RASPBERRY PI ~ HAM PI

HAM RADIO SOFTWARE SUITE
FOR YOUR RASPBERRY PI

HAM PI by W3DJS

I have recently built a nice ham-radio-clock for the shack using an old computer monitor, a Raspberry Pi 3 and ClearSkyInstitute's amazing HAMCLOCK software. It's a very worthy addition to the shack and I recommend it to everyone.

So with my little Pi3 tied up to that task, I purchased a used (but like brand new in the box) Model Pi400. Unlike the Pi3, this package came complete with everything you need (apart from a monitor) to have yourself a decent-spec home computer, including the keyboard, mouse, power-supply, leads, SDcard with operating system and even a comprehensive Guide Book. It's a self-contained unit with the Pi 'motherboard' built into a compact and attractive keyboard.

So what you have here is an extremely compact PC which you can use for running various tasks without tying up your main PC. And that's why I got this because it seems to me, that every time I want to use the big computer, it's already running some radio-related task. With the Pi400 and HamPi software, I can pretty much run everything I want in the shack - we'll see!

The specs are as follows....

• Processor: Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.8GHz
   
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4-3200 
   
• Connectivity: Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz) IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac Wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE Gigabit Ethernet 2 × USB 3.0 and 1 × USB 2.0 ports 
   
• GPIO: Horizontal 40-pin GPIO header 
   
• Video & Sound: 2 × micro HDMI ports (supports up to 4Kp60) 
   
• Multimedia: 265 (4Kp60 decode) 264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode) OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics 
   
• SD card support: MicroSD card slot for operating system and data storage 
   
• Keyboard: 78- or 79-key compact keyboard (depending on regional variant) 
   
• Power: 5V DC via USB-C connector 
   
• Security: Security lock port 
   
• Cooling: Large internal heatsink plate and underside vents Operating temperature: 0°C to +50°C 
   
• Dimensions: 286 mm × 122 mm × 23 mm (maximum)

To make the Pi400 even better than it already is, you can download the software suite I mentioned above, which was designed purely for Ham Operators. It's a staggering collection of really useful apps called HamPi by W3DJS and it includes the HamClock mentioned at the top of the post. I doubt very much that I'll find a use for all the software (I don't even understand what half of it's for, lol) but there's definitely some stuff on there that will free up my Windows PC. And best of all, this package gives you lots to experiment with, and that's the big attraction of the hobby to me.

Conveniently, the HamPi software is downloadable as a 4Gb image which you simply transfer to a fresh SD Card and then insert into your Pi. Switch on and BOOM, all ready to go!

Here's a list of the Apps that are currently included in the package...

General Ham Radio Applications

==========================

HamLib - Ham Radio Control Libraries

grig - graphical user interface to the Ham Radio Control Libraries

CHIRP - Radio Programming Software

APRS Message App for JS8Call - GUI to send APRS messages via JS8Call

QTel - EchoLink client

QSSTV - Slow Scan TV (e.g. "Fax")

Gpredict - Satellite prediction

FreeDV - Free digital voice vocoder

BlueDV - Client for D-Star and DMR

WsprryPi - WSPR software

ADS-B Flight Tracking Software

Pi3/4 Stats Monitor - by W1HKJ

VOACAP - HF propagation prediction

GPS Support

Auto WiFi Hotspot - Automatically turn your Pi into a WiFi hotspot when in the field!

wxtoimg - NOAA weather imaging software

twHamQTH - an online callsign look up program

twclock - a world clock and automatic ID for amateur radio operators

acfax - Receive faxes using your radio and sound card

colrconv  -  convers client with sound and ncurses color support

D-Rats 0.3.9 (by new maintainer Maurizio Andreotti) - A communication tool for D-STAR

fbb - Packet radio mailbox and utilities

gcb - Utility to calculate long and short path to a location

glfer - Spectrogram display and QRSS keyer

Xdx is a DX-cluster client

DXSpider - DX Cluster Server

fccexam - Study tool for USA FCC commercial radio license exams.

gnuais / gnuaisgui - GNU Automatic Identification System receiver

hamexam - Study guide for USA FCC amateur radio (ham radio) license examinations.

