Hackerbox 0096 - Two Meter - RF Fun!

This video was sponsored by PCBWay!

In this video I check out Hackerbox 0096 that I received recently.
This box is all about RF. We will build up a nice breakout board that utilizes the SA-818 VHF module.
With this build we will be able to check out NOAA radio, tx/rx on the 2M amateur radio band as well as experiment a bit with transmitter finding/foxhunting. This was a blast to make and I hope you all enjoy it. Get out there and get on the air!

I may joke around a bit but don't take that as my condoning breaking any FCC rules. Do anything else at your own risk. If you do decide to go rogue, PLEASE for the love of Pete don't cause malicious interference for anyone or anything. What you think may be a quiet frequency may be the input of a repeater. If you want to be extra cautious, I would look at the example code provided and perhaps disable the transmit button. Also, I think you can send a pair of frequencies for each "memory" perhaps set the xmit ones to zero or experiment with ways to make SURE you have no chance of transmitting on the NOAA frequencies etc. Just be cautious and try to use common sense. Don't be a noticeable nuisance and you'll be a-ok.

Now there is no covering up the fact that this SA-818 module has some issues with harmonics. How big of a deal that is, is not a debate I am going to get into with anyone. I invite you to do your own research on the topic and come to your own conclusions. @HB9BLA Has a nice video linked just below which covers some interesting SA-818 projects and he covers a method of dealing with the harmonics with a low pass filter. Great video check it out.

As I mentioned in this video be sure to check out the resources offered up by Josh at @HamRadioCrashCourse . Great resources. If you are new to things you may like this one.

Resources:
Hackerbox 0096 Info

Hackerbox 0096 Instructable

As I always say, if you've not already, go check out my awesome neighbor-in-retro, @retroCombs! He's got good stuff!

If you have actually read this far down and would like a HackShack sticker, figure out a way to get in touch with me and I'll see what I can do to get one to you! :-D

Music: @WhiteBatAudio Thanks for the tunes!

[HamRadioCrashCourse]

Wow! Thanks for the shoutout! It's really appreciated!

[KlodFather]

Although its naughty, this little kit would be a barrel of fun if the marks radio tower was on the top of a building, and the fox hunt board was in the elevator car control panel. In the basement no signal but top floor full quiet. Using a dummy load, and limited operation each day to a random few min here or there, would yield years of amusement at the expense of the schmuck mark LOL. Never trifle with nerds. It will be your undoing when they decide that you are worth the trouble LOL playing the song murdock from ateam was singing "They'll put you in a little box and cover you over with dirty and rocks" ha ha There was a true story that is very similar to this I heard about from a silent key. I was in the RF business for years. You hear and learn a thing or two. 😜👍

[heatherryan]

*as I'm screaming at my TV on the inside*
What is this? How come I have never heard of this? This is awesome!!!! I am totally ordering a few of those hackerboxes (one of the 2m box and a few others).
And you're right about Josh, he's good people, and he is the reason why I didn't completely turn away from signals altogether.

[RudysRetroIntel]

Wow!! What a fantastic kit, and thanks for making another great video! Oh, and all the ham radio information! Thanks for sharing

[april_]

My Fox hunting experiences happened over 40 years ago and I still remember it was fun, done orienteering before in my youth so it was kind of easy, some competitions even night time, that was like blindfolded but you can find those in the woods nicely! Great memories!

[retroCombs]

Nice kit and great vid. Thanks for the 2m explanation.

[sendmc]

Great to see you getting your daughter into Radio comms. I hope she develops a passion for it.

[nerdgarage]

Great to see that you taught her how to use body blocking for direction finding. It may not be the best or most accurate way, but the whole point of ham radio is to be ready to operate in non ideal conditions. With the proper use of, and proper understanding of how it works, it can be used to good effect for close in direction finding. It's actually my preferred method for close in fox hunting.

Edit: When is she getting her licence ? =)

[spartan]

Thank you for this an the Amateur Radio nod to and good words

[cgancos]

Thanks for the video! Sometimes it's nice to have a visual walkthrough of these kits. I've got my kit and will be assembling it this week!

[TheGeekiestGuy]

Did i just find the smokin apes alternate channel?!?! I kid. I dig the channels flavor. You got another subscriber. 🤙🏽

[NickKemp]

A Hackerbox that did APRS (small full keyboard, display, and code) would make for a cool addon to this kit. APRS is an interesting mode with untapped potential. A dedicated APRS box would make the mode easier to use. Absent of a dedicated APRS addon, one can use APRSDroid on an old cellphone.

[giov]

cool channel just a noob here getting into it so far i just found hhrc's channel last night and i got a uv-5r to learn and i got one for my dad too. learned arduino about 5 years back but haven't used it in a while. just got an older raspberry pi and thinking about looking at an esp32 to get some inspiration for using rduino ide again. i wanna get my ham radio lic. and a call sign and my hunting gunz license sooner then later. The old man has his and those arms in his safe will be eventually my inheritance. ;} happy new year from northern Ontario, CA.

[erikburman]

I've been working with my HB0095 this week but I'm frustrated that I can't seem to find a microphone option that works with it. I see that you found a solution but I'm not certain what model of Lavalier mic to order from Amazon. You mention that it needs the preampp option which I think is the problem I'm experiencing. I don't see any model listed that specifically mentions a preamp option. Can you lead me in the right direction please? KO6ABI

[jcurtis]

Hi Jamie, thanks for all the great videos! Question: I soldered everything together and the program is loaded on there correctly. I put headphones in the line out and cycled through the channels but I do not hear anything. Also I noticed that the RF module on the board gets hot when plugged in. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong?

[__JAG__]

What is the power output of the transmitter?

[Al-kwii]

I dont get it, all of this you can do with a hand held radio. Did or am I missing something?

[carlhoward]

If the SA818 module is pin compatible with the SA868S, you can get one online for under $10 and double your transmitting power. 😉

[DirtyPlumbus]

Awesome build.
Gotta love the Rick Roll. Lol

[DFXKX]

okay this is a fun little project.

As for the HAM part. My uncle has a license. I think about getting one every few years, but then have no idea what practical purpose I'd get out of it. Just saying hi to folks over shortwave is neat, but the price of the equipment quickly goes up to the absurd. Now if I got into sailing, shortwave suddenly makes way more sense given the distances involved and even naval radio having it's limits.