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Current Feature Articles   Jul 03 Surfin': ATVing Digitally and APRSing Successfully   Jul 01 ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?   Jul 01 It Seems to Us: Support HR 2160!   Jun 28 Dropping in on Field Day   Jun 27 Amateur Radio Quiz: Parting Words   Jun 26 Surfin': Finding Missing Sunspots   Jun 26 The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler   Jun 25 Doubling Up on Field Day   Jun 23 ARDF Update: Foxhunting Fun in the Blue Hills of Boston   Jun 19 Mystery Transmission ARRL Products: History/Adventure (More) The Secret Wireless War -- Now Shipping! -- The Story of MI6 Communications--1939-1945 (World War II). This is an extraordinary story that includes hams among those patriots that undoubtedly helped the allied war effort. Softcover. Don C. Wallace: W6AM, Amateur Radio's Pioneer -- This book traces the life of Don Wallace and with it the early history of Amateur Radio. 50 Years of Amateur Radio Innovation -- Now Shipping! -- This guided tour of more than 400 legendary radios from 1930 to 1980, depicts the “golden age” of American radio technology. World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion -- A story about ham radio operators and others who helped ease worries during a time of war. Crystal Clear: The Struggle for Reliable Communications Technology in World War II -- Now Shipping! -- A story of the quartz crystal—a technology that changed the tide of World War II.

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This week's Surfin' considers Web sites where Amateur Television (ATV) is going digital.

What Exactly Is 8-Vsb Anyway? answers many of your questions concerning digital television.

If you watched television during the past months, you could not miss the barrage of announcements concerning the switch from analog to digital broadcasting over the airwaves that will occur next year on February 17. If you use an analog television to receive broadcast signals over the air and not from a satellite, cable, or telephone company, then you will need a converter to receive broadcasts after Presidents' Day 2009.

David Sparano has written an excellent article, "What Exactly Is 8-Vsb Anyway?", that according to Nick Sayer, N6QQQ, has the best and most accessible description of 8VSB (8-level vestigial sideband modulation) that he has ever found.

Nick is working on setting up an 8VSB transmitter. His goal is to get as close to an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee)-compatible ATV station as he can get. He recommends the article to anyone who wants to get started in digital ATV.

By the way, Nick has a Web page and a blog where you can read about his adventures in ATV.

Another by the way -- if you search the Internet for digital ATV information, you will find European Web sites dedicated to the topic, but note that Europeans use DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) Standards that North American television receivers cannot demodulate.

Until next time, keep on surfin'!

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, wonders if program content will also improve on February 17. To communicate with Stan, send him e-mail or add comments to his blog. By the way, every installment of Surfin' is indexed here, so go look it up.

Previous: ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference: "Pretty Interesting!"

Next: The K7RA Solar Update