Once upon a time, ham radio was all about CW and voice transmissions and little else. These days, the hobby is altogether richer, with a wide range of fancy digital data modes to play with. [KM6LYW Radio] has been tinkering in this space, and whipped up a compact ham radio data rig that you can build for well under $100.
Radio-wise, the build starts with the Baofeng UV-5R handheld radio. It’s a compact VHF/UHF transceiver with 5W output and can be had for under $25 USD if you know where to look. It’s paired with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, which is the brains of the operation. The Pi is hooked up to the All-In-One-Cable which is basically a soundcard-like interface that plugs into USB and hooks up to the mic and speaker outputs of the Baofeng handheld. The final pieces of the puzzle are a USB PD battery pack and a small OLED screen to display status information.
What does that kit get you? The capability to transmit on all sorts of digital modes with the aid of the DigiPi software package. You can send emails, jump on APRS, or even chat on the web. You can configure all of this through a web interface running on the Raspberry Pi.
We’ve looked at some interesting digital ham projects before, too. Video after the break.
[Thanks to programmer1200 for the tip!]
And RTTY (“ritty”) at 45,45 Baud, I would say. :)
Most morse code decoders or morse code keyboards of the 1970s had a RTTY mode, too.
The East German AC-1 home computer of early 80s was made with RTTY in mind, for example.
Other home computers of late 70s and 80s were used in the ham shack primarily for RTTY, I think.
Second reason was to predict orbits of ham satellites, I believe.
Most of such RTTY equipment could be repurposed/modified for AMTOR later on, as well.
AMTOR allowed “connecting” stations, similar to Pactor or Packet-Radio.
But using the old RTTY tones, basically. Which allowed re-using existing filters, RTTY crosses and FSK inputs/outputs etc.
There’s also Hellschreiber that comes to mind.
It’s from the 1920s and in its original version uses CW signals..
There’s even antique software for Apple 2 and IBM PC, for example.
Still works in emulators or DOS VMs. New software exists, too, of course.
Then there’s SSTV which started in the 1960s using flying spot scanners.
In the 1970s, digital SSTV converters such as the Robot 400 got more common.
A home computer such as ZX Spectrum could do it in the 1980s, too.
Again, both vintage software and modern software is available.
In principle, amateur radio was always cutting edge and experimental.
For example, the UHF/VHF amateurs of the 1970s already did experiment with laser and micro wave links.
Unfortunately, that’s often overlooked because ham radio often is mainly
being associated with the shortwave fans and their established modes (morse telegraphy, SSB)..
Why? Because they’re the most vocal group, I suppose.
Contests, diplomas, egos. The tinkerers and experimenters are much quieter, by comparison.
Contests are the main reason I kept my radios of most of the time….
packet radio is the main reason i am studying to get my technician license. i think this stuff is so interesting.
“Because they’re the most vocal group”
Don’t forget the ARES/Winlink group….they will save the world one day. :)