As a way of keeping an eye on conditions i have taken to installing the rtlsdr dongle out on the balcony hooked up to a 50MHz dipole and using the Dell laptop as a display sitting on a chair. The weather in Dallas has returned to Summer normal about a week ago after having a week of mainly rain so 100degrees F plus is now the normal. Too hot to sit out on the balcony and look at the bands, There had to be a better solution
Searching the Internet I came across a page by EB1HBK "Receptor SDR remoto con Raspberry Pi"
on how to set up a raspberry pi as an RTLSDR remote server. The pages are in Spanish but despite having had my Spanish corrupted by Mexican Spanish I managed to work it all out and get it up and running
The RPI sits out on the balcony with RTL-SDR and power supplied through the USB hub from a 5V 4A PSU acting as a server. It is connected via an ethernet cable to the router. The server can be started remotely using SSH through the Putty programme
The laptop in the airconditioned apartment runs sdrsharp. In SDR Sharp the device is set to "RTL-SDR TCP" with the IP of the RPI (192.168.1.64) and the default port of 1234
Showing posts with label Raspberry Pi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raspberry Pi. Show all posts
Monday, 5 August 2013
Saturday, 2 February 2013
A replacement for my Raspberry Pi?
While researching other uses for the Atrix lapdock I came across some android based TV players. They are often referred to as "Mini PC on a stick"! as they are only slightly larger than a USB thumbdrive. They had USB ports (mini usb connectors) for peripherals, onboard WIFI and an HDMI output (mini HDMI connector) for connecting to a TV. They are intended to stream Video from the internet and display them on a TV. There was a selection at www.geekbuying.com Initially I looked at the MK802 which had a Allwinner A10 ARM Cortex-A8 processor for $45 but then a spotted the MK808 which for just $10 more ($55 shipped) had a Rockchip Dual-core Cortex A9 RK3066 CPU. So I ordered one.
It took 10 days to arrive from China. and was supplied with PSU and all the needed cables. It had Jelly Bean Android 4.1 build loaded and didnt take long to get it up and running. It normally sends audio out of the HDMI connector to the TV but has no provision for audio Input. Luckily it recognised my Ipad's IMIC so it was soon working on Skype with very good quality video conferencing.
I then spotted that there is a version of Ubuntu for the MK808. called Picuntu. Its getting even more interesting!
I may get to replace the "huge and underpowered" raspberry Pi! I have already seen one person using it with a TV dongle to stream ADS-B signals consuming less than 10W!
It took 10 days to arrive from China. and was supplied with PSU and all the needed cables. It had Jelly Bean Android 4.1 build loaded and didnt take long to get it up and running. It normally sends audio out of the HDMI connector to the TV but has no provision for audio Input. Luckily it recognised my Ipad's IMIC so it was soon working on Skype with very good quality video conferencing.
I then spotted that there is a version of Ubuntu for the MK808. called Picuntu. Its getting even more interesting!
I may get to replace the "huge and underpowered" raspberry Pi! I have already seen one person using it with a TV dongle to stream ADS-B signals consuming less than 10W!
Thursday, 31 January 2013
WSJT on the RPI/Lapdock under Raspian revisited
While comissioning the Atrix Lapdock I needed to install WSJT. I had similar issues with the version currently at the trunk of the svn not installing properly, There were no clues on the SVN as to what the latest stable release was so I found out what version I had previously used (2589)and installed that as follows:-
make
Even though the serial port isnt used, WSJT still tries to talk to it so make sure /dev/ttyAMA0 permissions are set appropriately
svn co svn://svn.berlios.de/wsjt/trunk -r2589
cd ../trunk
./configure --with-portaudio-include-dir=/usr/include --with-portaudio-lib-dir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf
it did a whole load of things starting at "Compiling wsjt" and ended with "Installing into: /usr/local"
still in trunk:-:
make clean
make
after it finishes make sure you have permissions to execute ../trunk/wsjt.py:-
sudo chmod 777 wsjt.py
sudo chmod 777 wsjt.py
Even though the serial port isnt used, WSJT still tries to talk to it so make sure /dev/ttyAMA0 permissions are set appropriately
to launch WSJT:-
./wsjt.py
./wsjt.py
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
WSPR on the RPI/Lapdock under Raspian Revisited
Having got the Lapdock working I decided to install the latest debian package and reinstall WSPR
2012-12-16-wheezy-raspbian so that was downloaded and installed. At installation time I took the opportunity to overclock the board at 1GHz and in the same menu allow the memory space to fill ALL the memory card (if you dont, you only have 2GB to use, even on a 16GB card!
