uConsole HAM HAT – Open Hardware Add-on for Amateur Radio

uConsole
, , ,
1

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on a ham radio expansion board for the uConsole and wanted to share the project with the community.

The uConsole HAM HAT is an open hardware add-on designed to turn the uConsole into a flexible platform for amateur radio experimentation, packet radio, and digital communications.

Project repository:
https://github.com/ayaghini/uConsole_HAM_HAT

Key design goals

The board is designed to be flexible and compatible with existing uConsole hardware.

• Compatible with both versions of the AIO HATs (uses the exposed internal USB port)
• Can also be used independently via its own dedicated USB port
• Mounts on top of the uConsole
• The enclosure is designed to accommodate additional antennas required by the AIO HAT

Planned functionality

The board integrates several capabilities useful for radio experimentation:

• 100 Mbps Ethernet port
• SA818 VHF/UHF transceiver with a dedicated modem
• Digital modem fully compatible with DigiRig pinout and cables

It will also come with dedicated Windows and Raspberry Pi software, available here:
https://github.com/ayaghini/Ham-Radio-Hat-Software

The goal is to support things like APRS, packet radio, digital messaging, and other radio experiments while using the uConsole as a portable computing platform.

Current status

I have not yet received my uConsole. I’ve been in contact with Alex regarding obtaining a developer unit, but I’m currently disappointed with how the developer unit situation has been handled. Because of this, I’m not yet certain whether I will continue this project.

However, if there is enough interest from the community, I may still move forward.

If you would be interested in purchasing a unit, please send me a note at:

va7ayg+uConsolehamhat [at] gmail [dot] com

Depending on the number of orders, the estimated price would likely be around $100–$150 USD per unit.

Feedback and interest from the community would be greatly appreciated.

— Ali

7 Likes
2

Have a look at the Si4010-C2 transmitter chip, it claims to cover 27MHz to 960MHz and can improve the frequency stability with an external reference.

1 Like
3

I might be interested. I’m working on my technician right now.

1 Like
4

Thanks for the recom, its a nice chip, I’d need to invest in the rest of circuit, and designing RF circuits are not easy to justify unless there is a huge demand. SA818 is a ready to use 1 or 2w module that makes implementation easy.

1 Like
5

good luck with the test!

73

VA7AYG

6

This is very interesting and a great contribution to the ecosystem. I won’t be getting one as it doesn’t suit my own use case: I throw my console in my purse/bag a lot and it sees occasional rough usage that means an external module would have to be very sturdy to survive; I am not a particularly skilled radio operator nor, do I have time to entertain the hobby; and for the previous reasons it is out of reach of my budget. I wish you luck though, and I think you might have hit on a fertile niche of the community in appealing to those who have already bought one piece of radio kit and can get a second great gadget without having to replace their other one. It must be very hard to compete directly with the AIO extension board…

1 Like
7

I would be interested in something like this as well. Hopefully you get a unit soon.

1 Like
8

Thanks for your kind words, it is something I am personally interested in, having a full kit that you can throw in you bag and you could do anything, from APRS to email to even HF using the modem. I had tried to make the design as sturdy as possible, even the SMA is designed to be protected but still i need to get my uConsole and test everything.

I am not trying to compete with AIO, I even reached out to him and offer him collaboration as my HAT is absolutely complementary to his. But understandably he is focused on the AIO.

Screenshot 2026-03-07 130542
Screenshot 2026-03-07 1305421395×964 247 KB

4 Likes
9

I’m certainly interested that it would compliment the AIOv2 board. but I do wonder since it mounts at the top, how will it manage the SD card slot, the power button and in some cases, the Antenna mounting kit from Hacker Gadgets?

1 Like
10

The power button is moved to the side of the HAT.
SD card access is only once you unscrew the HAT.
My idea is to move away from AIO PCB-based antenna kit and move antennas to screw-on SMA antenna mount on top of the HAT (those three holes on top of the enclosure). Except GPS that I am thinking of using those Ceramic active antennas and perhaps move it to the face of enclosure. Still need to get my unit so I can finalize it.

2 Likes
11

Are you envisioning this working with an aio board plugged in? That would make it more interesting, mostly because I already have an aio plugged in.

12

Yes, it’s using AIO exposed USB pins, and working with AIO. if you dont have AIO you can use a usb cable and connect it to your uConsole

3 Likes