Amateur Radio and SDR
Transcript of Amateur Radio and SDR
Amateur Radio and SDR
Aaron Poffenberger
2016-06-11 Sat
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Outline
1 Introduction
2 What is Amateur Radio?
3 Notable Accomplishments by Amateur Radio
4 A Few Radio Notes
5 Privileges – What Can a Ham Do?
6 Getting a License
7 Hardware – What Do I Need?
8 SDR
9 Conclusion
10 License and Credits
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Introduction - Background
Software developer17+ years professionally30+ otherwiseSecurity softwareDesign and implementsecure APIs
IT BackgroundBoeing AerospaceOperationsISP (dial-up land)Consulting
Software DevelopmentPentaSafe TechnologiesNetIQTheAnimenetwork.comBRS Labs
CISSP 2005+BSD userAmateur radio enthusiast
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What is Amateur Radio?
Radio service operated by amateurs, i.e. non-professionalNot for monetary gainTypically a real personClubs can organize for amateurs to work together
Amateur Radio ServiceEstablished by the International Telecommunications UnionRegulated by international agreement
Regulations implemented through harmonizing of laws bynational governments
Three regions:Region 1 (Europe, Middle East, CIS, Africa)Region 2 (Americas)Region 3 (South and East Asia, Pacific Ocean)
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When Did Amateur Radio Start?
Officially, early 1900sHowever, amateurs have operated since the beginning
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Why "Ham"?
Believed to have begun as pejorative because amateurs were"ham fisted" on their key (Morse Code)Adopted by amateurs as badge of honor
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Notable Accomplishments by Amateur Radio
One of the oldest radio associations in the world, AmericanRadio Relay League (ARRL)
Begun in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim
Numerous satellite launchesLed development of packet radioLong-distance transmitting around the world using various
Skip propagationMoonbounce (Earth-Moon-Earth EME)Meteor scatter
Development of Slow-Scan and Fast-Scan TelevisionShortwave radio equipment to send television images usingnormal voice bandwidth
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A Few Radio Notes
Mhz vs wavelength
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Privileges – What Can a Ham Do?
Transmit in numerous bandsDepends on license class
Transmit using various modes of communicationVoiceImageText and Data
Continuous Wave (CW) – Morse CodePacket RadioPhase-Shift KeyingSpread SpectrumDigital
Operate stations in other countriesIf reciprocal licensing in placeLimited by country laws, not US
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3 License classes in US:TechnicianGeneralAmateur Extra
Technician35-multiple-guess-question examNo Morse code requiredVoice privilegesVarious modes allowedLimited in high-frequency bands
General35-multiple-guess-question examAll privileges of TechnicianAccess to 83% of all amateur HF bands
Amateur Extra50-multiple-guess-question examAll privileges allowed to amateurs
License good for 10 yearsAaron Poffenberger Amateur Radio and SDR 2016-06-11 Sat 10 / 21
Renewal fee, no additional testing
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Hardware – What Do I Need?
Technically, nothing. . . but that’s no funA receiver, better than nothing, but still no funA transceiver. . . ahh
A handy talkie like the BaoFengA mobile rig – not (!!!!) a CBA portable rigA beast
Handy TalkiesBattery poweredTypically 1 to 3 bands (70 cm, 2 m, 6 m)1 to 5 watts100 or so memoriesDTMF keypad
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Hardware Other
AntennaAntenna tunerComputerSky’s the limit
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SDR
Software-Defined RadioReplaces purpose-specific circuits with general purposecomputing and software algorithms
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Getting Started
Shoot for Technician class license firstLearn some basic electronicsLearn how to use Ohm’s LawMemorize some band-plan information
Get a study guideARRL books very good helpfulNumerous online resourceshttp://hamexam.org
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Once You Pass
Get an inexpensive radioNo easier way to lose interest than to not have a radioBaoFeng handy talkies are cheap (~$35.00 on Amazon)
Look for a clubJoin ARRL
QST Magazine has tons of info and articles
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SDR
Get an RTL SDRAbout $20.00
Get a HackRF, BladeRF or AirSpyGet the software
rtl-sdrgqrxGNU Radio
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Questions
Questions - You have them, I may have answers
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Contact Details
Aaron [email protected]://akpoff.com@akpoffThis presentation, look for blog post on http://akpoff.comKG5DQJ
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Ham Radio Clubs and License Info
FCCARRLARRL Club FinderGordon WestHamExamQST
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Radio Gear
BaoFengHouston Amateur Radio SupplyIcomKenwoodMotorolaYaesu
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SDR People and Resources
rtl-sdrGreat Scott Gadgets
Michael OssmannHackRFYardStick
BladeRFAirSpy
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License and Credits
Copyright Aaron PoffenbergerAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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