Edge Collective

Notes on Ham Radio

Notes on Ham Radio

2021-11-09 12:40:30

Notes on kits: https://www.hamradiosecrets.com/ham-radio-kits.html

APRS

DORJI

https://www.tindie.com/products/dorji_com/ham-amateur-radio-module-dra818v/

http://squirrelengineering.com/arduino/dra818v-aprs-144-390mhz/

https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/make-your-own-transceiver-with-a-dorji-dra818u-or-dra818v/

https://www.qrp-labs.com/

https://nescitech.org/ham-exam-contact-us/

QRP Labs device for $60: https://hackaday.com/2021/12/08/four-band-digital-hf-sdr-transceiver-offers-high-performance-for-only-60/


APRS on micros

Micromodem

Github repo for micromodem: https://github.com/markqvist/MicroModem

Key diagram for circuit: https://github.com/markqvist/MicroModem/blob/master/Documentation/Quickstart.pdf

Mobilinkd Arduino KISS TNC

http://www.mobilinkd.com/2014/09/11/arduino-kiss-tnc/

Uses the Sparkfun 3.5 mm jack breakout:

http://www.mobilinkd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Breadboard-TNC_bb_2.png

    Sleeve is ground.
    Ring2 is audio out (TX)
    Ring1 is PTT
    Tip is audio in (RX)

Adding GPS

use Example3_GetPosition from UBLOX GNSS Sparkfun lib https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_u-blox_GNSS_Arduino_Library/archive/main.zip

Hmm ... module requires 3V ...

might need to try arduino pro mini 3V if avail ... or 5V tolerant gps module (adafruit's?)

Micromodem user manual

LibAPRS Tracker -- minified version of LibAPRS

https://github.com/barisdinc/LibAPRS_Tracker

LibAPRS

https://github.com/markqvist/LibAPRS

MicroAPRS

This is the code for handling APRS, allows for serial commands -- pin hardware might be fixed in firmware, not an issue

Expects to be run at 5V ... will need level shifters for ESP32, likely

Sat Oct 21 04:30:32 PM EDT 2023

https://oh2lak.blogspot.com/2017/06/experimenting-with-sa818-miniature-rf.html

https://www.youtube.com/@HB9BLA

Tue Feb 20 05:57:13 PM EST 2024

https://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/ts50s.html

https://www.radiomods.co.nz/kenwood/kenwoodts50.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/8oi0kr/new_ham_looking_at_used_kenwood_ts50_what_to_look/

Kenwood CAT interface

ft-891

suggests we want an AT50 tuner

AT50 tuner instruction manual

Kenwood TS-50S instruction manual

Power supply is Kenwood PS-33:

Possible compatibility? plug on amazon

Wiring diagram for TS-50S power cable

Replacement cable for TS-50S

Mon Apr 15 09:46:55 PM EDT 2024

'what to do when the phones go down' video

Fri Apr 19 06:17:47 PM EDT 2024

Getting started with JS8Call

receive-only

Fri Apr 19 08:38:04 PM EDT 2024

Virtual Audio Cable for linux here

Ham It Up adapter kit for sdr here

ham it up, by itself here

ham it up kit working well here

For those having trouble with the Ham It Up, this may be obvious to some, but frequencies below 14 MHz (20m HAM band) are best received at night. During the daytime you have a good chance of getting transmissions above 14 MHz. Also, I have tried using the Ham It Up in Windows 10 with SDR# and Kali Linux with SDR++. By far, the Kali setup works the best. I don't think you necessarily need the Kali Distro, that is just my setup. I will admit that the time investment needed to get this bundle operational is higher but if you do the research and don't give up the payoff is great.

The Ham It Up is a neat unit, but is genuinely hard to get started with due to wholly insufficient documentation. I was ready to write it off as junk before I finally figured out its antenna needs. Here is what you need to know from my hours of frustration:

FT8 shortwave listening

Tecsun PL880 shortwave radio, $169

CC Skywave SSB 2, $200

-- on amazon

SIHUADON R108 -- inexpensive knock-off of Skywave, $50

off-grid js8call setup with digital-only radio

DR4020 digital QRP radio

So -- better to use an sdr dongle, or a full short wave radio?

Sun Apr 21 03:09:31 PM EDT 2024

js8call here

T-Deck pinmap here

fdisk erase partitions tutorial

pi + baofeng aprs digipeater here

Sun Apr 21 11:20:13 PM EDT 2024

T-beam + external keyboard tutorial here and thread here

Using the 'canned message' meshtastic feature here

and the CardKB device described here

programming the CardKB here

documentation for CardKB i2c code here

electronoobs keyboard here -- this is the tutorial to try

antenna upgrades for meshtastic devices here

arduino as i2c slave here and here

using cardkb in a hack way with python

suggestion of mouse buttons for key buttons

connecting cardkb to raspberry pi here

Mon Apr 22 05:29:46 PM EDT 2024

Some example code for reading from a cardkb here

Creating an arduino i2c slave here -- see example 2. Arduino I2C Slave Transmitter Example

/*
* LAB Name: Arduino I2C Slave(Tx)
* Author: Khaled Magdy
* For More Info Visit: www.DeepBlueMbedded.com
*/
#include <Wire.h>
 
#define BTN0_PIN 4
#define BTN1_PIN 5
#define BTN2_PIN 6
#define BTN3_PIN 7
 
byte TxByte = 0;
 
void I2C_TxHandler(void)
{
  Wire.write(TxByte);
}
 
void setup() {
  pinMode(BTN0_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(BTN1_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(BTN2_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(BTN3_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  Wire.begin(0x55); // Initialize I2C (Slave Mode: address=0x55 )
  Wire.onRequest(I2C_TxHandler);
}
 
void loop() {
  byte BtnsData = 0;
  BtnsData |= digitalRead(BTN0_PIN) << 0;
  BtnsData |= digitalRead(BTN1_PIN) << 1;
  BtnsData |= digitalRead(BTN2_PIN) << 2;
  BtnsData |= digitalRead(BTN3_PIN) << 3;
  TxByte = BtnsData;
  delay(10);
}