2023-02-18 SDR radio - software setup 2

Baseline Install:
(1) Build and compile the rtl_tools suite (primarily rtl_fm).
(2) Install soapysdr.
(3) Build and compile the rtlsdr_wsprd application.
(4) Get and install Pulseadio, Pavucontrol, Mplayer etc.
(5) Build and install csdr, nmap, chrony (adjust clock).
(6) Build and install Direwolf.

Start testing!

2023-02-15 SDR radio - software setup 1

I had started documenting the build of a monitoring setup using equipment I already had on hand for the most part. I was going to use an SDR dongle, an old Raspberry Pi 3B, and some web SDR software to get this going. I've already talked about the change in direction due to the software. I was initially trying to get a public-access web SDR interface running primarily because there doesn't appear to be anything on Long Island and almost nothing in the New York metro area. The new objective is to get the beacon monitor running as a Long Island monitoring station and NOT worry about making the access public.

Objective:
(1) Implement VHF APRS monitoring.
(2) Implement 2m and 6m SSB WSPR monitoring.
(3) As a stretch goal, implement additional digital monitoring modes on 10m.

2023-02-10 SDR radio hardware setup 3

After spending a few days on this without much progress, I have decided that the major non-performer in this setup is Openwebrx itself. So my software approach to this has undertaken a large pivot in direction. I have re-installed the Raspbian image, as the Openwebrx image had no desktop environment and generated numerous errors when I tried to install and enable the desktop.

Even though I was running the hardware "headless" a lot of the SDR tools (and certainly audio components) required a desktop environment for configuration and in many cases (GQRX, WSJT-X), for execution so starting with a fresh plain Raspbian image made the most sense

2023-02-08 SDR radio hardware setup 2

I know the attic receives signals because my earlier Baofeng based iGate with its stubby OEM antenna and later, the Abree antenna picked up APRS signals - the problem was there were not a whole lot of signals to pickup.

If I key up one of the HT's within a monitored VHF range I can see the waterfall and hear (low signal though) my own voice, so the Nesdr and ham-it-up upconverter (connected in passthrough mode) was working. I also hooked up the original RTL-SDR dongle as well to a 2M dipole and that also worked in picking up broadcast FM, my own HT generated APRS messages, and messages from 2 or 3 relativly local iGates. Since then, I've picked up nothing (other than these) on either SDR dongle for 2M or 6M APRS traffic.

I'm going to just let the setup run for awhile on its own - do some research and come back to it as it may be just my not configuring things correctly but I have a sneaking suspicion that I just need a better SDR radio AND there's not a lot of traffic to hear.

2023-02-06 SDR radio hardware setup 1

I have the Discone antenna and a 6M dipole mounted in the attic. I connected the Discone to the NESDR and at a later time the 6M dipole antenna. So far, I am not very impressed with the SDR radios. I know that the attic is not the best location for antennas but the SDR's are picking up nothing outside of the normal FM broadcast stations.

2023-02-05 The uSDX+ radio and a return to cw

I received a reminder from LICW that my year membership was about to expire. Time goes by when you're having fun, and I guess I had more intention to learn CW than actual sit-down practice and learning time to do it. Anyway, I renewed as a lifetime member, and with the best intentions and all that, I will start back at the beginner level this week. This is why I wanted to get the uSDX+ working, as it has a CW practice mode and what looks like a built-in CW decoder. I hope the CW practice mode and my (new) paddle will sound a LOT better than the MFJ-557. I will still use the MFJ-557 just as a regular straight key, as the LICW recommendation is to use a straight key while learning how to send.

The uSDX+, the real one, and my (presumably Chinese clone) support CW and CW keys and paddles out-of-the-box.

2.1 CW Decoder:   Enable/disable CW Decoder (ON, OFF)

2.2 CW Tone:      CW Filter+Side-tone (600, 700)

2.4 Semi QSK On TX silents RX on CW sign and word spaces

2.5 Keyer speed:      CW Keyer speed in Paris-WPM (1..35)

2.6 Keyer mode:      Type of keyer (Iambic-A, -B, Straight)

2.7 Keyer swap:      to swap keyer DIH, DAH inputs (ON, OFF)

2.8 Practice to disable TX for practice purposes (ON, OFF)

3.1 VOX Voice Operated Xmit (ON, OFF)

10.1 Backlight Display backlight (ON, OFF)

As you can see from the above menu items, CW is well supported (don't yet know about the implementation) and that MENU 2.8 item is the main one that I am interested in. I will also connect a dummy load to the antenna connector to be belt-and-suspender safe while practicing.

The CW decoder may be icing on the HF cake if it works. For a little over $100, this may be a CW learner's best life I'll let you know, of course, so stay tuned.

2023-02-04 The uSDX+ (micro sdx plus) hf radio revisited

I picked this radio up on a whim since it was only $100. Walt, K4OGO, on his Coastal Waves and Wires Youtube channel, said the radio was not too bad and figured I could take it with me on a trip to Washington without worrying if it broke or got lost.

I didn't get to use it in D.C, but at some point between charging it for use then, until earlier this week (yes, mine has the internal battery), I thought I had lost the charger.

I could not find **any** reference online to what the charger is, so I am posting a picture of the charger information here to help out anyone else that needs one. It was nice to plug the DC connector into the radio and see the bright green LED light up before I even plugged the charger into the AC outlet.

2023-02-02 Software Defined Radio - operation

I now have the Openwebrx Raspberry Pi back in the container, in my attic, alongside my hotspot and clearnode. The Openwebrx is connected to the same powered usb hub. I initially connected Openwebrx to the Youloop mounted in my attic, but signal reception on 2M, 70cm, 40m and 20m was not very good. In fact, only Broadcast FM came in clearly. I then installed a a dipoile made of split speaker wire and connected with the balun that came with the Nooelec. Again reception was about the same (i.e not much). I should note that I did pickup a test transmission from one of my handheld HT's on both 2m and 70cm so the SDR setup does work. My next attempt will be to test with an attic mounted Discone antenna which I just ordered and maybe also test with my known working, outdoor end-fed half wave antenna.

2023-02-01 Software Defined Radio - software

I tested several open-source SDR packages on my laptop, primarily running SDR++, CubiC SDR, and SDR Sharp to check out the SDR and the antenna.

My priorities for getting everything running were:

cd sdrtools

wget https://gist.githubusercontent.com/songritk/b0ac5cde818d42d61a9848f>

ls -al

nano install-soapysdr.sh

SoapySDRUtil --probe

SoapySDRUtil --find

pi@openwebrx:~ $ SoapySDRUtil --find

Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library...

[INFO\] [UHD\] linux; GNU C++ version 10.2.0; Boost_107100; UHD_3.15.0.0-4

Detached kernel driver

Found Rafael Micro R820T tuner

Reattached kernel driver

Found device 0

default_input = True

default_output = True

device_id = 0

driver = audio

label = PulseAudio

Found device 1

driver = radioberry

Found device 2

available = Yes

driver = rtlsdr

label = Generic RTL2832U OEM :: 00000001

manufacturer = Nooelec

product = NESDR SMArt v5

rtl = 0

serial = 00000001

tuner = Rafael Micro R820T

I decided that I might as well run my original DVB dongle alongside the new Nooelec dongle. Unfortunately BOTH devices were given serial number "00000001". Fortunately, I was able to change the serial number of the DVB SDR dongle ("sudo rtl_eeprom -s 00001090")

and that was it.