Shiawassee Amateur Radio Association [SARA]

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Shiawassee County HSMM/BBHN

Highspeed Multimedia [HSMM] ~ Broadband Ham Network [BBHN] efforts are have been declining in recent years. The activity was not a 'club' sponsored activiity and the group shifted to using a cabled high speed switch for Field Day efforts. The goup members provide the operating site networking support for SARA's activities. Usually recently we have been using stations, each using a computer logging program on the 'linked system' for smooth operation. Networking details may be captured here to assist members in keeping things coordinated.

SARA had previously utilized the HSMM/BBHN hardware for Field Day logging and linking of the various station positions. It was a great way of keeping things synced up in the field. We did not continue to expand into a 'county-wide' BBHN emergency network. We decided we did not have enough resources to make it functional. We have thus closed this topic (for the foreseeable future). We have no current-future plans regarding the HSMM network.

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Raspberry Pi [RPi] ~ References

A large amount of Raspberry Pi information links:

• RPi Quickstart Guide ~ The Raspberry Pi organizations 'official' guide to get started learning RPi. Great for first time and begining users.
• RPi Projects ~ Many 'project' concepts and implementations.
• RPi Orgs Documentation ~ Documentation on the various RPis.
• RPi Forums ~ A place to voice your questions and expect answers to be provided.
• MagPi Magazine issues and RPi books (Free). ~ The complete pdf file downloads area for RPi topics (free). Includes Beginners books; Essentials "topic" - where topic is Bash (Command Line), C, Camera, etc.; Link is 01 through 86, Try a web link to https://magpi.raspberrypi.org/issues/XX/pdf {where XX is two digit issue number).
  Use The MagPi Magazine for issues after number 86.
• HackSpace Magazine Issues Page ~ Downloadable Issues of "HackSpace" magazines (Free).
• Windows on RPi ~ Run Windows (Uses RPi 4).
• Genesee County ARC Presentation - April 2018 ~ Microcontroller/Microcomputer Presentation by WB8GUS.

That is a couple of years worth of reading on RPi...GREAT 'FREE Information"! Enjoy.

MAG-PI Hint: The link to the past issues has changed several times. The current 'best' link is (mid 2021): Mag-Pi Back Issues Listing Site.

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Arduino / AD9850 / AD9851 / Si5351 Projects & References

If you want to start working with Arduinos then the following may interest you.

• Arduino IDE 2.0 Page look for the Arduino Beta 2.0 beta {2.0.0-beta.5 version}. GitHub for Arduino IDE 2.0 - Lots of information. Then, checkout the Arduino IDE blog 2.0 to understand the new environment.
• Arduino / AD9850 VFO Project {SARA page} ~ Take off from BITX-40 to a DDS VFO project.
• RPi / Arduino / Linux Tutorials - Top Tech Boys Site - Great Learning site for beginners.
• Adafruit Web Site - Projects and Tutorials (and purchase parts).
• Virtual Breadboard (Windows) ~ Simulate your bread board on a Windows computer. Great for checking out Arduino projects.
• You Tube Videos of Virtual Breadboard ~ Good information ... I like: Create PCB Shield Breakout form Virtual Breadboard files.
• Using Python for Arduino - lessons ~ Python Coding for Arduino usage.

Amateur Packet Reporting System [APRS] Shiawassee County, MI and GPS

• APRS Beginners Guide ~ KC8ETW ~ Project to make small APRS Tracker Boxes.
• "u-center" Windows (GPS) ~ GPS Development / Evaluation Software.

SARA's Computer Hints

Not a "large list of hints", but a few items that are handy when needed. After 40 years of personal computer usage for a large varity of uses, there are a couple of things that have become personal favorites and needing to place items in an easy retrive location, I [WB8GUS] decided to store these here for now. You may enjoy these as well!

