17 Bit Software 3: The Continuation/17-Bit_The_Continuation_Disc.iso/arug/arug 14/documents/intro.doc

Text File | 1994-01-27 | 5KB | 99 lines

                               Introduction

The AVT - This is the Amiga Video Transceiver. A Sophisticated software and
hardware system that has been designed to allow you to run virtually any
video mode currently used on the HAM bands today - and a few that are not!

There are three main types of video that the AVT supports. black and white
Slow Scan Television (SSTV), Color SSTV, and and black and white facsimile,
commonly known as FAX.

There were several main goals that the AVT was designed to meet.  First, and
most importantly, it was to run most, or all, video modes. This goal has
been achieved. Next, it was to be easy to use - and finally, it was to be
powerful - which is to say it was to be able to manipulate the video in
various ways so that it would be flexible and fun to use.

There is a problem here, and that is simply this: Powerful systems are
extremely difficult to organize so that they are easy to understand and use.

Powerful? Certainly - because besides receiveing and transmitting SSTV and
FAX, the AVT can perform a number of important "Image Processing" functions,
unusual ones, at that - they have been designed specifically to deal with
common SSTV problems. For instance, you can reposition individual lines
of video horizontally; you can synthesize completely new lines to replace
those lost due to LOS (Loss Of Signal) or QRM/QRN. You can enhance contrast,
brightness, tint, registration, and resolution. You can convert from virtually
any SSTV format to any other - and pass the result to any of the many Amiga
programs that can process IFF images. And finally, the AVT offers a new
mode of SSTV, appropriately called "AVT mode", which enhances SSTV's ability
to make it thru rough signal conditions of ANY type to such a degree that
you simply won't believe your eyes the first time you see it work. AVT mode
brings to SSTV features that have been only a gleam in the eye of HAMs since
SSTV was invented, many years ago. There is virtually no comparison between
AVT mode and any other SSTV mode - it IS the mode of choice, but more than
that, it is the ONLY mode that can bring you a recognizable image in rough
conditions, time and time again.

The AVT system is a very good compromise, or so we feel, as it offers the
ability to do most any task that it is capable of with a few clicks of a
mouse button. No typing on the keyboard is required, and the design of the
software is consistant with that of other high quality Amiga software.

The AVT shares the IFF (Interchange File Format) file structure with most
(possibly all) Amiga "paint" and image processing programs. Any image you
receive with the AVT can be exported as an IFF type file, allowing you to
use powerful programs such as "Butcher", "PixMate", "Photon Paint", and
"DPaint" on the received images.

To complement it's IFF file export capability, the AVT can "grab" images
from virtually any Amiga screen and convert them into SSTV images. You can
even capture the current workbench screen and send it out, if you like.

The AVT is designed to work well in a one megabyte Amiga, any model, but
many operations are significantly enhanced by the presence of additional
memory. Specifically, extra image memories, ultra-high resolution FAX image
capability, and live screen grabbing become available or enhanced with
memory beyond 1 megabyte. The AVT absolutely requires at least one megabyte
of memory, or it will not be able to run.

Although the AVT is entirely mouse-driven, it may be started from either
the CLI (Command Line Interface) or the WorkBench environment. For CLI use,
there are a number of "command-line-parameters" that control the user
selected parameters of the program. For WorkBench use, that is, from an
ICON, you can use the Amiga's standard "ToolTypes" parameters to completely
configure the program.

The Amiga's file system is fully supported, and those of you with hard
disk drives (sometimes known as "hard files") will find that the AVT
works with them as naturally as it does with the micro floppy disks that are
the standard drive on any Amiga system. A powerful file requester combined
with an open, public file format make this system useful, expandable, and
convenient.

The AVT software is redistributable. This is important - it means that
when a new version of the software becomes available, it may be passed
from user to user legally and properly. Your cost is once only, when you
purchase the initial system. As the software improves and matures with time,
you will be able to stay current at little or no cost. Your initial
investment is protected, and you can look forward to new "goodies" now and
then.

The hardware design is not redistributable. We specifically request that
you do not attempt to "reverse-engineer" the hardware in order to
reproduce it. Every attempt has been made to make the hardware design
reliable, and if you do have a hardware failure, we will attempt to help
you get the problem resolved quickly and completely. The system's low cost
makes it unlikely that an attempt to reproduce the design would have much
appeal, and so we hope that you will respect our wishes in this matter.
For the price, we feel you are getting a significant value, at a time when
software seems to be priced extremely high... not to mention hardware!

We hope you enjoy the AVT, and perhaps we'll "see" you on the air sometime
soon.

Ben - N4EJI