Baofeng APRS Digipeater :: Digirig Soundcard

This tutorial covers using a Baofeng radio with a Digirig Soundcard to set up an APRS digipeater using direwolf.
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Want your raspberry pi to play nice with your ham radio? Are you into digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, FLDIGI, Winlink, APRS, Digipeaters and others? Each week I put out new content showing you exactly what steps to take to get the latest ham radio software on your raspberry pi. Whether you just want to ragchew or are seriously into emergency preparedness, emcomm, or ARES and want to learn all you can about using the raspberry pi to drive your ham radio, this channel has something for you. Be sure to click the subscribe button and ring the bell before heading off. That way you will get notified of all future videos.
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[@RookieLock]

Awesome! I've been thinking about setting up an Igate for my town. Our nearest Igate is way too far to be reached from my location. So this was very helpful, not as complicated as I once thought.. Cant thank you enough for taking the time to show us these tutorials Jason.. Have a great day buddy, take care!

[@thuff3207]

I picked up the Digirig mobile for my KX2 and Digital modes traveling. This was good to see the use for APRS as well. Looks like it would be a great portable micro digipeater for events with no digipeater.

[@markg6jvy135]

Nice tutorial Jason 👍👏👏

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks 👍

[@wm6h]

As a tribute to WB4APR, I’m going to try to get at least an APRS beacon on the air during a March.

[@democratpro]

As long as u have ur boosters, comrade...💉💉✊🏿

[@ebikeengineer]

This is an awseome tutorial on setting up the software on a Rasberry Pi! By chance do you have one for the hardware (cables, power source, radio etc)?

[@jmr]

Nice video.

[@davidverville2021]

Great info TY. But I didn't hear any description of why to use APRS, like can I converse with other operators or is this a email application or whatever.

[@JoshuaJayG]

I actually have a super portable digipeater using a pi zero, sabrent sound card, direwolf, and a Baofeng. Easy to deploy.

[@KM4ACK]

The pi zero is great for a small portable digipeater.

[@kurtwolter3984]

Thanks!

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks for the super chat!

[@smokintoaster]

Jason, do you know if the Digirig Mobile needs to have the PTT tabs re-configured on its board to key the Baofeng or Kenwood K20A? Or is it configured to key them already? I know your video names the bAofeng and Retevis specifically...just wondering about the K20A as well. Great video Bro!! de NF4J

[@mbrownz71]

Hi Jason, with build a pi, I couldn’t follow along. The first command returned nothing.

[@serbotech]

Great video and very informative. Thank you for putting this together. I followed your instructions verbatim and got everything up and running. I just found your user guide so now the real learning begins. Jason - KG5PDM.

[@ghostmandka5498]

No bit errors, that’s good. What’s your audio level? Heard 15 is best (on the internet so has to be right lol).

[@K9TPT]

When you are done fine tuning the system do you disconnect the monitor and just let the PI run or do you leave it up on a monitor? Thank you !

[@neubert500]

Excellent video on a subject I need to learn much more about. Afraid I am an APRS Dummy!

[@KM4ACK]

APRS is a lot of fun and goes far beyond the tracking capability that most think of first. APRS messages, email, wx reports and many more :-)

[@jestal2]

Hey, we have a Kenwood TS-590 at the Rescue Squad but it's usb ports might be cooked. Would this be a viable alternative with the right cables?

[@KM4ACK]

I'm not sure the digirig creator has cables for the 590. You might contact him or hammadeparts. One of them should be able to make up a cable for you. If you can find the right cable, it should work.

[@RickHanzlik]

This all looks pretty good, is there anyway you can rerecord this video so that it is in focus? Can see anything that is showing on the screen.

[@KM4ACK]

?? It's clear when I watch it even full screen on a 32" monitor.

[@johnsteele3488]

This is a great video. Did you do one on setting up the APRS part?

[@KM4ACK]

I have many digipeater videos covering various types of setups. One of these should help www.youtube.com/@KM4ACK/search?query=digipeater

[@ChiefMade]

I know that map was real because there was a dollar general in it! 😁 73

[@Siskiyous6]

Even though I already run APRS digipeating and igateing with direwolf on my base station, I learned a lot about configuring it from this video. But, how do you copy the lat long corodinates, byhand, you did not show how to get them from the APRS.IF page.

[@KM4ACK]

I copied the lat/long by hand and then manually entered them into the direwolf.conf file.

