Introducing the DevTerm Field Ops Shell

looks really great, man!

Philosiraptor (group author )did the 3d printer design (lots of work - really nice job) a friend printed it. I just assembled - some sanding around the expansion port frame edge needed but other than that it worked right out of the printer. M3 nut and bolt assembly. I may make an antenna bracket and use longer screws for my SDR antenna nice addition - unit still fits on my carry bag but unit feels much more solid.

A wild ham appears !

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wow.
That’s totally crazy!
I LOVE IT :smile:

I have a similar M3 screw assortment pack - accidentally tightened a screw rather than loosened it and broke the screw off inside the Ops Shell was able to back the bolt out with a small pair of vice grips once I took the two halves apart - what amazes me about the print material is that the hex hole did not allow the nut to turn at such a torque level that I could snap the screw… also did the sanding around the Expansion port and have printed some things using the printer - this is a remarkable upgrade to the DevTerm - cleaning up my shop today so maybe I’ll find my SDR receiver I was monkeying about with at Field day last summer…

Printed it and got it fitted.

Upsides: Robustness, the ability to attach hardware modules, protection from bending usb plugs to a degree.

Downsides: I can’t get the printer bay door open easily, only needs half the machine screws to hold it together than there are holes for, I don’t particularly want to install all of them as it will make it a pain in the arse to take apart.

Suggestions: Maybe a version with another rail on the other side and have 2 things? Also as previously mentioned a frame you can bolt over the top that holds a square of 2mm acrylic over the screen, or a cover that clips over top to protect the devterm much like the old cover did.

i sanded the area where the printer port was sticking so I could tighten the screws then drilled a small hole and threaded a M3 screw and washer into the flap to give myself something to grab hold of… I also had a tablet strap so I have a carrying strap on mine. Just loaded the SDR software today and picked up all kind of local noise on our area Ham radio repeater frequency when the repeater was not transmitting so it’s a cool setup. The author of the 3D print did a great job with the design I just found I had to sand that one area about 1/32" down to make clearance for the printer flap. Youll want to pull the printer spool to cut it or feed forward a bit - I use self adhesive paper for my notes and it’s pricey and don’t want to use extra paper to cut it…

I’m running A06 OS V0.2h

command that worked to install SDR is:

sudo apt install rtl-sdr gqrx-sdr

reference:

I’m stuck with the A04 while I wait for raspberry Pi CM4s to become easily available. At the moment I’m swearing by SDR++ as a decent interface that will run well on a screen with both that aspect ratio and a lack of power, for those interested

I am waiting for a right angle USB extension for my SDR, so in the meantime I truncated the SDR mount to leave a flat plate and used VHB tape to mount a USB LAN adapter, turning the machine into a great network tester, and means I am less likely to be interrupted by end users as this field shell makes it look more like I am using purpose built test equipment and I will be ignored long enough to go figure out how they managed to break the printer again.

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Is the CM4 more processor than the A04? I went with the A06 both for DevTerm and uConsole (I didn’t have a feel for the difference but wanted the most processor I could get - the good part about the modularity is that new processors can be plugged in without tossing the rest of the hardware) I’ve had to re-flash my memory cards each time there is an OS update but that’s not bad when if you keep accurate build notes) The right angle USB connector obscures the USB-C power and external video port - (it points down) I’ve ordered a longer (1 foot) USB male/female cable to route straight out… the Ops Shell recesses the ports and this makes this configuration even more clumsy … but the SDR in the devTerm makes a great signal trace package

Yeah the A04 is around the same processing power as a Pi3 but has more RAM. I’m not a coder but I gather the problem is it uses an odd SOC that isn’t particularly well documented, so there’s a lot of things that don’t work properly on it that work perfectly on the A06, such as HDMI out and decent power management options. Having said that the A04 does work and it is useable enough so I’m not in that much of a rush to upgrade, but in hindsight I should have gotten the A06.

I decided to get the CM4 adapter to give me some more options for the future but right now those are about as easy to find as rocking horse manure. In the meantime I’m using the magical copper paper heatsink that came with it as that is somehow working far better than the stock aluminium one despite that making no sense in my head whatsoever, and solved my thermal cutout issue.

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I’v had issues with the new Ops Shell with the sun shield - if you tighten the screws tight it distorts the DevTerm enough to take the keyboard and mouse out - I think the tolerance on the pogo pins are loose enough that tightening the shell can disable the keyboard/mouse - I’ve left a slight gab and no issue with keyboard /mouse - a slight sanding on the ID might help too…

I’ll look into this, sounds more like a printing artifact but could likely be addressed opening up the tolerances a bit, I designed it super tight, perhaps. Too tight…

I’m going to apply some sand paper to the front part of the print - I did no have this issue till I bolted the sunshade variant on - I believe that print in PLA of the sunshade variant is stiffer than the previous revision - but I’ll take just a small amount off to give it a little play. my printer bud suggested something other than PLA - the flexible plastic material might to two things make it less tight and provide better fall protection…

Hey everybody. Idk if anyone is using there devterm anymore but I remixed philosiraptor sdr mount to accept a NESDR smart. Really love the shell! the remixed mount is here:

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