Hey Jim! Super cool! Thanks for sharing! Gunna have to keep this one on the "watch list" for sales or lightning deals. I actually just built a Pi 5 machine running the latest Ubuntu booting from a 500GB M.2 NVME as a replacement "shack" computer. My previous shack computer, an old home built / overclocked gaming PC (now >10 yrs old) was just given a new life as a Type1 hypervisor running Proxmox. Always enjoy watching others geek out over new toys :). Have a blast with that thing and 73!
I do a lot of HF Digital for emcomm, and I got tired of my shack pc running out of juice on the UPS long before the rig batteries were exhausted. I just swapped to a Beelink Mini-S12 (N95 8/256GB) running Win11 as it also operates off 12v DC. It uses a 5.5x2.5mm plug, so I bought a spare cable and slapped some powerpoles on it. The pc is plugged into the same powepole distribution block as the radios, kantronics tnc, and the monitor. Now, if my radios have power, my shack computer has power. This sort of upgrade is a no-brainer, especially if you want to be able to monitor HF digital (JS8, VarAC, FLDIGI, etc.) unattended and not have to worry about missing transmissions due to an AC-powered PC shutting down.
Thanks for the video. I'm looking at the n100 version. May get multiple for multiple builds. Was gonna get one for proof of concept, but you already did it here.
This looks nice. My Inovato runs linux on a raspberry, which I'm not real familiar with either of them. This is by far way more usable to me on my shack desk. I'm not sure if you mentioned the video resolution, but it looks pretty good to me. Funny, you can hear the excitement in your voice. Thanks for the heads up product review. Defiantly on my list.
When deciding between mini-pc vs a raspberry PI do you need the IO pins? Do you need really low power? If not the mini-pc may be a better choice, choose the right tool for the job!
Right - I have zero use for GPIO pins for anything I'm using this for. Faster than a PI, not much more than a PI5, and way more mainstream as far as running ham software on it. Runs linux or windows just fine.
Great Jim ! Great mini PC. I have the M2 SATA drives in my laptop and girlfriend does as well. we both that the 512Gb one. Different brand. I got the made in Japan one . That have SSD in 2.5 in SATA for older PC's . I got a 5TB SSD SATA drive in my external HDD case to ESATA or USB C or USB 3.0 . that FAST ! so little power draw. Way better than mechanical HDD which I had a few go bad. 2.5 in ones. The 3.5 in HDD last almost forever .I got many that spinning many years. just slow and draw some power. USB C is the way to go. Both our laptops USB C PD . and they HP ones. Just a blue tip 19V to USB C PD adapter is all need. HP has the blue ring on power port. we run ours from 12V to USB C 65 watt adapter. also have it in PD 45W and PD 100 watt. all from 12V LifePO4 . and little to no RFI from them. I put ferrite 31 mix cores on all my power cables . that is a real PC . the Pi just can't keep up. 73
Yessir, I'm pretty much over PI's. They're neat little SBC for small tasks, but honestly, for just a little more, you get a helluva lot more computer. and 12V!
What type power connector does this have ? I guess worse case is you can cut the wall wort off and put power pole connectors on it. Thinking of powering this from my portable battery box that has power pole connectors.
Never mind, I looked closer at the Amazon listing and see that it is a usb c plug. Does anyone know if there's a premade usb c to power pole cord in existence ?
It's a standard size wall-wart with usb-c on the end. Any USB-C PD port will feed the machine, so you can use any generic power brick, or a battery pack (there are a bunch that deliver PD - I use a battery pack with my steamdeck) They also make a variety of 12v -=> USB C adapters that can be wired up. Something like this: amzn.to/3WKOyup
Jay, I didn't check. Honestly, if I'm using this for radio, I'm gonna have some ferrites around the USB cable, which is probably where the interference would come from. When I demoed the Flex radio with it, I didn't see anything going on that was out of the ordinary.
@@FEPLabsRadio I'm sure they have. The company I used to work for was CHEAP. C-H-E-A-P. I'm sure they purchases the lowest base PCs they could with the lowest Celeron chips they could get...
Hey Jim! Super cool! Thanks for sharing! Gunna have to keep this one on the "watch list" for sales or lightning deals. I actually just built a Pi 5 machine running the latest Ubuntu booting from a 500GB M.2 NVME as a replacement "shack" computer. My previous shack computer, an old home built / overclocked gaming PC (now >10 yrs old) was just given a new life as a Type1 hypervisor running Proxmox. Always enjoy watching others geek out over new toys :). Have a blast with that thing and 73!
GREAT VIDEO!! thank you for spending my money
Nice Jim , i have something like this for my Hermes lite
I do a lot of HF Digital for emcomm, and I got tired of my shack pc running out of juice on the UPS long before the rig batteries were exhausted.