• Operating Systems and Languages - There are many Operating Systems and many Computer Languages ~ way too many to cover in these pages, however if you start searching the internet you usually will be 'overwelmed' by the quantity of responses. I suggest you start by reading several books on your topic. First use beginners level material, then expand into some simple tutorials and finally proceed to the complex issues and parts your are trying to understand. I have had good result finding free books and tutorials on a website: LinuxLinks.com. It has 'many' series on various computer systems and computer languages {not just Linux topics} ~ go to the 'Series' tab from their home page or click here. Scroll down for books and tutorials, look over the 'tools' and other links. There are multiple paths, but I estimate they have links to a few hundred 'free' computer books each a wealth of knowledge on many, perhaps 40+ computer languages. A reader's storehouse of information. Add a few internet searches for added details and you can learn as much as you have time for! Moving to the tutorials will quickly get you actually using a new language and it's nuances. You learn what you practice, type the code, debug for errors and insure you understand the concepts - there is no other path that will work. You can read forever, but that is NOT learning. This approach is the quick path to learning many new skills and is the only one for Operting Systems and Programming Languages.
• 'azzcardfile' I do not think I could effectively use a Windows computer, if it is lacking this program. It allows you to creates a file filled with cards (think of 3x5" flip cards). You place information on these cards and can later search and access the information (finding the specific topic/card you want). You can place pictures, hyperlinks, text, videos, audio, {or any computer information} on these cards. I have a few hundred files and some with over 2000 cards (probably over 500,000 cards total). I have one file loaded with cards listing what card files I have. Literally hundreds of thousands of tidbits of information at my fingertips. Web Site Links and You Tube Video Links seem to be the most favorites right now - but it is dymanic and change is the 'normal' with the data I collect. See AZZ Cardfile ~ A Great/Simple/Free Personal Information Manager. If you find it useful, purchase the license.
• USB Unifying Receiver ~ Connecting up to six (6) devices to your computer on one single dongle. It quickly becomes a great method for connecting resources to your computer system. The use of mice, keyboards, etc. really hurts if you use a dongle (USB port) for each device being connected. The most used standard {currently} is a 'logitech' solution using a 'USB Unifying reciever' [dongle] which each can handle up to six devices on a single computer USB port. (Dongles range from about $3.00 to $15.00 online).

  For Windows the "logitech site" works great - Logitech Unifying Software it covers Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP (or older) all are supported.

  Unsure on MACs, but you can search online.

  Linux seems to be best handled by 'Solaar' device manager: GitHub Solaar Link. Yes on my Raspberry Pi computers! Additional technical help is at Linux and Unifying Receiver ~Tech Stuff.

  The list of available devices grows as devices are added and they 'always' seem to find some bugs to squash, so keeping these drivers updated seems like a vary good practice. Watch this once Windows 11 comes out, unsure if it will be impacted - so be alert. See: 'omg!ubuntu' site.

• Network Speed You 'N-E-E-D' fast network speed! Today's world places many demands on your computer network (determining what is actully 'on your network' can be a starting point. The list can contain, all computers, smartphones, tablets, televisions, smart speakers, video doorbells, refrigerators, ranges, thermostats, ham radio equipment, etc., etc. Note: 'multiple users' can quickly add up to many, many more devices.) These all must share your single network provider's datastream. Add WiFi connections and the issues multiply. It is your job to make sure it is as fast as possible for your network. Video chat applications are very intensive (like Zoom) and perhaps that five plus year old equipment needs to be replaced. Buts lets do some checking first. Watch this YouTube for some background: Your ISP is lying! Monitor You Internet with a Rpi. {8:04].

  Where is "your speed blocking" issue? Lets find out... issue one: is it a WiFi or Network issue?

  TIP: Restart your computer (device) and close any application you do not actually require for our test (very important for video issues). If the issue is WiFi, you need to get the devices 'very close' to the WiFi equipment you are using. You need a strong/reliable connection for running the test (in my case I used a temporary CAT cable and disabled WiFi for a base line and then restarted WiFi (disconnected CAT cable) and run the test.. Turn the WiFi on your device off and then back on. Once you are back, visit the web site speedtest.net The test should take just a few seconds to run. Make note of the upload and download speed reesults. If possible get everyone else to turn off their devices/computers when trying this test. If the speeds at a 'normal' distance for your equipment position then when the equipment is "close", you have a WiFi problem (and not your network ISP area). If test results are about the same, then you probably have an ISP/internet network issue. This will guide you towards what possible solutions may be appropriate.

  So what is a 'good' speed? You will need about 10 megabits per second (mbps) download and 5 mbps) upload for video applications (higher is always better). When other people are using the system, speeds need to be even higher. Under these conditions perhaps 25 mbps download and 10 mbps upload would be desired.

  If your numbers are 'low'. Insure you have a newer router a two band router will use the faster 5 GHz (vs 2.4 GHz) when it works reliably. Think about a longer cable between the modem and the router. Consider a move for the router to a more central location in your house. You may consider a "MESH" router system (these started about 2016), the Amazon eero router ($199.00 for a three pack), the Google Nest WiFi ($269.00 for router and one point), or a Netgear Orbi ($179.99 for router and 1 Satellite). If you invested in a fancy Apple router a few years back, alas, Apple officially grounded its AirPort WiFi system in 2018, time to look elsewhere for good support.

  Still lacking on speed? you could have an issue with your ISP/modem.

  TIP: Turn off and Restart your modem (wait at least ten seconds here). You want to reset all of the memory and get a true fresh start.

  Try contacting your ISP and see if they can update your router to a faster unit. Perhaps consider paying for higher speeds from them. Is there more than one provider in your area?

• Network Security & IP Info -- get some great information on your Small Office Home Office [SOHO] Network at What Is My IP?. Speed tests, Port scanning, more.