From Engadget - Vodafone's network in a backpack connects people after natural disasters:
This story has a couple of interesting points to Amateur Radio people who have been building go kits to provide communications when there is no infrastructure for several decages now.
This mobile phone carrier has two types of Go kits (one 220 lbs, and now a 24 lb backpack) that they can deploy to disaster areas to provide communications services.
The backpack has "2G GSM connection capable of handling thousands of text messages and five calls made at once to people within a 328-foot radius. It's equipped with a GSM base transceiver that uses satellite connection to link up to a host network."
(Note: Thousands of text messages vs. 5 simultaneous voice calls. So it's important to educate people that text messaging has a much better chance of getting through during times of network issues whether it's congestion or outages. People will eventually figure this out, but may loose valuable time and/or battery power.)
Details on larger version: "In fact, during Vodafone's mission to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, two 220-pound kits handled a total of 1.4 million text messages and 443,288 calls within 29 days. Obviously, the larger machine has a wider operating radius (3 miles), but the Mini has its own set of pros. Since it can be deployed within minutes and be carried on planes, it can potentially help more people -- and more quickly, too."
This implies that the 220 lb kit can't be carried on a plane, which sounds like a serious limiting factor for deployment. Possibly it's just due to the reporting in the story. 220 lbs is not a problem weight wise. So perhaps actual size, batteries, or the inclusion of generator keeps it from going on planes.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/25/vodafone-instant-network-mini-backpack/
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
"encyclopedia" of digital modes (modulation/encoding)
This looks like it could be very useful for those interested in decoding or understanding various digital modes, how they are encoded/modulated.
The web site is: http://www.frequencymanager.de/TH/th.html
There are print books for sale for HF modes and another for VHF/UHF. Roland Proesch is the author. (The books are available in german and english)
For each book a PDF except is available for free that still has lots of helpful information in it.
In addition to a brief description for each signal are a number of pictures of oscilloscope and sonogram/waterfall type views.
RTL-SDR users would find the VHF/UHF book directly relevant. However the HF book looks like it might provide a better foundation.
Take a look at
I've also forwarded this to rtl-sdr.com which I find is a very useful blog for SDR and digital modes.
The web site is: http://www.frequencymanager.de/TH/th.html
There are print books for sale for HF modes and another for VHF/UHF. Roland Proesch is the author. (The books are available in german and english)
For each book a PDF except is available for free that still has lots of helpful information in it.
In addition to a brief description for each signal are a number of pictures of oscilloscope and sonogram/waterfall type views.
RTL-SDR users would find the VHF/UHF book directly relevant. However the HF book looks like it might provide a better foundation.
Take a look at
- HF: (81 pages) - http://www.frequencymanager.de/TH/files/KurzfassungTechnicalHandbookHF2013E.pdf
- VHF/UHF: (56 pages) - http://www.frequencymanager.de/TH/files/KurzfassungTechnicalHandbookVHF2013.pdf
I've also forwarded this to rtl-sdr.com which I find is a very useful blog for SDR and digital modes.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
AUXFOG: Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide. (Free PDF)
FYI - Here's a free, handy reference guide to have around. It's a version of the DHS "National Interoperability Field Operations Guide" (NIFOG) that has been adapted to be more appropriate for our uses. It contains frequency information for many other radio services that you might want to have programmed in a scanner or radio with some available memories. There is also some tutorial information including some antennas that can be easily constructed.
"The Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG) is a reference for auxiliary communicators who directly support backup emergency communications for State/local public safety entities or for an amateur radio organization supporting public safety.
This reference guide contains information about AuxComm best practices, frequently used radio frequencies, Mutual Aid channels as well as tips and suggestions about auxiliary emergency communicators integrating into a NIMS ICS environment to support communications for planned events or incidents. It can serve as a reference both for auxiliary emergency communicators and public safety communications professionals. You can download the AUXFOG by clicking on the hyperlink to the left and save it to your own storage device. It will only download as a PDF.
While printed copies are not available from DHS, you may download an electronic copy to print as many hard copies as desired."
http://www.publicsafetytools.info/auxfog/start_auxfog_info.php
"The Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG) is a reference for auxiliary communicators who directly support backup emergency communications for State/local public safety entities or for an amateur radio organization supporting public safety.
This reference guide contains information about AuxComm best practices, frequently used radio frequencies, Mutual Aid channels as well as tips and suggestions about auxiliary emergency communicators integrating into a NIMS ICS environment to support communications for planned events or incidents. It can serve as a reference both for auxiliary emergency communicators and public safety communications professionals. You can download the AUXFOG by clicking on the hyperlink to the left and save it to your own storage device. It will only download as a PDF.
While printed copies are not available from DHS, you may download an electronic copy to print as many hard copies as desired."
http://www.publicsafetytools.info/auxfog/start_auxfog_info.php
Trying Linux and amateur radio software without having to install it on your computer.
The topic of trying Linux without having to actually install it on your computer came up recently. There are several "Live" distributions which can be downloaded to a bootable DVD or USB thumb drive. You can then boot your computer from the DVD or USB drive without having to touch the existing installation on your hard drive.
