APRS

Configuration

• Hardware Connection: Connect the Baofeng to the audio interface, then plug the interface into your computer. Connect the GPS dongle to the computer or mobile device running the APRS software.
• Radio Settings:
  
  • Disable squelch (SQL) and dual watch (TDR) in the Baofeng menu to ensure no packets are missed.
  • Set the radio to the APRS frequency (e.g., 144.800 MHz in Europe, 144.390 MHz in the US) and adjust volume to prevent clipping.
• Software Setup:
  • Use Dire Wolf (a software TNC) on your computer to handle the AFSK encoding/decoding.
  • Configure Dire Wolf to use the audio interface as both the transmit and receive device.
• GPS Integration: Ensure your APRS client (like APRSdroid on Android or Xastir/APRSISCE on PC) is configured to send position data from the GPS dongle to Dire Wolf, which then modulates the signal and transmits it via the Baofeng.
• Power Saving: Disable any battery-saving features on the Baofeng that might cut power during data bursts, and ensure the duplex is set to Simplex (zero offset) for APRS transmission.

Regional APRS-IS server

Radio Configuration

• Squelch (SQL): Set to 0 (open) to allow all incoming audio to pass to the computer for decoding.
• Dual Watch (TDR): Turn OFF to prevent interruptions during APRS packet reception.
• Frequency: Tune the radio to the local APRS frequency (e.g., 144.800 MHz in Europe or 144.390 MHz in North America).
• Volume: Set to approximately 50%; this can be fine-tuned later based on Direwolf’s audio level indicators.

Hardware Connection

• Audio Interface: Use a Digirig or a dedicated programming cable (black cable for audio, not the green programming cable) to connect the radio’s microphone/speaker port to the computer’s USB audio input.
• PTT (Push-To-Talk): If transmitting, you need a method to trigger PTT. This can be done via VOX (voice-activated) or a hardware relay controlled by the computer’s GPIO pins (e.g., on a Raspberry Pi).

Direwolf Configuration

• Audio Device: Set ADEVICE to your USB audio card (e.g., plughw:1,0). Use arecord --list-devices on Linux to identify the correct card number.
• Audio Levels: Adjust the radio volume or interface gain so Direwolf’s audio level indicator stays around 50. Levels that are too high cause decoding errors.
• Gateway/Tracker Settings:
  
  • For an IGate: Set IGSERVER to your regional APRS-IS server and configure IGLOGIN with your call sign and passcode.
  • For a Tracker: Set MYCALL to your call sign and use PBEACON to define position reporting intervals.
  • For a Digipeater: Uncomment the DIGIPEAT section in the configuration.

Direwolf cannot be used for WSJT-X

• Direwolf: Handles APRS, packet radio, and digipeating.
• WSJT-X: Handles FT8, FT4, JT65, and other weak-signal modes.
  Hamlib is essential for WSJT-X (and its derivative WSJT-Z) to control radio hardware.
  Hamlib provides the consistent API that allows WSJT-Z to manage functions such as frequency tuning, mode selection, and PTT (push-to-talk) for compatible radios.

AIOC

Hardware Connection

Operating System Configuration

Direwolf Configuration

• Audio Device: Set the ADEVICE to your AIOC’s sound card.
• Linux: ADEVICE plughw:1,0 (replace 1,0 with your card index from arecord --list-devices).
• PTT Control: Use the serial interface to control the radio’s PTT. Add or modify the PTT line to use DTR/RTS signals.
  Linux: PTT /dev/ttyACM0 -RTS DTR
• Call Sign and Logn: Set your call sign with MYCALL and configure internet gateway settings (IGSERVER, IGLOGIN) if you wish to act as an IGate.

Radio Settings

• Turn off Squelch (SQL) in the Baofeng menu to allow all incoming audio to be forwarded to the computer.
• Turn off Dual Watch (TDR) to prevent interruptions.
• Turn off Dual Watch (TDR) to prevent interruptions.
• Set the volume to approximately 50% to ensure Direwolf receives clear audio without clipping.

Verification

Troubleshooting

• Baofeng Consistency: UV-5R radios vary in quality; if one unit fails to decode or transmit reliably, try a different unit.
• VOX vs. Direct PTT: If using VOX, adjust TXDELAY and DWAIT in the Dire Wolf config to account for the radio’s slow keying times. Direct PTT via a hardware interface is generally preferred for stability.
• Antenna: Ensure a decent antenna is connected, as APRS signals are weak and require adequate reception range.

GridTacker2

Integration and Setup

• UDP Ports: JS8Call typically communicates over port 2242, whereas GridTracker listens on designated ports for live traffic parsing.
• ADIF Logging: You can manage log redundancy by feeding ADIF outputs or syncing logs directly while operating.
• Mapping and Roster: View decoded callsigns, Maidenhead grid squares, and real-time path trajectories on the interactive GridTracker map interface.

JS8Call-Improved

Configure JS8Call-Improved

• Open JS8Call-Improved and navigate to Settings > Reporting.
• Locate the UDP Server section.
• Check the box to enable the WSJT-X Server emulation.
• Set the IP address to 127.0.0.1 and change the UDP port to match what GridTracker expects (typically 2237 for WSJT-X, or keep it at 2242 if you manually match it in GridTracker).

Configure GridTracker

• Open GridTracker and click the Settings (gear) icon.
• Go to the General tab.
]
• In the Receive UDP Port field, ensure the port matches the one you assigned in JS8Call-Improved (e.g., 2237 or 2242).
• GridTracker will automatically begin decoding incoming traffic and mapping Maidenhead grids on the screen.

Known Limitations

Snips from the Docs

SDR

Drivers\gqrx

Dependancies

SDR++

SDRTrunk

• RTL-SDR (RTL2832U based dongles)
• Airspy (Mini, R2, HF+)
• HackRF One

Supported Codecs

• IMBE (Improved Multi-Band Excitation): Used by APCO-25 Phase I (common in public safety radio).
• AMBE (Advanced Multi-Band Excitation): Used by APCO-25 Phase II, DMR (Digital Mobile Radio), and dPMR.

Install

Drivers

            sudo apt purge ^librtlsdr
            sudo rm -rvf /usr/lib/librtlsdr* /usr/include/rtl-sdr* /usr/local/lib/librtlsdr* /usr/local/include/rtl-sdr* /usr/local/include/rtl_* /usr/local/bin/rtl_*
            sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0-dev git cmake pkg-config build-essential
            git clone https://github.com/osmocom/rtl-sdr
            cd rtl-sdr
            mkdir build
            cd build
            cmake ../ -DINSTALL_UDEV_RULES=ON
            make
            sudo make install
            sudo cp ../rtl-sdr.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/
            sudo ldconfig
            

Install JDK and Apache Ant

Compile JMBE (Required for P25)

Launch SDRTrunk

Launch

Tip

To reload rules(for manual builds)

Dump1090

Compile Dump1090

• Dependancies:
  sudo apt install git build-essential librtlsdr-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev pkg-config debhelper

Tip

      [Desktop Entry]
      Name=WSJT-Z
      Comment=Amateur Radio Digital Modes
      Exec=/full/path/to/wsjtx
      Icon=/full/path/to/icon.png
      Terminal=false
      Type=Application
      Categories=HamRadio;Education;
      StartupNotify=true   

    

NOAA weather Radio

1090 Hz antenna

• A discone antenna for VHF/UHF coverage.
• A long wire antenna for HF radio.
• A telescopic or dipole antenna for FM broadcast