HamRadio: Difference between revisions

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= Amateur Radio and GNU Radio =
== Using GNU Radio for Amateur Radio ==
 
== Introduction to ham radio / amateur radio ==


Ham radio operators are given a license by their government enabling them to make radio transmissions for the purpose of scientific investigation, experimentation and non-commercial communication. Ham radio provides great opportunities for learning, education, disaster relief and making interesting discoveries.
Ham radio operators are given a license by their government enabling them to make radio transmissions for the purpose of scientific investigation, experimentation and non-commercial communication. Ham radio provides great opportunities for learning, education, disaster relief and making interesting discoveries.
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To get started, you may need to search for the organization responsible for amateur radio in your country. They may be able to advise you if you need to complete an exam to qualify for a license or if your existing qualification, such as an electrical engineering degree, automatically qualifies you for a license. A starting point may be the [http://www.iaru.org/ International Amateur Radio Union] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio Wikipedia]
To get started, you may need to search for the organization responsible for amateur radio in your country. They may be able to advise you if you need to complete an exam to qualify for a license or if your existing qualification, such as an electrical engineering degree, automatically qualifies you for a license. A starting point may be the [http://www.iaru.org/ International Amateur Radio Union] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio Wikipedia]


== Getting started with GNU Radio for hams ==
== Getting started ==
 
To get started really fast, consider using [[InstallingGR#Linux|convenient Linux packages]] or download the [[InstallingGR#Bootable-DVD-with-GNU-Radio-pre-installed|GNU Radio liveSDR environment]], put it onto a USB stick or a DVD, and boot from it.
 
Many of the projects mentioned below are included, and if they're not, you can use [http://pybombs.info pyBOMBS] to get them.
 
=== Getting to know GNU Radio ===
 
The currently recommended way to start with GNU Radio is to read the [[Tutorials | Guided Tutorials]]. As an amateur radio enthusiast, you might get a little bored by the physical description of radio in part 1, but please do read it, as the the parts depend on each other.
 
== Choosing hardware ==
 
The [[Hardware]] page provides a discussion of common hardware options. Wikipedia has a dedicated page with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_software-defined_radios list of software defined radio hardware], not all of these have been verified with GNU Radio.
 
=== Receive-only ===
 
For receive-only operation, the range of hardware choices is much wider, including several low-cost options. For getting your feet wet, you may wish to consider purchasing one of the low cost receivers and not worrying about transmit capability until you have had some basic experience with the receiver.
 
=== Transceiver ===
 
There are many SDR hardware devices that offer both receive and transmit capabilities. These devices typically operate at a very low power level (around 100 mW) and it is necessary to combine them with a TX power amplifier. Care is needed for TX/RX path isolation.
 
* See the [[HardwareTransceiver]] page for a full list of design considerations and examples.
* This has been [http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/discuss-gnuradio/2015-12/msg00426.html discussed on the mailing list]


=== Transmitter activation and PTT / microphone ===
If you've never touched GNU Radio before, these pages will get you started with a running installation of GNU Radio and will show you how to take your first steps with this software radio tool.


See the page about [[TransmitterActivation]]
* [[WhatIsGR|What is GNU Radio and why do I want it?]] - Read this if you really have no idea what this project is about.
* [[InstallingGR|Installing GNU Radio]] - This will explain all the steps to get a working installation of GNU Radio.
* [[Tutorials|Tutorials]] - Several tutorials for varying skill levels.
* [http://cgran.org The Comprehensive GNU Radio Archive Network (CGRAN)] - A list of 3rd party GNU Radio apps
* [[FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions]] - Check this page before asking questions on the mailing list.


=== VFO tuning knobs ===
== Hardware components for HF ==


Various USB-based multimedia tuning knobs exist. Some are purpose-built for radio, others are general purpose devices for tasks such as video editing. This has been [http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/discuss-gnuradio/2015-12/msg00363.html discussed on the mailing list] and there are some suggestions about hardware and GNU Radio drivers.
Hardware is <b>not</b> part of GNU Radio, which is purely a software library. However, developing radio and signal processing code is even more fun when using hardware to actually transmit and receive, and GNU Radio supports several radio front-ends, either natively or through additional out-of-tree modules.


