Welcome to the official page for the Community Cable 57 project! My name is [Your Name], call sign KD9IQR, and I’m building a non-commercial, experimental television station right in my garage. My goal is to create a local broadcast that’s part nostalgic TV channel, part public service, and all amateur radio.

What is This Project?

We’re taking a trip back to the golden age of local-access TV, using a modern twist. The station will broadcast an analog video signal on the 70 cm amateur radio band, specifically on the frequency that corresponds to CATV Channel 57 (421.25 MHz). This means anyone in the area with an old, cable-ready TV and a UHF antenna can tune in and see what’s on the air.

This isn’t about re-creating commercial television. This project is a technical and creative investigation, following the rules and spirit of the FCC’s Part 97 for amateur radio. It’s about self-training, experimentation, and building a local community around a unique idea.

Our On-Air Vision

The content for Community Cable 57 is designed to be both fun and informative. Our broadcasts will include:

• Public Service Announcements: Informational spots about the amateur radio hobby, local club meetings, and how to get a license. We’ll be using this station to grow our community and help new hams find their footing.
• A Classic Text Generator: I’m building a custom system to create the same text crawlers, slides, and test patterns that were iconic on classic cable channels. This is how we’ll share information and display our call sign.
• Experimental Programming: We plan to have “movie nights” featuring public domain films, but with a unique ham radio twist. We’ll use this content as a vehicle for technical experiments, such as live data overlays and synchronized transmissions, proving that amateur radio can be both a hobby and an art form.

Join the Fun!

The success of this project depends on the community. I’m actively looking for hams and curious minds who want to get involved. Whether you’re an old pro with technical advice or a brand-new ham who just wants to tune in and give a signal report, your help is welcome.

• When We’re Live: Follow this page for announcements about our next test broadcast. I’ll be announcing test times and dates here and on local ham radio forums.
• How to Listen: Just connect a UHF antenna to a cable-ready analog television or VCR and tune to CATV Channel 57.
• Feedback is Welcome: When you catch our broadcast, please send a signal report to KD9IQR on local repeaters or via email. Your feedback is what makes this project possible!

This project is about building a community from the ground up, and I can’t wait to see what we can create together.

73, KD9IQR