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential subversion python2.7-dev python-numpy python-imaging-tk python-pmw libportaudio2 portaudio19-dev libsamplerate0-dev gfortran cl-fftw3 python-dev libhamlib-utilssvn co http://svn.berlios.de/svnroot/repos/wsjt/branches/wspr -r2840(trying to load the current revision ie omitting "-r2840" software wouldnt build)cd wspr./configure --with-portaudio-include-dir=/usr/include --with-portaudio-lib-dir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf
At this point the Makefile that configure created needs to be edited so the RPI uses the hardware floating point processor
vi Makefile (edit wouldnt work on my machine on this file)
make sure line 5 reads:-
FFLAGS = -g -O2 -fno-range-check -ffixed-line-length-none -Wall -Wno-character-truncation -Wno-conversion -Wtabs -fPIC -mfloat-abi=hard
make sure line 9 reads:-
CFLAGS = -Wall -O0 -g -Wall -O0 -g -mfloat-abi=hard
sudo make installto launch wspr./wspr
Again i used the imic as the audio input/output
aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA], device 0: bcm2835 ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA]
Subdevices: 8/8
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
Subdevice #4: subdevice #4
Subdevice #5: subdevice #5
Subdevice #6: subdevice #6
Subdevice #7: subdevice #7
card 1: system [iMic USB audio system], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
arecord -l
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 1: system [iMic USB audio system], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
works fine, nice to have a compact system for wspr
Monday, 28 January 2013
Raspberry Pi Laptop!
Although the RPI is small, by the time keyboard, mouse and HDMI display has been added its quite a big setup
Searching the internet I found information http://kimondo.co.uk/raspberry-pi-modmypi-case-motorola-atrix-lapdock-raspberry-pi-laptop/ on how to use a Motorola Atrix Lapdock as a display/keyboard/display for the RPI. They were originally intended as a "docking station" for the Motorola Atrix Android phone and cost around $250. They never really caught on, so they are available on the internet for a greatly reduced price, I paid $50 (shipped) for mine.
The unit has an external charger for the onboard battery, which can be used to power the RPI. On the back panel are a pair of FEMALE type A USB connectors, a MALE micro USB connector and a MALE micro HDMI connector.
3 cable systems are needed for the RPI:- USB, Power and HDMI
I managed to source a female to female micro HDMI adaptor and a short MALE micro HDMI to MALE regular HDMI connector that plugs into the RPI. HDMI socket
I also obtained a FEMALE micro USB to MALE type A USB cable which allows me to take care of the RPI USB connection
I then assembled the power cable harness. I used another FEMALE micro USB to USB cable and spliced into it a MALE micro USB connector cable that plugs into the RPI power connector
All was all connected together, an SD card with the latest debian release was inserted, the Lapdock saw the HDMI activity and the display showed the RPI boot sequence. Success!
When finished booting, I then plugged in the USB wifi adaptor that normally fits into the RPI into the USB connector on the back of the Lapdock. and rebooted. It connected fine to my Wifi so we were in business
To test the Video quality i installed XBMC on an SD card and configured it
I then looked at tidying up the cables. Accidentally I found out that if a micro female USB connected to the lapdock was connected directly to the regular sized USB port on the RPI the RPI was powered up AND it still saw the USB wifi dongle on the Lapdock
Searching the internet I found information http://kimondo.co.uk/raspberry-pi-modmypi-case-motorola-atrix-lapdock-raspberry-pi-laptop/ on how to use a Motorola Atrix Lapdock as a display/keyboard/display for the RPI. They were originally intended as a "docking station" for the Motorola Atrix Android phone and cost around $250. They never really caught on, so they are available on the internet for a greatly reduced price, I paid $50 (shipped) for mine.
The unit has an external charger for the onboard battery, which can be used to power the RPI. On the back panel are a pair of FEMALE type A USB connectors, a MALE micro USB connector and a MALE micro HDMI connector.
