Initial Shack Setup
Overview
A quick look at my initial shack setup, with a Xiegu G90. Pictures will follow, so be sure to check back in.
Introduction
This post covers my initial shack set up. I'm sure it will change as I learn more, but this is where I started as a reference.
Radio
My HF radio is the Xiegu G90, which is a 10m - 160m HF 20W radio with an SDR. There are a lot of reviews online if you are interested but I chose it because it's cheap, seemed capable and there were a lot of resources on the internet on how to set it up, use and improve it. Important if you are a beginner!
Power Supply
For use in the shack I got a Nissei NS-1230D 30Amp PSU With Power Pole Connectors (MFJ-4230DMP) which should be more than enough power for this radio and some room for future radios.
Antenna
WIP - going for 20m of wire strung around the back garden at fence height for a half wave end fed NVIS deal. Also got a 49:1 Unun on order. The wire is up using little eyelet screws into the wood of the fence and the shed.
Computer
A computer is useful for logging and rig control so I've got a Raspberry Pi 400 hooked up to a monitor in my shack.
Hardware
In addition to the Raspberry Pi, I've also bought a cheap USB sound card so I can progress onto digital modes when I'm ready. The Pi 400 already has a keyboard so I've just hooked up an existing monitor (with a mini HDMI to HDMI cable) and an old mouse I had in my travel rucksack - not that I'm traveling much at the moment! I will connect the G90 with the audio and cat interfaces.
Software
I've followed this guide from DL1GKK and so far I've installed and set up:
- VNC Server (remote control)
- Hamlib (rig control)
- Direwolf (TNC / audio modem)
- Xastir (for APRS)
- FLRig (Transceiver Control)
- FLDigi (Data modes)
- WSJT-X
I'm also planning to install:
- GridTracker (Display connections on a map)
- JS8Call
- zyGrib (Weather data visualization)
- GPredict (Sat-Tracking)
- QSSTV (Slow Scan Television)
- FreeDV (Digital Voice)
- VOACAP (Propagation Prediction)
- Chirp (Programming transceivers)
- Qtel (Echolink Client)
More software might follow and I might do a proper write up of the set up at some future point.