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Category: Ham Radio
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Created: Sunday, 23 February 2020 14:17
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Last Updated: Saturday, 21 March 2020 15:15
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Written by Rick Swenton
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Hits: 238
Apache-Labs ANAN 7000DLE MK-II Software Defined Radio
See my ANAN-7000DLE MK-II Initial Setup page. It is a work in process and will be updated regularly.
Image courtesy of Apache Labs
This is the latest addition to my Ham Radio station: It is a fully featured shortwave transceiver that covers from 9 kHz to 60 MHz and transmits 100 watts of power. It is a Software Defined Radio (SDR). That means the radio's hardware can be reconfigured to do different things depending on the software loaded to run the radio. It also means the radio can be "upgraded" or become a totally "different" radio just by loading new software. On the surface it doesn't look like much. In fact, it doesn't even look like a radio. That's because you use your computer and computer software to control the transceiver. The computer and the radio connect over your home's ethernet network. You can operate the transceiver from multiple computers which do not even have to be near the transceiver. You could even operate connected over Wifi as long as your network and computer is fast enough.
This is the Orion MK-II processor board.
Image courtesy of Apache Labs
This is the RF Board.
Image courtesy of Apache Labs
This is an example of PowerHDR.
Image courtesy of W1AEX
PowerSDR is a Windows build of the Open Source HPSDR program. It's one of many software programs that can be used to control the radio from your computer. You can see the array of control buttons, sliders, display meters and of course the spectrum display. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of this radio. It looks like I will be spending months learning how to configure all of its options. As I learn I will be posting updates here. In the mean time there are excellent articles and Youtube videos on http://w1aex.com
- Details
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Category: Ham Radio
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Created: Monday, 09 September 2019 18:53
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Last Updated: Wednesday, 11 December 2019 01:39
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Written by Rick Swenton
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Hits: 599
Radioddity markets a relatively inexpensive dual band DMR handheld radio called the GD-77. It is manufactured by TYT and is their model MD-760 but is not widely available. Radioddity markets this radio under their own name and provides a fully functional firmware and CPS. They also deliver reasonably timely updates to both the firmware and CPS, Radioddity provides excellent customer support.
Roger Clark, VK3KYY from Melbourne, Australia is a prominent figure in the ham radio DMR world. Roger modified the Radioddity CPS and released a "Community Edition" that provides compatibility among all the various versions of codeplugs and added features. Roger, Kai Ludwig DG4KLU and Colin Durbridge G4EML are developing an open source firmware for the GD-77 called OpenGD77.
The firmware is designed for Amateur Radio use, especially on DMR, and has a number of features for Amateur Radio use which are not normally available on commercial DMR radios. These include direct numerical entry of DMR TalkGroup numbers and use of the Rx Group list to control the TG’s selectable for each DMR “channel”
I am fortunate to have been one of the original alpha testers for this firmware.
This new firmware begins to transform the GD-77 to operate the way hams would like to use it. For example, in the past we had to set up a channel for every talk group you want to use. Now you can set up one channel and just scroll through the talk groups. Another feature, shown in the photo above, is to use the GD-77 as a hotspot replacing your MMDVM or DVMega modem board. Just take a Raspberry Pi with Pi-Star and remove the modem board. Connect your GD-77 with the OpenGD77 firmware to the Raspberry Pi USB port with the GD-77 programming cable. Select OpenGD77 as your Radio/Modem type in Pi-Star and off you go. The GD-77 automatically detects Pi-Star and changes from handheld mode to hotspot mode.
In the past I was posting Roger's updates here on my web site. The improvements have been fast and furious. It was becoming difficult to keep this page updated. I thought I would just refer you directly to Roger's blog so you could get the most current information.
Hotspot Mode
The latest firmware now supports Hotspot Mode. Connect the GD-77 to the Raspberry Pi with the programming cable. Power up the GD-77 while holding the side black button. Then power up your Raspberry Pi running Pi-Star. The GD-77 must be powered up in Hotspot Mode before Pi-Star is booted.
If you want to test Hotspot Mode using Pi-Star you can leave your MMDVM HAT or DVMEGA HAT plugged into the Paspberry Pi. Just connect the GD-77 radio through its programming cable to the RPi and select OpenGD77 DMR Hotspot (USB) as the Radio/Modem Type on the Pi-Star configuration screen.
Here's Roger's Blog Page where you can learn all about the exciting developments. There are links to the firmware daily builds and the Community CPS. There are also links to the user guides for the firmware and CPS.
Also take a look at Jason Reilly's page Modifications, hints, tips and technical information for the Radioddity GD-77
Running OpenGD77 as a Hotspot on BlueDV for Android
Riku Bister, OH1E, has a great Youtube video that explains how to get the OpenGD77 running as a hotspot on BlueDV for Android.