== Recommended Projects ==
For a list of supported devices, see our [[Hardware]] page.


There's a lot of projects on [http://cgran.org CGRAN], the comprehensive GNU Radio archive network, so go over there and search for a few keywords that might be relevant to you.
Additional items for HF use (below 70MHz) will be listed here (TBD).


However, to promote a few GNU Radio-based projects that are of special interest to hams, here's a few:
== GNU Radio Amateur Radio monthly meeting group ==


* '''W7FU''': various [http://www.w7fu.com/ pages] about receivers and transmitters
* The agenda and notes about the on-line video meetings can be seen on [[Talk:HamRadio]].
* '''GQRX''': Narrow band SSB/CW/FM receiver [https://github.com/csete/gqrx GQRX]
* The Ham Radio chat room on Matrix is available for follow-up and continuing discussion.
* '''gr-paint''': Draw pretty pictures on your (or someone else's) spectrum [https://github.com/drmpeg/gr-paint gr-paint]
** server: https://chat.gnuradio.org
* '''ham2mon''': GR based SDR Scanner [https://github.com/madengr/ham2mon ham2mon]
** room: #HamRadio:gnuradio.org
* '''argilo/sdr-examples''': NFM, WBFM, AM, LSB, USB, CW, PSK31 (and other) Tx examples [https://github.com/argilo/sdr-examples argilo/sdr-examples]
* '''gr-bruninga''': GR based APRS Modem [https://github.com/tkuester/gr-bruninga gr-bruninga]
* '''RadioPresidio''': GR based SSB/NFM/WBFM/AM transceiver application [https://github.com/Koatman/RadioPresidio RadioPresidio]
* '''gr-rtty''': GR based RTTY decoder [https://github.com/bistromath/gr-rtty gr-rtty]
* '''gr-ham''': DSTAR decoder and other useful blocks for ham radio [https://github.com/argilo/gr-ham gr-ham]
* '''gr-psk31''' Simple tutorial on using psk31 with GNU Radio [https://github.com/tkuester/gr-psk31 gr-psk31]
* '''gr-hpsdr''' GNU Radio source/sink blocks for Hermes/Metis TAPR HPSDR transceivers with ethernet connection to compute host. Tom McDermott, N5EG [https://github.com/Tom-McDermott/gr-hpsdr gr-hpsdr github]
* '''gr-cessb''' GNU Radio Controlled Envelope Single Sideband (Work in Progress) [https://github.com/drmpeg/gr-cessb gr-cessb]

Latest revision as of 16:27, 25 November 2022

Using GNU Radio for Amateur Radio

Ham radio operators are given a license by their government enabling them to make radio transmissions for the purpose of scientific investigation, experimentation and non-commercial communication. Ham radio provides great opportunities for learning, education, disaster relief and making interesting discoveries.

Ham licenses typically offer access to frequencies in every significant portion of the radio spectrum, including HF bands (between 1MHz and 30MHz), VHF (144MHz - 148MHz), UHF (420MHz - 450MHz) and many microwave bands. The license authorizes many different transmission modes (FM voice, SSB, digital, TV) and significant power levels (over 1kW in some countries).

To get started, you may need to search for the organization responsible for amateur radio in your country. They may be able to advise you if you need to complete an exam to qualify for a license or if your existing qualification, such as an electrical engineering degree, automatically qualifies you for a license. A starting point may be the International Amateur Radio Union or Wikipedia

Getting started

If you've never touched GNU Radio before, these pages will get you started with a running installation of GNU Radio and will show you how to take your first steps with this software radio tool.

Hardware components for HF

Hardware is not part of GNU Radio, which is purely a software library. However, developing radio and signal processing code is even more fun when using hardware to actually transmit and receive, and GNU Radio supports several radio front-ends, either natively or through additional out-of-tree modules.

For a list of supported devices, see our Hardware page.

Additional items for HF use (below 70MHz) will be listed here (TBD).

GNU Radio Amateur Radio monthly meeting group

  • The agenda and notes about the on-line video meetings can be seen on Talk:HamRadio.
  • The Ham Radio chat room on Matrix is available for follow-up and continuing discussion.
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