[arm-allstar] Radioless Node

[Doug Crompton]

We often use the term "radioless node" but that really has two meanings.
One is a server that has no USB FOBS connected. I have several servers like
this acting a hubs. A hub is nothing more than a server that has more than
one node connected to it. Usually a lot more than one. A Pi operated
without a FOB and in turbo mode can handle a great deal of connected nodes.
I have had as many as 50 directly connected nodes to a Pi. Of course your
Internet connection needs to be able to handle the bandwidth of this many
nodes also. In general however an upper limit of around 30 direct
connections would probably be better.

The other meaning is a node on a server with a USB FOB but no radio. I
described one in a howto on the hamvoip.org web page howto section several
years ago. It is nothing more than a microphone connected to the mic in of
the FOB and a small amplifier driving a speaker from the headphone out. PTT
on the FOB is not used and the microphone  PTT switch keys the COS input of
the FOB. You operate it in half duplex like a radio although you could
operated full duplex some way of muting your own transmissions would
probably be necessary.

The only thing I use mine for is testing as it is very limiting to not have
the wireless flexibility of a radio. Radios are so cheap that putting
together a local radio node is probably a better idea. You can buy a pair
of the TID radios for $30 with drop-in chargers and the Baofeng's are in
the same price range.

I might also remind users that the current simpleusb-tune-menu in V1.5 has
a 'K' option meaning key which manually keys the COS line. This does the
same thing as a node radio receiving a valid signal would do. For testing
you can connect a mic and headphones directly to an UNMODIFIED FOB, go into
the menu and use the 'K' as a PTT toggle. It is often a good idea to check
a FOB you are going to modify in this way to make sure it works before you
go to the trouble of modifying it.


*73 Doug*

*WA3DSP*

*http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*


On Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 7:53 PM, "Josh Hatton via arm-allstar" <
arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:

> I read a bit about folks using "Radio-less Nodes"..... what is the
> benefits, uses and such for using a node such as this?
>
> Just learning and curious.
>
> Tnx
> Josh W4ZZK
> _______________________________________________
>
> arm-allstar mailing list
> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>
> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
>