The World Digital Amateur Television (DATV) QSO Party will celebrate its 5th year when it gets under way August 21-22. Organizer and anchor Peter Cossins, VK3BFG, has been busy planning for another successful event. While the event is centered on the VK3RTV Melbourne-Geelong DATV repeater, stations in the US, the UK and elsewhere are welcome to join via a local ATV repeater or via Skype.

August 21 will focus on Australian ATV enthusiasts, with participation available via the VK3RTV digital repeater east of Melbourne, the first in Australia to go 100 percent digital. On Saturday morning (Friday evening in US time zones), the rest of the world will join the Digital ATV QSO Party.

The first overseas session will be with users of the Amateur Television in Central Ohio (ATCO) WR8ATV repeater, followed by the W6ATN Southern California Coordinated ATV Repeater Network Southern California. Later there will be video of ATVers using the Home Counties ATV group repeater GB5HV in the UK. Art, WA8RMC, will oversee the Ohio operation, while Don, KE6BXT, will handle the Southern California operation.

Cossins said any station not in range of VK3ATV repeater may use the Skype name, “DATV QSO Party.” He has suggested that participants prepare a couple of short videos.

All inbound Skype calls, including those from interstate and international repeaters, will be transmitted to VK3RTV. The output will be sent to the British Amateur TV Club (BATC) for streaming as well as to YouTube.

For more information, contact Cossins. — Thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC, via Southgate ARC