Raspberry Pi for HAM Radio

French tutorial link

New : dragon-os (part 16)  spanish available

Introduction

Since 2012, the Raspberry Pi nano computer has become an increasingly important part of the DIY and « maker » community. The increase in power of the Raspberry Pi over the years offers very interesting possibilities for radio amateurs. Indeed, it allows not to permanently monopolize a PC in the decoding of frames with software like WSJT-X, FLDIGI, etc…, without forgetting the possibility to control the Raspberry Pi remotely and thus to be able to work outside the radio shack as I can sometimes do on my couch. Moreover, this nano computer is now widely used in any Hotspot (DMR or D-STAR).

English and spanish tutorial below

So why in a club, so few OM use this tool?

I have often asked myself this question and I think it comes from the use of the operating system (OS). When you power on a Raspberry PI, the OS, called Raspbian is stored on a microSD card. This is a Linux distribution specially designed for the Raspberry.

When you want to install a software under Linux, you no longer have to double-click on a downloaded file like « setup.exe » like under Windows. Indeed, you often have to use the console and thus type « command lines » to install or configure a program. This can seem off-putting and frankly very tedious. We are so used to using a graphical environment that we feel like we are back to the early 80’s micro-computing.

However, the mastery of some basic commands in linux console allows to consider the installation of different programs and hardware such as:

• WSJT-X
• FLDIGI
• QSSTV
• DIREWOLF (APRS)
• SDR receivers (rtl-sdr, Lime SDR, SDRplay, Airspy, etc.)
• GNU-RADIO
• ADS-B Decoding
• Programming

The tutorial  is specially designed for beginners wishing to acquire the basics in the installation of the Raspberry Pi through the use of radio software :

The full tutorial is available here (15 pdf files)

• RPI part 1-V1.2 Presentation and 1st use;
• RPI part 2-V1.2 Traffic software Installation FLDIGI, WSJT-X etc;
• RPI part 3-V1.3 Using RTL-SDR Key;
• RPI part 4-V1.0 Using the Raspbian Lite operating system without GUI;
• RPI part 5-V1.0 Basic commands, file access rights and WSPR;
• RPI part 6-V3    OpenwebRX by Jakob DD5JFK (new);
• RPI part 7-V1.0 r2could and radiosonde auto rx;
• RPI part 8-V1.3 HamPi 1.2 and RadioPI;
• RPI part 9-V1.0 Radio test with Rpitx;
• RPI part 10-V1.0 Streaming server with Rtl sdr.
• RPI part 11-V1.0 Remote station with HamVoIP
• RPI part 12-V1.0 Remote Station with an SDR receiver
• RPI part 13-V1.0 Universal HamRadio Remote
• RPI part 14-V1.0 APRS Igate
• RPI part 15-V1.0 ADS-B with Piaware
•  To be continued…

Tutorial in spanish

Currently translated by MIGUEL IBORRA, EA4BAS

• Raspberry_tutorial1_español : Introducción;
• Raspberry_tutorial2_español : Instalación del software de tráfico FLDIGI, WSJT-X, etc.
• raspberry_tutorial3_V1.3_español : Uso del dispositivo RTL-SDR
• Raspberry_tutorial4_español :Uso del sistema operativo Raspbian Lite sin GUI
• raspberry_tutorial5_español :Comandos básicos, derechos de acceso a archivos y WSPR.
• raspberry_tutorial6_español_v3 – new :OpenWebRX
• raspberry_tutorial7_español : r2could y radiosonda auto Rx
• raspberry_tutorial8_V1.2_español : HamPi 1.2 y RadioPI
• raspberry_tutorial9_español : Prueba de radio con Rpitx
• raspberry_tutorial10_español : Servidor de transmisión con Rtl sdr.
• raspberry_tutorial11_español : Estación remota con Ham VoIP.
• raspberry_tutorial12_español : Estación remota con receptor SDR.
• raspberry_tutorial13_español : Control remoto universal de radioaficionado
• raspberry_tutorial14_español : Igate APRS
• raspberry_tutorial15_español : ADS-B con Piaware
• raspberry tutorial 16  español : Dragon OS
• continuará…

Interested link form DL1GKK : Setup Raspberry Pi for Ham-Radio (for advanced RPI users)

Raspbian operating system with graphic interface (Desktop).