3 cable systems are needed for the RPI:- USB, Power and HDMI
I managed to source a female to female micro HDMI adaptor and a short MALE micro HDMI to MALE regular HDMI connector that plugs into the RPI. HDMI socket
I also obtained a FEMALE micro USB to MALE type A USB cable which allows me to take care of the RPI USB connection
I then assembled the power cable harness. I used another FEMALE micro USB to USB cable and spliced into it a MALE micro USB connector cable that plugs into the RPI power connector
All was all connected together, an SD card with the latest debian release was inserted, the Lapdock saw the HDMI activity and the display showed the RPI boot sequence. Success!
When finished booting, I then plugged in the USB wifi adaptor that normally fits into the RPI into the USB connector on the back of the Lapdock. and rebooted. It connected fine to my Wifi so we were in business
To test the Video quality i installed XBMC on an SD card and configured it
I then looked at tidying up the cables. Accidentally I found out that if a micro female USB connected to the lapdock was connected directly to the regular sized USB port on the RPI the RPI was powered up AND it still saw the USB wifi dongle on the Lapdock
Sunday, 4 November 2012
WSJT on Raspberry Pi using Raspbian
Note updated version at http://g4fre.blogspot.com/2013/01/wsjt-on-raspberry-pi-using-raspbian.html
After the previous success on WSJT on UBUNTU it was next time to try WSJT on the Raspberry Pi. It only needed a few tweaks, all related to where portaudio19 was installed on the RPI:-
svn co svn://svn.berlios.de/wsjt/trunk
cd ../trunk
./configure --with-portaudio-include-dir=/usr/include --with-portaudio-lib-dir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf
it did a whole load of things starting at "Compiling wsjt" and ended with "Installing into: /usr/local"
still in trunk:-:
make clean
make
after it finishes make sure you have permissions to execute ../trunk/wsjt.py:-
sudo chmod 777 wsjt.py
sudo chmod 777 wsjt.py
Even though the serial port isnt used, WSJT still tries to talk to it so make sure /dev/ttyAMA0 permissions are set appropriately
to launch WSJT:-
./wsjt.py
Set the options. Make sure that the serial port is set to /dev/ttyAMA0, which is not the default
./wsjt.py
Set the options. Make sure that the serial port is set to /dev/ttyAMA0, which is not the default
Saturday, 3 November 2012
WSPR on a Raspberry Pi using Raspbian
I revisited this topic in my jan 28 2013 blog wspr-on-rpilapdock-under-raspian.html. The method below does not work due to issues with the "latest" revision of software on the svn. It works fine if revision 2840 is used
Having got WSPR and WSJT working on my Ubuntu laptop, the next challenge was to get WSPR working on the more restricted Raspberry Pi
First discovery was that a new version of the RPI image was available 2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian.zip so that was downloaded and installed. At installation time I took the opportunity to overclock the board at 1GHz and in the same menu allow the memory space to fill ALL the memory card (if you dont you only have 2GB to use, even on a 16GB card!
Searching the internet I came across a blog "Compiling WSPR on a Raspberry Pi" at http://timbertops.co.uk/blog/?p=88 I also found some improvement pointers at http://www.vk2mev.net/?p=96
the "merged" steps (before I forgot how I did it) are:-
Having got WSPR and WSJT working on my Ubuntu laptop, the next challenge was to get WSPR working on the more restricted Raspberry Pi
First discovery was that a new version of the RPI image was available 2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian.zip so that was downloaded and installed. At installation time I took the opportunity to overclock the board at 1GHz and in the same menu allow the memory space to fill ALL the memory card (if you dont you only have 2GB to use, even on a 16GB card!
