Ham Radio - The KV4P Cell Phone 2-meter HT.

[@kd5inm]

Kevin, good to see you feeling better

[@MeineVideokasetten]

Hey Kevin! Thank you ver much for showing me this project! I would like to see your reworked case.

[@downtownPatna]

Great concept. Some improvement suggestions below for future revisions: 1) Incorporate a battery bank into the module that can also be used to charge the phone in case of emergency 2) Communicate via bluetooth or WiFi-Direct to the phone, so that the radio module can be set up in a nearby location 3) Include a digital voice codec for DMR, YSF etc. in the module. Uses less power with better audio quality.

[@loughkb]

I have used DMR, fusion and some of the other digital modes where the audio is digitally compressed. And no, it is not better audio quality! Voices sound robotic and compressed. FM audio is just as clean and clear as can be. And if you were using a digital mode you would still be modulating it as tones using FM, it wouldn't use less power.

[@RisingTidesAC]

4) UHF

[@Eli1566]

I love this. I'm going to have to build one.

[@scli301]

Nice to see you back Kevin

[@cjsanders1155]

II could see a phone case with or without and battery 1. To power the radio, 2. To serve as a battery bank for your phone. I’ve been asking for something like this for years. Can’t wait to see where this goes

[@glevideo]

The RF unit should have it’s own battery and Bluetooth so it can pair with the phone and then it doesn’t need to be stuck to the back of the phone all the time.

[@MichaelLivesInIdaho]

Your bluetooth/battery fork is much anticipated. Please make sure to post an update here as well as upload a video detailing your project.

[@edballardwd8jvv601]

That looks great, thanks for reviewing it!!

[@pasixty6510]

Nice kit. In Germany the spurious emissions suppression needs to be 60dBc for VHF. So I hope, upcoming filtering will do better…

[@Ranchhand323]

Does the cell phone / tablet need to be active with a carrier , or can we just use a stand alone spare , or possibly wifi-only ???

[@loughkb]

This has nothing to do with data or the cellular network at all. It's completely offline once you have the app installed.

[@Ranchhand323]

@@loughkb fantastic.thank you for your reply

[@nr3rful]

Wonder if it will be available fully assembled for us eldery with arthritis in hands and visual impared

[@SuperAjej]

Open source, wonder if it’ll be able to do Portapack Hackrf stuff eventually

[@G7EXZ]

How long before someone shows one working with the Android unit built in their car! Or screen mirroring whatever it's called.......Sounds like a cool modern way to integrate 2m FM and maybe APRS (later) in our cars that already have Handsfree fitted as standard equipment 👍

[@chesty1369]

Wonder how hard it would be to interface with APRSDroid?

[@scottbradford192]

This is the way. Make it aprs enabled

[@n7esu1]

With the APP running what happens to any incoming phone calls or text msg's, ...I assume going to voice mail and such?

[@olivierconet7995]

Simply Excellent !

[@NvTwist]

Double sided Gecko tape. Replicates the texture on Geckos toes. Great stuff, I’ve got multiple rolls of different sizes and thicknesses.

[@robbsanderson3572]

Looking forward to seeing one for the iPhone.

[@johnlees8418]

bring an old phone back to life

[@EricMarshallva]

thats pretty cool

[@jamesbeemer7855]

I was wondering when someone was going to do that . I’m not saying I know how . My knowledge is rather limited to obsolete . But radio can be really useful in cases where you out of range of a cell tower .

[@Symbiiote]

I wouldn’t mind paying a few bucks for a kit with all the parts.

[@loughkb]

He breaks it all down there on his website. With links. I think he says the total is 35 bucks for all the parts.

[@CHIPSpeaking]

I'd gladly join in if you guys needed one more to order in lots. I would love to build one.

[@thehighskyguy]

Does anybody have a 3d printer? I'm lacking the printer, skills, and knowledge to print lol. We can make this a team effort because this looks incredible

[@lysippus]

what is the use case for this, esp. if you already have HTs?

[@gbinford9009]

@@thehighskyguyI have a 3d printer and am interested in getting a group buy or kit organized de kb7sdm

[@thehighskyguy]

Out of curiosity, could you add bluetooth support and be able to leave the little "ht" outside and use your phone to as the ptt?

[@loughkb]

The ESP32 does have bluetooth, and wifi. You would need power for the device though. The rest would just be software changes.

[@timingram1977]

does it have to be connected to a cellphone with service or can I use one of my old phones sitting in the desk drawer collecting dust?

[@loughkb]

You only need to install the app. And then the phone is nothing more than a computer controlling a radio and processing audio. It does not need a cellular network or data.

