Analog TV Receiver
View analog video signals
What it does
SimpleSome cameras and old televisions send their picture through the air as a radio wave. This app can catch that wave and actually show the moving picture right on your device's screen — no cables needed.
It's a striking reminder that radio doesn't just carry sound and text: it can carry live video too. Point it at a hobby drone's camera transmitter and you can watch what the drone sees.
How it works
SimpleAn old TV picture is drawn as a series of lines, one after another, very fast — like a pen zig-zagging down the screen. The radio signal tells the screen how bright each spot on each line should be, plus special 'sync' pulses that say 'start a new line' and 'start a new picture'. The app follows those instructions to rebuild the image.
How to use it, step by step
Simple- Open the 'Analog TV' app.
- Tune to a camera or FPV channel.
- Pick the right kind (AM or FM) to match the sender.
- Adjust until the picture steadies.
- Watch the live video appear.
Examples
View the live feed from a hobby analog FPV camera you own.
Watch how a weak signal rolls or tears, revealing the horizontal/vertical sync structure.
Scan an FPV band to see how many video channels are in use at a flying field.
Tips & things to try
- Antenna choice is critical at high FPV frequencies — the stock whip won't do well at 5.8 GHz.
- A rolling or torn picture usually means the sync isn't locking; nudge the frequency or gain.
- Analog video is bandwidth-hungry, so it's most watchable when the transmitter is close.