Searching the internet I came across a blog "Compiling WSPR on a Raspberry Pi" at http://timbertops.co.uk/blog/?p=88 I also found some improvement pointers at http://www.vk2mev.net/?p=96
the "merged" steps (before I forgot how I did it) are:-
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential subversion python2.7-dev python-numpy python-imaging-tk python-pmw libportaudio2 portaudio19-dev libsamplerate0-dev gfortran cl-fftw3 python-dev hamlib-utils
svn co http://svn.berlios.de/svnroot/repos/wsjt/branches/wspr
cd wspr
./configure --with-portaudio-include-dir=/usr/include --with-portaudio-lib-dir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihfsudo make
arecord -l **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices **** card 1: system [iMic USB audio system], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0time to launch WSPR:-wsprThe usual screen for WSPR3.0.1 appeared which looked like success. I selected the imic as audio in and audio out source in optionsHooked it up to the K3 and got decodes!Time to try Transmit. I usually key the transmitter via the radio RS232 port but although the RPI has an RS232 port it needed a level converter which I did not have. I resorted to using the K3 VOX with success and my signal was successfully decoded:-
2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097139 +1 0 IO82uc 5 IX1CKN JN35pr 995 132 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097140 +3 0 IO82uc 5 EA2COA IN83 961 184 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097113 -22 1 IO82uc 5 GW7PEO IO83gh 156 330 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097110 -23 0 IO82uc 5 VK3GMZ QF22sf 17060 70 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097129 -9 1 IO82uc 5 LB1A JP50mt 1264 35 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097121 0 0 IO82uc 5 OH2MUI KP10wj 1843 50 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097181 -8 0 IO82uc 5 EW6BN KO45hm 2047 67 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097112 -2 0 IO82uc 5 LY2BOS KO24or 1833 70 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097118 -25 0 IO82uc 5 VU2LID MJ88lm 8527 93 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097096 -24 0 IO82uc 5 G4SFS IO81qf 100 193 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097097 -9 -1 IO82uc 5 LA9JO JP99gb 2177 22 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097086 -20 0 IO82uc 5 ON7KB JO21ei 466 98 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097104 -20 1 IO82uc 5 DG0OPK JO50gq 903 95 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097129 -21 0 IO82uc 5 DV1VHK PK04ll 10830 55 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097104 -11 0 IO82uc 5 OH2MZA KP20kf 1890 51 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097101 -5 0 IO82uc 5 OK/AD6XP JN89ff 1355 96 2012-11-03 16:10 G4FRE 14.097115 -21 0 IO82uc 5 DU1MGA PK04 10830 55 One thing I did discover during the above process was that although the RPI sets its clock via NTP this only happens if the internet connection is available at boot time. If you connect the internet lead after boot time the clock will be offThe observant will have noticed I did not add "dwc_otg.speed=1" to cmdline.txt as recommended by VK2MEV. I did try it once, but when booting, the RPI didnt find the keyboard or USB mouse and hence wouldnt let me log in. I had to resort to removing the phrase from the SD card using my windows laptop to get it to boot properly
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Ubuntu or Bust
From previous RTLSDR research I concluded I needed a Linux machine to use the RTLSDR as a GPS/ADSB/ WiFi decoder. I was having too much fun with the RPI to use it so I looked in the storage room and found a spare SATA drive for my Dell D630 laptop with caddy which would allow me to swap between windows and ubuntu easily . Web search revealed others had use a Dell laptop to isntall Ubuntu successfully, so it was time to try.
I downloaded the Ubuntu 12.04 LTS .iso image from http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop and made myself an install CD. Booting the laptop from the CD drive the install started. I allowed it to install updates as it went (over the LAN connection) but it took 3 hours to finish (never again will I complain about the install time of WINXP) Then it took another 3 hours to navigate round Ubuntu and see what I could do. Google.com searches answered all of my "but how do you do it in Linux" questions. I also got to install some packages, just like I did on the Sparc based network infrastructure of Nortel! It was amazing how much Linux I had remembered! The fun was terminated at 1am.
I downloaded the Ubuntu 12.04 LTS .iso image from http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop and made myself an install CD. Booting the laptop from the CD drive the install started. I allowed it to install updates as it went (over the LAN connection) but it took 3 hours to finish (never again will I complain about the install time of WINXP) Then it took another 3 hours to navigate round Ubuntu and see what I could do. Google.com searches answered all of my "but how do you do it in Linux" questions. I also got to install some packages, just like I did on the Sparc based network infrastructure of Nortel! It was amazing how much Linux I had remembered! The fun was terminated at 1am.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Raspberry Pi Arrives but Beaglebone gets used!
I ordered the base unit with no accessories as I thought I had what was needed already in my collection. It was ordered from MCM Electronics on Sept 2. Despatch notification was received on Sept 4 and it was on my doorstep Sept 6. So much for long delivery times!
I built the default OS on an 8GB SDHC card under windows using the instructions at http://elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setup. This proved to be much less problematic that expected. Then I went to power up the board. However hard I looked I could not find a USB A to micro USB B cable which was needed to power up the RPI. I can see a visit to the local computer shop tomorrow.
