Ham radio Joggler

General discussion relating to the O2 Joggler, from the default O2 setup, to alternative operating systems and applications.
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hawsey
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Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:23 pm
Location: Northumberland

Ham radio Joggler

Post by hawsey »

What would the best way be to make a build of this for the Joggler ?
Add the software to the BuZz build would you think ?

https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq ... fd55ed.jpg[/IMG]

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pete
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Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by pete »

I cannot see the link Gary.

Here have an SDR USB connected to a RPI in the attic that has been working grabbing NOAA satellite pictures now for a about a year.

Testing with two antennas in the attic.
NOAA.jpg
The $10 USD SDR would work fine with a Joggler running Buzz's Ubuntu.
- Pete
O2 Jogglers running EFI Ubuntu / Squeezeplayer
OpenPeak Voip Telephony / Zigbee tabletops hardware modded with Seabios / RTC / Ethernet ROM edits / SSD drives running XPe for automation screens

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hawsey
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Location: Northumberland

Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by hawsey »

https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/


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hawsey
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Location: Northumberland

Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by hawsey »

hawsey wrote:https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/


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This is what the thread says

KB1OIQ - Andy's Ham Radio Linux

Ubuntu Linux remastered for Amateur Radio users

Brought to you by: andystewart

Downloads: 142 This Week

Last Update: 2017-11-26

This is a remastered version of Ubuntu Linux. There are 32-bit and 64-bit versions available.

This version contains a lot of amateur radio software including Fldigi, NBEMS, Gpredict, earthtrack, xcwcp and qrq, XLog and cqrlog, flrig and grig, xnec2c, fl_moxgen, aa-analyzer, owx, VOACAP, glfer, Xastir, gqrx, gEDA, GNU Radio Companion, quisk, direwolf, linamc, FreeDV, wsjt-x, Micro-Fox 15 Config, and a TinyTrak3 configuration program.

Version 21 has been updated to match Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS.

32-bit users only: If you had trouble with graphical logins in Version 21, please try Version 21a.

This software collection uses the icewm window manager with menus customized for Amateur Radio use. It is designed to be light weight to run on older computers, while still having modern functionality.

Recommended: 1GHz CPU, 1GB memory, and 10-15 GB disk space at an absolute bare minimum (SDR applications will require more).




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hawsey
Posts: 2069
Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:23 pm
Location: Northumberland

Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by hawsey »

hawsey wrote:
hawsey wrote:https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/


Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
This is what the thread says

KB1OIQ - Andy's Ham Radio Linux

Ubuntu Linux remastered for Amateur Radio users

Brought to you by: andystewart

Downloads: 142 This Week

Last Update: 2017-11-26

This is a remastered version of Ubuntu Linux. There are 32-bit and 64-bit versions available.

This version contains a lot of amateur radio software including Fldigi, NBEMS, Gpredict, earthtrack, xcwcp and qrq, XLog and cqrlog, flrig and grig, xnec2c, fl_moxgen, aa-analyzer, owx, VOACAP, glfer, Xastir, gqrx, gEDA, GNU Radio Companion, quisk, direwolf, linamc, FreeDV, wsjt-x, Micro-Fox 15 Config, and a TinyTrak3 configuration program.

Version 21 has been updated to match Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS.

32-bit users only: If you had trouble with graphical logins in Version 21, please try Version 21a.

This software collection uses the icewm window manager with menus customized for Amateur Radio use. It is designed to be light weight to run on older computers, while still having modern functionality.

Recommended: 1GHz CPU, 1GB memory, and 10-15 GB disk space at an absolute bare minimum (SDR applications will require more).




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Cheers Pete :-) I just started adding the software to BuZz Xubuntu , some is in the software centre some not , one strange thing I noticed CB radio interference on the Joggler screen . 8-) Fun and games ha ha

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Juggler
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:34 am

Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by Juggler »

Given the Joggler's limited resources plus using USB for mass storage, I'd be inclined to use Ubuntu base and see if console applications are enough.

In fact a few years ago this is exactly what I did with receiving ADS-B

https://www.rtl-sdr.com/adsb-aircraft-r ... h-rtl-sdr/

I used BuZz's ubuntu base, the dump1090 console app, and old RTL SDR dongle, and the small magmount aerial that came with the dongle mounted on a used fray bentos pie tin on top of an old huge 22" CRT monitor...

Well I received a lot because I am close to a major UK airport. But if you make an aerial as described above, even if you don't have that many planes going over head I think you'd receive at least a few, probably a lot, in most places. Plus *legality aside* you could participate in one of the aggregation projects and gain access to all that communities data and maybe other benefits.

Since Hawsey inspired me to look back into radio stuff again after a long while, I'm just amazed at the prices of some hardware now.

Ham it Up - an upconverter to receive HF 0-30MHz on an SDR dongle, are around $50 or $65 for the plus version. Apparently, with a good aerial and tuning unit these are as good as some Icom, Yaesu etc $1000+ equipment.

https://www.nooelec.com/store/ham-it-up-plus.html

Reasonable digital mode radios (DMR) can be bought for $50 plus.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Radioddity-G ... 3443588412

They can be found better and cheaper on the big Chinese market places.

