plaque

blog/_posts/2023-06-04-post-script-on-hotspots.md

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+---
+title: Post-Script On Hotspots
+layout: post
+date: 2023-06-04 12:29:50
+tags: Blog
+excerpt_separator: <!--more-->
+---
+
+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

blog/_posts/2023-06-04-vaqp-plaque.md

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+---
+title: VAQP Plaque
+layout: post
+date: 2023-06-04 12:51:10
+tags: Blog
+excerpt_separator: <!--more-->
+---
+
+Well, our club had our hamfest/tailgate yesterday and <a href="https://www.qsl.net/sterling/uf1.htm">SPARC</a> did their VAQP awards. I now have something to hang
+on the wall. 
+
+<img src="https://img.pickmy.org/kc8oapal.jpg">