HF “Go Kit” Presentation by John Westerman W5ODJ

Agenda ● Why would you want to put this kit together? ● Individual components of the kit ● Details of how the kit goes together ● Digital Operation Tips ● Questions ● Live Kit demonstration ● minutes

Why have a “go kit”? ● Take on vacation ● Take on holidays ● Use in mobile contests ● Use for Satellite communications ● Use in times of emergency ● Because you can! ● Because it's fun ● Because you learn

Kit Components ● Power supply: – 12 vdc battery (with carry handle of some sort) – 2 amp dc battery charger or solar panel with charge controller to keep battery fresh between use. – 12 vdc to 5 vdc down converter for computer – DC fuse panel (West Mountain Radio-ish) – DC power cables to connect things together (West Mountain makes it easy to stay mobile)

Kit Components ● Computer: – Imbedded Unix (Ubuntu) ● Raspberry Pi works (at 100% CPU w/FLDIGI) ● ODROID-U3+ (Quad-core ARM – 20% CPU w/FLDIGI) – Keyboard, Mouse ● Wired so no battery required – Monitor ● 12 vdc powered ● HDMI inputs ● OTA TV Receiver – Wireless card (or ethernet) for Internet if wanted or required

Kit Components ● Why go through the process of using this type of computer? – Very mobile – DC powered – Low current draw (.2 amps) – Easily replicated – Easily replaced – Low cost as compared to, say, an Apple laptop – Spares can be kept handy – NO MOVING PARTS!

Kit Components ● Transmitter: – ICOM 7100 – LDG IT-100 Antenna Tuner – Diamond SX20C Analog SWR/Power Meter – Short RF Interconnecting Cables (DX Engineering) – Long RF Cable(s) to connect to antenna (DX Engineering)

Kit Components ● AFSK device (Sound card): – Required to modulate the carrier with a digital protocol – SignaLink USB ● One more device to manage (but I prefer it) – Built in USB ● No extra device required in digital modes ● Still requires USB cable to interconnect with computer and FLDIGI software – Powered by computer USB

Kit Components ● Antenna: – BuddiPole – Coax Interconnection (new style) [e.g., “balun”] – Long RF cable to connect to radio – Antenna Requires modification for band changes (changing length of lobes) which takes some time – Antenna Can operate on any HF band, including 2 meters and 440. – Helps to use a antenna analyzer to tune to resonance for lowest SWR (but certainly not required) – Low SWR at one location may not be the same in another

How it is connected?

Digital Operation ● All digital communications uses USB SSB ● Most radios want to use “D” (digital) mode ● IC7100 will not PTT without being in D mode ● Digital in most bands requires very little power (<= 25 watts) ● High power in digital wastes bandwidth, is very obvious when used (“splatter”) and does nothing for readability of your transmission

Digital Operation ● Digital modes consume pretty consistent power as compared to CW or voice SSB. ● Computer will open carrier and transmit, even idle, 100% of the time. ● It is best to use only the power you need at all times. You will be very surprised what you can do with 10 watts using OLIVIA protocol

Digital Operation ● LARG DIGITAL NETS – Digital Watering Hole ● Sunday night, 1900 hours local time ● 80 meters ● Olivia 500/8 mode ● Center frequency kHz ● USB-D Mode kHz Hz for center – CW ● The original digital mode ● Tuesday nights 2000 local time

Digital Operation ● Frequencies – Many! See ARRL Band plan – 40 meters: Mhz (±) – 20 meters Mhz (±) ● Get out there and listen around!

Questions? ● You are welcome to stay for live demonstration. ● You are welcome to operate this station as long as we have this room available.

Live Working Demo ● Antenna tuned for 20 meters ● Mhz ● IC7100 set for USB-D mode – Digital modes always use USB – IC7100 will NOT PTT unless in D(igital) mode

Thank you!