Programming the Retevis RA-25, a bildungsroman – part I

I recently got a Retevis RA-25, a nifty and resourceful little analog rig from Retevis. I won’t discuss the GMRS version (I nearly don’t know what GMRS is) but the HAM version. The hardware may probably be the same. Also, there are some other models that are said to be the same hardware, marketed under … Leggi tutto

APRS packet interface with Baofeng and Pine A64

Since I was a boy I was intrigued a lot by TNC and packet Radio. In these days a TNC was a serious investment and soundcard weren”t as capable as now, plus we didn’t have (or at least I didn’t) access to programs like Direwolf and the lot. Moreover, I didn’t have access to a serious radio or receiver. Cheap SSB receivers like SDRs and XHDATA D808 were a mere dream. You would have to get a serious radio receiver with BFO and the price tag.
Now everything is simpler, and at arm reach (information and hardware). What you need is: time to fiddle with them.

My adventure with packet radio started with a very simple audio interface.§ This is more a diary for work in progress than a tutorial (there are many, and well made on the tube).
Let’s also state up front that by doing an interface like this you risk a lot damaging your valuable radio and PC. Not by chance I used an old UV3R and let my trusty Yaesu in its bag. As this is not a tutorial, I suggest you don’t follow the advice below and document yourself elsewhere very well before risking damages to your gear.

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