Camper Remodel

Almost finished with the remodel, soon it will be time to stuff the mattress in and head to the southwest!

2022 was filled with many new adventures while camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, making new friends and visiting old friends. Travelling with the truck and camper all around Wisconsin, western Michigan, eastern Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah provided plenty of time and experience to discover some flaws with the camper setup and find remedies to some of those issues. In late summer, in between trips, the planning and remodel began. Once complete, a final shake-down will be done before hitting the roads and trails again!

The Cabin

The first remodel of the front cabinets has been removed. The twin mattress was moved forward and placed up on a 1.5 inch raised deck to force tempered air under the bed and prevent issues during cold weather camping. A full rear divider wall was installed to establish a rear-access kitchen and separated location for the new Propex furnace and battery/charging unit. A small shelf table is positioned under the passenger side window between the rear wall and the side door.

Propex thermostat, 120v outlet with USB charger, Renogy battery monitor and remote 2000 watt inverter switch are on the back wall. 

A new electrical system was installed consisting of a 200Ah LiFePO4 lithium battery, 40 amp LiFePO4 smart-charger, a 12 fuse 12 volt panel, 2000 watt inverter, 30 amp 120 volt breaker panel, and 300 watt roof-mounted solar panels with expansion for 300 watts of remote panels. The battery and charger are now in the rear of the trailer because the tongue box where they were located conflicts with the truck's bumper mounted spare tire during truck/trailer articulation. New interior lights, exterior LED rock lights, and a 4" axle lift for the camper are under way.

For amateur radio items, I'm unsure exactly how and where the Yeasu FT-710 and connected computer will be mounted, but the monitor, keyboard and mouse will most likely be at the side table. The FT-710 can be remote-operated using the CQRlog software, however, the Yaesu FTM-7250 dual band will need to be within reach for use.

A cold air return routes air under the bed panel to prevent cold weather camping issues under the mattress.
On the wall are three switches for interior and exterior lighting, and a 120v outlet.

With the large tongue box removed, there may be room to mount two Scepter water cans flat against the front, and my fat bike above them!

The Kitchen

Though not yet completed in this photo, this is the general layout of the kitchen.
The battery, inverter, and solar charge controller are mounted to the left of the refrigerator.

The trailer's rear double doors now open to a dedicated kitchen area that includes a cook stove and a split refrigerator/freezer, both on locking slides so they are very accessible. The Propex heater is mounted on the floor to the right of the refrigerator. Above the heater is a removable shelf for added kitchen storage. To the left of the refrigerator is a 200Ah battery, 40A charging unit, a 2000 watt inverter, the solar charge controller, the main battery shut-off and fuse block. Above the refrigerator is a full width shelf that holds the cook stove and storage areas on both sides.

Yeah, I think this will work just fine for what I want to do!

Update

With most of the work done, the camper is now my home for the next several months. It's small, but it's very comfortable, but it suits my needs for a go-anywhere camper and radio shack. I'll mostly be in an RV park, but am planning several trips to do some POTA and SOTA stations, and do some remote boondocks camping.

CQRlog

See the Update

"CQRLOG is an advanced ham radio logger based on MySQL database. Provides radio control based on hamlib libraries (currently support of 140+ radio types and models), DX cluster connection, online callbook, a grayliner, internal QSL manager database support and a most accurate country resolution algorithm based on country tables created by OK1RR. CQRLOG is intended for daily general logging of HF, CW & SSB contacts and strongly focused to easy operation and maintenance." - cqrlog.com

CQRlog 2.5.2 on Linux Mint 21.3

A couple years ago, I wrote about several Windows-based and web-based logging software systems for amateur radio enthusiasts. The web-based software provides users the option of using any OS, as all that is needed is a web browser, but on the downside, you also need an internet connection.

Long ago, while looking to get off the Windows bandwagon, I experimented with Linux, Redhat, and a few other OS's, but recently, I was introduced to Raspbian, a Debian-based / Linux-based OS designed for the Raspberry Pi computer. My opinion of Raspbian so far is very positive. The fact that the OS is free, and thousands of programs are available for free, helps my wallet recover from the ever-expanding money pit Windows based computers can be.

Now let me jump forward to what I really want to talk about - the new Raspberry Pi 4 and CQRlog. The CQRlog software package is touted as the best Linux-based amateur radio log program on the planet, and I may just have to agree. The Raspberry Pi 4, on the other hand, may just change the way we currently look at desktop computers. This is good.

I am a big fan of Ham Radio Deluxe, a fantastic Windows-based program, but now it is quite expensive, initially $100, then $50 per year for maintenance. And if you still mail out QSL cards, the annual cost of the hobby can really eat into the household budget. More recently, I was using the Log4OM software, another fantastic Windows-based program that has most of the bells and whistles of HRD, but the best part is Log4OM is free, but please make a donation to their work if you like it.

Then there's CQRlog, an open source software system that, when used with a few other Linux-based open source software packages, rivals anything out there, and it's free! CQRlog integrates with LoTW, HRDlog.net, eQSL, and Clublog. It also provides live logbook support through HamQTH or QRZ. HamLib takes care of TRX controls so current radio configurations auto-populate in the QSO window.

You can find all available software packages in the Raspbian/Debian repositories. In Raspbian OS, simply go to the Preferences menu and click on Add / Remove Software. Search Ham Radio and select all the desired software packages. It's as easy as Pi.

Update

September 29, 2020

So it's been over a year now since I started using CQRlog, and well, I'm still using it and I really like it! Logs are super easy to set up, updates to several online logs can be automatic and in real time, and the integration with LoTW is great. 

Services from the website HamQTH - from the makers of CQRlog and RemoteQTH - are well integrated into the CQRlog software. No nagging ads and no subscription fees. If you like the software and services, you are free to make a much appreciated donation.

