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2m0iig-automated-wx-station [2022/10/02 23:49] – [Power] 2m0iig2m0iig-automated-wx-station [2022/10/03 00:00] (current) – [Enclosure] 2m0iig
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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://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/sdr-receivers/smart.html) **£30-£40**   * 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://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/sdr-receivers/smart.html) **£30-£40**
   * (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://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001627969372.html **£15 ish**   * (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://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001627969372.html **£15 ish**
-  * 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/bandpass filter for 137-138 MHz that will work over bias-T or USB, so I have options depending on where I mount the enclosure box with respect to the feedpoint of the antenna. The LNA/BPF should be close to the antenna, requiring a bias-T, but I’d like to put the box closer to the ground so if I put the amp/filter in the enclosure I can use USB easily.+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/bandpass filter for 137-138 MHz that will work over bias-T or USB, so I have options depending on where I mount the enclosure box with respect to the feedpoint of the antenna. The LNA/BPF should be close to the antenna feedpoint, requiring a bias-T (or a 1-2M micro USB lead, i guess...), but I’d like to put the box closer to the ground so if I put the amp/filter in the enclosure I can use USB easily - but how much will that degrade performance?
  
-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 outside and be waterproofed.
 ===== Software ===== ===== Software =====
  
   * The barest Raspbian OS install possible, probably  [[https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/|Raspbian Lite]]   * The barest Raspbian OS install possible, probably  [[https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/|Raspbian Lite]]
   * [[https://github.com/jekhokie/raspberry-noaa-v2|NOAA-Raspberry-v2]] script with any mods found   * [[https://github.com/jekhokie/raspberry-noaa-v2|NOAA-Raspberry-v2]] script with any mods found
 +  * [[https://github.com/altillimity/AltiWx|AltiWX]] is also an option for capturing more than one satellite at once
   * 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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   * 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 IP68. This gets pricey, so I need to make sure I make the build relatively small and compact to save money.+A test of my DIY skills, for decent protection the enclosure should be rated highly on the IP scale, I’m thinking IP67/68. This gets pricey, so I need to make sure I make the build relatively small and compact to save money.
  
 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.1664754547.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/10/02 23:49 by 2m0iig