I use an older Chromebook, Dave. I removed Chrome OS and replaced it with GalliumOS, a Linux distro for Chromebooks. You can get an older model Chromebook for really cheap these days, and that gives you a display, battery, keyboard, trackpad, processor, and multiple digital mode apps, all nicely self-contained. And you can use it for other things, too. The only thing you'll have to add is a soundcard dongle, because the incredibly stupid audio system in most Chromebooks is too braindead to work on digital ham apps. Even a really fancy one will cost you only around $30, and there are far cheaper ones that will do. That's the dongle, not the Chromebook. I paid about $120 for this one about 5 years ago. I replaced the Chromebook with a better, faster one with more RAM, a microSD slot that doesn't stick half an inch out of the side of the machine, and USB-C.
I've got WSJT-X and JS8Call on it already, some logging programs, and things like Echolink. The MDS Phaser I use it with is set up for 40m FT8 and JS8, but I can switch the JS8 to any frequency I want and run other modes if I feel like it. Perhaps some Slow-Scan images, who knows? I've seen some very fancy Raspberry Pi builds for it, though, if you want to go that route. You'd have to add a display, keyboard, mouse, and power. OR you can set it up headless and run it with a tablet or even your phone over a remote access program like VNC. But that adds even more expense unless you already have the tablet or phone. I'd still recommend a wireless keyboard, though. Typing on a phone or tablet can be a pain, and there's some really nice Bluetooth keyboards out there now, even folding ones you can stow really easily. I really like the Phaser. It's more challenging on FT8 than a full QRO station, of course, and it's VERY packable. It makes a fantastic field rig for working from parks, or probably for summit operation, though I don't do that. There's few summits you can take a wheelchair to. hi hi -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 73, Gwen, NG3P On Sun, Jun 7, 2020 at 10:33 PM David Gilbert <ab7e...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks to Ray and Gwen for the tip, and that indeed looks like a really > nice low cost way to go. But I already have a KX2 and I would still need > to bring along a notebook or small laptop computer. I could certainly > homebrew a combined unit consisting of the MDS Phasor, a Raspberry Pi, and > a 12 volt display ... total cost would probably be less than $200. I just > think that a self-contained unit would be inherently smaller, and probably > a good seller if Elecraft ever was inclined to offer one, especially if it > provided multiple bands. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > > > On Sun, Jun 7, 2020 at 6:50 PM Wayne Burdick <n...@elecraft.com> wrote: > > > My pleasure, Paul. Feel free to repost elsewhere. > > > > And keep on truckin' :) > > > > 73, > > Wayne > > N6KR > > > > > > > On Jun 7, 2020, at 3:09 PM, Paul Gacek <w6...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > Wayne > > > > > > Thanks for promoting wilderness radio including SOTA and I hope you > > don’t mind but I copied your entire message into a post on the global > SOTA > > Reflector (watering hole). > > > > > > > > > https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/wayne-burdick-elecraft-promoting-sota-cw-and-ssb/22983 > > > > > > You captured the essence and feeling of mountain top radio. I love it > > and never cease to get a kick out of what you describe around the moment > of > > the first contact (which includes a mountain of anticipation as to > whether > > there will be a first contact). > > > > > > Of my almost 250 mountain top activations and 40 or 50 NPOTA > > activations, I had either my KX3 or KX2 and neither have ever let me > down. > > My antennas have failed, my coax has failed and my ability to spot (I’m > SSB > > so not RBN for me) has in a hollowing gale atop a cold mountain had be > > retreat and fail but never the radio. > > > > > > Thanks Wayne (and your team) for all you have done for the /P brigade. > > > > > > Paul > > > W6PNG/M0SNA > > > www.nomadic.blog > > > > > > > > >> On Jun 7, 2020, at 2:35 PM, David Gilbert <ab7e...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >> > > >> I suggested this about a year ago and got mostly dismissive replies > from > > >> the group, but I still think that a small, dedicated FT8 rig (and > > similar > > >> modes) would be an attractive offering. Something the size of a KX2 > or > > >> maybe just a little larger, with a modest display and separate > > >> processors/memory for the rig and the digital modes. It's entirely > > >> possible to run FT8 from a Raspberry Pi and an inexpensive display, > but > > an > > >> all-in-one rig would be so much more practical. The rig portion > itself > > >> could be MUCH simpler (and therefore less expensive) than a KX2. > > >> > > >> 73, > > >> Dave AB7E > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> On Sun, Jun 7, 2020 at 11:32 AM Wayne Burdick <n...