This software has been very stable, reliable, and easy to use. I did have it crash twice, but I believe it was related to a rig control conflict I created by using several programs wanting rig control at the same time. My bad. As you can see, the appearance of the many interfaces are nice, clean, and up-to-date, unlike so many ham programs with the vintage 1980's, DOS-to-Windows transition look. 

CQRlog is clearly at the top of my list for logging software. See the CQRlog website for more.

Favorite Pi(e)

When Nancy and I go out to a new restaurant, we always ask if they have my personal favorite, Key Lime pie. But since last week, I may have to change my thinking and cautiously consider Raspberry...

First, it was the Raspberry Pi zero for my ZUMspot. I was so amazed with it's simplicity and usefulness, I had to get a Raspberry Pi 3 B+. It was like a whole new Raspberry world opened before me. And all I could think about before was Key Lime pie. Ha! And now comes the Raspberry Pi 4, the newest Pi on the pi rack, my favorite Pi so far.

The new and amazing Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB) running Raspbian is my shack's main desktop computer.  CQRLOG software is now my go-to radio log, the FreeDV software is set up for digital HF, and Gpredict for satellite tracking. The Raspbian/Debian repositories have a Ham Radio package that includes a host of programs for amateur radio Linux users. Did I mention all of this open source software is free? Yup. Free.

Logging Software

Chasing HF contacts without a radio log is sort of like playing a game and not keeping score. It's all fun just playing, but it sure is nice to look back and see all the countries and QSO's you made!

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to check out several software-based radio logs and tools. Through time and use, many I have deleted or no longer use, but a few programs have risen to the top of my list and are being used simultaneously, for comparison. The three on the top of my list, alphabetically, are CQRlog, Ham Radio Deluxe, HamLog CloudLog, and Log4OM.

CQRlog

My top pick and current logging software, CQRlog, has it's own post here. (Oct 8, 2020)

Ham Radio Deluxe

Ham Radio Deluxe is, well, very deluxe. It has more features than I have equipment, and it seems to perform all of it's capabilities very well. HRD brings together functions such as ADIF format log upload and download on QRZ, LoTW, and eQSL, a huge list of DX spotters to pick from, QSO mapping, sat tracking, rotator control, digital HF, available HRDLOG.net online log, and a few other goodies. I've been using HRD for about 7 years now, and it keeps getting better.

HRD Log screen

HRD Radio screen

HRD Sat Tracking screen

As you can see, HRD has very detailed screens and really good functionality. My hesitation comes with redundancy of functions, the cumbersome feeling with multiple windows, and too many buttons that perform the same functions.

It's hard to do all things well, especially when there are businesses that shine with their more singular areas of expertise. Do I need to have all the functions of my radio available on the computer screen? Not me. I just want my radio to "go there" when I find "the spot" I have been chasing. My take-away is this. I'm sure HRD will continue to grow and improve for some time to come.

Log4OM

Recently I began using Log4OM, another well integrated log and control program that retains visual simplicity, yet has so much going on behinds the scenes. So far, I am very impressed.

Log4OM has all the same online functions of HRD, and then some, plus and it links with HRDLOG.net for online log publishing on the HRDLOG.net website, or on your own.

Log4OM Recent QSO (log) screen

The various functions of Log4OM are well integrated. From call sign lookup or clicking on a spot or cluster line, all available data fields auto-populate for the potential QSO log entry. The station's gridsquare location and signal path also plot on the program's QSO Information map. To view any or all of your QSO's, Log4OM links to Google Earth and exports a KML file to plot and save all your QSO's grid locations to Google Earth.

Log4OM QSO Information (map) screen

Log4OM Cluster screen

This program is sophisticated, easy to use, and very easy to look at. The main input area always remains in view, while five tabs under the input area show the various info indicated in the pictures above. Super easy, yet doesn't look or function like an old Windows program from a bygone era. There are numerous videos for the beginner, to advanced user, on setup and use of Log4OM on the Terry Genes YouTube channel.

While searching for a radio log app designed for use on a Chromebook or Android tablet, I came across a cloud-based log system designed for use on these, or any platform. Now before you get all started on Chromebooks, let me ask, when was the last time you used a Chromebook? How about a new one? And what OS do I use to publish this blog? And what OS do I use for everything but?Yup, my new Asus C213S Chromebook, and I love it!

Cloud-based systems don't do heavy-lift computing on the user end of things like the PC database systems we are used to. Instead, they function as a workstation and relay data to an off-site server to be stored and retrieved. This can work for the amateur radio operator on a Chromebook just as easily as with a PC. All you need is an internet connection, or the format to temporarily store data while off-line. It's no different than running a call sign search on QRZ.com right now. In fact, it's exactly the same thing.

HamLog CloudLog

Thanks to the people at HamLog CloudLog, we take yet another step into the new era of amateur radio and computing. While still very basic - in logging software standards - HamLog CloudLog is a very efficient system that can run on any OS right now. And with the Android app, field days can be engaged with just an HT and smartphone/tablet. Awesome! What in the world is coming next?

HamLog CloudLog Log screen

HamLog CloudLog Tools screen

HamLog CloudLog Prefs screen

On the Android side of things, below are screenshots of some of the HamLog CloudLog Android app.

HamLog CloudLog Android App log screen

HamLog CloudLog Android App QSO entry screen

HamLog CloudLog Android App tools screen 1

HamLog CloudLog Android App tools screen 2

So there are some brief comments about three - or, really four - ham logs among the somewhat crowded field. In my opinion, and as far as I have researched, these are my top picks for really good radio logging software and systems that will continue to gain in popularity and function. Take your pick. They are all very nice!

Blessings!