Radio related projects using a Raspberry Pi. Updated for 2020.

1. Raspberry Pi and Amateur Radio
Radio related things to do
with your Raspberry Pi
Kevin Hooke KK6DCT
September 2020
http://www.raspberrypi.org/

2. Amateur Radio + Raspberry Pi
General Radio stuff:
●
SDR radio (RTLSDR dongle and rtl_sdr / rtl_tcp, or USB SDR)
●
ADS-B Aircraft transponder reception (RTLSDR dongle and dump1090)
Amateur Radio:
●
Cheap Desktop PC replacement (for Logging, internet, QRZ lookups)
●
Weak Signal Propagation (WSPR / WSPRryPi)
●
DSTAR Access Point (DVAP dongle and other add-on boards)
●
Packet Radio - h/w (Pi TNC) and s/w (Direwolf) TNC solutions
●
Packet Radio BBS / Personal mailbox (PiLinBPQ)
●
Packet DX Cluster (DX Spider)
●
DIY Projects: Remote antenna rotator, antenna switches

3. Raspberry Pi – what is it?
●
How does it differ from an
Arduino?
●
Arduino: a microcontroller
– Programmable, can control
external devices, circuits
through analog and digital I/
O pins
– does one thing, usually
repeatedly
Image from: SparkFun Electronics from Boulder, USA - Arduino Uno - R3, CC BY 2.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26785892

4. Raspberry Pi – what is it?
●
ARM microprocessor based
●
Usually runs a flavor of Linux
(e.g. Raspbian)
●
Uses SD Cards for disk
storage
●
GPIO and I2C I/O pins for
interacting with hardware
devices
Raspberry Pi B+
Image from: Lucasbosch - CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34179985
●
A general purpose single-board computer

5. Raspberry Pi – Previous Models
●
Pi 1: 512MB, 1 core ARM, USB ports (for keyboard, mouse), HDMI
out, Ethernet
●
Pi 2: 1GB, 4 core ARM cpu
●
Pi 3: Faster ARM cpu, WiFi, Bluetooth
●
Pi Zero /W: 1 core CPU, 512MB (W has WiFi and Bluetooth)
●
Up to this point, all had 2 models:
●
Model A : slightly cheaper, half RAM (2 and 3), no Ethernet, less
USB ports (1 instead of 4)
●
Model B: up to Pi 3 all were $35

6. Raspberry Pi – Current Models
●
Pi 4 released 2019
●
+ Faster ARM CPU, + 2 mini HDMI ports with 4k output
●
( 1 GB: $35 – replaced by 2GB model at same price)
●
2 GB: $ 35
●
4 GB: $55
●
8 GB: $75
●
Details on models and spec
https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/faqs/

7. Did I mention?
$35

8. Warning: Hobby time-sink alert!
●
From this point onwards:
– You will most likely spend a bunch of time installing
and tweaking Linux related stuff
●
We'll skip a lot of specifics here, but there are plenty of
resources online, e.g.
– https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/
– http://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/
– http://elinux.org/RPi_Hub
– … many more
●
All ideas here I've blogged in detail (some step by step):
– https://www.kevinhooke.com/?s=raspberry+pi
●
I'll be happy to help anyone with specific questions after
the meeting, or via email: kevin.hooke@gmail.com

9. Raspberry Pi – Getting Started
●
Download an OS https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
●
Burn to an SD card
●
Several options to choose from (mostly Linux based)
– Raspberry Pi OS is default option
– Previously called ‘Raspbian’ (based on Debian Linux)

10. ●
Connect an HDMI monitor and keyboard/mouse for initial
setup
●
Once setup, you can run it 'headless' (no monitor)
– use ssh (Linux/OS X), or putty (on Windows) to access
remotely over your network
– Web based access over VNC (setup option in raspi-
config)
Raspberry Pi – Setting Up

11. ●
sudo raspi-config : several useful config options to
enable/disable features
Raspberry Pi – Setting Up 2

12. Let's look at a few ideas!
Raspberry Pi – Radio Stuff

13. ●
Install: sudo apt-get install xlog
Logging Apps: xlog

14. ●
Install: sudo apt-get install cqrlog
Logging Apps: CQRLog

15. ●
RTL USB TV receiver
●
Install osmocomSDR software:
http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr
●
rtl_sdr
●
rtl_fm : fm receiver
●
rtl_tcp : sdr server – can be accessed
remotely, eg from SDR# on a PC
– e.g. allows Pi + dongle + antenna
can be remotely located
= avoids long coax feed
RTL dongles + Raspberry Pi
$23 from
http://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/nesdr-mini-2-plus.html
Step by step setup:
https://www.kevinhooke.com/2014/07/26/installing-rtl-sdr-and-dump1090-on-a-raspberry-pi-to-receive-ads-b-signals/

16. ●
ADS-B: Automated position report transmissions from
airplanes, location/speed/heading/flight/airframe id – 1.090
GHz
●
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_dependent_surveillance_%E2%80%93_broadcast
●
Online flight tracking (eg FlightAware.com and others)
collect reception data from hobbyists
●
Multiple approaches, dump1090 is easiest
●
Needs rtl-sdr installed first
●
Original version: https://github.com/antirez/dump1090
●
Updated version: https://github.com/MalcolmRobb/dump1090
●
To pull source and build:
– git clone https://github.com/MalcolmRobb/dump1090.git
– cd dump1090
– make
RTL dongle: ADS-B Reception

