Raspberry PI, a $25 computer could be a great new platform for amateur radio

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has developed a $25 computer that is just made for hacking. This could be just the platform needed for inventive new APRS, and other amateur digital modes. Think of all the things you could do with the portable processing power of a 700MHz ARM11 processor coupled with 128MB of RAM hooked up to a HT or other portable. This device has been geared towards education so the documentation should be open and ready for hacking in the classic sense of the word.
One video port and one USB is all you get as far as ports for now, with both ethernet and Wifi planned. Power usage? 1W at full load. I have attached a video about it below. Update: They will also have a Model B with 256 megs of RAM and a 10/100 Ethernet port, price point: $35.

Update: Raspberry PI will be at the NYC Maker Faire. Looking forward to seeing what they have planned for the unit. Eben Upton, one of the founders will be there to explain the plans for the project.

Update 2: On Availability: From the Raspberry PI website

When will the device be available to purchase?
We anticipate the device will be available to the general public later in 2011 – we were hoping to hit the end of November, but right now December’s looking more likely.
 

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, (father of APRS) will be giving a talk @ HOSARC

On May 10th 2011 at 7:30pm HOSARC will host a very special meeting entitled "What you don't know about APRS" by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, (father of APRS). Bob has been kind enough to give the meeting via teleconference and we are very much looking forward to learning from the master. I will be attempting to make a recording of the event with a screen-recording program, so there may be video. 


UPDATE: HERE IS VIDEO OF THE FIRST 30 MINUTES OF THE TALK:

A Practical Amateur Radio Podcast update!

Jerry , KD0BIK of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast has released a new mini-episode detailing his future plans for the podcast. I am very happy to see this and look forward to what ever he produces. His podcast has been very helpful and makes for a good resource for anyone starting out in the hobby. Jerry is a good guy and I was especially touched by Jerry's effort to help everyone at HOSARC Save Our station back in 2008. While we lost our station in the end. It was very nice of him to drop everything and put out a emergency podcast at a moments notice. We need more guys like Jerry in our shared hobby. I for one would like to live up to his example. Good luck Jerry. I will be listening.

Amatuer Radio to the rescue of Protesters in Egypt.

No matter your stance on the student push for democracy in Egypt, it is very exciting to hear that they are using amateur radio and more specifically CW to get the word out on the protests. When all else fails, including the internet,... amateur radio.

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2011

The H.R.81: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2011 is a bill in the House of Representatives... "To promote and encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and emergency communications provided on a volunteer basis by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service, by undertaking a study of the uses of amateur radio for emergency and disaster relief communications, by identifying unnecessary or unreasonable impediments to the deployment of Amateur Radio emergency and disaster relief communications, and by making recommendations for relief of such unreasonable restrictions so as to expand the uses of amateur radio communications in Homeland Security planning and response." This is one long sentence that is great to read. If we can get this passed, it could be a huge help to our collective hobby, both nationally and internationally. If we can successfully integrate emergency services and amateur radio  here in the US, it could greatly effect the way Amateur Radio is used in other countries. I look forward to seeing what becomes of this bill.

A very Hammy Tour of the ISS! This is amazing!

HoSARC at the NYC Maker Faire Sept 25 & 26

The New York Hall of Science Amateur Radio Club will be running an exhibit on Satellite communications at the New York Maker Faire on Sept 25 & 26 2010. Our exhibit will cover Home Brew HF stations, our "Go Box" portable stations and live Satellite communications as propagation permits. There will be a special QSL card made just for the occasion and we are looking forward to spreading the word on Amateur Radio to like minded "Makers".

The Maker Faire  has been around since 2006 and like its namesake the Make magazine it celebrates  "arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset." These are all interests near and dear to any HAM's heart. If you have time this weekend, and you are in the New York area, please come on down. It promises to be quite a show.