hamfax - Qt based shortwave fax

inspectrum - tool for visualising captured radio signals

predict-gsat - Graphical Predict client

splat - analyze point-to-point terrestrial RF communication links

wwl - Calculates distance and azimuth between two Maidenhead locators

AX.25 – Packet Radio drivers for ax.25 protocol

linpac - terminal for packet radio with mail client

PyBOMBS - GNU Radio install management system

AMBEServer – AMBE vocoder chip support

HamClock – GUI HamClock by WBOEW

Adifmerg – command-line ADIF conversion utility

Lopora – QRSS Beacon Reception

Universal Ham Radio Remote (UHRR) – UHRR provides remote radio operation

RpiTx -- Turns Raspberry Pi into low power transmitter

ACARS Decoder – for tracking aircraft transponders

CygnusRFI – RFI analysis tool for ground stations and radio telescopes)

Update Scripts -- to update Fldigi suite and WSJT-X 

Radio Explorer - Displays shortwave radio broadcast schedules

OrssPiG - QRSSS (Raspberry) Pi Grabber

Minimodem - General purpose software audio FSK modem

Orca - Screen-reading software which supports blind hams

RBNC - Reverse Beacon Network Client

QDMR - a GUI application and command line tool to program DMR radios

wfview - a program to control modern Icom ham radios

DUDE-Star - RX/TX D-Star, DMR, Fusion YSF/FCS, NXDN, P25, M17, IAX (AllStar client)

Lady Heather - GPS Monitoring software

Cqrprop - Small application that displays propagation data from Paul, N0NBH website

Antenna Ham Radio Applications

===========================

antennavis - Antenna Visualization Software

Atlcl - Arbitrary Transmission Line Calculator

gsmc - A GTK Smith Chart Calculator for RF impedance matching

nec2c - Translation of the NEC2 FORTRAN source code to the C language

xnecview - NEC structure and gain pattern viewer

yagiuda - software to analyse performance of Yagi-Uda antennas

Digital Mode Ham Radio Applications

===============================

WSJT-X - Weak Signal (FT8, FT4, etc.) by W1JT

GridTracker - Graphical mapping companion program for WSJT-X or JTDX

JTDX - Alternate client for Weak Signal (FT8, FT4, etc.)

JS8Call - Messaging built on top of FT8 protocol by KN4CRD

JS8CallTools - Get Grid coordinates using GPS

(FLDigi is in its own section below.)

