[GCARC] Preparing for the December Tech Saturday session on the Raspberry Pi Hamclock Session

[Jon Pearce]

The December Tech Saturday session on December 9 is "Raspberry Pi - from Zero to Hamclock" - a session to show how to start with a bare Raspberry Pi computer and empty SD card and end up running the "Hamclock" application. If you're interested in finding out what you can do with one of these small but powerful computers but haven't yet delved into them this is the session for you. Below is the list of materials that you'll need for that session.

The Raspberry Pi used can be any of the recent models from a Pi 3 through a Pi 5. Some of these are not available but one good option is the Pi 4 (4 gb) available from Amazon for $61 at https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Model-2019-Quad-Bluetooth/dp/B07TC2BK1X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=5KX1ZVDOU041&keywords=raspberry%2Bpi%2B4&qid=1700442462&sprefix=raspberry%2Bpi%2B4%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-3&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840&th=1  or a Pi 4 (2 gb) from Adafruit for $45 at https://www.adafruit.com/product/4292 . Both the 2 gb (2 gigabytes of memory) or the 4 gb can run the Hamclock application but the 2 gb unit may not run other more intensive applications. These run on a USB-C power adapter and use mini-HDMI cables so be sure that you have them.

Here's the list of stuff that you'll need to have and load onto your PC:


  *   A USB micro-SD card reader/writer to set up the card, like this one, in addition to the Pi: https://www.amazon.com/Reader-uni-Adapter-Aluminum-Memory/dp/B08P1T8R46/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=351VJ7UYBW72&keywords=usb+sd+card+adapter&qid=1690568065&sprefix=usb+sd+card+%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
  *   A micro-SD card - max 32 gb like these: https://www.amazon.com/Lexar-Micro-microSDHC-Memory-Adapter/dp/B09KL71CFN/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=18B068Z64OMHM&keywords=32gb+micro+sd+card&qid=1690568155&sprefix=32%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Download and install on your laptop:

  *   VNC for remote desktop to the Pi: https://www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/windows/
  *   Putty for command line connection to the Pi: https://www.putty.org/
  *   Raspberry Pi imager to put the operating system onto the SD card: https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/

Feel free to start experimenting with this stuff when you get it but we'll be starting from scratch at the Tech Saturday session, imaging the memory card and loading the Hamclock application. We'll also review the process to connect to these devices from a PC using Putty for a command-line interface or VNC for a GIU interface.

These devices are amazingly use for a wide variety of applications so feel free to attend even if you don't want to build a Hamclock. More info will be available closer to the event date.

73 de Jon WB2MNF