This page is provided to give you some idea of the image quality you can expect with Fax480. Unless otherwise noted, all pictures shown here were received from KF7OH on 15, 12, or 10 meters. Unlike the high-resolution color modes, a Fax480 image requires very little more time to transmit than a standard Scottie 1 or Martin 1 color picture, yet it has almost four times the resolution! Fax480 is a mode that is thus practical for use on any HF band.

To save time in loading the page, the sample images are presented as thumbnails, each with a resolution of 256 x 240 - about the same as a typical SSTV picture. In most cases, the quality of the images would be considered very good for typical slow scan, but if you want to see them in the full-sized Fax480 format, click on the highlighted label of the picture you would like to see. I think you will be impressed by the detail provided by the Fax480 mode. Once you are finished viewing the full-sized image, use the return arrow on your browser to return to this page.

Keep in mind that these are all "over-the-air" pictures, so most will show the effects of noise (typically due to fades) or to interference. In all cases, the impact on image quality is trivial compared to the effect of the same conditions on a standard SSTV image.

Given the limited resolution of a typical SSTV image, scenic views always present a problem. Yes, they do work out, especially in color, but you don't have to expand the image size very far to see how limited they are with respect to detail. Add some QRM or QRN and the situation gets even worse. In contrast, with Fax480, you can really see details!

"People Pictures" make up most of the images transmitted on SSTV and, in most cases, the standard color modes will provide all the resolution you need. However, I think you can see that Fax480 can provide added realism and detail even with your basic "mug-shot"!

Next to people, images of "things" are probably the most common SSTV subjects. Depending on the detail in the object(s), Fax480 may be a better choice than the standard color modes.

Since I do most of my operating using QRP, I have a natural interest in weak-signal performance with the different modes. While standard color modes work moderately well, noise and QRM mean that I rarely can expect my pictures to demonstrate real detail! In contrast to the standard modes, Fax480 can provide pictures of quite good quality, even with very weak signals or poor band conditions.