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Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

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Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

#11

Post by sliken »

RobCodeSlayer wrote: post #3

This would be amazing for backcountry communication - e.g when backpacking with a large group. Is there any way to enable this for iOS?

Might want to consider the meshtastic, something like a lilygo t-echo. A few advantages over the standard ham radio:

  * Nodes automatically forms a mesh
  * works with any android/IOS widget, simple text message like interface
  * store and forward means all nodes don't have to be online at the same time.
  * Cheap, no soldering, and no ham license required.
  * Can use phones GPS, makes it easy to track other nodes
  * Don't have to program in repeaters, every node can repeat.

Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

#13

Post by sliken »

jrockway wrote: post #7
mschuster91 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even in Germany, hams are allowed to build their own transceivers. I can't imagine the FCC being more strict than that.

Yes, the whole point of having a ham license is the permission to build and use your own equipment. The compromise vs "buy some spectrum for 8 trillion dollars" is that you can't use ham radio for commercial (or musical) purposes.

Heh, ask 10 hams what the whole point of a ham license is and you'll get 10 different answers. I've heard "permission to build" before, but rarely.

Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

#15

Post by runjake »

RobCodeSlayer wrote: post #3

This would be amazing for backcountry communication - e.g when backpacking with a large group. Is there any way to enable this for iOS?

I'd recommend something like a couple $25 Quansheng radios instead. More reliability, more range, less finicky, more durable and about the same size as this add-on.

(For some reason the radios are showing as $30 right now)

https://www.amazon.com/QUANSHENG-200Three-Frequency-Receivin...

Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

#16

Post by vvanders »

sliken wrote: post #11
RobCodeSlayer wrote: post #3

This would be amazing for backcountry communication - e.g when backpacking with a large group. Is there any way to enable this for iOS?

Might want to consider the meshtastic, something like a lilygo t-echo. A few advantages over the standard ham radio: * Nodes automatically forms a mesh * works with any android/IOS widget, simple text message like interface * store and forward means all nodes don't have to be online at the same time. * Cheap, no soldering, and no ham license required. * Can use phones GPS, makes it easy to track other nodes * Don't h…

Meshtastic(Lora) also doesn't require a license since it's in the ISM bands.

Lora also has really good FEC and other things that make it work incredibly well(at the cost of throughput). Honestly I wish we saw more things like that in the ham bands(other than FT8).

There's a couple Lora radios out there that are USB serial based and can be controlled with AT commands that would let you so something similar if you want to build up from scratch.

Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

#17

Post by sidewndr46 »

vvanders wrote: post #16
sliken wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Might want to consider the meshtastic, something like a lilygo t-echo. A few advantages over the standard ham radio: * Nodes automatically forms a mesh * works with any android/IOS widget, simple text message like interface * store and forward means all nodes don't have to be online at the same time. * Cheap, no soldering, and no ham license required. * Can use phones GPS, makes it easy to track other nodes * Don't h…

Meshtastic(Lora) also doesn't require a license since it's in the ISM bands. Lora also has really good FEC and other things that make it work incredibly well(at the cost of throughput). Honestly I wish we saw more things like that in the ham bands(other than FT8). There's a couple Lora radios out there that are USB serial based and can be controlled with AT commands that would let you so something similar if you want…

This isn't true, it is not exclusive to the ISM bands. You can run it on any band you choose so long as you have a license to do so. Case in point: the ham bands

Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

#19

Post by sidewndr46 »

jpm_sd wrote: post #5

Very neat project. How are you dealing with FCC certification?

As long as the end user assembles 51% of it, you don't need it. You self-attest that the device is in compliance. You also have to perform an "RF study" but there is no requirement for documentation on that.

Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver

#20

Post by cactacea »

capitainenemo wrote: post #8
RobCodeSlayer wrote: post #3

This would be amazing for backcountry communication - e.g when backpacking with a large group. Is there any way to enable this for iOS?

I wonder how good the range would be. I was thinking that even if I didn't have the appropriate license, having something like this in a pocket on my backpack would at least give me one more signaling option in an emergency. I could deal with the fines later.

Generally speaking, line of sight. Assuming you're in the US, the FCC wouldn't come after you for using this in an emergency situation unless you were being absolutely egregious about stomping on other emergency comms, even then I seriously doubt you'd see a fine.

Having said that you're basically going to need enough knowledge to pass the test to make use of this anyway. Why not just take the test and be legal?

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