[@auker96]

That’s amazing! I’m anxious for the iOS version, but I’m also considering switching to android anyway

[@sumduma55]

Apple charges a $99 annual fee to put an app in their store. Google hss a 1 time $25 registration fee for the developer whichallows as many apps as they can create. That might be a deal breaker on getting an iOS app for an open source project. Of course he might find ways to fund it or simply not care about the costs. Anyways, I'm just letting you know there may be "reasons" to why you might not see an iOS app.

[@fotografm]

I would love to have a 433MHz version of this. Hopefully one is in the pipeline 😊

[@alalan3735]

AWESOME!!! Can this be made to do FRS, GMRS, or CB frequencies? Would be a life saver in an emergency when cell towers and wifi are down!!!

[@loughkb]

It's a VHF radio module, so CB is out. But it would only be a change in the software and a UHF version of the RF module to cover GMRS frequencies. It wouldn't be technically legal though, but fine to use in an emergency situation.

[@Aimsport-video]

Which HT board option did you pick and why? Somebody needs to kit/resell this for him.

[@loughkb]

I don't understand your question. He sent me the only board available at the time. As far as I know, there is only one current version.

[@Aimsport-video]

@ the current choices on the Quickstart are DRA818V or SA818S-V RF boards with no inicator of different performance.

[@loughkb]

@Aimsport-video I see, well you could Google the two boards to see what the difference is, or you could ask the designer, vance, there on the site. I think he also has a discord page for discussion on the project.

[@kb3svj]

Slick!

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

Baofeng FINALLY has competition, thrill, one more cheap HT that can use a Nagoya antenna.

[@loughkb]

Oh they have competition. Check out the Quansheng UV-K5. Mostly reverse engineered, with ham modified firmware and hardware upgrades available. It's pretty cool.

[@joemcmanus79]

KOOL, Very KOOL unit! Does he have a USB C to micro USB B adapter for it? I have an OLD(er) cell (not presently in use as a cell) hanging around that I could put it on to if he had one of those. Good idea on the cases for the cell/HT adapter!!! Thanks for the first look/review Kevin. 73 de WB2ZDB

[@loughkb]

Get on Amazon you can probably find a micro USB to standard USB adapter plug and then use a standard USB to USB-C cable. Or some combination thereof.

[@MIsterB716]

Using a MagSafe connector would be more secure and durable than a tacky strip. It would be even cooler of you could reverse charge off of the MagSafe connector but Apple doesn't allow that

[@W8QH]

It would be great to have selectable digital modes like D-Star..

[@loughkb]

The exciting thing about open source software. Somebody with the programming skills could add that to the app.

[@unixbehr]

I have built a small repeater using these. but the project went nowhere because no one wanted to help fund a project vor emergancy repeaters

[@daomingjin]

i've already worked the case for you... at least for an iPhone 14. though my case has a LoRa radio in it, i could make a new PCB with UHF/VHF let me know if you're interested

[@loughkb]

I think you want to tell these things to Vance. He would probably be interested in the dual band idea. It's his project, I'm just the messenger. I think he's setting up a community section on his site to host contributions to the project.

[@IndependentNewsMedia]

Nice overview video, God bless.

[@spaceshantynow1851]

That’s cool!

[@lysippus]

i dont see the use case for this if you already have an HT (or several)

[@proctormacbelle4904]

wow! this is really cool! with esp32 we should be able to hack it up to go wireless too. wifi or bluetooth.

[@loughkb]

Except you would need power.

[@proctormacbelle4904]

@@loughkb LOL very good point!

[@BShocked]

Can it do ssb as well?

[@loughkb]

You'd have to look at the specifications for that RF module. I don't know where the modulation is taking place, in the software or in the module. I imagine that module is probably dedicated to FM. But that's just a guess.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

I'll go to his site and read for myself but I hope he's thinking of supporting UHF, because 2m is a waste of time for my situation. It's no problem substituting the UHF version of the SA818 module (same thing that SHARI and Clearnode use) but of course the filtering is going to be band-specific. Off to explore...

[@loughkb]

Well that's the beauty of open source. Somebody could easily build upon the work and make a UHF variant.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

Let's hope so, then; because that isn't me.

[@JCC.M.]

One possibility to connect the radio to the phone would be bluetooth.

[@r1zbd187]

Thank you. a useful overview. Удачи Вам. 73!

[@christophmahler]

Neat.

[@cferrarini]

it would be cool if it had its own battery and had bluetooth to comunicate with the phone.

[@loughkb]

It already has Bluetooth capability in the ESP 32 module. So all you would need to do is plug it into a USB-C power brick and then edit the software to use Bluetooth for the connections. I'm sure somebody will probably do it eventually.

