I have just taken possession of the latest offering from the Raspberry foundation the PI zero 2W. This unit is smaller than a credit card but is a powerful little computer for around $13 or 15 GBP.
Key features:
• 1GHz quad-core, 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 CPU
• VideoCore IV GPU
• 512MB LPDDR2 DRAM
• 1GHz quad-core, 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 CPU
• VideoCore IV GPU
• 512MB LPDDR2 DRAM
• 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN
• Bluetooth 4.2 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
• MicroSD card slot
• Mini HDMI and USB 2.0 OTG ports
• Micro USB power
• HAT-compatible 40-pin header
• Composite video and reset pins via solder test points
• CSI camera connector
- So small yet powerful
As it is so small you need the following externals to drive it.
• 5 Volt wall power supply
• HDMI monitor/cable and mini adapter
• four-way USB mini hub unless the keyboard and mouse can be driven from Bluetooth as the board
has only one USB port (adapter required).
• Keyboard
•Mouse
I purchased a plastic protective case which include a processor heatsink should you wish to over-clock the device.
Firmware is loaded via mini SD whilst a USB stick can be used to transfer data thereafter. Normally we would load a standard operating system but G4WNC who I have no affiliation with supplies preloaded Amateur radio packages including QSSTV without the frustration of jumping through installation hoops. Plug in the SD card power up and the only thing you have to do is customize for your Wi-Fi and location settings.
https://photobyte.org/shop-2/https://photobyte.org/product/raspberry-pi-fldigi/This is only one of Mikes discs but it includes other modes of operation including FLDIGI + WSJT-X + QSSTV + FLmesg + FLrig + JS8CALL as well as other PI features including office suit internet access etc.
I just looked at QSSTV which worked a treat as my photos show. In conclusion no software setting up and it works straight out of the box.
Chris Lewis G6ACL
- Bench setup of the board
- Picture of QSSTV screen showing installed available Amateur radio programs
- As this board has only one USB port you need this for extra ports. Make sure you order one with the mini connector. Available from the PI Hut
- USB-Mini-HUB-with-Switch-2_600x.jpg (16.09 KiB) Viewed 4262 times
- The USB sound card I used. Many others available