The BeagleBrick

1. The BeagleBrick SDR Ham Radio to Go Presented by Robert Thomas, KC4NYK ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

2. 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 SDR Primer ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

3. 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 Traditional Rigs ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

4. SDR Rigs • 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 Software • 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 SDR Radio Features – Short Version ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

5. The Computers are still relatively big! And relatively expensive Even though the rigs have gotten really small and there are kits for hams that are inexpensive But . . . . . ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

6. 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 Enter the Beagleboard! And best of all . . . . . ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

7. And Inexpensive! $99 + $149 With BB, rig, peripherals & cables = $300 Entry price As small as the rig - mere 3” x 3” ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

8. Beagleboard S-Video (4-pin) USB Mini-A OTG Cable DVI-D HDMI Cable 5 vDC Power Adaptor SD Card Powered USB Hub USB Serial Adapter USB Ethernet Adaptor Portable - but a bit messy! SDR Transceiver Mouse So . . . Keyboard ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

9. A Portable, Self-Contained Ham Radio Station Enter the BeagleBrick!

10. 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 . . . . BeagleBrick Features: ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

11. 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 BeagleBrick Hazardous Field, Marine & Emergency Version ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

12. 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! BeagleBrick Objectives: ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

13. 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 Beaglebrick SDR Development Status ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

14. SDR • SoftRock Links http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/ • DTTSP (SDR-Shell) - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dttsp-linux • GnuRadio - http://gnuradio.org/trac • Fldigi - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/linuxham • SDR-Shell - http://ewpereira.info/sdr-shell/ • PowerSDR - http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=13 • VSIPL - http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=127 • SDR – BeagleBrickCompatable rigs • SoftRock Links - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/ • Small Wonder Labs - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rock-Mite_Group/ • More . . . • Beagleboard Support Links • Beagelboard Home - - www.beagleboard.org • Beagle Chat Browser - www.beagleboard.org/chat or • Beagle Chat IRC - #beagle at irc.freenode.net • 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 Project Support Links ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009

15. The BeagleBrick SDR Ham Radio to Go Contact: Rob Thomas, KC4NYK Industrial Designer 1303 Westridge Road Richmond, VA 23229 804.833.4470 kc4nyk@rarcpio.net ETechDays Lighting Talks August 27th 2009