The simplest approach is to download the DVD .iso, burn it to a blank DVD, and then reboot your computer, telling it to boot from the DVD drive.
The USB thumb drive approach has more steps to create, but can be faster as well as allowing you to save changes between reboots.
Two ham radio oriented builds that have been mentioned:
Both are based on Ubuntu Linux and include software such as FLdigi and Chirp.
If you are interested in trying them, I think there are better tutorials available if you google "ubuntu live" than the instructions that accompany the two ham specific packages mentioned above.
The simplest approach is to download the DVD .iso, burn it to a blank DVD, and then reboot your computer, telling it to boot from the DVD drive.
The USB thumb drive approach has more steps to create, but can be faster as well as allowing you to save changes between reboots.
Two ham radio oriented builds that have been mentioned:
- KB1OIQ - Andy's Ham Radio Linux (Ubuntu remastered for ham radio)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/ - Chirp Live:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/chirplivecd/
Both are based on Ubuntu Linux and include software such as FLdigi and Chirp.
If you are interested in trying them, I think there are better tutorials available if you google "ubuntu live" than the instructions that accompany the two ham specific packages mentioned above.
Rigol DS1052E/DS1102 and Linux, Python, usbtmc
[To Be Updated]
This is one of those intersections of electronics, open source, hacking, and programming that really gets my interest.
Here are some links with information on connecting the Rigol scope to Linux, and controlling it using Python via USB. The scope implements the USB test and measurement class, usbtmc.
This is one of those intersections of electronics, open source, hacking, and programming that really gets my interest.
Here are some links with information on connecting the Rigol scope to Linux, and controlling it using Python via USB. The scope implements the USB test and measurement class, usbtmc.
- Scruss.com: My Raspberry PI talks to my Oscilloscope
- Python userspace version of USBTMC github -- This is useful because it seems the kernel usbtmc driver has bugs in even somewhat recent (3.11?) versions.
- Ken Shirriff: Four Rigol oscilloscope hacks with Python 2013-07-19,
- Controlling a Rigol Oscilloscope using Linux and Python, some rudimentary stuff for reading the scope and plotting it.
- Rigol Homebrew Wiki
- Rigol DS1052E Homebrew for all original blog posts about writing custom firmware for the Rigol like pong.
- Hack-a-day entry on Rigol Homebrew
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
How Long is a Nanosecond? (Grace Hopper aka Amazing Grace)
[I originally posted to a mailing list I'm on.]
Google's doodle for today (December 9th, 2013) is commemorating Grace Hopper's birthday.
Time.com has a pretty good summary here:
I suggest watching/listening to the 2 minute youtube video. One of the things she is known for is talking about how long a nanosecond is by giving away 11.8 inch lengths of wire, which is how far light can travel in one nanosecond.
Part of the reason for talking about this is to explain the delays in communicating through satellites. Though the most direct relevance is in computer (and now most modern microelectronic) engineering and training programmers.
It's a good reminder of how intertwined electronics, physics, and software are and how almost every device we touch today has some sort of microcomputer (microcontroller) running software it.
Google's doodle for today (December 9th, 2013) is commemorating Grace Hopper's birthday.
Time.com has a pretty good summary here:
http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/12/09/google-doodle-honors-grace-hopper-early-computer-scientist/
I suggest watching/listening to the 2 minute youtube video. One of the things she is known for is talking about how long a nanosecond is by giving away 11.8 inch lengths of wire, which is how far light can travel in one nanosecond.
Part of the reason for talking about this is to explain the delays in communicating through satellites. Though the most direct relevance is in computer (and now most modern microelectronic) engineering and training programmers.
It's a good reminder of how intertwined electronics, physics, and software are and how almost every device we touch today has some sort of microcomputer (microcontroller) running software it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper
Adafruit Products of particular interest to Amateur Radio DIY Projects
[hopefully I will come back and expand this post a bit later]
Adafruit.com has a few products that are of particular interest to me for amateur radio DIY projects.
These products have been well research and seem to be currently best-in-class to me. Read the product pages and tutorials on the Adafruit site to see what I mean. The projects I'm thinking about are:
Adafruit.com has a few products that are of particular interest to me for amateur radio DIY projects.
These products have been well research and seem to be currently best-in-class to me. Read the product pages and tutorials on the Adafruit site to see what I mean. The projects I'm thinking about are:
- Yaesu VX-8DR
- DIY GPS Module with the Adafruit GPS Module. The stock Yaesu GPS seems to be overpriced and is reported by many to underperform. The Adafruit Ultimate GPS seems like it should do a much better job, but the VX-8 seems to have bugs in it's parser so it requires some field padding that is particular to the Yaesu GPS.
- Bluetooth Serial Link to use an Android Phone's built-in aGPS via a serial bluetooth connection.
- Yaesu FT-857D
- Bluetooth Serial Link
- Eliminate the need for the direct CAT cable connection for better isolation from the computer
- Rig control via an Android Phone app. The FT-857's small control panel has a number of compromises. The stock radio mic doesn't have a keypad for direct frequency entry.
- Uniden BC346XT Scanner
- Bluetooth Serial link for logging scanner activity. Hopefully this will let me get the scanner farther away from the noise generated by the computer while still allowing me to log hits.
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