Local SSTV QSOs

"Local" SSTV QSOs are the most common QSOs, just like in the rest of amateur radio activities. I define "Local QSO" as a conversation with an amateur that is one of many conversations. A great number of pictures are required to keep local QSOs interesting. The pictures must be personally interesting or others will not find them interesting either.

Roundtable QSOs and SSTV Nets are particularly difficult to maintain an interesting chain of audio and visual intercommunication. A good unifying topic goes a long way towards maintaining an interesting multi-party QSO.

A few years ago as one of the net control stations of the SSTV net on 14230, I announced in advance a suggested topic for the image transmissions that would occur on the net that day. Most stations would transmit a picture that was related to the suggested topic. I received many complementary messages about this in my E-Mail.

Some of the topics were Easter, Birds, Airplanes, Sunsets, Military, Kids, Mugshot, Rig/Ant, Pets, QTH, Hobbies, Cartoons, Circuits, Old Radios, Vacations, Old TV, Flowers, CQs, Memorial Day, Fish, and Trains.

The best local QSOs are those between individuals or groups sharing a common interest. Think back to the best QSOs that you had in the past. Now imagine what the ability to exchange pictures would have added to those QSOs.

On several occasions I have been exchanging pictures with another ham with similar interests, and had hams break-in who also had these interests.

Local QSOs are particularly interesting at Holidays when SSTV stations exchange images such as Christmas and New Years cards.