What Problem Does It Solve?

The idea for this project came when E25VBE noticed how much airtime fellow Thai hams spent trying to describe signal quality and audio clarity. So instead of using vague or subjective audio reports, he built a tool that quantifies signal quality in real time—and makes it easy for everyone to understand.

How? By turning SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) data into musical notes.

Yes, musical notes.

Signal Quality as Music

At the heart of this dashboard is a clever audio system: after each transmission, the SDR Monitor plugin reads signal strength from SDR# and plays a musical beep. Each note corresponds to a level of SNR—starting from Do-Re-Mi for S1 to S9, and beyond into +20, +40, +60 dB ranges.

This was not just an experiment. It worked—saving hams airtime and helping them focus on the real conversation.

However, some hams (especially those without musical training) had trouble identifying tone differences. So E25VBE took it further.

From Sound to Visual: Real-Time Graphs

He started publishing the same SNR data over MQTT and built an HTML-based dashboard to visualize the signal. What began as a sound-based tool quickly evolved into a powerful visual platform to analyze:

• SNR (dB) — How strong is your signal?
• Occupied Bandwidth — Is your modulation too wide or too narrow?
• Frequency Deviation — Is your rig on frequency or drifting off?

And the dashboard works in real-time, providing graphs every few seconds. Whether you’re using a basic setup or an advanced station, this tool allows you to fine-tune your audio, power output, frequency accuracy, and even antenna direction.

More Than Just Monitoring

The SDR Monitor Dashboard has become a full-blown diagnostic tool. Here’s what else it offers:

• GPS Location Logging – Pair your data with your station’s coordinates.
• Heatmap Mapping – See how far your signal travels and how strong it is across different areas.
• Antenna Rotation Visualization – Rotate your Yagi and watch the SNR graph paint your antenna’s radiation pattern.
• Field Test Comparison – Test different antennas (e.g., quarter-wave vs. NR22L) and compare results side by side.
• Contest Use – Six-month data retention allows verification of repeater QSOs during field day or contests.

Precision Calibration for All

One of the standout features is the ability to analyze modulation width and carrier frequency deviation. Many hams unknowingly over-modulate their rigs or shift slightly off frequency—this tool gives them the equivalent of a spectrum analyzer to self-calibrate.

It’s particularly helpful in group environments where overdeviation can cause adjacent channel interference and even friction among friends. This tool encourages proper operating practices.

Open Tools for the Community

Although not all components of the SDR Monitor are open source, E25VBE has shared many key elements publicly. For example:

DADA1 – Directional Antenna Deployment Assistant: An open-source web tool to calculate azimuth and distance between two ham stations using location names, Maidenhead grid locators, or lat/lon coordinates.

He’s also developed a user and installation manual, available in both Thai and English, and set up a demo site at http://dada1.decem.co.th to help hams calculate beam headings and rotation angles and dashboard here https://e24cy.decem.co.th.

Final Thoughts

This project is a fantastic example of how a passionate ham can take a real-world problem and turn it into a practical, technical, and user-friendly solution.

Whether you’re an everyday repeater user, a field-day operator, or just someone trying to fine-tune your antenna setup, the E24CY SDR Monitor Dashboard gives you the tools to do so with precision.

We highly recommend exploring the project if you’re interested in modernizing your repeater monitoring or signal analysis workflow. This is exactly the kind of innovation amateur radio needs right now.

More info and updates: Facebook Group

The post E25VBE SDR Monitor Dashboard: Making Signal Reports Smarter and Simpler appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.

If you’re an amateur radio operator looking for an affordable, versatile, and hackable interface for your radios, the Ham Radio All-in-One Cable (AIOC) is the perfect solution! Currently undergoing testing, the AIOC combines multiple functions in a compact and easy-to-use USB-C adapter. Whether you need to interface with your radio for APRS, programming, or Push-To-Talk (PTT) control, the AIOC has you covered.

What is the AIOC?

