Introducing Open-SSTV: A Modern Take on an Old Mode

Slow-Scan Television has been around since the late 1950s. The software most of us use to work it... feels like it's been around about that long too. Windows-only installers from another decade. UIs that look like they were designed on a CRT. Codebases that haven't seen a commit in years.

I think we can do better.

Open-SSTV is a free, open-source SSTV transceiver built in Python with a Qt 6 interface. It runs natively on Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon), and Linux (x86_64 and ARM64). Pre-built binaries are available for every platform, so no Python install is required to get on the air.

It's currently in beta at v0.3.13, but already loaded:

• All 22 SSTV modes, TX and RX. Robot 36 through PD-290, with full Martin, Scottie, Pasokon, and Wraase support.
• Progressive decoding with a weak-signal mode that works down to roughly 0 dB SNR on Robot 36.
• Rig control three ways. rigctld TCP, direct serial CAT (Icom CI-V, Kenwood, Yaesu) with DTR/RTS PTT, and TCI WebSocket for ExpertSDR2/3, AetherSDR, and SunSDR2.
• FFT waterfall with dotted reference lines at the SSTV tone frequencies (1200, 1500, 1900, 2300 Hz).
• Layered template compositor with a live gallery, MMSSTV-style callsign tokens, slashed-zero rendering, and an rx_image slot that pins a received thumbnail straight into the next reply.
• Band plan helper. One-click tune to any standard SSTV calling frequency across HF, VHF, and UHF.
• Built-in image editor. Aspect-locked crop, rotate, flip, and text overlays that auto-shrink to fit.
• RX audio recording to WAV or FLAC, so you can re-decode marginal signals later.
• Part 97 CW ID baked in. Stays legal on the air without extra hardware.

It's GPL-3.0, actively developed, and built fully in the open.

The landing page has full screenshots, the complete mode list, and direct binary downloads for every supported platform:

bucknova.github.io/Open-SSTV

Or head straight to the repo:

github.com/bucknova/Open-SSTV

If you operate SSTV, whether for POTA confirmations, casual ragchewing, or just because images over RF will never stop being cool, grab a binary and give it a spin.

Looking for collaborators

The project is genuinely open to contributors. If you're a Python developer who also happens to be a ham, here's what's wide open on the roadmap right now:

• Drag-and-drop template canvas. The v0.3 editor is form-based; a future release wants direct manipulation with resize handles and snap-to-grid on the live preview.
• QSO logging and ADIF export. Persist every contact with timestamp, mode, frequency, RST, and the TX/RX images, then export to ADIF for LoTW and eQSL.
• Remote Control. Have remote access via another device in the same network. Work SSTV while away from the rig.  

Even if none of those grab you, the issues list is open and the codebase is approachable. PySide6, fairly clean architecture, GPL-3.0. PRs welcome, and I'm happy to help newcomers find a good first issue.

73 de W0AEZ