christian DG2NDK and Thomas DG5NDI 
from Wuerzburg presented their vision of a modern digital network for AR repeaters using DVB modules, 
also chances of SDR (software defined radios) with OFDM, even on shortwave. The proprietary "D-Star" 
transceivers allow digital voice as well as text and location messages. 

Thorsten DG1HT from Hamburg also used the big projection screen on the stage for a presentation of new 
SR-Systems DATV modules with USB and TCP ports. A map with planned ATV links all over Germany made a 
nostalgic feeling (many repeaters on DFMG radio-towers had to shut down meanwhile because of new tight 
power budget boundaries - background reason seems to be sale-optimization by Telekom).

On Saturday Uwe DJ8DW and Willi DC5QC travelled by car to the Pfaender mountain (Austria) and to Montfort 
Palace (Tettnang, Germany) in order to demonstrate mobile ATV with GMSK-DATV (10 Watt out, 16el. yagi, 
5 MHz rf bandwidth) on 23 cm live. In the Friedrichshafen fairground pavilion at the AGAF stand Klaus 
DL4KCK received and recorded clear stable video. A rotatable 44el. yagi aerial on the pavilion roof was 
connected to a recently finished GMSK receiver which produced via remodulator a QPSK signal for reception 
by a customary DVB-S receiver.

The AGAF staff handed over some 80 issues of the new TV-AMATEUR 145 to members visiting the stand and 
answered diverse requests. Our guestbook was signed by around 50 friends, and on Sunday we had another 
highlight with talking to our stand neighbour A61M from the Emirates being in Friedrichshafen for the 
first time. A bottle of french wine opened with Camille F6CMB from REF and ANTA, our french ATV friends, 
closed another HAM RADIO event.
Klaus, DL4KCK