@elecraft.com> > > wrote: > > >> > > >>> Every day, hams worldwide, young and old, summit mountains and hills > > >>> carrying the lightest possible load. They earn every calorie burned, > > and > > >>> are rewarded with vistas most people never see. Like all adventurers, > > they > > >>> proudly display nature's merit badges: scrapes, bruises, and stings. > > >>> > > >>> And then they go back for more. The number of peaks "bagged" by some > > >>> operators is staggering, as is their level of fitness and endurance. > > >>> > > >>> In addition to those formally pursuing peaks (via SOTA, or Summits on > > the > > >>> Air), there are many others who operate casually from hiking trails > and > > >>> parks. Some operate while they walk (pedestrian mobile, HT-style or > > >>> HFpack). Some operate bicycle-mobile. > > >>> > > >>> I'm writing this out of admiration for, and in solidarity with, all > of > > >>> those who commune equally with nature and the ionosphere. > > >>> > > >>> * * * > > >>> > > >>> There's one thing these hams have in common. > > >>> > > >>> Upon arriving at their destination -- tired, sweaty, hungry, elated, > or > > >>> some combination of these -- they hope to make a few QSOs. To > > experience a > > >>> synthesis of the outdoors and the radio art. > > >>> > > >>> But it isn't always easy. > > >>> > > >>> While many hams have transitioned to computer-based digital modes > such > > as > > >>> FT8, others have not. This includes ultralight travelers, as well as > > those > > >>> who seek the satisfaction of home-building simple gear and putting it > > on > > >>> the air. > > >>> > > >>> For portable operators in particular, simplicity and pragmatics often > > >>> dictate the use of CW and SSB. It may not be desirable or even > > possible to > > >>> lug a laptop in your pack, find a place to set it up, and attach its > > myriad > > >>> cables. You might struggle to see a washed-out LCD screen in direct > > >>> sunlight. High winds might capture an open laptop and sweep your gear > > away. > > >>> > > >>> Many, instead, choose traditional modes. These allow for small, > > integrated > > >>> gear that can often be hand-held. And there's the bonus of immediacy > > such > > >>> modes offer, without mediation, without constraints on duration or > > content. > > >>> > > >>> To put yourself in their shoes, imagine that you just trekked several > > >>> miles, much of it uphill. To accommodate the need for food, water, > > >>> clothing, and safety gear, you've brought a minimum amount of radio > > >>> equipment. It might be a 3-ounce CW QRP radio; an HF-VHF-UHF > portable, > > an > > >>> all-band/all-mode HF HT (like a KX2), or your latest home-brew > > transceiver. > > >>> > > >>> When you arrive at your peak, you survey the spot for a suitable > > operating > > >>> position. It might be a large, flat rock; a patch of ground not > > infested > > >>> with ants and spiders; or a shady spot with a downslope in a favored > > >>> direction. You might climb a tree. Shelter beneath a ridge. Or dangle > > your > > >>> legs and antenna from a cliff. > > >>> > > >>> Speaking of which, deployment of antennas presents another challenge. > > You > > >>> could spin-cast or toss a wire, hoping for a good landing, without > > snags. > > >>> You might wedge the feet of a tripod into rocks, then attach a small > > >>> magnetic loop. Or you might use a simple telescoping whip. > > >>> > > >>> All that effort. Now it's time to turn on the radio. > > >>> > > >>> Virtually every time I've gone on such an outing, I've made contacts. > > At > > >>> times I've been lucky. Maybe it's operating experience: knowing who > to > > >>> call. > > >>> > > >>> But sometimes there's no one around on CW or SSB. Is it propagation? > > Or is > > >>> everyone swimming in the digital sea, not paying attention to you, on > > your > > >>> remote island? > > >>> > > >>> You can spot yourself on RBN (reverse beacon network), or prearrange > > >>> skeds. But what many of us hope for is that burst of contacts. > Feeling > > like > > >>> a rare DX station. Feeling that slap-on-the-back-at-a-distance that > > says: > > >>> > > >>> "We hear you." > > >>> > > >>> * * * > > >>> > > >>> You can, of course, partake of this experience yourself. > > >>> > > >>> Whether you do or not, though: Please consider listening for those > who > > do. > > >>> Formal activations are announced in advance. See for example: > > >>> > > >>> https://www.sota.org.uk/ > > >>> > > >>> The band segments used are very small, or even a single frequency, > > making > > >>> it easy to monitor them while you engage in other activity around the > > shack > > >>> or on the air. You can use SOTA spotting websites, or just keep a > > receiver > > >>> on one of the watering holes. (The Elecraft K3/K3S/KX2/KX3 make this > > easy, > > >>> with built-in scanning. You can set the rig up for either muted or > live > > >>> audio scans, the latter making it easier to hear weak signals when > > they pop > > >>> up.) > > >>> > > >>> One final thought. In this pandemic era, some of us have had more > time > > to > > >>> get on the air, and some of us have had more chance to get outside. > > >>> > > >>> Let's do both. At the same time. > > >>> > > >>> 73, > > >>> Wayne > > >>> N6KR > > >>> > > >>> > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to ard...@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com