17. ●
dump1090 --interactive
Running dump1090
●
dump1090 --net

18. Running PiAware + dump1090
PiAware – packaged dump1090 and feeder to http://www.flightware.com
9/1/20 at 6:50pm

19. ●
WSPR: Weak Signal Propagation Reporting
●
Raspberry Pi
+ WsprryPi software
https://github.com/JamesP6000/WsprryPi
+ TAPR QRP shield ($29)
https://www.tapr.org/kits_20M-wspr-pi.html
+ wire antenna (e.g. dipole)
WSPR: WsprryPi + TAPR QRP TX
Shield

20. ●
TAPR QRPi shield ($29)
●
https://www.tapr.org/kits_20M-wspr-pi.html
●
20 dBm / 100 mW TX output
●
LPF + BPF + 10 dBm power amp (20 dBm output)
WSPR: WsprryPi + TAPR QRP TX
Shield
See docs for other apps and modes:
SSB
NFM
AM
SSTV
CW

21. First attempt: Didn't get any spots using a RPi 1
(WsprryPi s/w was updated to support Rpi 2?)
●
TAPR QRPi Shield
●
20m wire dipole
●
Weatherproof
box
●
10000 mAh
USB battery
WSPR: WsprryPi + TAPR QRPi TX
Shield

22. Second attempt: RPi 2
●
TAPR QRPi Shield
●
20m wire dipole
●
Weatherproof
box
●
10000 mAh
USB battery
WSPR: WsprryPi + TAPR QRPi TX
Shield

23. 4/30/16: 20m : 100 mW – 2180 miles to W4DJW in South Carolina!
WSPR: WsprryPi + TAPR QRP TX
Shield

24. DSTAR Access Point (DVAP
dongle & others)
●
DV Access Point USB
Dongle
– Requires DSTAR radio
From:
http://www.dvapdongle.com/DV_Access_Point_Dongle/Home.html
●
DVMega
- various models, some require
DSTAR radio
- AMBE3000 takes analog input
and converts to DSTAR data
signal
From:
http://www.dvmega.auria.nl/AMBE3000_shield.html

25. Packet Radio and Raspberry Pi
●
Lots of options!
– ax25 networking stack support in Linux
●
Already installed or easily installed on Linux distros
●
Provides basic tools like call: axcall 1 kberr
– Direwolf (Packet soundcard modem / TNC)
●
Also supports APRS beacons, iGates
https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
– LinPac (Packet terminal app)
http://linpac.sourceforge.net/overview.php
– PiLinBPQ: BPQ32 Packet BBS
http://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/InstallingLINBPQ.htm
– Hardware TNC boards: TNC-Pi
●
Checkout Joe DeAngelo AG6QO's site on setting up the
WINTBB Raspberry Pi BBS: http://ag6qo.com/PiPBBS.html

26. Prebuilt SD Card images for Packet
●
Don't need to install apps yourself, prebuilt OS images (SD
Card):
– F6BVP: Xastir, FPAC, LinFBB
●
Uses TNC-Pi by default
http://f6bvp.free.fr/AX25_BBS_Node_RaspBerry_Pi_install.html
– HALDigital: https://sourceforge.net/p/haldigital/wiki/Home/
●
Prebuild Raspbian image with ax25, Direwolf, etc
●
Menu driven configuration
If you want more flexibility/options, can still install all parts
yourself

27. Direwolf – soundcard modem
●
Soundcard Packet modem (Linux and Windows versions)
●
https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
– AWESOME documentation
– Easy setup
– KISS app support
– AGWE app support
●
APRS / Smart Beaconing / GPS board support
●
APRS iGate

28. Direwolf and PiLinBPQ
●
Raspberry Pi + Direwolf + PiLinBPQ:
– Low cost / low power packet BBS and CHAT station
– Portable Packet BBS? Add USB battery packs
●
BPQ32: ax25 Node – Windows and Linux versions
– http://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/BPQ32.html
●
PiLinBPQ: Raspberry Pi version
– Add on apps: BBS, CHAT, other integration

29. Direwolf and axcall/LinPac
●
Raspberry Pi + Direwolf + axcall/LinPac
– Low cost / low power packet station
– Portable Packet station? Add USB battery packs
●
Linpack: http://linpac.sourceforge.net/overview.php

30. Direwolf and APRS: Xastir
●
APRS client: http://xastir.org/index.php/Main_Page

31. Direwolf and APRS: YAAC
●
YAAC – Yet another APRS Client:
http://www.ka2ddo.org/ka2ddo/YAAC.html

32. Example Pi Packet setup

33. Example Pi Packet setup
●
HT radio
●
Soundcard interface
●
Pi + Direwolf
●
Add USB batteries for
portable setup
Left:
●
Pi 1 (headless)
●
PiLinBPQ
Right:
●
Pi 3 + 7” touchscreen
●
Axcall into BBS
(WiFi hub is for ssh into Pi
for demo, not needed as
part of setup)

34. Future Project: RTL SDR and Direwolf
Self-contained Pi SDR Packet station?
●
Setup:
– RTL USB dongle
– rtl_sdr / rtl_fm
– Direwolf soundcard modem
– (see Direwolf docs for instructions)
●
Self-contained SDR packet station for < $60 ?
●
What about transmit?
– RPiTX: https://github.com/F5OEO/rpitx
– QTCSDR: https://github.com/ha7ilm/qtcsdr

35. Questions?