The ONLY way to watch NASA Select
By Gary Bourgois, The Birdwatcher

Sometimes it amazes me how you can have a tool or capability and not always
have enough working knowledge to use it properly.  Well this morning I
happened to wake up early, and immediately popped over to NASA select.  Face
it, I am a SPACE NUT.  I think we ALL are, something about how those
satellites get UP there in the first place.  Today is the launch of yet
another shuttle mission, one that has been aborted many times so I am anxious
to watch it take to the skies.  Well this morning I have the feeling that I
am realy at the Space Center, because I am watching the launch on THREE
monitors each with a different display showing me the launch vehicle,
tracking and weather displays, AND the standard feed from NASA SELECT.

You have probably seen that stuff that NASA puts out on S2/05, the stuff that
will give you a headache flipping in a vibratory way from camera to camera so
fast it will make your head spin.  For those who don't know, this is
MULTIPLEX VIDEO, or what I call ANALOGUE COMPRESSION.  What they do is to
combine the video from two sources into one, and alternating between each
source every 30th of a second.  This makes for an unviewable picture unless
you have the equipment necessary to decode it.  For years I have wanted that
equipment.  I have the article that tells you how to build a DEMUXER from
simple chips, but that unit also just substitutes black for the alternate
frames, meaning it would yield a very flickering image.  A solution that many
of you may have actually built if you are as much of a NASAphile as I am.

In my review of the MX-1 I mentioned how to view one channel of the multiplex
by using the Videonics MX-1 video Special Effects Generator in strobe mode to
capture one side of the multiplex.  I was capturing the other side of the
multiplex using my JVC 8000 digital VCR, and putting it into the mix using a
ROCTEC PIP BOX that I got for $150 from DAMARK (I think these are still
available).  It was a lot of wiring to get this to work, and I admit that I
did not do it much because of the hassle of running patch cables all over the
room.

Well this morning I am in DISH HOG heaven because it occured to me in a flash
that I did not have to do all this, that the one tool, the very versitile
MX-1, along with some of the other video and satellite toys here would allow
me to view THREE CHANNELS OF NASA AT ONCE anywhere in my house.  

Remember, this is the HOUSE O TV's.  There are 32 of them here, with three
WALL'S O TV, as well as multiple sets in critical viewing locations to allow
me to follow big news events, etc.  I have 5 TV's in the kitchen, but could
only get 2 into the bathroom.  This may seem excessive to some folks, but a
Dishead who is also a videophile can certainly understand why this is as it
is.  This spring, I upgraded my in house video distribution system to 7
channels, allowing me to watch 5 satellite receivers (Fed from four dishes)
One computer channel (so I can follow IRC's while making a snack and also
read what the captain types during FNL) And channel 32 at the top of the bank
is used to show what the MX1 is sending out.  (The UHF modulators are True
Spec USM-8 PICO Units I got from Global Communications, write for my article
"Your own In House Cable System" for more info).  So now I am able to watch
all three NASA channels everywhere (Gotta get a third TV for the bathroom).

NASA transmits on Channels 9 and 5.  It is not an accident they are on the
same polarity.  This allows you to receive both using ONE DISH since the
polarity is the same.

Now, here are the tools you need to watch NASA's THREE CHANNELS at once.  I
bet some of you already have it all:


    1.  Satellite dish pointed at S2
    2.  TWO Satellite Receivers, block type
    3.  950-1450 Block Splitter
    4.  Videonics MX-1 Special Effects Mixer (Write for separate review)
    5.  THREE Video Monitors

    OPTIONAL:

    6.  THREE USM-8 UHF TV Modulators for full house signal distribution


Hook it up this way:

    Split signal from LNB to both receivers.  Set receiver #1 to channel 9.
    SET Receiver #2 to Channel 5.

    Run Receiver #1 video to monitor #1 or modulator for standard viewing
    Run Receiver #2 into INPUT #2 of Videonics Unit

    Run MAIN video output from VIDEONICS to Monitor #2 (or Modulator)
    Run PREVIEW video output from VIDEONICS to Monitor #3 (or Modulator)



NOW here is the trick:

    Press SETUP on the Videonics keyboard.  Assign Video channels this way:

    Input 1  Receiver #2    (The one with the MULTIPLEX signal)
    Input 2  Receiver #2

    Press SETUP again to store and exit.

    Assign Input #1 (A) to MAIN Video output by pressing (A) on the top Bank
    Assign Input #2 (B) to PREVIEW Video output by pressing (B) on bottom Bank 


    Now comes the magic:

    Press INPUT FX Button

    Press (A) on the bottom bank to modify input #1

    Select STROBE by using right arrow to cursor over to it.
    Select level 2 of strobe effect.  You should immediately notice the flash
    Image stabilize into a single image on Monitor #1.

    Press (B) on the bottom bank to modifiy input #2

    Again:

    Select STROBE with the Right Arrow.
    Select Level 2 strobe effect.  Again you will see the image stabilize.

    If image is the same as Monitor #1, flip between level 1 and level 2
    until you get the OTHER HALF of the MULTIPLEX, which is a completely
    different set of images.

    Once you have the two separate sets of images, press the INPUT FX
    button again for normal operation.


You should now have:

    Monitor 1:  NASA SELECT MAIN CHANNEL
    Monitor 2:  MULTIPLEX channel 1
    Monitor 3:  MULTIPLEX channel 2

Place Use the audio from receiver #1.  The audio from Receiver #2 is
Telemetry Data.  I do not know how to recover this, perhaps someone from
NASA can tell us.


Now sit back and enjoy the MISSION!  

On the main screen you will see tha Astronauts suiting up and all the other
stuff you usually watch during pre launch.

On your other two monitors you will be treated to some really cool stuff.
Motorized cameras automatically inspecting the rocket and shuttle, All sorts
of different views of the operation, fueling, displays of weather data, maps
elapsed time displays and other super cool space stuff.  It is absolutely
glorious.

Nobody would buy the MX1 (At about $900) just for NASA, unless you are a
super space nut, or professionally involved in some way to justify the
expense.  BUT if you are also a videophile who likes to make edited tapes, 
and long for all those spins and wipes that the pro boys have, here is
another justification for dumping the big bucks into a video toy.  When not
using it for tape editing, it is an excellent way to manage a multiple
receiver satellite setup, providing a wealth of viewing options, and routing
to VCR's etc. (MX-1 Review AND where I got the lowest price in the USA
available by writing EMAIL)

Hey it's T minus one hour 16 minutes.

I am going back to WATCH the Mission!!!!


--
    /   Gary Bourgois, WB8EOH, The Birdwatcher: Marquette Michigan  USA   \
   ([-o  Keeper of The r.v.s.t. FAQ, Wildfeeds List, and Radio Guides   o-])
    \ flash@lopez.marquette.mi.us BIRDWATCHER@genie.geis.com tvro@orn.com /
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