OP25 project joins hosting on osmocom.org
Some days ago, I noticed that the famous OP25 project (a Free Software
implementation of the APCO25 system, a digital trunked radio system) was
no longer reachable on-line. It seems they were running this on a
desktop PC in a university. As nobody in the project still seems to be
at that university, a change in the network configuration had
accidentally rendered the website unreachable.
After some quick e-mails, I offered to host them within the osmocom.org
family of Free Software Projects for mobile communications. This is
when op25.osmocom.org was
created, and a full-site backup uploaded + installed.
I'm really happy that we were able to do a small part to help to make
sure this valuable project remains accessible to interested parties in
the signal processing and mobile communications field.
First osmo-nvs-gps evaluation boards soldered
At the osmocom project, we recently discovered the most interesting NVS
NV08C-CSM module. It not only is a superb GPS receiver, but it includes
GALILEO and GLONASS receivers, too. However, it's only available as an
industry module, or as an expensive (700 EUR or so) evaluation kit.
Given the cheap PCB prototyping service at seeedstudio, I thought I'd
spend an afternoon creating the schematics and PCB layout for an
evaluation board. It exports the two 3.3V UARTs on OsmocomBB-style
2.5mm jacks, so they can be used with the T191 cables. I have the
feeling this 2.5mm jack is becoming a new standard for low-voltage RS232
links ;)
Furthermore, it exports the SPI, I/O and I2C on a 20pin 2.54mm pitch
header, connects to an external antenna via a MCX socket and has an
optional footprint for a CR2032 battery on the bottom side.
So far, the board seems to be working fine. If there is interest in the
bare PCB itself (without components!), please send me an e-mail.
Depending on the amount of interest we might add it to the sysmocom webshop.
Schematics and Gerber files will be available at http://openbsc.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/osmo-nvs-gps
soon.