I did discover a "Basic" for the Raspberry Pi called DexBasic The IDE for this has similarities to the one for the Arduino which I have used a lot. The link also has tutorial. I did manage to complete the Intro page tutorial and put it on a 1GB SDHC card, but will have to wait until I get the power lead to see the result
While waiting I decided to try out the Beaglebone. It is a rev 6 board. Searching the Internet I found some tutorials from adafruit http://learn.adafruit.com/beaglebone Unfortunately the instructions for installing the USB drivers are for Rev5 boards and I was left with complaints that drivers for an SUBARTIC USB device had not been installed and beeps every minute. So I disabled it while I find out why. Undeterred I continued with the Ethernet tutorial which went fine. I must wait to try out the WiFi tutorial until the module used comes back in stock
I built the default OS on an 8GB SDHC card under windows using the instructions at http://elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setup. This proved to be much less problematic that expected. Then I went to power up the board. However hard I looked I could not find a USB A to micro USB B cable which was needed to power up the RPI. I can see a visit to the local computer shop tomorrow.
I did discover a "Basic" for the Raspberry Pi called DexBasic The IDE for this has similarities to the one for the Arduino which I have used a lot. The link also has tutorial. I did manage to complete the Intro page tutorial and put it on a 1GB SDHC card, but will have to wait until I get the power lead to see the result
While waiting I decided to try out the Beaglebone. It is a rev 6 board. Searching the Internet I found some tutorials from adafruit http://learn.adafruit.com/beaglebone Unfortunately the instructions for installing the USB drivers are for Rev5 boards and I was left with complaints that drivers for an SUBARTIC USB device had not been installed and beeps every minute. So I disabled it while I find out why. Undeterred I continued with the Ethernet tutorial which went fine. I must wait to try out the WiFi tutorial until the module used comes back in stock
Monday, 3 September 2012
£13 SDR Dongle has more work to do!
Just had a visit from Charlie G3WDG who was in Dallas on business. He also delivered my 9cm EME QSL card!
I had mentioned the £13 dongle to him at the EME conference so we talked at how to install it. While browsing the web for the drivers I discovered a page at osmocon (scroll down) which lists software that utilises the output from the dongle to decode various modes. The majority are not windows based so I decided now was the time to investigate "computers: the dark side" ie make a Linux machine. As Raspberry PI were now becoming available at respectable delivery time to order one!.
While discussing other matters with Doug G4DZU on skype, who i know is a Linux user, he pointed me at an "idiots guide" article on using the dongle with a linux machine He also pointed out that my Atom 945 M.B. which has now been replaced by the faster Atom 525 M.B. may be usable as a Linux machine. I did hook the dongle to my ADSB antenna and succesfully saw planes approaching DFW so I know that bit works!
Talking of ADSB I already had a beaglebone board bought in antipation of DL4MEAs Radarcape board that will turn it into an ADSB decoder (yes it is a Linux machine but i was told Radarcape would be easy to install!) but in the meantime its time to try and make it flash an LED!
I also noticed software to turn the dongle into a GPS receiver. I know it wont be as cheap as a $10 surplus motorola Oncore module but it will be fun
I had mentioned the £13 dongle to him at the EME conference so we talked at how to install it. While browsing the web for the drivers I discovered a page at osmocon (scroll down) which lists software that utilises the output from the dongle to decode various modes. The majority are not windows based so I decided now was the time to investigate "computers: the dark side" ie make a Linux machine. As Raspberry PI were now becoming available at respectable delivery time to order one!.
While discussing other matters with Doug G4DZU on skype, who i know is a Linux user, he pointed me at an "idiots guide" article on using the dongle with a linux machine He also pointed out that my Atom 945 M.B. which has now been replaced by the faster Atom 525 M.B. may be usable as a Linux machine. I did hook the dongle to my ADSB antenna and succesfully saw planes approaching DFW so I know that bit works!
Talking of ADSB I already had a beaglebone board bought in antipation of DL4MEAs Radarcape board that will turn it into an ADSB decoder (yes it is a Linux machine but i was told Radarcape would be easy to install!) but in the meantime its time to try and make it flash an LED!
I also noticed software to turn the dongle into a GPS receiver. I know it wont be as cheap as a $10 surplus motorola Oncore module but it will be fun
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