HAM Radio Foxhunt Transmitter for CW or Morse Code or Voice Transmitting

I recently came upon an example of using an Arduino, Relay Module and Baofeng UV5R radio to create a Fox Hunt Transmitter that would send CW or Morse Code transmissions. This information can be found at "Whitecourt Amateur Radio" website located here: https://wcar.ca/pg/fox-tx/,

I then also while attempting to get this configuration assembled came upon some information using a cell phone connected to the UV5R to send voice commands at https://tinyurl.com/32jsksa3

This triggered me to think about adding an Adafruit Sound Board to the Fox Hunt Transmitter to send voice. With a slight modification to the Arduino code found at the "Whitecourt Amateur Radio" website I was able to pull it off. The Adafruit Sound Board is their simplest one that has 2MB of storage and does not have a built in amplifier. The amplifier is not needed. "Adafruit Audio FX Mini Sound Board - WAV/OGG Trigger - 2MB Flash [ADA2342]"

The UV5R receives a DTMF signal to start sending the transmissions on Analog input 0. The Relay is activated to "Key" the microphone on the UV5R and the signal for CW is then generated by the code stored on the Arduino. A DTMF of 1 will start the CW transmission. DTMF tones of 3 and 4 in my case changes the introduction tune from the Purdue Fight Song (My very amateur attempt at it anyway) and Dixie which was in the original code from Whitecourt AR.

A DTMF of 2 will activate the relay to key the mic on the UV5R and then supply power to the base of a NPN 2222 transistor which acts as a switch to connect pin 2 of the Adafruit Sound Board to the Ground Pin which will start the sound file named "T02.ogg", a compressed WAV file that is stored on the Sound Board. Up to 8 different files can be stored on the sound board T00.ogg - T07.ogg to be selected by connecting pins 0 - 7 to the G or ground pin.

I added a SPST toggle switch to the 9volt battery and I have also attached all of the components to a piece of scrap pine board so that I can later slide it into a PVC pipe painted like a tree limb for obscurity. I'll drill a hole for the microphone cord to leave the side or lengthen the PVC pipe to also hold the radio with an external antenna receptacle on a PVC cap. I haven't made up my mind on this one yet.

1. Arduino UNO or Mega NOTE: The "FOX2_2.ino" file is to large for an UNO and will only fit on a Mega.
2. Adafruit Audio FX Mini Sound Board - WAV/OGG Trigger - 2MB Flash [ADA2342]
3. 1 Channel 5 volt Relay Module For Arduino
4. Microphone Cable for the Radio of your choice (Most Baofeng UV5R radios come with a remote microphone. This cord will suffice. I couldn't find mine so I had to use one off of a mi crophone that I purchased separately.)
5. 9V Battery Snap Connector Clip Lead Wire with 5.5x2.1mm DC Male Plug for Arduino Project
6. SPST toggle switch.
7. 1K Resistor
8. NPN 2222 (or comparable) transistor
9. Gikfun Mini Solder-able Breadboard for Arduino GK1009 (Or any breadboard) for the sound board connections
10. 1x40 Pin 2.54mm Pitch Straight Single Row PCB Female Headers to allow the sound board to be plugged in to the breadboard and in my circuit for pin connections.

Connect all of the components as per the attached drawing. One thing that is not in the drawing and can not be seen in the picture is I did add a SPST toggle switch to the 9V power so that the component could be powered down without having to unplug the battery. The Sound Board comes with ready to be soldered 0.1" pin-headers however wires could be soldered right to the board for more permanent connections. Just remember to retain access to the USB connector as that is how sound files are downloaded. The transistor and it's connections could be easily also attached to the bread board. I soldered wires to the transistor as I was using a transistor that I had removed from another project and the leads were not long enough to solder to another board.

There are more more female headers soldered onto my board than are needed. There is an amplifier available to be used along with the Sound Board that I originally wired in however it is not needed and actually over modulates the voice signal to the radio.

There are only 5 connections needed to the Sound Board. 1. Voltage In, 2. Ground, 3. Either L or R sound output, 4. Ground trigger, and 5. Trigger Pin. (In this case #2) https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-audio-fx-sound-board/copying-audio-files

Create a folder and include the "Fox2.ino" and "pitches.h" file and edit the code in "Fox2.ino" for the Arduino so mostly to replace my Call Sign with yours. You will need a HAM radio license to transmit with this! The "pitches.h" file is a header file for the notes used in the introduction prior to the CW transmission.

I added Fox2_2.ino file as an upgrade. It will play the tune of Super Mario when 8 is selected prior to the CW option of 1. Warning, it will stick that tune into your brain for a couple of days.

I updated the file "Fox2_2.ino" it now has the Star Wars theme as a default, option 4 plays the Imperial March from Star Wars. Option 8 plays the theme from Super Mario and 9 plays the theme from Pink Panther.

Connect it to the radio of your choice, UV5R in my case, hit the power and give it a try.

The link for the Whitecourt Amateur Radio club had a very nice document attached for rules to follow for the Fox Hunt.