Ultimate Linux Amateur Radio Interface

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<color red>**[Update 15 May 2021]**</color> 
**ULARI Radio Interface** device was discontinued because the manufacturer of Linux-based boards for these devices (NanoPi Duo modules) stopped manufacturing them without any earlier notice. Please check out my [[hardware_eco_ri|ULARI ECO Radio Interface]] for similar functionality.

====== ULARI Radio Interface Hardware ======

ULARI Radio Interface is based on NanoPi Duo 256 MB module from FriendlyARM. The device consists of a microprocessor module and a motherboard with all necessary external components. The whole system includes:

  * **Radio 6-pin minidin connector (Microsat standard, WX3in1-like pinout)**,
  * A 100 Mbit Ethernet connector with surge protectors,
  * Two USB connectors with surge protectors, 5V/1A total current consumption (suitable for moderm LTE modems),
  * Wifi chip with external antenna,
  * RS-232 serial port (via 6-pin minidin connector),
  * DS18B20 thermometer connector,
  * Four leds informing about device operation,
  * SD CARD connector for operating system image.

>This is not a standalone radio transceiver. You need a proper VHF or UHF amateur radio station to use the device for packet transmission and reception.

=== Technical parameters ===

  * Dimensions (without connectors): 100x94x32mm,
  * Weight: 240g
  * Housing material: aluminium, PCB panels,

  * Radio connector: minidin 6-pin female (WX3in1-compatible cables),
  * Wifi connector: SMA female (antenna included),
  * Power connector: round 5.5/2.1mm (with plus at center),
  * Thermometer connector: terminal with screws,
  * Serial port connector: minidin 6-pin female (1 serial port),

  * Supply voltage: 8-14 VDC,
  * Power consumption (at 12V): 150mA (*)

(*) Ethernet connected, Wifi disabled, no USB and serial current sink, direwolf daemon running with default settings.

=== ULARI Radio Interface photos ===

{{:ulari_interface_01.jpg?300|ULARI Radio Interface front view}}
{{:ulari_interface_02.jpg?300|ULARI Radio Interface rear view}}
{{:ulari_interface_03.jpg?300|ULARI Radio Interface PCB view}}
{{:nanopiduo.jpg?200|ULARI Radio Interface NanoPi Duo module}}

Radio 6-pin minidin socket is connected to microprocessor audio peripheral via a suitable analog frontend including necessary signal filtering, amplification and high frequency supression.

=== NanoPi Duo pinout ===

NanoPi Duo pinout diagram with with description of used pins.

{{:nano_pinout.jpg?|NanoPi Duo pinout diagram}}

=== Rear panel RS-232 port pinout ===

RS-232 port can be used to connect any serial port devices with RS-232 voltage levels. Devices with low current consumption can also be powered from this connector. [[http://microsat.com.pl/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=171|GPS-RS232/Microsat/2]] is compatible and works nice.

{{:minidin.png?|Minidin 6 pinout}}

  * Pin 1 – 5V output, do not short-circuit, max. current 100mA,
  * Pin 2 – GND,
  * Pin 3 – hard-wired to negative voltage for WS-2300/WS-2350 weather station support,
  * Pin 4 – RS-232 Port 2 TXD,
  * Pin 5 – RS-232 Port 2 RXD,
  * Pin 6 – not used.

=== Front panel RADIO port pinout ===

RADIO port pinout is the same as in Microsat WX3in1 and PLXTracker/PLXDigi line of devices. Cables can be used interchangeably.

{{:minidin.png?|Minidin 6 pinout}}

  * Pin 1 - not connected,
  * Pin 2 - APRS audio output from the device to the microphone input of the radio. This output also acts as a PTT by shorting pin to ground through a 2k2 resistor - an option for portable radios that do not have a separate PTT input (selectable in configuration software, 2k2 resistor is built-in),
  * Pin 3 - not connected,
  * Pin 4 - APRS audio input from radio to WX3in1,
  * Pin 5 - Ground pin,
  * Pin 6 - PTT output - if the external PTT output is selected in device configuration, this pin is shorted to ground while broadcasting.

=== ULARI test equipment ===

As an example of an operational ULARI Radio Interface device let's look at my test equipment:

{{:operation.jpg?direct&300|ULARI Radio Interface test environment}}

And some details about the equipment:

  * This ULARI Radio Interface connects to Motorola GM-300 via front panel mic/speaker connector,
  * It acts as an I-Gate,
  * It connects to the internet via Huawei E3372h-153 modem in hi-link mode (hi-link modems show as a virtual USB network card for operating system, which simplifies things a lot),
  * It acts as a Wifi access-point for my workshop, providing internet connection via LTE modem,
  * Despite of the fact that 3G/LTE modems don't have a public IP in Poland, it is accessible from every place in a world thanks to OpenVPN technology working on top of Linux operating system.

=== ULARI as an APRS Tracker ===

And with a little more command-line work and my [[http://microsat.com.pl/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=171|GPS-RS232/Microsat/2]] receiver connected to rear panel RS-232 port, it can also become:
  * An APRS Tracker with Smartbeaconing (more info here: [[aprstracker|GPS and APRS Tracker settings]]).

{{:tracker.jpg?300|ULARI Radio Interface path on aprs.fi}}
Ultimate Linux Amateur Radio Interface

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