Project notes and build logs for ELEKITSORPARTS hardware experiments, firmware work, and practical maker electronics.
As the CQWW CW draws near, I would like to see how the HF propagation goes on based on my local area. I would also want to see whether my antenna could pick up some remote stations from the noisy RF. I am an apartment dweller, living in the downtown area of a city. I […]
Setting Up a CW Skimmer Server by a Hermes-Lite2 SDR Read More »
Overview Have you ever wondered how far a UV band antenna could reach if it were mounted 1000 meters above the ground? It is a fascinating question for radio amateurs and technical hobbyists alike. Let us break down the science and look at what is practical in real operating conditions. First, 1000 meters is no
How Far Can a 1000-Meter-High UV Band Antenna Communicate? Read More »
Overview Days ago, I built a ground elevated vertical based on a 5.6m whip for SOTA and POTA activations. As the radials went above the ground, it didn’t cause huge ground losses due to the poor real ground near the antenna. The antenna works really great, with the linked counterpoise, you just used 2 radials
A Ground-Elevated Vertical Based on 5.6m Whip — Improved Read More »
When doing POTA or SOTA activations, I prefer the vertical antennas. That says I don’t have to bring a long enough antenna mast that could support my wire antennas. For example, an end-fed, it’s a good antenna, but you need a pole or a tree to set it up, in horizontal, vertical or in V-Shape
A Ground-Elevated 5.6m Whip Vertical Antenna: Build Guide Read More »
In Part 1, we built Meshtastic nodes from custom made boards. Now in Part 2, we’ll turn one node into a permanent, always-on CLIENT_BASE station powered by solar, mounted outdoors on my balcony. This base station will act as the backbone of my local Meshtastic network, while the second node will be a portable tracker/handheld
Lora Meshtastic Nodes Built from Scratch Part 2 Read More »
This article details how to build a fully custom Meshtastic LoRa mesh node from zero. It covers open‑source PCB design, component assembly, firmware compilation, 3D printed enclosure, and final configuration for off‑grid, long‑range communication. Overview Meshtastic is an open-source communication protocol that transforms affordable LoRa (Long Range) radio modules, typically powered by “ESP32” or “nRF52”
Lora Meshtastic Nodes Built from Scratch Part 1 Read More »
When doing the field radio operation, the battery is always one of the things I care about most. For a small QRP station, the power problem is usually not very difficult. The current is low, and a modest battery could last for a long time. But I do not always run QRP. Sometimes I want
Building a Battery Meter for Field Radio Operation Read More »
To improve my Meshtastic base station’s ability to rebroadcast weak LoRa packets, I decided to replace the commercial “rubber ducky” coiled antenna with a homemade J-Pole antenna. While rubber ducky antennas are convenient for handheld devices, they are much less effective for a CLIENT_BASE node. My base station is meant to be the “anchor” for
Build a J-Pole Antenna for Your LoRa Meshtastic Base Station Read More »
digiPi is a software system that is based on Linux for amateur radio digital communications. Its primary function is to make various amateur radio digital modes easily accessible via Wi-Fi through a standard web browser. It simplifies amateur radio digital modes operation by providing a pre-configured, bootable image for a Raspberry Pi. It supports a
A digiPi APRS Unit Based on a digiPi HAT Read More »
Background: For amateur radio operators engaging in Portable Operations in the Parks (POTA) and Summits on the Air (SOTA), reliable, efficient power is the backbone of successful activations. These activities often take place in remote, off-grid locations where solar power becomes a vital energy source. An MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller is not just
An Open Source MPPT Controller for Ham Radio Field Operation – Build Notes Read More »
