The ESP32 series of microprocessors with their cheap high-power cores and built-in wireless networking have brought us a wide variety of impressive projects over the years. We’re not sure we’ve quite seen the like of [Jonathan R]’s video walkie talkie before though, a pair of units which as you might guess, deliver two-way video and audio communications.
The trick involves not one but two ESP32s: an ESP32-S3 based camera module, and a more traditional Tensilica ESP32 in a screen module. It’s an opportunity for an interesting comparison, as one device uses the Cheap Yellow Display board, and the other uses an Elecrow equivalent. The audio uses ESP-NOW, while the video uses WiFi, and since the on-board audio amplifiers aren’t great, there’s a small amp module.
The video below has a comprehensive run-down including the rationale behind the design choices, as well as a demonstration. There’s a small lag, but nothing too unacceptable for what is after all an extremely cheap device. Perhaps after all this time, the video phone has finally arrived!
How I would have loved such a pair of devices as a kid!
In amateur radio, the technology had existed since the 1950s or so.
There was video chat in the form of Amateur TeleVision (short: ATV).
Nowadays, it can be digital, too. DATV.
If you have a repeater (a relays station) in town, many operators can talk to each others.
The one whos currently speaking can be seen by all the others who are receiving the repeater signal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_television
To receive ATV signals on 70cm, an ordinary TV set can be used.
It’s just a normal PAL or NTSC signal.
For 23cm band, hams had used satellite TV receivers, I think.
Nowadays, SDR receivers can be used (RTL SDR). Adalm Pluto can be used to generate signals, I think.
Now I want a working set of Space 1999 communicators. We have the technology, and my inner geek child has always wanted them.
It’s “Mondbasis Alpha 1”. You really have to watch the German original sometimes. Also, no b/w CRTs, no joy! ;)
Seems to be quite a hefty lag introduced by the processing.