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

web sdr / software-only here
off-grid basic receive with simple radio, unlicensed here
js8call training edition here

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:

Offset is 125MHz, so a 25MHz signal will be upconverted to 150MHz
It has a upconvert range of 100KHz to 60MHz, good for AM and shortwave bands. US FM broadcasting can't be used as a passthrough/upconvert test to get started as the frequency is too high.
It doesn't work with any of the included antennas, or any commercial antennas I tried. I was only able to achieve acceptable reception with the balun, 100' of wire as an antenna strung outside in the trees, and a good ground. Think crystal radio when setting up the antenna for the upconverter.
Once the wire was strung outdoors I was able to pick up commercial AM broadcasting, some HAM chatter in the 40 meter band, and shortwave stations in the 11MHz range, and acceptable CB reception.
Documentation for this is even worse than for the NESDR. Be prepared to be frustrated until you figure it out.

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);
}

Sat Apr 27 06:30:16 PM EDT 2024

Ham it up explanatory video here

40 meter dipole antenna here

Creating a 40 meter antenna here

How to make a 40 meter dipole antenna here

making a 20 m and 40 m dipole antenna here

homemade balun -- SO2-39

definition of a balun here

complete off-grid HF ham pack here

js8call mesh experiment here

simplest dedicated js8call rig discussion here

Sun May 5 04:16:25 PM EDT 2024

heltec gps forum topic (including pins) here

flashing firmware on esp32 devices here

cli script method here
configuring device via CLI here
canned message here
proper i2c pins for heltec v3 here
heltec pinout [here](
cardkb description here
black / gnd, red / 3v, yellow sda, white scl
41 is sda, 42 is scl on heltec v3
yellow to 41, white to 42

Sun May 5 06:53:55 PM EDT 2024

meshtastic message history, thread here

github most recent messages issue here

semi-relevant discussion here

meshcom -- mesh for ham radio operators, compatible with aprs here

Fri May 10 02:56:05 PM EDT 2024

Meshtastic device configuration here

#define CARDKB_ADDR 0x5F  //Define the I2C address of CardKB.
#include <Wire.h>

void setup() {
  Wire.begin();
  Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop()
{
  Wire.requestFrom(CARDKB_ADDR, 1); //Request 1 byte from the slave device.
  while (Wire.available()) {
    char c = Wire.read(); 
    if (c != 0)
    {
      if (c == '\x0D') {
        Serial.println();
      }
      else {
      Serial.print(c);
    }
      //Serial.print(c,HEX);
    }
  }
}

/*
Example of processing incoming serial data without blocking.

Author:   Nick Gammon
Date:     13 November 2011. 
Modified: 31 August 2013.

Released for public use.
*/

#define CARDKB_ADDR 0x5F  //Define the I2C address of CardKB.
#include <Wire.h>

// how much serial data we expect before a newline
const unsigned int MAX_INPUTTY = 50;

void setup ()
  {
      Wire.begin();
  Serial.begin (115200);
  Serial1.begin(38400);
  } // end of setup

// here to process incoming serial data after a terminator received
void process_input_data (const char * data)
  {
  // for now just display it
  // (but you could compare it to some value, convert to an integer, etc.)
  Serial.println(data);
  }  // end of process_data

void process_output_data (const char * data)
  {
  // for now just display it
  // (but you could compare it to some value, convert to an integer, etc.)
  Serial1.println(data);
  }  // end of process_data
  
void processIncomingByte (const byte inByte)
  {
  static char input_line [MAX_INPUTTY];
  static unsigned int input_pos = 0;

  switch (inByte)
    {

    case '\n':   // end of text
      input_line [input_pos] = 0;  // terminating null byte
      
      // terminator reached! process input_line here ...
      process_input_data (input_line);
      
      // reset buffer for next time
      input_pos = 0;  
      break;

    case '\r':   // discard carriage return
      break;

    default:
      // keep adding if not full ... allow for terminating null byte
      if (input_pos < (MAX_INPUTTY - 1))
        input_line [input_pos++] = inByte;
        //Serial.print(inByte);
      break;

    }  // end of switch
   
  } // end of processIncomingByte  



  //void processOutgoingByte (const byte outByte)
   void processOutgoingByte (char outByte)
  {
  static char output_line [MAX_INPUTTY];
  static unsigned int output_pos = 0;

  switch (outByte)
    {

    case 0:
      break;


    case '\x0D':   // end of text
      output_line [output_pos] = 0;  // terminating null byte
      Serial.println();
      // terminator reached! process input_line here ...
      process_output_data (output_line);
      
      // reset buffer for next time
      output_pos = 0;  
      break;

    //case '\r':   // discard carriage return
    //break;

    default:
      // keep adding if not full ... allow for terminating null byte
      //Serial.print(outByte);
      if (output_pos < (MAX_INPUTTY - 1))
        output_line [output_pos++] = outByte;
        Serial.print(outByte);
      break;

    }  // end of switch
   
  } // end of processIncomingByte  


void loop()
  {
  // if serial data available, process it
  while (Serial1.available () > 0)
    processIncomingByte (Serial1.read ());
  
  Wire.requestFrom(CARDKB_ADDR, 1); //Request 1 byte from the slave device.
   while (Wire.available())
    processOutgoingByte (Wire.read());
  
  // do other stuff here like testing digital input (button presses) ...

  }  // end of loop

meshtastic_to_serial_cardkb

Sat May 11 04:42:13 PM EDT 2024

circuitpython module for waveshare e-paper here

arduino libraries for waveshare here

Sat May 11 07:13:12 PM EDT 2024

using cardkb in circuitpython here

cardkb layout here

better cardkb layout here

asking for enclosure with tbeam and cardkb here

up: 0xB5 down: 0xB6 left: 0xB4 right: 0xB7

wrapping text in circuitpython on a display here

Sun May 12 09:07:23 PM EDT 2024

RAK4631 documentation for module [here](https://docs.rakwireless.com/Product-Categories/WisBlock/RAK4631/Overview/#product-description

RAK19007 is the base I bought. RAK19007 documentation here

RAK19007 product guide here

description of headers is here

custom nodes here

Mon May 13 06:26:40 PM EDT 2024

nrf52 dongle prototyping here

nrf52 variant here

another nrf52 variant board here

board with adafruit feather express here

rak IO module on digikey here

rak19007 pinout description here

Mon May 13 10:01:22 PM EDT 2024

using the cli to talk / hear nodes here

rxd 7 txd 47 baud 38400 mode textmsg

in arduino ide, use 'new line'

waveshare:

guide for 2.13 e ink here

same on itsy m0, but: rst d7 busy d12

arduino library for waveshare here

getting serial data on arduino without blocking here

circuitpython tips and tricks here

meshtastic-to-serial is basic working version

suggestion on reading bytes from keyboard here

Tue May 14 03:02:50 PM EDT 2024

rtc power switches: