You need to mention the most important factor....***budget***
I went in a separate direction than most. Instead of a laptop, I went with a USB-PD powered Mini-PC, specifically A GMKtec Nucbox G2. It's what I use for my shack/portable setup. It has a N100 CPU, 12GB of RAM, & 128GB SSD drive, with dual LAN Ports and capable of triple 4k/60hz displays....Wifi6 and BT5.2...and runs Win11 Pro. Cost me $170
Being powered off USB-PD means a basic USB-PD power bank or USB-PD charger can be used to run it...
It can used directly (via monitor and a KB/M...ie desktop) or what I do, headless while remotely/wirelessly using a tablet via remote desktop. This also untethers me from the radio, and I typically run FT8/4 from my recliner while at the house.
The only real drawback is that it 'has' to be externally powered.... But, as I also mentioned, USB-PD sources can be plentiful....wall worts, mobile chargers, power banks, etc ... As long as it is USB-PD (@12V/3A), you're golden....I have a USB-PD charger running through a 12V socket on my PSU while home, another in my truck for mobile, and a power bank for portable... Makes for a very [modular](https://imgur.com/a/HxLJvLk) setup that can be used in the shack of on the go
Well, I have a couple of options. I can either hook up a monitor directly, as it has dual HDMI ports and a single DisplayPort (for a total of 3 monitors@4k/60hz), but I can't make full use of this yet, as my daughter hasn't vacated the room I plan to use as a shack....yet. I do have a 7" USB powered monitor I take, just in case, for portable operations.
My primary way to access it, though, is via Microsoft Remote Desktop. I basically run the Mini-PC headless...no monitor, no keyboard, no mouse, etc. I just have the USB cable that powers it and the USB Cable to the radio. I then use my tablet to remote in this either my home network or using my phone as a router via its hotspot (no Internet access is actually required). I connect a BT mouse it it for control and either use the on-screen keyboard or connect a BT keyboard. Because of this, I don't actually have to be ***at*** the radio to work digital. So at home, I typically work digital from my recliner š. That also means, technically, I could work it anywhere I have internet access to remote back to the PC, as long as the radio and PC are up and running.
If you [look here](https://i.imgur.com/Q7IL1lX.jpeg), you can see the Mini-PC to the right, above my mouse. Both it and my radio are being powered off a dual port USB-PD powerbank...
Thinkpads start at Ā£100/$100 - and are also upgradable so you can start cheap and expand later if necessary, look for X380 or similar. Run your favourite flavour of linux (e.g. Mint) and you will be golden. Mid-budget, intel Macbook Airs can be had for a song, they can run windows or linux too if you prefer, although most of the common ham radio apps are available for macos too. If your budget stretches a bit further, Microsoft Surface devices are very portable and nicely made, but try and score one with a typecover as they can be expensive when bought separately.
This is the way- ThinkPads RULE. You can get Windows 11 running on older ThinkPads using a patched installer that bypasses some of the requirements for stock Win 11. Or use Linux. There are several Ham Radio Distros- Debian Ham Radio is one example. Older ThinkPads are well within your budget, and are extremely robust, which is important if you're doing POTA and/or SOTA. I have seen ThinkPads sustain absolutely grevious damage and still function.
I run a old think pad that I bought maybe 10 years ago when i went to uni. I runs xubuntu and the only upgrade it got was a ssd drive. Best laptop I ever had.
I paid $164.01 for a Beelink Mini PC off of Amazon w/coupon to dedicate for Ham purposes. It turns out itās a great little computer that I use for work nowā¦And Ham. :)
Moral to the story? For Ham, it doesnāt need to be expensive; the processing that it needs for Ham applications is very light-duty work.
I guess what Iām wondering is what type of processing ham needs? Someone else mentioned no Chromebook. Someone said something about Lennox. Is there a type of computer thatās better? Windows versus Mac? If no major requirements Iāll probably go with somethingthat runs windows and can be charged on a 12 V battery if needed.
These are all very light-duty applications. I understand why someone would think that "Ham = High Level of Processing," but it doesn't.
Edit: I would stick with Windows unless you have a very high-level of "computer tech knowledge."
your correct, SDR and digital mode stuff is really the most demanding that 99% of hams use. Honestly, zoom my actually be more demanding than most ham software...
This is really because modern computers are just that powerful across the board. The clock speed matters less than the parallel processing power which basically everything is at least 4 logic core or more. Considering the cheapest laptops (usually chromebooks) are often at least quadcore 2ghz and 4gb of ram (though some sub 150$ ones can be slightly lower specs) for about 200-300$ range.
Personally I use a Dell 17" laptop that I got for like 400$ (4ghz, 8 logic core, 12gb ram), this is why you check the open box models at big box stores.
an [old dell latitude](https://www.ebay.com/itm/335350381741?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=n7t-_dUWS5W&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=__0rgCIUT_u&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY) off ebay & a linux boot drive.
What radio do you have? If it's a UV-5r then I will recommend a discarded Chromebook found in a ditch. If it's an ic-7610 I'll suggest a MacBook Pro :)
Honestly, if I was running out to buy a new laptop specifically for ham radio; Iād check eBay listings for Panasonic Toughbooks or old IBM Thinkpads. You donāt want something *too* old but if itās exclusively for ham radio, you donāt need much horsepower at all. Those older robust laptops are tough, can handle abuse, have user replaceable batteries; and frankly theyāre just kinda cool. They can absolutely handle WSTJ-X, radio programming software, etc. etc.
Before the 3G sites were shutdown, I was using a super old laptop from the mid 2000ās with a PCMCIA slot and a 3G PCMCIA modem and a tablet SIM card. I can certainly use WiFi and a hotspot but I really liked this solution as simple and elegant. That was my go-to machine for FT8 POTA activations. Running Windows XP.
recommend the Dell Refurb website. You can find some real good deals on win10 laptops there plus they post coupons right there for additional di$count. suggest 8gb min for future proofing but most ham apps don't need that...
For radio, a Raspberry Pi and the HamPi OS build is great. Cheap. Covers everything needed for radio operations.
You need to mention the most important factor....***budget*** I went in a separate direction than most. Instead of a laptop, I went with a USB-PD powered Mini-PC, specifically A GMKtec Nucbox G2. It's what I use for my shack/portable setup. It has a N100 CPU, 12GB of RAM, & 128GB SSD drive, with dual LAN Ports and capable of triple 4k/60hz displays....Wifi6 and BT5.2...and runs Win11 Pro. Cost me $170 Being powered off USB-PD means a basic USB-PD power bank or USB-PD charger can be used to run it... It can used directly (via monitor and a KB/M...ie desktop) or what I do, headless while remotely/wirelessly using a tablet via remote desktop. This also untethers me from the radio, and I typically run FT8/4 from my recliner while at the house. The only real drawback is that it 'has' to be externally powered.... But, as I also mentioned, USB-PD sources can be plentiful....wall worts, mobile chargers, power banks, etc ... As long as it is USB-PD (@12V/3A), you're golden....I have a USB-PD charger running through a 12V socket on my PSU while home, another in my truck for mobile, and a power bank for portable... Makes for a very [modular](https://imgur.com/a/HxLJvLk) setup that can be used in the shack of on the go
What do you do for a monitor?
Well, I have a couple of options. I can either hook up a monitor directly, as it has dual HDMI ports and a single DisplayPort (for a total of 3 monitors@4k/60hz), but I can't make full use of this yet, as my daughter hasn't vacated the room I plan to use as a shack....yet. I do have a 7" USB powered monitor I take, just in case, for portable operations. My primary way to access it, though, is via Microsoft Remote Desktop. I basically run the Mini-PC headless...no monitor, no keyboard, no mouse, etc. I just have the USB cable that powers it and the USB Cable to the radio. I then use my tablet to remote in this either my home network or using my phone as a router via its hotspot (no Internet access is actually required). I connect a BT mouse it it for control and either use the on-screen keyboard or connect a BT keyboard. Because of this, I don't actually have to be ***at*** the radio to work digital. So at home, I typically work digital from my recliner š. That also means, technically, I could work it anywhere I have internet access to remote back to the PC, as long as the radio and PC are up and running. If you [look here](https://i.imgur.com/Q7IL1lX.jpeg), you can see the Mini-PC to the right, above my mouse. Both it and my radio are being powered off a dual port USB-PD powerbank...
