Black Cat SSTV

Why yet another SSTV app? I've been an SWL and DXer for about 40 years now, and writing SSTV apps for about two decades now in one form or another. Part of my activity involves decoding extremely weak SSTV transmissions. It's easy to write an SSTV decoder that works with a strong signal, but I decided to write a brand new SSTV app from the ground up, with an emphasis on performance under weak signal conditions.

The result is Black Cat SSTV. If you want an SSTV app that will show you the DX you’ve been missing, Black Cat SSTV is for you.

It has an extremely sensitive VIS detector, with an adjustable threshold, which can be adjusted depending on your tolerance for false triggers. Images are automatically adjusted for skew and offset after reception using all of the transmitted information, for nearly perfect lock even under extremely weak signals. Often you can barely hear the transmission, yet you get a nice copy. Images can be automatically saved in the directory of your choice, and there's a built in gallery for viewing received images.

Transmission of images is also supported of course, and there's a basic editor for preparing images for transmission. Serial ports (physical or virtual via USB/serial adapters) can be used to trigger the PTT signal if required.

Available for both Windows and macOS.

Black Cat SSTV integrates with the SDRPlay SDRUno software package via the free Black Cat Systems plugin. Instructions for configuring both are available on this page.

N1DAY wrote this review of Black Cat SSTV, where it beats the competition.

Buy Your Copy of Black Cat SSTV Today

Start decoding SSTV transmissions in just minutes!

$19.99 Registration code sent by email, software download

Black Cat SSTV is only $19.99, which entitles you to all updates and new versions released over the next full year, free of charge, which of course you can continue to use forever.

Free To Try!

Not sure you're ready to buy Black Cat SSTV? You can download a fully featured copy to try out, before you buy it.

Download a copy of Black Cat SSTV version 2.0.2 for Windows 8 and 10: https://www.blackcatsystems.com/download/SSTV_app_windows.zip (January 21, 2021)

Download a copy of Black Cat SSTV version 2.0.2 for macOS 10.10 through 11 Big Sur, 64 Bit Application: https://www.blackcatsystems.com/download/SSTV_app.zip (January 21, 2021)

A virtual audio cable/driver is required for use with SDR programs. We have a list of third party programs here.

Beta Versions:

Remember these are betas, and updates can break things. When downloading a new copy, please keep your existing copy, in case you need to go back to it.

Black Cat SSTV version 2.1.0b2 for Windows: https://www.blackcatsystems.com/download/sstvbetawindows.zip (June 30, 2021)

Black Cat SSTV version 2.1.0b2 for macOS 10.10 through 11 Big Sur, 64 Bit Application: https://www.blackcatsystems.com/download/sstvbeta.zip (June 30, 2021)

If macOS complains it cannot open the app, right click the app icon, and select Open.


Email your comments and questions to info@blackcatsystems.com

Last modified June 30, 2021