I just swapped to a Beelink Mini-S12 (N95 8/256GB) running Win11 as it also operates off 12v DC. It uses a 5.5x2.5mm plug, so I bought a spare cable and slapped some powerpoles on it.
The pc is plugged into the same powepole distribution block as the radios, kantronics tnc, and the monitor. Now, if my radios have power, my shack computer has power.
This sort of upgrade is a no-brainer, especially if you want to be able to monitor HF digital (JS8, VarAC, FLDIGI, etc.) unattended and not have to worry about missing transmissions due to an AC-powered PC shutting down.
Nice NUC Jim. Defo worth keeping in mind.
shiny metal is nummy! 🤣
I'm totally getting one of these and an extra ssd
Nice, much better than the Jankapotomus!😊
Thanks for the video. I'm looking at the n100 version. May get multiple for multiple builds. Was gonna get one for proof of concept, but you already did it here.
It works well. It isn't a gaming system, but for ham stuff, it is a sweet little machine.
This looks nice. My Inovato runs linux on a raspberry, which I'm not real familiar with either of them. This is by far way more usable to me on my shack desk. I'm not sure if you mentioned the video resolution, but it looks pretty good to me. Funny, you can hear the excitement in your voice. Thanks for the heads up product review. Defiantly on my list.
Glad I could help! This is a complete package for the price. Throw in a portable monitor, and you've got a complete 12v powered setup.
Great video. Did they double in price overnight or did I miss a sale or something?
I got mine for $149, there is a $30 off coupon to click on the $199 listing. I think mine was listed at 179 on Prime Day.
When deciding between mini-pc vs a raspberry PI do you need the IO pins? Do you need really low power? If not the mini-pc may be a better choice, choose the right tool for the job!
Right - I have zero use for GPIO pins for anything I'm using this for. Faster than a PI, not much more than a PI5, and way more mainstream as far as running ham software on it. Runs linux or windows just fine.
Great Jim ! Great mini PC. I have the M2 SATA drives in my laptop and girlfriend does as well. we both that the 512Gb one. Different brand. I got the made in Japan one . That have SSD in 2.5 in SATA for older PC's . I got a 5TB SSD SATA drive in my external HDD case to ESATA or USB C or USB 3.0 . that FAST ! so little power draw. Way better than mechanical HDD which I had a few go bad. 2.5 in ones. The 3.5 in HDD last almost forever .I got many that spinning many years. just slow and draw some power. USB C is the way to go. Both our laptops USB C PD . and they HP ones. Just a blue tip 19V to USB C PD adapter is all need. HP has the blue ring on power port. we run ours from 12V to USB C 65 watt adapter. also have it in PD 45W and PD 100 watt. all from 12V LifePO4 . and little to no RFI from them. I put ferrite 31 mix cores on all my power cables . that is a real PC . the Pi just can't keep up. 73
Yessir, I'm pretty much over PI's. They're neat little SBC for small tasks, but honestly, for just a little more, you get a helluva lot more computer. and 12V!
I'd like to ask what display you're using. Thanks.
I'm actually running that computer headless. I am remoted into it with MS RDP - you're seeing a shared screen on my main PC.
What type power connector does this have ? I guess worse case is you can cut the wall wort off and put power pole connectors on it. Thinking of powering this from my portable battery box that has power pole connectors.
Never mind, I looked closer at the Amazon listing and see that it is a usb c plug. Does anyone know if there's a premade usb c to power pole cord in existence ?
It's a standard size wall-wart with usb-c on the end. Any USB-C PD port will feed the machine, so you can use any generic power brick, or a battery pack (there are a bunch that deliver PD - I use a battery pack with my steamdeck) They also make a variety of 12v -=> USB C adapters that can be wired up. Something like this:
amzn.to/3WKOyup
Got a link fora cable for serving up he proper 12v? Something that we can slap Powerpoles on it's input would be outstanding!
There are a ton of USB-C options , this is one option available easy to mod.
amzn.to/3WKOyup
Does the usb c cause any rf hash on the rx?
Jay, I didn't check. Honestly, if I'm using this for radio, I'm gonna have some ferrites around the USB cable, which is probably where the interference would come from. When I demoed the Flex radio with it, I didn't see anything going on that was out of the ordinary.
How did get the extra SSD loaded with Linux?
Swapped out the Windows SSD with a blank SSD, downloaded Ubuntu and booted it off of USB, installed to the new SSD
Why did you not get it in Teal? LOL, thanks for reviewing a NUC, they are a nice option!
You had me until you said “Celeron”. In the past I never saw good things from PCs that had Celeron CPUs… 73.
Dude, things have changed a good bit since 1999.
@@FEPLabsRadio I'm sure they have. The company I used to work for was CHEAP. C-H-E-A-P. I'm sure they purchases the lowest base PCs they could with the lowest Celeron chips they could get...