Ham radio - Stand-alone, Rugged, digi mode unit. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: jossa
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 10:03:06 am
content: Hi.I have been playing with an idea for a long time, ever since i saw a self contained, cold war spy radio station, with a "computer" that had a keyboard and screenThe basic idea is that you can write and encode a message using some type of digi mode, and at your choosing you can connect it to a radio and burst transmit the message, and also receive and decode messages.I love the whole, rugged and self contained unit thing about it and wanted one of my own.So my brain started to think about this. and not needing to encrypt, only encode into some digi mode it would be a bit easyerYou would need:Waterthight containment of the unit, with keyboard, screen and battery etc.Some type of internal charge circuitry to keep the internal battery charged with varying voltages you would encounterSome type of processor running the PSK31 process and storing a messageAs i see it, i can take two approaches to this:1 - Make some custom hardware, of my own design, on a dedicated PCB, make a keyboard2 - Use existing hardware, like the RASPBERRY PI ZERO W, and run FLdigi, Find a waterproof bluetooth keyboard etc.The custom hardware would be the most fun, and i could try and get the power requirements as low as possibleAnyways i need to ruggedize the hardware in a milled enclosure maybe (need to finish my CNC mill for that)I know this is not a high demand product, but i like the idea of it, and using the experience to learn about design and requirements for industrial type of equipment could come in handy somedayAnyone who has some input or ideas, let me know! that is why i make this post.This is not yet a build thread, but soon i hope i can start making something

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 10:55:03 am
content: You'll need a HAM license first.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 11:18:22 am
content: Some thing half modern like this:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ex-MOD-Rugged-computer-console-RC-15-KVM-NSN-5895-99-167-5438/302478873924Not too sure exactly what did does, looks like XLR sockets at the side of the screen.Or old school:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clansman-digital-master-unit-DMU-Good-used-tested-/302416297704These dont go for much if you are willing to wait for a cheap one, but they are missing the encryption module. This is the data module of a much larger system.

author: jossa
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 11:34:45 am
content: Thanks!The clansman unit is for voice encryption only?Encryption is not my goal since you can't transmit encrypted on the ham bands anyway.I was looking to make a portable terminal, that could do text input via keyboard, and make the PSK modulation and send via an external radio.My goal is to make a small, rugged, self contained unit that could be connected to a normal ham radio and transmit the encoded (ie.) PSK31 signal (and also receive and decode it)Something like this:http://www.cryptomuseum.com/spy/fs5000/dsu.htmBut not to encrypt, only to modulate/demodulate the message it in a common digimodeThe briefcase was a interesting unit, a little larger then i was thinking about.I could not find any info on it tho?