SHARI PiHat 52Pi

Table Of Contents

Overview

SHARI (SA818 Ham Allstar Radio Interface) is a ham construction project designed by N8AR that implements a Raspberry Pi hosted Allstar node using a NiceRF SA818 embedded UHF (420 – 450 MHz) or VHF (144-148 MHz) radio module. SHARI PiXX is designed as a kit for construction and use in the amateur radio service by licensed amateur radio operators who can assure that their assembled SHARI PiXX kit meets FCC Part 97 requirements including RF frequency, deviation and required power levels at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies.

SHARI Pi3U plugged into a Raspberry Pi3B+

In order to create an Allstar node, SHARI PiXX plugs into two USB jacks on a Raspberry Pi2, Pi3 or Pi4 for power, the Allstar interface and radio programming (a short M/F USB extender cable can be used if desired).

Four front panel LEDs indicate the status of SHARI – [POWER (green), CONNECTION STATUS (blinking green), COS (yellow) and PTT (red)] . SHARI RF output power is about 300 milliwatts.

SHARI PiXX is available in four models –

  • Pi3U – 70 cm for the Pi3 (420-450 MHz)
  • Pi3V – 2 meters for the Pi3 (144-148 MHz)
  • Pi4U – 70 cm for the Pi4 (420-450 MHz)
  • Pi4V – 2 meters for the Pi4 (144-148 MHz)
SHARI Pi3U – UHF model

Note that the two male USB plug locations are switched between the Pi3 and Pi4 models of SHARI so that access to the Ethernet jack on the Raspberry Pi is not blocked.

Features

  • Works with a Pi3 or Pi4 (USB connector positions swapped)
  • Uses the Cmedia CM119B or CM108B USB audio IC
  • Uses a NiceRF SA818 UHF or VHF embedded radio module
  • about 400 – 500 milliwatts RF output power
  • Small, portable with self contained radio and antenna
  • Kit includes PCB with all surface mount parts installed
  • Kit builder installs 8 through-hole parts, the radio module and completes final mechanical assembly
  • Rugged RFI-resistant metal enclosure
  • 3D printed plastic end caps with all required holes provided
  • Radio settings changed using a program running on the Raspberry Pi

Construction

All parts necessary to build a SHARI PiXX are provided in the SHARI kit. The kit is supplied with all of the small surface mount parts installed on the PC board. The kit builder installs the 8 surface mount parts, the SA818 radio module and completes final mechanical assembly. Plastic 3D printed end caps are provided with the kit to simplify mechanical construction.

SHARI Kit Parts (Pi3U shown)
Fully Assembled SHARI Pi3U PC Board

The SHARI kit contains all of the parts required to build the device. The kit is supplied with all of the small surface mount parts installed on the PC board. The kit builder installs the 8 surface mount parts, the SA818 radio module and completes final mechanical assembly. Plastic 3D printed end caps are provided with the kit to simplify mechanical construction.

Construction Manual

A comprehensive step-by-step construction/assembly manual is supplied as a download from our SHARI group on groups.io. It can be downloaded from the Files section of our SHARI group at SHARI Construction Manual_v1.07.pdf

Allstar Node Setup and Configuration

A basic Allstar Node setup and configuration guide for SHARI is supplied as a download from our SHARI group on groups.io. It can be downloaded from the Files section of our SHARI group at SHARI Allstar Node Setup Procedure-Version 1.4.pdf