Terrestrial LoRa Chat and FT8 Transmissions with Dreamcatcher 2301

Syed · 2024-04-03T22:02:13.732Z

If you are a licensed amateur radio operator, firmware is now available which enables two Dreamcatchers to exchange text messages. The new firmware also enables FT8 transmissions, but these can only be received by a dedicated FT8 receiver; an RTL-SDR with the right software, for example.

To be clear, this is for terrestrial transmissions–and is only available to hams.

It’s pretty neat. The firmware is available here:

github.com

Dreamcatcher/flashing/hamradio_1.1.0 at hamradio · Othernet-Project/Dreamcatcher

Contribute to Othernet-Project/Dreamcatcher development by creating an account on GitHub.

Syed · 2024-04-03T22:03:08.682Z

Daniac · 2024-04-16T18:10:28.957Z

This is interesting. I am not terribly interested in FT8 (I am heavy into JS8) . I do like playing with Lora though…I need to find time to mess with this, thanks for sharing!

Syed · 2024-04-16T18:33:31.164Z

In theory, we can eventually support JS8. If there is interest in what we just released then we will look at JS8 on the Dreamcatcher.

stvcmty · 2024-06-17T01:40:56.540Z

@Syed

The messaging feature requires two dreamcatchers to be near each other. Can you offer 2nd time purchase discount and/or a discount on the simultaneous purchase of multiple dreamcatchers from the othernet store?

Thank you,

Stvcmty

Syed · 2024-06-18T20:41:26.579Z

Sure, 15% off for the second Dreamcatcher.

stvcmty · 2024-06-21T17:55:21.839Z

@Syed

How do I get that in the store? Is there a discount code to apply at check out?

Thank you

Syed · 2024-06-24T18:25:59.636Z

Please send me a PM and I’ll get you set up.

Daniac · 2024-08-21T11:37:02.208Z

I apologize for being fairly disconnected this year, I am interested in using my and potentially more DreamCatchers as JS8Call transceivers. Is your firmware open source ? What is the TX power of a Dreamcatcher ?
For perspective I have built a few “Cyberdecks” with a Pi running JS8Call and WiFi hotspot software along with a dedicated QRP transceiver . It sounds like the Dreamcatcher could be a more compact and portable solution ?

Syed · 2024-08-21T17:05:46.106Z

@Daniac The firmware does not have an open source license, but the source is available:

github.com

GitHub - Othernet-Project/Dreamcatcher

master

Contribute to Othernet-Project/Dreamcatcher development by creating an account on GitHub.

Yes, I’ve definitely had an interest to somehow repurpose the Dreamcatchers as JS8Call transceivers, which is why the FT8-transmit feature was released. The reason there was not further work on this idea was because there is no way for ESP32 to demodulate 8-FSK. Unless you have some ideas?

Tx power at the port is around 10 dBm, but there is a bias tee available, so an inline PA can easily be supported.

Daniac · 2024-08-21T17:58:29.411Z

I’ll look into the demodulation, yes with only 10 dBm it will definitely need a bit of PA support.