2m0iig-automated-wx-station
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2m0iig-automated-wx-station [2022/10/02 23:21] – [Enclosure] 2m0iig | 2m0iig-automated-wx-station [2022/10/03 00:00] (current) – [Enclosure] 2m0iig | ||
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===== Power ===== | ===== Power ===== | ||
- | * Some sort of battery system (how many mAh?) with management board for charging | + | * Some sort of battery system (how many mAh?) with management board for charging? Cost varies depending on type and voltage chosen, but [[https:// |
- | * What voltage? I will need to step it down | + | * What voltage? I will need to step it down to 5V if too high |
- | * Solar panels? No experience whatsoever | + | * Solar panels? No experience whatsoever |
- | * How to efficiently use the power/ | + | * How to efficiently use the power/ |
- | * Estimate/ | + | * Estimate/ |
- | Literally no experience with this, but it seems easy from this: https:// | + | Literally no experience with this, but it seems easy from [[https:// |
- | Other people are doing this with 12 Volt LNAs, so need a higher voltage battery and solar panel setup, plus a voltage converter to get it down to 5V. Having said that most of the higher rated panels use 12V, so I would need to go this route if I can’t find a 5V panel of a decent rating. | + | Other people are doing this with 12 Volt LNAs, so need a higher voltage battery and solar panel setup, plus a voltage converter to get it down to 5V AND a solar panel controller that will do 12V. Having said that most of the higher rated panels use 12V, so I would need to go this route if I can’t find a 5V panel of a decent rating. |
- | I just mount a suitable | + | Hopefully |
If there are any issues with current I may need a powered USB hub, which adds complexity and potential RFI sources. I would also like to know if there’s an alternative to the rather expensive PiJuice for all of this. | If there are any issues with current I may need a powered USB hub, which adds complexity and potential RFI sources. I would also like to know if there’s an alternative to the rather expensive PiJuice for all of this. | ||
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* RTL-SDR dongle - lots of choices here, but I already have a Nooelec NESDR V3 stick that is perfect for this (current v4 listed here: https:// | * RTL-SDR dongle - lots of choices here, but I already have a Nooelec NESDR V3 stick that is perfect for this (current v4 listed here: https:// | ||
* (5V) BPF+LNA - many choices (expensive Nooelec ones) here, but this works off 5V and is low current, I have one from AliExpress and it seems okay: https:// | * (5V) BPF+LNA - many choices (expensive Nooelec ones) here, but this works off 5V and is low current, I have one from AliExpress and it seems okay: https:// | ||
- | * Possibly a Bias-Tee board **£10 ish for a cheapo one** | + | * Possibly a Bias-Tee board to inject voltage up the coax to the LNA **£10 ish for a cheapo one** |
* Short USB extension | * Short USB extension | ||
* USB Wireless dongle with external antenna socket, plus pigtail and antenna, if I want live comms (ideally, future goal) | * USB Wireless dongle with external antenna socket, plus pigtail and antenna, if I want live comms (ideally, future goal) | ||
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On the non-RF side it’ll be a RPi 3B or 4, depending on what’s available. A 3B will do it just fine if I can still get them and will run cooler, but Pis are *very* sold out. I’ll maybe need a WiFi dongle with an external antenna socket to try and reach the long range to my living room router (this is a stretch goal really). | On the non-RF side it’ll be a RPi 3B or 4, depending on what’s available. A 3B will do it just fine if I can still get them and will run cooler, but Pis are *very* sold out. I’ll maybe need a WiFi dongle with an external antenna socket to try and reach the long range to my living room router (this is a stretch goal really). | ||
- | For the RF side I’ll need a receiver, and I have a spare RTL-SDR stick I can use for it. I also have a low-noise amplifier/ | + | For the RF side I’ll need a receiver, and I have a spare RTL-SDR stick I can use for it. I also have a low-noise amplifier/ |
- | I may want to add some buttons or indicator LEDs to the outside, to shut things down or indicate a problem. These will need to work outside and be waterproofed. | + | I may want to add some buttons or indicator LEDs to the outside, to shut things down or indicate a problem. These will need to visible |
===== Software ===== | ===== Software ===== | ||
* The barest Raspbian OS install possible, probably | * The barest Raspbian OS install possible, probably | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
* Try and move things off-SD card and reduce logging for card life | * Try and move things off-SD card and reduce logging for card life | ||
* Secondary storage? SSD? | * Secondary storage? SSD? | ||
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* Threaded rod V Dipole/ | * Threaded rod V Dipole/ | ||
- | * Receiver nuts of some kind? How do I mount the rods to the PVC pipe? | + | * Receiver nuts of some kind? How do I mount the rods to the PVC pipe if going with the V dipole? |
* Length of RG58, with SMAs to reduce adapter loss and then into enclosure (I will probably buy a pre-made cable) **£5-£10** depending on laziness) | * Length of RG58, with SMAs to reduce adapter loss and then into enclosure (I will probably buy a pre-made cable) **£5-£10** depending on laziness) | ||
* 2-3m tall PVC mast - Wickes do these in decent lengths, 20mm wide with pipe clips to fit **£5** | * 2-3m tall PVC mast - Wickes do these in decent lengths, 20mm wide with pipe clips to fit **£5** | ||
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===== Enclosure ===== | ===== Enclosure ===== | ||
- | * Enclosure be waterproof | + | * Enclosure |
- | * Pipe clips to mount enclosure to antenna mast | + | * Pipe clips to mount enclosure to antenna mast **£5** |
- | * Cable clips or zip ties/sticky bases to secure things on the inside | + | * Cable clips or zip ties/sticky bases to secure things on the inside |
* Some sort of board stood-off from the enclosure wall, wood or plastic? Or attach stuff to inside wall of box? | * Some sort of board stood-off from the enclosure wall, wood or plastic? Or attach stuff to inside wall of box? | ||
* Grommets or glue/seal for cable entry? Or use mounted sockets? | * Grommets or glue/seal for cable entry? Or use mounted sockets? | ||
* Velcro also an option for holding things inside the box | * Velcro also an option for holding things inside the box | ||
- | A test of my DIY skills, for decent protection the enclosure should be rated highly on the IP scale, I’m thinking | + | A test of my DIY skills, for decent protection the enclosure should be rated highly on the IP scale, I’m thinking |
I think I can use Velcro or cable ties and pads to hold most of it together on the inside. | I think I can use Velcro or cable ties and pads to hold most of it together on the inside. |
2m0iig-automated-wx-station.txt · Last modified: 2022/10/03 00:00 by 2m0iig