Pi Pico Recreates The Heathkit Pocket Packet

Packet radio is a very enjoyable a part of the ham radio interest. Once upon a time, you might need squirted information in regards to the airwaves utilizing one thing just like the Heathkit HK-21 Pocket Packet. Heathkit stopped being a going concern a while in the past, but [btech] has now recreated the device with modern hardware.

[btech] has known as the mission the Pocket Pico, and just like the {hardware} that impressed it, it acts as a terminal node controller for novice packet radio. It actually runs the identical firmware as the actual HK-21. It achieves this through the use of the Raspberry Pi Pico to run a Z80 processor emulator that may run the identical code, whereas additionally utilizing the microcontroller to do the work of modulating and demodulating Bell 202 audio tones at 1200 baud to keep away from the necessity for a devoted modem chip.

Thanks to operating the identical firmware because the HK-21, you should utilize the Pocket Pico with plenty of outdated packet radio software program. It’s totally able to doing APRS in addition to AX.25 Level 2, and has a in-built Personal Bulletin Board System for different stations to depart messages.

If you’re trying to get into packet radio, you would possibly simply discover this mission to be helpful. Alternatively, you would possibly like having a look at another initiatives we’ve featured on this house, like the capable OpenModem project. Video after the break.

[Thanks to btech for the tip!]