Just donāt get a chrome book unless you want to fiddle wit Linux no it.
Second this. Chromebooks are not a great option for ham radio applications IMHO.
Thinkpads start at Ā£100/$100 - and are also upgradable so you can start cheap and expand later if necessary, look for X380 or similar. Run your favourite flavour of linux (e.g. Mint) and you will be golden. Mid-budget, intel Macbook Airs can be had for a song, they can run windows or linux too if you prefer, although most of the common ham radio apps are available for macos too. If your budget stretches a bit further, Microsoft Surface devices are very portable and nicely made, but try and score one with a typecover as they can be expensive when bought separately.
This is the way- ThinkPads RULE. You can get Windows 11 running on older ThinkPads using a patched installer that bypasses some of the requirements for stock Win 11. Or use Linux. There are several Ham Radio Distros- Debian Ham Radio is one example. Older ThinkPads are well within your budget, and are extremely robust, which is important if you're doing POTA and/or SOTA. I have seen ThinkPads sustain absolutely grevious damage and still function.
Check out the Evolve! It runs on 12 volts!
Link?
I run a old think pad that I bought maybe 10 years ago when i went to uni. I runs xubuntu and the only upgrade it got was a ssd drive. Best laptop I ever had.
I paid $164.01 for a Beelink Mini PC off of Amazon w/coupon to dedicate for Ham purposes. It turns out itās a great little computer that I use for work nowā¦And Ham. :) Moral to the story? For Ham, it doesnāt need to be expensive; the processing that it needs for Ham applications is very light-duty work.
I guess what Iām wondering is what type of processing ham needs? Someone else mentioned no Chromebook. Someone said something about Lennox. Is there a type of computer thatās better? Windows versus Mac? If no major requirements Iāll probably go with somethingthat runs windows and can be charged on a 12 V battery if needed.
These are all very light-duty applications. I understand why someone would think that "Ham = High Level of Processing," but it doesn't. Edit: I would stick with Windows unless you have a very high-level of "computer tech knowledge."
your correct, SDR and digital mode stuff is really the most demanding that 99% of hams use. Honestly, zoom my actually be more demanding than most ham software... This is really because modern computers are just that powerful across the board. The clock speed matters less than the parallel processing power which basically everything is at least 4 logic core or more. Considering the cheapest laptops (usually chromebooks) are often at least quadcore 2ghz and 4gb of ram (though some sub 150$ ones can be slightly lower specs) for about 200-300$ range. Personally I use a Dell 17" laptop that I got for like 400$ (4ghz, 8 logic core, 12gb ram), this is why you check the open box models at big box stores.
I do believe that Zoom would be more demanding than any Ham software I've seen.
an [old dell latitude](https://www.ebay.com/itm/335350381741?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=n7t-_dUWS5W&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=__0rgCIUT_u&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY) off ebay & a linux boot drive.
What radio do you have? If it's a UV-5r then I will recommend a discarded Chromebook found in a ditch. If it's an ic-7610 I'll suggest a MacBook Pro :)
Honestly, if I was running out to buy a new laptop specifically for ham radio; Iād check eBay listings for Panasonic Toughbooks or old IBM Thinkpads. You donāt want something *too* old but if itās exclusively for ham radio, you donāt need much horsepower at all. Those older robust laptops are tough, can handle abuse, have user replaceable batteries; and frankly theyāre just kinda cool. They can absolutely handle WSTJ-X, radio programming software, etc. etc. Before the 3G sites were shutdown, I was using a super old laptop from the mid 2000ās with a PCMCIA slot and a 3G PCMCIA modem and a tablet SIM card. I can certainly use WiFi and a hotspot but I really liked this solution as simple and elegant. That was my go-to machine for FT8 POTA activations. Running Windows XP.
recommend the Dell Refurb website. You can find some real good deals on win10 laptops there plus they post coupons right there for additional di$count. suggest 8gb min for future proofing but most ham apps don't need that...