gnss-sdr - GLONASS satellite system Software Defined Receiver

linpsk - amateur radio PSK31/RTTY program via soundcard

multimon - multimon - program to decode radio transmissions

multimon-ng - digital radio transmission decoder

psk31lx - a terminal based ncurses program for psk31

twpsk - a psk program

Software Defined Radio

===================

CubicSDR - Software Defined Radio receiver

cutesdr - Simple demodulation and spectrum display program

GQRX - Software defined radio receiver

LeanSDR – Lightweight, portable software defined radio

SDR++ - Brand new cross-platform and open source SDR software

SDRAngel - SDR player

lysdr - Simple software-defined radio

SoapyAudio - Soapy SDR plugin for Audio devices

SoapyHackRF - SoapySDR HackRF module

SoapyMultiSDR - Multi-device support module for SoapySDR

SoapyNetSDR - Soapy SDR module for NetSDR protocol

SoapyRemote - Use any Soapy SDR remotely

SoapyRTLSDR - Soapy SDR module for RTL SDR USB dongle

SoapySDR - Vendor and platform neutral SDR support library

SoapySDRPlay3 - Soapy SDR module for SDRPlay3 API

Support for RTL-SDR

Support for SDRPlay SDR

Support for HackRF SDR

Support for AirSpy and AirSpy HF

SoapySDRAirSpy- Soapy SDR module for AirSpy SDR

SoapySDRFUNcube Dongle Pro+- Soapy SDR module for FUNCube Dongle Pro+

SoapySDRPlutoSDR- Soapy SDR module for Pluto SDR

SoapySDROsmoSDR- Soapy SDR module for Osmo SDR

SoapySDRRedPitaya- Soapy SDR module for Red Pitaya SDR

SoapyUHD- Soapy SDR module for Ettus ResearchUHD SDR

SoapySDRVOLKConverters - Support for VOLK-based type converters

APRS Applications

================

Xastir - APRS GUI client / Digipeater / Igate

YAAC - Yet Another APRS Client

DireWolf - Software "soundcard" AX.25 packet modem/TNC and APRS encoder/decoder

aprsdigi - digipeater for APRS

aprx - APRS Digipeater and iGate

soundmodem - Sound Card Amateur Packet Radio Modems

FLDigi Application Suite from W1HKJ

===============================

flrig - Rig Control program which interfaces with fldigi

fldigi - Digital Modes Communications

flaa - RigExpert Antenna Analyzer Control Program

flamp - File transmissions via Amateur Multicast Protocol

flarq - ARQ data transfer utility for fldigi

flcluster - Telnet client to remote DX Cluster Servers

fllog - Logbook application which can use same data file as fldigi

flmsg - Editor for ICS 213 Forms

flnet - Net Control Assistant for Net Activities (Check-In Application)

flpost - NBEMs post office

flwrap - File encapsulation and compression for transmission over amateur radio

flwkey - Winkeyer (or clone) control program for K1EL Winkeyer series

Logging Applications

==================

10 10 QSO Logger - Logging software for Ten Ten International Users

TrustedQSL - LotW client

CQRlog - Ham Radio Logging Application

PyQSO - Logging software (written in Python)

klog - The Ham Radio Logging program

tlf - console based ham radio contest logger

tucnak2 - VHF/UHF/SHF Hamradio contest log version 2

twlog - basic logging program for ham radio

upload_adif_log – Upload only new log entries to LotW, eQSL.cc and ClubLog

wsjtx_to_n3fjp - Logging adapter to allow WSJT-X to log to N3FJP

xlog - GTK+ Logging program for Hamradio Operators

WinLink Applications

==================

Pat WinLink - WinLink for Raspberry Pi (and other platforms)

ARDOP support for Pat WinLink

ARDOP-GUI - Provides graphical representation of ARDOP connections

Find ARDOP - Retrieves local ARDOP sources by KM4ACK

Pat Menu 2 – Menu for Pat by KM4ACK

PMON - a PACTOR® Monitoring Utility for Linux

Morse Code Applications

=====================

aldo - Morse code training program

cw - sound characters as Morse code on the soundcard or console speaker

cwcp - Text based Morse tutor program

xcwcp - Graphical Morse tutor program

cwdaemon - morse daemon for the serial or parallel port

ebook2cw - convert ebooks to Morse MP3s/OGGs

ebook2cwgui - GUI for ebook2cw

morse - training program about morse-code for aspiring radio hams

morse2ascii - tool for decoding the morse codes from a PCM WAV file

morsegen - convert file to ASCII morse code

qrq - High speed Morse telegraphy trainer

xdemorse - decode Morse signals to text

😲

Just how amazing is that?? 

I struggled with the download a few times and I think it may have been that I was trying to download it straight to my 64Gb USB Stick, because after 4 failed attempts (even though there was PLENTY of space available on the stick) I tried to download straight to my C-Drive and it worked no problem.

Once you've got the image saved somewhere, you have the task of copying it over to an SD Card, which is extremely simple. A 16Gb should more than suffice but I used a 32Gb for future-proofing (it was only £3 more than a 16Gb card)...

  

Download a copy of Balena Etcher and install it, then run the program to complete the image writing. It's very straightforward but takes about half an hour to write it and verify it.

Once it's all finished, simply insert the card into your Pi and it should boot up with all that HamPi loveliness!

I could have connected the Pi400 to my main PC monitor because it has dual input ports, but that would then stop me using the main PC again for other things, so I decided to get a little monitor specifically for the Pi. It made sense to purchase a "Touch" screen and I found one which has a built-in stand and has regular and micro HDMI connections (plus USB to power it). The thing to be wary of with cheap screens is the power-supplies which come with them because they're often very noisy. That's why I opted for a screen which takes its power from the Pi itself.

Once I've spent more time using the software suite, I'll report back to this post.

73, Tom, M7MCQ

SCREENSHOTS