diff --git a/blog/_posts/2023-06-04-post-script-on-hotspots.md b/blog/_posts/2023-06-04-post-script-on-hotspots.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..23420e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/_posts/2023-06-04-post-script-on-hotspots.md @@ -0,0 +1,42 @@ +--- +title: Post-Script On Hotspots +layout: post +date: 2023-06-04 12:29:50 +tags: Blog +excerpt_separator: +--- + +So it turns out the Libre Computer *will* boot standard RPi images...it's just it doesn't boot like a RPi. Unlike +ARMBoot or whatever it uses; the Le Potato actually uses a custom bootloader and EFI boot...it actually has a boot +screen. You boot it without card and you get a nice screen telling you the OS can't be found, unlike an RPi that does +nothing. + +I dug around and found Libre had a github repository and a script to convert Raspbian images to boot. It required +an existing RPi to do the work for you. So I flashed a new Pi-Star image, ran the script, found out I needed more +space on the /boot partition, fixed that problem, converted the image, fixed the filesystem mount points, and it +booted. + +So...Pi-Star itself actually works on the Le Potato. There was additional work in enabling the UART on the header, +but so far it does seem to work. However I think there are some additional issues with something as the load never +drops below 1, which I don't recall it doing on a Pi3. It does however have an additional 3 cores to work with, so +that's fine in my book for now. I've been running it a few days and other than the TYTMD380, both of my DMR radios +work just fine. The SHARI Pi-Hat has been running hamvoip for ASL with no issues. I checked in to the local net and have had a few +conversations with people who only commented at how clean my signal was "in to the repeater". + +I also figured out, after digging deeper in to things after I had stuff working; all the stuff I needed was pretty +much built in to ASL. The simple-usb utility is what sets the sound card up to provide PTT on it's GPIO to the SA818. +So in reality...there wasn't anything too special, the documentation is just...lacking. But that doesn't change the +fact I couldn't compile anything on it. I was told this was likely due to app_rpt never having been updated for +64-bit. Maybe. Whatever arch it wanted to use to compile wasn't in my kernel sources...which could have been a bad +config on the Libre provided image or the fact I needed a 32-bit OS which they didn't provide. + +The sad part is the Pi-Star staff. When I shared this information on their forum, it was immediately removed without +any discussion with me. The only discussion was one admin saying "no" and removing it. This is not the first time I've +had issues with them outright deleting things I've written over there. I mean you base your project on an open-source +operating system but don't seem to want users doing anything *they* don't want done. + +I'll be ditching actual Pi-Star soon. I've been talking with W0CHP who forked Pi-Star and makes an improved version. +They are actually planning on supporting Le Potato natively...so I offered to both beta-test and provide help. + +In the meantime, if you want to boot Pi-Star on Le Potato...I've put the information in one place the Pi-Star admins +can't remove it....my Git repository! https://git.pickmy.org/nq4t/PiStar-On-Libre-Le-Potato diff --git a/blog/_posts/2023-06-04-vaqp-plaque.md b/blog/_posts/2023-06-04-vaqp-plaque.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..48817f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/_posts/2023-06-04-vaqp-plaque.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +title: VAQP Plaque +layout: post +date: 2023-06-04 12:51:10 +tags: Blog +excerpt_separator: +--- + +Well, our club had our hamfest/tailgate yesterday and SPARC did their VAQP awards. I now have something to hang +on the wall. + +