[@HamRadioQso]

In theory anything that labeled a sound card will work. Like a Scarlett solo. Correct

[@Buzzygirl63]

Interesting! Now I just gotta figure out what APRS is all about. I mean, I sort of know what it is, but I'm not sure what to use it for. 73!

[@chrissewell1608]

(Unless I am wrong, because I don't do it yet either!) Its like... GPS tracking, via a transmitted radio signal. But with an APRS program, you can also send and receive email, instant messages, pictures, and weather information. It combines the small radio, and a computer, to TX and RX info.

[@rudie2902]

I missed that introduction too. Just looked up in Wikipedia what it is about and have some vague idea now.

[@smokintoaster]

Hey Jason, I tried to Chirp Program my UV-5R using the Green Cable, the Digirig Mobile and utilizing the Serial port on the Digirig mobile soundcard, my Laptop recognizes the device but will not load the proper driver. Did you have any issues with yours initially? Maybe I should take this to the reflector?? Thanks and 73.. de NF4J

[@KM4ACK]

I didn't have any issues with mine. You might reach out to the creator of the digirig.

[@ryanfralic1115]

Is it possible to save multiple direwolf config files? I got my build a pi running aprs digipeater with the digirig i robbed from my 2m kit. I just recieved a sabrent usb sound card to dedicate to the pi for use in the shack but i would like to not have to reconfigure to use the digirig in the future if need be.

[@KM4ACK]

Yes. You can have multiple direwolf.conf files. Just use the "-c" switch to load the one you need. ie. (direwolf -c myconf_file.conf). For more details, run *man direwolf* from the terminal.

[@Ben-md9yx]

Jason - Will this device use the same cables that I use for my Mobilinkd TNC?

[@jmr]

That's a great question! I have several cables both purchased and custom. I also have one of those Anytone repeaters that sadly has identical looking cables with different wiring. I got a mess of cables to the point I had to put labels on them. I think he also skipped a feature. I believe these can be used as programming cables which is a nice bonus feature.

[@KM4ACK]

I do not have an answer to the question. Reach out to Denis at Digirig. He may know.

[@jmr]

@@KM4ACK I'd bet the cable is well documented. I know the other cables are. I may have a look later and give him a holler if it isn't already out there.

[@BadVorlon]

Hey Jason, did you have to modify the Digirig in any way? I found a post at the Digirig sight indicating you need to cut a trace and bridge another with solder to get RTS to perform the PTT. Thx. Great vid as always.

[@KM4ACK]

I didn't modify it in any way. Double check with the seller but I believe those instructions are for an older version of the Digirig.

[@KM4ACK]

From the digirig website "Starting from rev 1.6 the hardware PTT is available on the audio socket (ring 2) independently from serial CAT interface and doesn’t require any solder jumpers configuration. This means that a single Digirig can be swapped around between a basic HT, and your CAT enabled HF rig regardless of CAT configuration. " digirig.net/digirig-mobile-rev-1-9/ I have version 1.6

[@RussellThomas]

is direwolf running in the background if I installed it from build a Pi? When I reboot will it automatically be running without me needing to do anything?

[@KM4ACK]

No. Direwolf doesn't run in the background automatically. You will need to configure it to start on boot.

[@joel6221]

I am trying this on my Build A Pi and it just WON'T transmit ... if i wipe my pi, which version of linux should i start over with?

[@KM4ACK]

I prefer the 32 bit version of Bullseye

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Thanks 73 from kb2uew

[@KG5DGO]

what do i do if it says no file after dev serial by-id

[@KM4ACK]

Try unplugging the digirig and plugging it back in.

[@smokintoaster]

Disregard Jason, my Digirig Mobile appears to be the latest revision and does not have the solder tabs on the board...Please disregard my previous question. Thanks and 73! de NF4J

[@democratpro]

Too much work, just to talk to someone i dont even like.

[@robertkeller9828]

TOTALLY WORTHLESS in a SHTF, grid down emergency. Spend your money building a protected bug-out bag and THE time WASTED "tinkering around with toys" to learn freakin' MORSE CODE! Oh, that's not "tech enuff'" for the "Game Boy" Generation.Takes too much old fashioned DISCIPLINE to learn a mental and physical skill than punching buttons.

[@KM4ACK]

I agree with you that CW is a valuable tool. I wouldn't rule out digital modes though. Each tool has it's place in the tool bag and one should choose the appropriate tool for the task at hand.