• Preparation of the operating system
• Know the IP address of my Raspberry Pi
• Take control of the Raspberry Pi remotely with a PC
• Access to Raspberry PI with Putty
• Access to Raspberry PI with WinSCP
• Access to Raspberry PI with VNC
• Backup of the mSD card
• Connect a transceiver to the Raspberry PI
  • ICOM 7300
  • Elecraft KX3
• Sound Management
• CAT-System interface Management
• Radio software installation (Fldigi, wsjt-x, JTDX, JS8CALL, Gridtracker, cqrlog, Qsstv, gpredict)
• GQRX Installation
• RTL-SDR key Installation
• Listen to VHF and HF with GQRX
• FT8 decoding with GQRX and wsjt-x
• First steps with GNU Radio
• Pisdr Installation
• HamPi 1.0 from W3DJS
• Radio test with Rpitx

Raspbian Lite operating system without GUI (Command Line).

• Basic configuration with raspi-config
• IP Address Verification
• Access to Raspberry PI with Putty
• update
• Backup of the mSD card

Basic commands, file access rights and WSPR.

• Linux OS
• The basic commands
• Files Access rights
• The super user
• RTL-SDR key Installation
• WSPR decoding
• Commercial Weather stations Decoding

Installing and using openWebRX

The goal of openWebRX is to install in its radio shack, a software to create its own web SDR. When you are on the move, you just need to connect to your laptop at home to listen to the desired frequency band using your own antennas.

Installation and use of the r2could project

The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) satellites have been in orbit for a long time. They emit continuous weather images on 137Mhz. Currently there are 3 (NOAA15,18 and 19), they have been joined by a Russian satellite Meteor-M2 which broadcasts color images.

The advantage of using a Raspberry Pi to receive weather images is obvious, we have no regrets about leaving it on 24 hours a day. Its software automatically updates the orbital parameters of the satellites (TLE: « Two-Line Elements ») and manages the reception and decoding of the images. Moreover, r2could also decodes the telemetry of cubesats. As soon as a new cubesat is in service, the update is automatic.

Radiosonde auto rx project installation

Like r2could for satellites, the radiosonde auto rx software allows to receive and display on a map the position of weather radiosondes sent regularly.

Radio test with Rpitx

In the tutorial of part 9, the aim is to implement a test bench to receive the radio frequency signals emitted by the Raspberry PI. Indeed, it has a specific output (GPIO 4) that can be used directly on an antenna. The Raspberry Pi can manage frequencies from 5 KHz to 1500 MHz.

The software suite managing the Raspberry PI internal RF transmitter called rpitx, is designed by Evariste Courjaud F5OEO.

Streaming server with Rtl sdr

In this tutorial, the idea is to implement a Raspberry Pi as a server for remote listening on a PC. Unlike the tutorial 6 on OpenWebRX, the client (PC) uses one of the 4 softwares (Hdsdr, Sdrsharp, Sdr console, Sdruno). The advantage is that the listening will be much more fluid than with
OpenWebRX, while having all the features of the SDR reception software. The communication between the client and the server will be done in TCP/IP.

Stream your radio station

Conclusion

It’s a real shame that this environment is exclusively the business of IT specialists, because it deserves to be more democratized. I have often tested installation procedures from websites or even very recent books with often very mixed success. Hence the interest of radio clubs where someone who has already done the manipulation will be able to provide help. Without the information remaining « word of mouth », think of making a complete PDF installation sheet from scratch by publishing it on the site of the club concerned.

Through this tutorial, I hope to have answered the following questions:

• « How to install these programs in the Raspberry Pi?
• « But, where do you click? »

This will avoid a real police investigation in order to cross-reference various sources of information to successfully install the program(s). As far as possible, I will check the proposed procedures periodically, as the Raspbian operating system is constantly evolving.

73 and have fun with Raspberry Pi

Anthony

F4GOH – KF4GOH