Plus an exciting project would be to make a digital modes radio hotspot, which uses some cheap dedicated hardware, an RPi and some well supported open source software. Looks like you could easily make your own small range, if not internet connected, communication network - similar to a cell phone network cell.

https://radioaficion.com/news/jumbo-spo ... ini-mmdvm/

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MMDVM-Hotspo ... 3576194232

If you want to listen in on radio hams using digital modes, here's a way :

http://hose.brandmeister.network/
http://www.dmr-uk.net/index.php/uk-live-monitor/

Some great stuff. Plus did I mention the Chinese HackRF clones for just over $100...

Listening to HF again will be great and with all the benefits of SDR. However, tuning using a keyboard or touch screen just won't compare with the movement of a well made tuning knob on a quality receiver, with little bulbs glowing inside, illuminating a dark room, at 2am...
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hawsey
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Location: Northumberland

Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by hawsey »

Juggler , I set it up on Ubuntu looking at the software on Andy's HAM radio build (https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/ )and some applications didn't install so I just went through the list and put as many on as I could .
I think improvements to the build would be to put it on an SSD or similar .
I set it up for someone else and have no idea what any of the software does yet :-) .
One weird thing is that the build crashed when the mic was keyed on my CB so I suspect filters are required .
I have decided to sit the Foundation Ham radio exam to get me started off and my course starts in a few weeks 8-) .
Tonight I went to meet up with a local Ham radio group , all very nice chaps who explained a few things to me about wavelength etc .
I noticed there were no computers in their clubhouse but never asked why this week .

Fun and games :-)

Where are you located Juggler ? It would be fun to get two Jogglers communicating at some point via radio .

I will look at the links you sent me , I like the idea of the Joggler actually being the Ham radio , I shall investigate ,
Cheers

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Juggler
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Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by Juggler »

If you bombard many types of electronic devices with Electro Magnetic Radiation (EMR) - radio waves - there will be weird stuff that happens. This has been made into a military weapon to take out the enemies systems. It may have emanated from the "Star Wars" programme in the Ronald Raygun years. Computers are particularly susceptible because even just one bit flipped can have disastrous results.

Whenever I key up a transmitter near to a device, I always cringe a bit.

Years ago I started a project to put a spectrum inside a solid metal box and on top of the box I was going to put a proper keyboard. I bought an Einstein keyboard for a decent price from Scarborough radio rally and had worked out how the spectrum's keyboard worked - it was a matrix. I was going to wire the Einstein keyboard switches to map to the spectrum matrix. The spectrum was a great computer, at the time for radio, as it could easily take audio and get audio out. There was also quite a few programs written for data modes (RTTY, SSTV, AMTOR, PSK, Morse and others). The main reason I wanted to put the spectrum in a metal box is because, and this was very common and an absolute PITA, of the interference it made across the radio spectrum. The crap it radiated would be everywhere and really strong in places.

Good on the foundation exam. From what I know of you here, I think you will really enjoy the hobby. There's all sorts of types of hams. Some into cutting edge stuff, some who just make stuff out of whatever they can get their hands on, some into competitions and DX, some into digital modes, some who just do morse, some who just buy big expensive rigs, some into satellites and all sorts of other flavours and mixes. If you go to a biggish radio rally, you'll see this better. With clubs you may have similar types of hams there. One of my local clubs has many hams that are really getting on. Some hams I've talked to locally commented that if your under 70 in this club then it is unusual... Those guys will really know about morse and I really want to improve my morse. I feel I cheated a bit, because when I look my licence, in order to use HF it was necessary to pass a morse exam. Well a few years ago this was removed and anyone with a full licence had access to all the bands.

I'm no longer that near to you in Northumberland. But if I do head north, maybe we could work something out.

Had a look for upcoming radio rallies near you :

15 SEPTEMBER (new date)

FOG ON THE TYNE RALLY

Whitehall Road Methodist Church Hall, Bensham, Gateshead NE8 4LH.

Car park entrance on Whitehall Road. Nearest metro station is Gateshead, or use Go-Ahead routes 53 or 54. Doors open at 10.30am, admission £2, including a raffle ticket. There will be traders, an RSGB bookstand and a junk stall. You can also enrol for Foundation, Intermediate or Advanced training. Catering is on site, £2.50 for a bacon butty plus a cup of tea or coffee. Nancy Bone, G7UUR, 0799 076 0920, nancybone2001@yahoo.co.uk.

https://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/
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hawsey
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Location: Northumberland

Re: Ham radio Joggler

Post by hawsey »

As usual Juggler , you are the man with the info and detail ha ha , I will get to a rally at some point but can't make that date unfortunately .

I went along to the Ham clubhouse to enroll for the exam and you are quite correct about age , there was maybe 2 guys of my age ( 49 ) and the others older .
About 15 guys together , quite a fascinating night , maybe 3 or 4 were techy and in to building stuff , the others I think not , I chatted to the techies mostly .
Some have ditched house set ups and bought purpose HAM vehicles and they each find a favoured spot and travel to it to operate , often many miles away up a hill somewhere .

The interference you talk of interests me greatly as in my day job I do Rein investigation for Openreach amongst other things , it is a weird how an everyday device becomes for want of a better description a jammer that can knock out internet for 300 homes or more .
Where are you located ? I'm in Bedlington .
Maybe we could do some Joggler radio data stuffs at some point .

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