Make your own AllStar Node

Making my own allstarlink node

Remote access to your node from the Internet

For Hams in Australia, there is a simple solution. Check out vk44.net. This free (at the moment) service for AR operators in Australia provides a simple solution which securely allows remote access to your node anywhere in the world with very little configuration.

I connected my node to the Vk44 network in less than a day with most of that time being waiting for the VPN to be setup by the volunteers at Vk44.net and another large chunk waiting for my PI to update. Once this was completed, the configuration of the VPN on my Pi took only about 10 mins. Install the VPN client, copy and paste the provided configuration into a configuration file and reboot. Very simple.

vk44.net logo

Apple Business Manager

The first step in managing Apple devices is to register as a business or eductional institution with the Apple Business Manager.

Continue reading “Apple Business Manager”

The first step in managing Apple devices is to register as a business or eductional institution with the Apple Business Manager.

Continue reading “Apple Business Manager”

8-bit computer Starting to take shape

my 8-bit computer on its base board

Time to get moving on my 8-bit computer project….

Decided to to start combining the modules and setup the final configuration. This involved removing the protective backing from the mounting tape on the breadboards and committing to their final position on the computer.

I’m still short a few breadboards, and still waiting on quite a few components that are on the slow boat from China, but i wanted to get it a bit more organised and complete the modules I can.

Did just find that the clock module is on a breadboard that is ever so slightly different in size than the newer boards, so I may have to remake it if I can’t get passed the OCD about those 2mm.

I also did some checking with a multi-meter and found that the power distribution will need to be beefed up to make sure that all of the breadboards have the required 5v as there seems to be a significant drop as you move away from the clock module. Thanks to Paul at South West Makers for the advice. I’ll be putting it into practise shortly.

Check out all my 8-bit computer posts.

WEMOS D1 Weather Station

To start off the Home Automation Project, I thought I might gather some weather data to test out the MQQT broker.

I’m currently working on the Arduino code to connect to the MQTT broker.

I’m using a WEMOS D1 connected to a DHT11 to measure temperature and humidity. The DHT11 is definitely the poorer cousin to the DHT22 and sometimes fails to reads as it is a really slow component. It also has limited range which might not be great for outdoor projects where the temperature drops below 0 degrees.