Show Notes #089

Introduction:

  • The 10th Annual Ohio LinuxFest will be held September 28-30, 2012, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
  • Another riveting episode even though Richard has been attempting unassisted human flight. (We're all worried about the consequences should he succeed.)
  • Our special guest tonight is Rob Hawkins from the mintCast.

Announcements:

  • If you're a subscriber to LHS, you can access the Etherpad, download episodes without music, and you'll soon have the option of episodes in .flac format.
  • Remember the Black Sparrow Media app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. It's free! With it, you can listen to all of the podcasts in the Black Sparrow Media group.
  • Please consider donating to the podcast! Click the Donate link.
  • Check out the KF8GR Linux Ham Home Page. Even though it hasn't been updated in several years, much of the information is still relevant.
  • Richards suggests a Linux/Amateur Radio "best on the web" award. Your web site should have at least one page devoted to Linux or Linux and Ham Radio. Send your nominations to info@lhspodcast.info. If accepted, the LHS hosts will provide an award graphic for your website, and a link to your site from LHS.
  • Richard also found this TechNewsWorld article "Why Ham Radio Is Still Handy".

Topics:

  • Interview with Rob Hawkins of the mintCast podcast.
  • Rob describes his move from Ontario, Canada to Houston, TX, and drops this bombshell: "Texas is nothing like Ontario!" Rob is an engineer by training. His first computer encounter was an IBM 370 mainframe and Fortran at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. His first personal computer was a Radio Shack Color Computer and his first Linux exposure was with Slackware and several dozen floppy disks. He's been using Linux Mint since version 8.
  • Rob goes on to describe how he came to the mintCast.
  • Our hosts and Rob then move on to various technology topics:
    • The current state of Linux Mint.
    • UEFI - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface.
    • Software patents.
    • Windows 8 and possible opportunities for Linux.

Contact Info:

  • Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com, Russ at k5tux@lhspodcast.info, or both at the same time at info@lhspodcast.info.
  • Listen to the live stream every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central time. Check the LHS web site for dates.
  • Leave us a voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (1-909-547-7469), or record an introduction to the podcast.
  • Sign up for the LHS mailing list.
  • Sign up for the MAGNetcon mailing list.
  • LHS merchandise is available at the Merch link on Web site. Check out the Badgerwear or buy one of the other LHS-branded items at PrintFection.com/lhs or Cafe Press. Thanks!
  • Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Music:

  • "The Napalm Theory" by Ophyra, from the album Post Mortem, courtesy of Jamendo.
  • "Velvet Embracer" by Diablo Swing Orchestra, from the album The Butcher's Ballroom, courtesy of Jamendo.

Show Notes #087

Introduction:

  • Promo: Ohio LinuxFest 2012 will be held September 28-30, 2012, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
  • LHS community sends their good wishes to the victims and their families in Aurora, CO.
  • Our hosts recommend Etherpad for collaborative document editing.

Announcements:

  • Ham Holiday Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, July 27-28, 2012, Biltmore Hotel.
  • Texas Linux Fest, San Antonio, Texas, August 3-4, 2012, Norris Conference Center.
  • Texoma Hamarama Ardmore, Oklahoma, October 26-27, 2012, Exit 33 - I-35: Ardmore Convention Center.
  • Watch the Events Schedule on the LHS website for more events!
  • Click the Amabassadors link on the website and volunteer to be an LHS Amabassador at a Linux or ham-related event.
  • 20th annual Gainesville Hamfest Gainesville, Texas, Saturday, August 25, 2012, Civic Center.
  • Joplin Hamfest, Joplin, Missouri, August 24-25, 2012, Holiday Inn Convention Center. Look for Russ and Cheryl!
  • Russ is anxiously waiting for delivery of two (okay, three) Raspberry Pi computers. Call the LHS voice line 909-547-7469, or send an email to info@lhspodcast.info, and tell Russ what to do with his Rasperry Pis. Wait, that doesn't sound quite right, but you get the drift.

Feedback:

  • Bruce, VE2GZI, writes to express his appreciation for the episode about GNU-Radio (Episode 84). It inspired him to try getting it to work under Linux Mint 11, but it's been a struggle, and he asks for help. Russ managed to compile it on Linux Mint Debian Edition. Jlindsay in the chat room said he ignored the build script, and just did a cmake and make. Also make sure you have the proper version of portaudio installed. Bruce also tells us he's waiting for his Hong Kong Dongle. 'nuff said.
  • Scott, N9LJX, says he's always had trouble with rig control, via Hamlib, and his FT-900, and wonders if that's been improved. He's happy to hear that yfktest works with Winkey USB. Russ looked at the Hamlib website about Yaesu radios, and saw the status listed as ".1 untested", which indicates poor, if any, support for that radio. Richard suggests avoiding the USB or USB-to-serial adapter. Instead, buy an inexpensive serial port card for the computer and connect the radio to a real serial port.
  • Someone in the chat room asked about a good personal cloud storage solution. Russ likes ownCloud. and has described it in episode 9 of his QSK Netcast.
  • Jeremy, KB7QOA, sends a long email thanking us for the show, discussing his gradual move toward Linux, and wonders if he could have a version of the podcast without the music. Well, Jeremy, if you're willing to subscribe to the show, you'll soon have the option of a music-free feed.
  • Grant, AA9LC, has embarked on a project to establish a Linux computer in his hamshack. He met Russ at the recent Dayton Hamvention, and has been trying to boot the LHS disc he received there, but it wants a username and password. He's also tried Linux Mint 11 and is "mostly impressed." As the disc contains nothing more than Linux Mint Debian Edition, Russ suggests the username may be one of "root", "mint", or "linuxmint", and no password. However, it should boot directly into a "live" mode desktop without ever asking for a username or password. If that doesn't help, Grant, let us know and provide a few more details about when you're asked for the username and password. Russ and Richard also provide some hints about managing sound card audio.
  • Look for Russ on Episode 124 of the Mintcast.

