Transcript The BeagleBrick
The BeagleBrick
SDR Ham Radio to Go Presented by Robert Thomas, KC4NYK ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
SDR Primer
SDR – DSP moves from Rig to Computer
Moving complex signal processing from the Radio to computer: ◦ Overcomes Rig Features Fixed hardware Limited tuning range - multiple modules needed to yield broad band selection Fixed feature palate – determined by manufacturer ◦ Replaces them with Computer Features Computer software infinitely flexible Infinite feature palate – customizable!
Inexpensive - OpenSource No manufacturing - allowing larger (global) development teams ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
Traditional Rigs
Rig Types
◦ Base ◦ ◦ Large to Medium Mains power supply / AC generator Multiple peripherals Mobile Medium to small size Vehicle or marine batteries / DC generator Handheld Smallest / batteries AC adapter
Rig Modes
Base ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ SSB (USB or USB voice), CW, Packet and Digital modes All bands Mobile ◦ Same capabilities but rarely used for Packet or Digital ◦ Mainly UHF Bands 6 meters / 2 meters Handheld Exclusively Voice Exclusively UHF bands 6 / 2 meters ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
SDR Radio Features – Short Version
SDR Rigs Software
Very “lean” circuits = few components Barest minimum circuitry necessary to ◦ Receive ◦ Radio Frequency (RF) into audio signals Transmit Audio Signals into RF Expensive commercial ham and experimental platforms ◦ Flex ◦ Gnuradio daughter boards Amateur radio kit versions inexpensive - however ◦ Kit form only ◦ Minimal support – mid-level building and electronics knowledge needed Acquire specially prepared audio signals Do something useful with them ◦ Simple :: ◦ SSB conversation or CW transmissions Complex:: decoding various digital modes existent in ham radio use. Produce specially prepared audio signals Do something useful ◦ encoding various digital modes for transmitting ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
But . . . . .
Even though the rigs have gotten really small The Computers are still relatively big!
and there are kits for hams that are inexpensive And relatively expensive ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
Enter the Beagleboard!
High Definition Video in and out Accelerated, chip-level graphics Ethernet , GPS, Wifi and Bluetooth gateways Angstrom Linux platform, gcc, Python Vast development platform for ham radio Much software already ported and supported
And best of all . . . . .
ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
As small as the rig - mere 3” x 3”
And Inexpensive!
$99 + $149 With BB, rig, peripherals & cables = $300 Entry price
ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
Portable - but a bit messy!
S-Video (4-pin) DVI-D HDMI Cable USB Serial Adapter SDR Transceiver Beagleboard USB Mini-A OTG Cable 5 vDC Power Adaptor SD Card Powered USB Hub Mouse Keyboard USB Ethernet Adaptor
So . . .
ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
Enter the BeagleBrick!
A Portable, Self-Contained Ham Radio Station
BeagleBrick Features:
• Built-in SDR Ham Rig • All Modes • Iambic Key & keyer • Wifi • Bluetooth • Battery charging • AC adaptor • Color LCD Touchscreen • Keyboard, mouse and monitor access • Internet access • Direct Platform Development • Download new software • Update DX logs • Upload operation visuals • Full Linux OS Functionality • GPS • APRS • Test equipment software development • Much more . . . . ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
BeagleBrick Hazardous Field, Marine & Emergency Version
• Ham Radio Bands, All modes • Marine Bands • Field-Hardened • Water Resistant • VHF Weatherfax, maps • Navigation charts • Wifi • APRS • GPS • PSK Email Services • Update DX logs • Upload operation visuals • Transfer Photos from Digital source • Full Linux OS capabilities ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
BeagleBrick Objectives:
Build on the extended capabilities of BB
Offer an inexpensive and easily approachable entry for hams to get involved with SDR Allow hams to contribute their considerable radio knowledge to the OpenSource community’s SDR efforts Continue development of SDR ham radio software for Angstrom and other Linux platforms Act as an affordable educational device for ham radio, OpenSource and Linux development platforms Offer scientists, sailors, travelers, and field personnel with an extensible emergency communications tool
Have a lot of Fun!
ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
Beaglebrick SDR Development Status
Software Rig Candidates
Experimental RXTX – SSB, CW DttSP GNU Radio SDR-Shell ◦ ◦ ◦ JackD FFTW Alsa Sound RXTX + Encoding / Decoding Fldigi Hamlib Small Wonder Labs “PSK” Series • PSK20 • Warbler 80 Soft Rock Series • • SoftRock40 (RX only) SoftRock v.6.x (TX and RX) Virtually any receiver ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
Project Support Links
◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ SDR ◦ SoftRock Links http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/ ◦ ◦ DTTSP (SDR-Shell) GnuRadio http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dttsp-linux http://gnuradio.org/trac Fldigi SDR-Shell PowerSDR VSIPL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/linuxham http://ewpereira.info/sdr-shell/ http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=13 http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=127 SDR – BeagleBrick Compatable rigs ◦ ◦ ◦ SoftRock Links More . . .
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/ Small Wonder Labs http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rock-Mite_Group/ Beagleboard Support Links ◦ Beagelboard Home - www.beagleboard.org
◦ ◦ Beagle Chat Browser www.beagleboard.org/chat Beagle Chat IRC - #beagle at irc.freenode.net
or OpenEmbedded, Bitbake and Angstrom Linux development Links ◦ ◦ ◦ OpenEmbedded http://wiki.openembedded.net/ BitBake - http://bitbake.berlios.de/manual/ Building Angstrom http://www.angstrom-distribution.org/building-%C3%A5ngstr%C3%B6m ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009
The BeagleBrick
SDR Ham Radio to Go Contact: Rob Thomas, KC4NYK Industrial Designer 1303 Westridge Road Richmond, VA 23229 804.833.4470
ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27 th 2009