Update from my initial testing of using a Raspberry Pi 3 as a portable option for amateur radio digital modes.

Update from my initial testing of using a Raspberry Pi 3 as a portable option for amateur radio digital modes.

See my intial build here : http://wadeabout.com/blog/portablepi-a-raspberrypi-for-amateur-radio-portable-opers

My first use of it ‘in anger’ during the VK QRP 80m ‘Hours contest’ http://wadeabout.com/blog/80m-hours-contest

Thoughts so far:

CQRLOG:

Shite and will not be used. It is initially installs and looks very promising giving details about the DXCC and the operator once the callsign is entered regardless if you have worked before or not. However each time it is connected to the internet it wants to update its base look up files, not a problem, however once installed it changes the permissions in the underlying database and locks me out.

Winklink, PAT and mobile / portable email

I have managed to get ARDOP working with PAT - however due to propagation I have not actually got a HF Winlink / ARDOP connection to work. There are only 2-3 gateways located in Melbourne (VK3) and Sydney (VK2), depending on the day. I am located smack between them in suburbia (VK1). There are very few VHF gateways in Australia in the order of 2 or 3.

FT8 / WSPR

I have managed to use both these modes quiet easily from the raspberry pi, in its ‘headless’ mode connecting via VNC to the raspberry pi from it’s self-initiated wifi hotspot - made from the details here:

http://www.raspberryconnect.com/network/item/315-rpi3-auto-wifi-hotspot-if-no-internet

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