The AIOC is an innovative all-in-one cable that serves as:

• A sound-card interface for APRS and digital modes
• A virtual COM port for radio programming and PTT assertion
• A CM108-compatible PTT interface for software like Direwolf, enabling seamless integration with popular modes and applications

It’s based on the easy-to-hack STM32F302 microcontroller and comes with a customizable firmware that allows for a variety of useful configurations. Whether you’re an experienced DIYer or just getting started with digital modes, the AIOC provides a flexible platform for exploration.

Key Features:

• Affordable & Hackable: A cost-effective solution for digital mode interfaces, similar to Digirig or Mobilinkd.
• Dual PTT Support: Easily control two radios or use your AIOC for different radio projects.
• Compact Form Factor: A small, easy-to-use interface that can be modified or customized for specific use cases.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works with Linux, Windows, and macOS (with some limitations).
• Wide Software Compatibility: Supports popular software like Direwolf, AllStarLink, APRSdroid, CHIRP, and VaraFM.

Tested Radios:

The AIOC has been successfully tested with several radios including:

• Wouxun UV-9D Mate
• Baofeng UV-5R
• BTECH 6X2
• Quansheng UV-K5

…and many more!

How to Build and Assemble the AIOC:

Building your own AIOC is simple! With the included Gerber files, you can easily order a custom PCB and have it assembled. If you’re more into hands-on work, you can solder the necessary components like the TRS connectors to complete the build.

For those who prefer ready-made solutions, the assembly process is straightforward, and a 3D-printed case is available for a neat and sturdy final product.

Firmware and Updates:

The AIOC is powered by the STM32F302 MCU, which is programmable via USB using the DFU bootloader. Firmware updates are easy to apply, and the latest version (1.2.0) adds support for external hardware input, adjustable audio levels, and a CM108-style PTT interface for even more features.

How to Use the AIOC:

Once programmed, the AIOC acts as a COM port (Windows) or ttyACM port (Linux) for programming your radio and controlling PTT via standard serial commands. The soundcard interface supports multiple baud rates (including 48000 Hz, 32000 Hz, 24000 Hz, and more), making it ideal for APRS and other digital modes.

With the new CM108-compatible PTT interface (available in firmware 1.2.0), you can use your AIOC with Direwolf and other software that support CM108-style PTT, providing even more flexibility.

Software Compatibility:

• Direwolf: Use the AIOC as an AX.25 modem/APRS encoder/decoder.
• AllStarLink (ASL3): Set up an AllStarLink node with your handheld radio and the AIOC.
• APRSdroid: Supports APRSdroid with the fixed 22050 Hz sample rate (ideal for APRS).
• CHIRP: Easily program your radio with CHIRP, just like with a regular programming cable.
• VaraFM: Use the AIOC for PTT control while operating with VaraFM.

Known Issues:

While the AIOC performs excellently with most radios and software, there are a few known issues with electromagnetic interference (EMI) when using a handheld radio with a monopole antenna. This can be mitigated with ferrite cores or by isolating certain wires between the radio and AIOC.

Future Updates and Features:

The development team is actively working on several exciting new features for the AIOC:

• Configurable Settings: A Python script will allow you to change settings like PTT assertion or USB VID:PID, making the AIOC even more customizable.
• Virtual PTT & COS: Future updates will allow the AIOC to automatically assert PTT when it receives TX data or notify your PC of audio activity via CM108 emulation.

Why Choose the AIOC?

If you’re looking for an affordable, flexible, and customizable solution to enhance your amateur radio setup, the AIOC is a game-changer. It supports a wide range of radios and software, and its open-source nature means you can hack and modify it to suit your specific needs.

To learn more about the AIOC or to get started on your own project, visit the official AIOC GitHub Repository for documentation, firmware, and more.

The post Introducing the Ham Radio All-in-One Cable (AIOC): The Ultimate Multi-Purpose Interface for Your Radios! appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.