BATC Forum

Hello All:

Would it be possible to create a new portsdown 4 transmitter build with a raspberry pi 400 keyboard computer.
I am also using a LimeSDR board for my transmitter RF portion, and the Webcam C270.

This is for the ARRL Field day 2022 event that is coming up in a few weeks.
Because I am find it hard to find another PI 4 regular.

Any input would be great!
You can also reach me at this e-mail address!

godtec@hotmail.com

Mike Kennedy
Ottawa, Canada
VA3TEC

Yes, but not easily!

You would have to run the Portsdown in ssh console mode, as the lack of a touchscreen would mean that none of the normal button menus would work (even for web control). However, the Portsdown 4 is not optimised for ssh console control and some functions can only be accessed from the touchscreen.

I'm not sure what effect the other hardware differences would have.

So, if you are feeling brave, you could try building a Portsdown SD Card and then trying to access the ssh console menu on localhost (type "menu" once you get to the linux command line).

Please let us know how you get on!

Dave

Or use the web interface?

That would get around the touch screen problem.

Clive

G3GJA wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:04 pm

Or use the web interface?

That would get around the touch screen problem.

Clive

The web interface is mirroring the touch screen, which isn't there. Not sure it would work with an HDMI screen.
Mike

As I said in my first reply, the web interface will not work without a compatible touchscreen connected. I do plan to provide this feature in future, but I have to:

• Detect that no touchscreen is connected (intentionally)
• Create a virtual frame buffer for the touchscreen graphics library to write to
• Bypass the functionality that measures the size of the physical touchscreen and passes this information to the graphics library
• Divert the web interface to take information from the virtual framebuffer rather than a real one
• Manage conflicts between the virtual framebuffer and any connected HDMI display (this may be a second stage of development)
• Find time to do all of the above

Dave, G8GKQ

Hi Guys!

Thanks for all the reply's!

So, I have built a few DATV portsdown transmitter projects already.
I do exactly that Dave, I have built the SD card on a different machine or (on the same machine with video monitor)
Then make my equipment setup. No screen required. I go into the menu via this ssh path.

/home/pi/rpidatv/scripts/menu.sh

I love it, it works for me perfectly.
Another reason is that, I also have this connected to our local Arden (BBNH) City wide multi ham users mesh network.
So I am able to remotely change the settings as I see fit!

Dave, If you are able to have all the menu items in the SSH list that would make my life so much easier.
Just a wish list, no expectations for the team to implement them.

Again, Thanks for the great work guys!

Mike Kennedy
Ottawa, Canada
VA3TEC

ME again:

OH Guys, one more tip that would help me a lot!

When you have the splash screen of a newly configured RPI portsdown transmitter.
When I plug in the HDMI with no touchscreen and I see the "BATC the portsdown transmitter" splash Screen.

Can you add the IP address of the machine in the splash screen??

That would be SO helpful!!

Again, a wish-list and no expectation of implementation.

Thanks again!

Mike Kennedy
Ottawa, Canada
VA3TEC

Mike

That's asking for a huge amount of extra work from Dave - why are you not just using a standard build? Is it you can't get the parts? I can see that is an issue at the moment, but the PI400 does not include the display or camera connectors, so isn't really suited to this. If you can SSH in, or use a local display, you can do everything you need to do, but you will have to figure out how it all works. You can do most things from the existing menu, but not everything.

Try this perhaps? https://rpilocator.com/

It appears both Adafruit and Sparkfun have had PI4s in stock in the last week.

Mike

Edit - seems PI hut have the starter kit in stock as of 07:30 today https://thepihut.com/collections/featur ... tarter-kit

Hi Mike:

I didn't mean for the extra work for Dave.

I did say in my post(s) that it was a "wish list" and there was no expectation of implementation.

Thanks for the tip on the RPI 4 boards, I will be definitely looking into that.

Regards
Mike Kennedy
VA3TEC