LightAPRS Gateway 1.0: A Standalone APRS Digipeater and iGate in a Small Box

The LightAPRS Gateway 1.0 is a purpose-built Linux-based APRS gateway board that combines an SA818V VHF transceiver module, Direwolf software, and a web-based management interface into a single enclosure. It is designed to operate as a fully standalone APRS digipeater, iGate, or both, without requiring a separate computer, radio, or TNC.

Hardware

The board is built around the Luckfox Core1106 module, which uses a Rockchip RV1106G3 SoC with an ARM Cortex-A7 core running at 1.2 GHz. It includes 256 MB of DDR3L RAM and 8 GB of eMMC storage. There is also a 1.0 TOPS NPU on the SoC, though its use in the current firmware is not specified.

The integrated VHF radio module is the SA818V, operating across 144 to 146 MHz with a configurable frequency and a maximum output power of 30 dBm (1 watt). A 7-element low-pass filter is included on the RF output. The antenna connector is an SMA female. An antenna is not included.

Connectivity includes 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6 via an AIC8800DC module with an included IPEX 1.0 antenna, Bluetooth 5.2/BLE, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, and USB-C for both power and direct USB RNDIS network access. Power input is 5V via USB-C, compatible with any standard USB adapter or computer port.

An SHTC3 environmental sensor is built in, providing temperature and humidity readings accessible through the web interface.

The board measures 58 x 82 mm. It ships inside an ABS enclosure measuring 88.5 x 63 x 27.5 mm with laser-cut openings for the SMA, USB-C, and Ethernet connectors.

An extended pin header exposes GPIO, SPI, I2C, UART, and other interfaces for custom expansion projects.

Software

The OS is Ubuntu 22.04. Direwolf 1.9 (dev) handles all APRS modem and protocol functions, including digipeater and iGate operation. Everything is pre-installed and pre-configured from the factory.

The built-in web interface is accessible at http://lightaprs-gateway.local on the local network. From the web UI, operators can edit the Direwolf configuration directly, adjust radio settings including frequency, squelch, and volume, configure wireless networking, view an APRS monitor with a live map and station list, and check system information and diagnostics.

All software is open source. The firmware repository, which includes system internals, configuration files, and web interface source code, is available separately for advanced users.

Setup

Setup is three steps. Connect an antenna to the SMA connector. Power the board via USB-C. Open the web interface, go to Direwolf Config, set MYCALL to your callsign and update PBEACON with your coordinates, and click Save. The digipeater is on air from that point.

Deployment

The auto-reboot after power outage feature makes the device suitable for unattended installations such as rooftop or hilltop sites. Combined with the low power requirement of a 5V USB-C supply and the compact ABS enclosure, it is a practical option for a permanent remote APRS node.

Licensing Note

The SA818V operates in the amateur 2-metre band at 1 watt output. An amateur radio licence is required to operate the device in most countries. Check local regulations before purchasing.

Availability

The LightAPRS Gateway 1.0 is available for order at https://shop.qrp-labs.com/aprs/LightAPRSGateway1

Source code and documentation: https://github.com/lightaprs/LightAPRSGateway-1.0