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builders ➜ Shopping List for Node Construction

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Shopping List for Node Construction

These are the ingredients needed to get your first node on the air.

The node can be constructed out of many different sets of components. If you are starting from some components purchased for another project or donated to your cause, you may have to tailor this list. For instance, there are several generations of Raspberry PI which will work for a packet node. The SDcard required for each may be of one of two different models, microSD or SD. The radio you are using may be one of the recommended models, or it may be something you had from a previous project. Different cables will be used for each radio.

This shopping list will be both vague and specific. Feel free to write to our email reflector to ask questions.

Raspberry PI under $45	Must be Raspberry PI 1 B rev 2 600Mhz 32bit single-core 1 B+   600Mhz 32bit single-core 2 B    900Mhz 32bit quad-core 3 B    1.2Ghz 64bit quad-core 3 B+ 1.4Ghz 64bit quad-core 4 B    (preferred)1.5Ghz 64bit quad-core 1GB ram or higher ID and shop for Raspberry PI
Compatible SD card about $8	For modern Raspberry PIs we use a class 10, 16GB micro SDHC card (left). Click for Amazon Ultra 16GB Class 10 SDHC
Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor and Cables untold billions	We only need these things for a few minutes while you set up the machine. After that, these parts can go back to some other duties. The Raspberry PI 2B, 3B, 3B+ will output video using HDMI. The 4B will use micro-HDMI. I used a Micro HDMI to HDMI Adapter Cable. The older Raspberry PIs get power from a 5vDC feed into a micro-USB plug. The 4B wants USB-C at 5.2vDC. See power for digital section, below.
Nino TNC under $45 each volunteer kit-builders are available. Send request to tarpn email list	NinoTNC contents NinoTNC Ordering
13.8v power supply and power distribution for radios. $50 to $140 with fuse box	Power Supplies for Node MFJ-4230MV
Power for digital section $25 including GelCel	Robust power for Raspberry PI
VHF/UHF radios $50 or so surplus	Favorite Radios for Linking
Antennas, coax, diplexer or triplexers if needed. $70 per band or free	Antennas
TNC to radio cables $10 parts+shipping	NinoTNC to Vertex FTL RJ45 NinoTNC to Kenwood TK mobiles RJ12 NinoTNC to Icom HT IC2AT
NinoTNC to computer USB cable $5 parts+shipping
cabinetry $15 for wood for cheap and dirty	home-made wooden Node cabinets

See also Node computer-shelf parts spreadsheet and Node details and block diagram
 

© Tadd Torborg, 2014↝2023 -- all rights reserved