Contact Info:

  • Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com, Russ at k5tux@lhspodcast.info, or both at the same time at info@lhspodcast.info.
  • Listen to the live stream every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central time. Check the LHS web site for dates.
  • Leave us a voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (1-909-547-7469), or record an introduction to the podcast.
  • Sign up for the LHS mailing list.
  • Sign up for the MAGNetcon mailing list.
  • LHS merchandise is available at the Merch link on Web site. Check out the Badgerwear or buy one of the other LHS-branded items at PrintFection.com/lhs or Cafe Press. Thanks!
  • Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Music:

LHS Episode #087: King Jeremy the Wicked

Hello, listeners! Welcome to the 87th installment of Linux in the Ham Shack. The past couple of episodes have been full of interviews, logic, and information. In short, we've totally jumped off our normal bandwagon. In order to fix that, we've put together an episode that contains a lot of banter, insight, musing, laughing, music and good times. Somewhere in the middle you'll find information on Linux, Open Source software, ham radio logging applications, answers to listener feedback, compile instructions for source builds and mention of a secret recording where Russ takes over another podcast and rules the world. Make sure to listen from beginning to end. You're not going to want to miss a single second.

73 de The LHS Guys

Show Notes #081

Introduction:

  • Loctite... not just for noisy children any more.

Announcements:

  • The Fourth Annual Southeast Linuxfest is scheduled for June 8-10, 2012 in Charlotte, NC.
  • Please sign up for the LHS mailing list.
  • Please join our new Subreddit and contribute news stories, discussion topics, and any other items that may be of interest to our listeners.
  • Scott, N8VSI, has tentatively agreed to be our ambassador at the Ohio Linux Fest in Columbus, Ohio in September, 2012.
  • It looks like LHS will be at the Dayton Hamvention, May 18-20, 2012 in Dayton, OH. If you'd like to help make that happen, please donate!
  • LHS is syndicated by the Kamiak Butte Amateur Radio Association, KB7ARA. The linked repeater sites cover almost all of Washington State, some of Oregon, and a bit of Canada as well. They are IRLP and Echolink connected.
  • Ronny, K4RJJ, will be our ambassador at the Knoxville Hamfest on June 8th, 2012. Ronny calls in to discuss the upcoming Knoxville Hamfest, and his previous experiences as LHS ambassador.

Feedback:

  • David, KE0AZ, writes to ask if LHS will be at Ham-Com, June 8-9, 2012, in Plano, TX.
  • LinuxCanuck writes to defend Kubuntu against Richard's recent tirades.

Topics:

  • IRSSI Tips and Tricks
    • Irssi is a terminal based IRC client for UNIX systems. It also supports SILC and ICB protocols via plugins. Russ offers some tips on making Irssi a bit friendlier.
    • The functionality and ease of use of Irssi can be extended by installing and using third-party scripts. These scripts are written in Perl and available at scripts.irssi.org.
    • Once you download the script file, which we'll call "dlfile" in the example below, you can install it and have it automatically run with Irssi by performing the following steps:
      # Create the scripts and autorun directories:
      linux> mkdir -p ~/.irssi/scripts/autorun   
      # Move the downloaded script file to the scripts directory:
      linux> mv  ~/.irssi/scripts
      # Change to the autorun directory:
      linux> cd ~/.irssi/scripts/autorun
      # Create a link to the downloaded script:
      linux> ln -s ../ . 
    • Some interesting scripts Russ is using:
  • Our hosts discuss the new release of Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) with the MATE and Cinnamon desktops.

More Feedback:

  • Stefano, IZ3NVR and KD2BGM, asks for help finding a good Linux contest logging program that supports SO2R (single operator, two radios) and CW keying. We don't know of any, but perhaps one of our listeners can offer a suggestion.
  • John, KD7AAT, offered a bit of criticism about the political content of episode 79 with Fab.
  • Mike writes to extol the virtues of Linux Mint Debian Edition with the XFCE desktop, and hopes Richard will find it a suitable alternative to Linux Mint or Kubuntu. He also suggests Crunchbang Linux. Richard and Russ respond.

Donations:

  • Don sent a nice donation for the Hamvention fund. Thanks, Don! We also received donations from Bob K., Charles H., Scott P., Craig B., and Harrison K. Thank you, everyone!

Contact Info:

  • Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com, Russ at k5tux@lhspodcast.info, or both at the same time at info@lhspodcast.info.
  • Listen to the live stream every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central time. Check the LHS web site for dates.
  • Leave us a voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (1-909-547-7469), or record an introduction to the podcast.
  • Sign up for the LHS mailing list.
  • Sign up for the MAGNetcon mailing list.
  • LHS merchandise is available at the Merch link on Web site. Check out the Badgerwear or buy one of the other LHS-branded items at PrintFection.com/lhs or Cafe Press. Thanks!
  • Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Music:

  • "Gold and Steel" by Isaac Graham from the album Empty Vessels.
  • "Charly" by Higgins from the album Zs.