[@cferrarini]

@@loughkb Exactly, seems to be a little clumsy to use. UHF/VHF HTs must have a decent size antenna, and draw considerable power. Not mentioning the RF will destroy the delicate phone circuit.

[@loughkb]

It's not clumsy, it doesn't draw very much power as it only puts out one watt. And no the RF will not damage the phone. Be careful with assumptions.

[@mindcaptive]

Hey! With it working so well on smart phone and tablets, anyone want take a shot at sending pictures and video vhf and/or uhf? Imagine how helpful that would be for search and rescue, or other ham related outings.

[@loughkb]

I don't know that there's any modulation method via audio on FM that would have the bandwidth to send video. Low resolution still images might be possible. Probably not going to be able to get much more than 2400 baud. And you have to stick to legal modulation methods that can include your call sign.

[@germanjohn5626]

Why? A cheap 30 buck Chinese 2m/440 handheld cost less, has a smaller footprint and has better technical data. And to top it of, with a simple software upgrade turns into a AM /FM/ CW/SSB scanner working from HF through 1Ghz. On 2m and 440 it turns into a FM/CW/SSB (DSB) handheld transceiver. You can't beat that.

[@loughkb]

A fully programmable VHF radio module attached to a computer that fits in your pocket. Open software that you can change and modify to make it do whatever you like it to do. That's why. This project is obviously not for you.

[@JAMES-KB7TBT]

Cool

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

Question here, how many of us do NOT have a formerly subscribed mobile phone in a drawer that we keep around simply for the phone numbers we are to lazy to put on our new phones, lol

[@mindshelfpro]

Good idea. I have the old phones lying around but they are empty. I will put the contacts and some SHTF info on those old phones

[@W5AWG]

@W5AWG 0 seconds ago MRE'S Dude! When I was Hopping Freight trains all over America those MRES was Life Slavers Lol! I often cought a Freight Train from Portland and nonstop Hot Shot to Chicago Hence them Vittles was DEE Licious after 4 Days on a Boxcar with only Water. I also Always carryed a Ham Radio transceiver with me and Called Out when going through cities, W5AWG Operator John Freight Train Mobile Standing by___ Those Hams would Light Up The Airwaves! Having a FCC License made it better, They couldnt call me a Illegall Poporapotoer. BoXcar Johnny, Riding the Rails, QTH Hot Springs, Arkansas. M A R S Member also. John Camp Bernays, San Francisco, Ca. 74 Years Old REMEMBERS THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

[@dendad5128]

This could be fun as here in Oz, the 3G network is turning off very soon so there will be stacks of obsolete phones being tossed....

[@aceman1126]

I'd be happy just to have a cell phone with a real antenna 😂

[@chrisgullett4332]

Does your phone have a headphone jack? If so you can add an antenna. Phone companies started making cellphone companies hide the FM radio app, because a lot of phones started removing headphone jacks. The headphone jack was required to use the FM radio on Android. On some phones with the FM radio app hidden you can get your FM radio working with headphones. Here is how I added an actual antenna. I found some 3.5mm headphone jack to F type adapters. Then got some F Type to SMA adapters, and screw the antenna into that. It actually works.

[@Bill_Bacon]

Quest Du Kablow?!

[@loughkb]

Searching for an explosion?

[@WH6FQE]

All the good stuff seems to be android only

[@loughkb]

It's open source. Some iOS programmer can easily make a fruity version. :-)

[@LloydHill-k2p]

Because Apple sux lol

[@mindshelfpro]

Yes. Android phones are cheaper and easier to mess around with. Plus the apps for Android are cheaper/free as well.

[@TerraMagnus]

I’d love something like this that isn’t for voice but for running Meshtastic in licensed mode on our amateur bands.

[@W4TRI_Ronny]

This is a tough sell with good dual band HTs and no soldering at about the same price now. The K5/K6 HTS are CAT controllable via PC and I bet that is only a matter of time before they get an Android app. I'm going to pass just because my vision will not let me do the soldering.

[@mindshelfpro]

Many people will like the project/build it yourself aspect of this radio and will probably still use a dedicated HT. I wouldn't mind giving a couple of these kits to family and friends

[@TouYubeTom]

looks nothing as reliable as a uv-k5

[@mindshelfpro]

Don't think thats the intention. Nice for newbies to practice soldering, and customising the case/software on your own

[@lampshadesneeded]

esp has bluetooth so lose the cable

[@loughkb]

The cable also provides power to the radio.

[@Charles-g5d7k]

Hell-o K. 🛵

[@loughkb]

Howdy C.