CATSync for WebSDRs

 

As the website states, CATSync is a tool that allows you to synchronise public WebSDR receivers with your real rig connected via CAT control to your computer. It supports the classical WebSDR, Kiwi SDR as well as Open Web RX.

As I have reiterated, there are some great developers out there that have contributed to AR in many different way, and software is one of them. I haven't tried this program yet but I will, as I am still working on the CW and this would allow me to use a remote receiver to receive some of the signals that are down in the noise from my home QTH and even compare them.  Whilst I would also be able to send CW from the attached rig.  Synchronising the two receivers would provide an extra string to the bow.

I'll post an update, when I've given it a workout. 

 

The Morphing of Projects (if they stay within reach)

Nothing stays the same.  This is the case for my Remote Station which has now morphed into a remote receive only HF & VHF iGate. After acquiring an SDRPlay RSP 1, I have now removed the IC-7300 and replaced it with the  RSP 1.  So now the remote consists of the NUC, the preexisting RTL-SDR and the SDRPlay RSP 1. This allows me to run APRS iGates on 30m and 40m using the RSP 1, and 2m terrestrial (145.175Mhz) and 2m satellite (145.825Mhz) using the RTL-SDR. 

Dealing with audio from the two devices created some challenges, however these were overcome as the DireWolf APRS software can accept UDP connections. I am using SDRuno for the HF side, running two virtual receivers, piping the audio via a virtual audio cable using the left and right channels for the 30m and 40m audio, respectively.  I am using the SDR++ software for the RTL-SDR,  as this allows for UDP audio streams. This software can also run multiple virtual receivers (to separate UDP ports).  Problem solved!

 

The DireWolf software is a very remarkable piece of software, which just seems to work without fail for years at a time.  I have used it mainly on a Raspberry Pi running Linux for probably over a decade. It seems just as stable on Windows 10.  Given that APRS on HF is using SSB DireWolf has the ability to setup multiple receiver pairs with filtering. This can be seen in the screenshot below.

It seems that the processes can only handle so much as I needed to reduce the number of receive pairs on the 40m side.  Nonetheless, this is still impressive.

The 2m side is working well, having received signals from both land and satellite sources. And the HF side works on the test-bench. One thing that is still required is the setting of audio and receiver gain levels, however I think I am getting close.

That's it for now.

Cheers

Links

• https://www.sdrplay.com/
• https://www.sdrpp.org/
• https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
• https://vb-audio.com/Cable/

 

Remote Base - Update

Some (OK most) of my projects are slow in development and my Remote Base is no exception.  Nonetheless, I thought it was time to bring you up to date.  I have included the addition of a RTL-SDR  to the remote base. This was an easy step as there was a spare USB port just crying out to be used! This will provide wide-band VHF - UHF coverage using the SDR SPY Server software. I have also made the Tuner connection accessible externally.  A protection relay will need to be added to the TRX antenna port and that will be about it.

Cheers for now.

 

Remote Layout (including RTL-SDR)

Front panel status lights

Connections

 

SDR# spyserver

I picked up another secondhand NUC (Mini PC), with Windows 10 installed. It is an Intel® Core™ i5 Processor with 8G of Ram and a 128G SSD. The price was good so nothing to lose really!  

After doing some software updates, I loaded the SDR# spyserver software, and configured it for a standard RTL-SDR.  I have commented in the past, that there is a lot of amazing software out there for free.  SDRSharp from Airspy is one such package.  

It didn't take long for it to spring into life.  

All this for about $100.00!

https://airspy.com/