Inexpensive tablet for SDR + CAT control to portable rig
Inspired by some Twitter traffic from WD9EWK & others discussing the success of inexpensive Windows 8.1 tablets used for SDR, I decided to purchase one last week. Now that these tablets are running full Windows and not the RT version, I felt it was time to do a little experimentation. I opted for an 8" tablet with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage at an amazing price of $79. The tablet has two USB ports and Bluetooth.
HDSDR seems to be running fine on my tablet in parallel with SatPC32. At the moment I have not noticed any performance issues monitoring signals with HDSDR on the tablet paired with the FUNcube Dongle Pro+.
I've installed Virtual Serial Ports so that I can allow the two applications to communicate via CAT commands.
My next goal is to add a Bluetooth adapter to my Yaesu FT-817's CAT port. Through the Bluetooth adapter, the tablet will see the radio as a new serial port. I will then configure it as the second transceiver in SatPC32. This not only eliminates a cable between the radio and the tablet, it also keeps one of my USB ports available while using less battery. I've already tested SatPC32+HSDR with this combination of FT-817+FUNcube Dongle Pro+ for many months on a several "standard" PC environments with great success.
The end goal will be a fully computer controlled, very portable, SDR-capable satellite station.
I'm always looking for other ideas how I might improve or do things differently. Anyone else trying this configuration?
73 Clayton W5PFG
Wow.
That sounds awesome, Clayton!
I look forward to the demo video.
-- bag
KL7CN/W6
On Feb 23, 2015, at 17:49, Clayton Coleman kayakfishtx@gmail.com wrote:
Inspired by some Twitter traffic from WD9EWK & others discussing the success of inexpensive Windows 8.1 tablets used for SDR, I decided to purchase one last week. Now that these tablets are running full Windows and not the RT version, I felt it was time to do a little experimentation. I opted for an 8" tablet with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage at an amazing price of $79. The tablet has two USB ports and Bluetooth.
HDSDR seems to be running fine on my tablet in parallel with SatPC32. At the moment I have not noticed any performance issues monitoring signals with HDSDR on the tablet paired with the FUNcube Dongle Pro+.
I've installed Virtual Serial Ports so that I can allow the two applications to communicate via CAT commands.
My next goal is to add a Bluetooth adapter to my Yaesu FT-817's CAT port. Through the Bluetooth adapter, the tablet will see the radio as a new serial port. I will then configure it as the second transceiver in SatPC32. This not only eliminates a cable between the radio and the tablet, it also keeps one of my USB ports available while using less battery. I've already tested SatPC32+HSDR with this combination of FT-817+FUNcube Dongle Pro+ for many months on a several "standard" PC environments with great success.
The end goal will be a fully computer controlled, very portable, SDR-capable satellite station.
I'm always looking for other ideas how I might improve or do things differently. Anyone else trying this configuration?
73 Clayton W5PFG _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Clayton,
You're taking the next logical step beyond what I've been doing. I have not tried running SatPC32 and HDSDR at the same time during a pass. The little tablets should be able to do that, since they are using a quad-core CPU - although with limitations (a 64-bit CPU, running a 32-bit version of Windows 8.1).
I have been reading through many online posts, trying to determine if I should sacrifice one of my 8-inch tablets to an experiment - installing and (hopefully) running Linux. Unlike with the Windows 8.1 supplied on my two tablets (HP Stream 8, Winbook TW800), I could install a 64-bitversion of Linux to go with the 64-bit CPU. Just as I currently do with the Windows 8.1 installed on these tablets, I would leave a large micro SD card in the tablet with some of the Linux installation put on that micro SD card. My main concern would be whether or not all of the components in these tablets has support under Linux.
Good luck with your plans to use the new tablet for working satellites!
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 1:49 AM, Clayton Coleman kayakfishtx@gmail.com wrote:
Inspired by some Twitter traffic from WD9EWK & others discussing the success of inexpensive Windows 8.1 tablets used for SDR, I decided to purchase one last week. Now that these tablets are running full Windows and not the RT version, I felt it was time to do a little experimentation. I opted for an 8" tablet with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage at an amazing price of $79. The tablet has two USB ports and Bluetooth.
HDSDR seems to be running fine on my tablet in parallel with SatPC32. At the moment I have not noticed any performance issues monitoring signals with HDSDR on the tablet paired with the FUNcube Dongle Pro+.
I've installed Virtual Serial Ports so that I can allow the two applications to communicate via CAT commands.
My next goal is to add a Bluetooth adapter to my Yaesu FT-817's CAT port. Through the Bluetooth adapter, the tablet will see the radio as a new serial port. I will then configure it as the second transceiver in SatPC32. This not only eliminates a cable between the radio and the tablet, it also keeps one of my USB ports available while using less battery. I've already tested SatPC32+HSDR with this combination of FT-817+FUNcube Dongle Pro+ for many months on a several "standard" PC environments with great success.
The end goal will be a fully computer controlled, very portable, SDR-capable satellite station.
I'm always looking for other ideas how I might improve or do things differently. Anyone else trying this configuration?
73 Clayton W5PFG
participants (3)
-
Bryan Green -
Clayton Coleman -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)