WSPR (amateur radio software)

Hello Everyone,

Lets check out a new software used the Amateur Radio World. Its called WSPR which is pronounced as WHISPER. The abbreviation of WSPR when expanded is "Weak Signal Propagation Reporter"

Some facts about WSPR

Developer(s)	Joe Taylor, K1JT
Initial release	2008
Development status	active
Written in	Python (GUI), Fortran, C [1]
Operating system	Cross-platform
Available in	English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian
Type	Amateur radio and DSP
License	GPL
Website	physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html

"Courtesy: Wikipedia"

WSPR was developed by Nobel Winning Astrophysicist JOE TAYLOR in 2008 under University of Princeton. 

WSPR is a piece of software that enables you to participate in a world-wide network of low power propagation beacons. It enables your radio transceiver to transmit beacon signals, and to receive beacon signals from similarly-equipped stations in the same amateur band. Participating stations usually upload spots that they receive in real time to a web server, you can find out within seconds of the end of each transmission exactly where and how strongly it was received, and even views the propagation paths on a map.

How to use it:

•       There are two modes

•       Receiving & Transmitting

•       Here we are discussing about Receiving mode

Required things

1. SSB Radio

2. Personal computer with a sound card and WSPR 2.0 software

3. Working Internet connection

How to Listen:

1. Connect SSB Receiver  with sound card

2. Connect PC with internet and sync the internet time

3. Run the WSPR 2.0

4. Select receive mode

5. Wait for even minutes and identify the signals in waterfall display

Format of Data:

 After receiving the signal, WSPR software will decode it and will display the data

1. Call sign

2. Location of transmitter

3. Power used for transmission

4. After reception WSPR software will upload the location in to WSPRnet server and it will generate a MAP

Technical Specification:

•       1. Modulation used : Continuous FSK

•       2. Channel Bandwidth : 6Hz

•       3. Baud Rate : 1.4648 bauds

•       4. Total time taken for transmission 1.54 minutes

•       5. Length of data send over channel : 50bits

•       6. 28 bits for call sign

•       7. 15 bits for location

•       8. 7 bits for power in dbm

More info can be found at: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html

Arduino: Temperature Sensor LM35

Greeting Everyone,

Let us revisit Arduino and make a silly project. A very simple one day project using LM35 temperature sensor and an LCD display to show the temperature. The LM35 can be used to sense temperature from -55 Celsius to +150 Celsius. The data sheet can be downloaded from this link: Click Here

What would you need for the project:
1.) Arduino Uno (PC with cable and setup necessary)
2.) LCD display
3.) LM35 Temperature Sensor
4.) Wires

The figure below shows the basic setup and connections:

Here is the code:
For downloading the code please Click Here.

 

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>            // include the LCD driver library  
                                      // declare variables  
 float tempC = 0;                     // Variable for holding Celcius temp (floating for decimal points precision)  
 float tempf = 0;                     // variable for holding Fareghneit temp  
 int tempPin = 0;                     // Declaring the Analog input to be 0 (A0) of Arduino board.  
 float samples[8];                    // Array to hold 8 samples for Average temp calculation  
 float maxi = 0,mini = 100;           // Max/Min temperature variables with initial values. LM35 in simple setup only measures Temp above 0.  
 int i;  
 LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2); // initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins  
 void setup()  
 {  
 pinMode(9, OUTPUT);   
 analogWrite(9, 45);  
 lcd.begin(16, 2);                    // Set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:  
 lcd.setCursor(6, 0);                 // Set LCD cursor position (column, row)  
 lcd.print("RnD's");                  // Print text to LCD  
 lcd.setCursor(3, 1);                 // Set LCD cursor position (column,row)   
 lcd.print("Thermometer");            // Print text to LCD  
 delay(5000);                         // Delay to read text  
 lcd.clear();                         // Clear the display  
 }  
 void loop()  
 {                                    // Start of calculations FOR loop.  
 for(i = 0;i<=7;i++){                 // gets 8 samples of temperature  
 samples[i] = ( 5 * analogRead(tempPin) * 100.0) / 1024.0;  
                                     // conversion math of LM35 sample to readable temperature and stores result to samples array.   
                                     // 5v is the supply volts of LM35. Change appropriatelly to have correct measurement. My case is 4.4Volts.  
                                     // If powered from USB then use value 4.4v to 4.6v. If power is 7v< to the Arduino then use 4.9v to 5.1v                                  
                                     // The voltage is critical for accurate readings  
                                     // ( LCD note: line 1 is the second row, since counting begins with 0):  
 lcd.setCursor(0, 0);                // Set LCD cursor position (column 0, row 0)  
 lcd.print("Current Temp is: ");     // Print text to LCD  
 lcd.setCursor(1, 1);                // Set LCD cursor position (column 1, row 1)  
 lcd.print(" Celcius  ");            // Print text to LCD  
 lcd.setCursor(12, 1);               // Set LCD cursor position (column 12, row 1)  
 lcd.print(samples[i]);              // print current Temp sample to LCD  
 tempC = tempC + samples[i];         // do the addition for average temperature  
 delay(800);                         // wait 800ms  
 }                                   // END of FOR loop  
 tempC = tempC/8.0;                  // calculated the averare of 8 samples in Celcius  
 tempf = (tempC * 9)/ 5 + 32;        // converts to fahrenhei  
 if(tempC > maxi) {maxi = tempC;}    // set max temperature  
 if(tempC < mini) {mini = tempC;}    // set min temperature  
 tempC = 0;                          // Set tempC to 0 so calculations can be done again  
 }  

64 WATTS AMPLIFIER

Greetings Everyone,

               Today we tested an RF Amplifier constructed on a 6.3mm copper plate with dimension of 175X150. Continuous output measured in our standard HP RCT for more than 5 minutes like FM..This copper plate RF amplifier added with extra heat sink for better dissipation.

Tested Frequency-  14MHz.
Continuous Power- 64 Watts For more than 5 minutes.
Transistors            - 2+2 IRF510

Regards,
R&D Team.

RF AMPLIFIER ON COPPER PLATE

Greetings Everyone,

               Today we tested an RF Amplifier constructed on a 6.3mm copper Plate with dimension of 175X150. Continuous output measured in our standard HP RCT for more than 10 minutes like FM. Heat transferring is happened equally in copper because copper is good conductor of heat.

Tested Frequency-  14MHz.
Continuous Power- 35 Watts For more than 10 minutes.
Transistors            - 2+2 IRF510

Regards,
R&D Team.