Date & Time: 20 Apr 2021, 06:00 PM to 08:00 PM

Title: Software Defined Radio for Amateur Radio Communication

Speaker: Phil Bautista of Bull Creek Data, Senior Consultant

Biography: Phil Bautista is a Senior IEEE Member whose Superpower is leading teams of people with disparate backgrounds to accomplish common goals.  He likens it to making “Stone Soup” where you have none of the ingredients but organize often antithetic resources to align and achieve desired outcomes. While he has been an individual contributor building hardware to interface flight controls for the Apache helicopter to multi-ship simulators, written code for a bi-directional interface between the F-16 triaxial data bus to a PC, some of his most gratifying work has been leading teams to bring ideas to life such as the world’s first microprocessor controlled SCUBA diving computer. His work with NASA has provided the opportunity to learn how to pilot the Space Shuttle, develop applications that manage exemptions to work during missions, and even solve complex issues without the ability to touch a keyboard.

Founding a consulting company in 1996 and working with clients like Starbucks, Dell, and Capitol One in the private sector, Baylor College of Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY), and the University of Arizona (U of A) in the educational sector as well as the Air Force, Navy and the U.S. House of Representatives. Phil is a frequent speaker at technical conferences and volunteering his time as an executive board member for conferences.  He is also an officer of the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES).

Abstract: Amateur Radio or “HAM” transceivers have typically been large rectangular boxes with a myriad switches, knobs and meters.  With the advent of digital signal processing and other technology available today, the functions of yesteryear’s Ham radios can be handled digitally including the display and controls.  Software Defined Radios eliminate the bulk and weight of traditional transceivers.  Some SDR’s are connected to the internet and perform the receive function available to all including those without a license due to the “receive only” functionality.  Some SDR transceivers are also available over the internet and allow the licensed operator to remotely control the functions of the radio from anywhere they have an internet connection. This presentation describes the concept of the Software Defined Radio and the application in HAM radio. He will show what they look like in comparison to traditional equipment and will demonstrate the functions of both a receiver as well as a transceiver.  There is even a phone app that acts as an SDR for licensed users!

Registration: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/266948

SDR Presentation (slides) & Video link https://youtu.be/47T2x8Xp5r4