Author: Russ Woodman
LHS Episode #076: BIG PAPA
After our quick renumbering, we come now to Episode #076. It didn't start out as an all-feedback episode, but that's how it wound up. The best part is, we had such good feedback from our listeners it made an entire show. As it also happens, most of our discussion revolves around digital mode communication for amateur radio using Linux. We touch on D-Star, Echolink, IRLP, Allstar Link and more. If you're interested in using computers to connect to your radios and talk around the world using a multitude of digital technologies, including VoIP, this is the episode for you.
Please keep those donations coming in for our Hamvention Fund, if you're able. We want to be a part of Hamvention and we hope you will be, too. Thank you for all you do.
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Episode Renumbering
In case anyone has seen weird behavior in the RSS feeds or on the Web sites, let me explain: I have renumbered episodes after #018. Back then I recorded a couple of updates from OSCON 2010 and called them Episode #018A and Episode #019A. Not long after that, the discrepancy in numbering started to eat at me. Now a couple of years later, I have decided to do something about it. All of the episodes have been renumbered, meaning that we're a couple of episodes ahead of where we were. This will probably cause a little bit of confusion in the short term but overall I am happy that it is done. Nothing else has changed, just the numbering scheme. Thank you for your patience while we go through this brief transition period.
73 de Russ, Linux in the Ham Shack
LHS Show Notes #075
Introduction:
- We're a little light on content, but we'll make up for it with enthusiasm!
Announcements:
- Ronny, K4RJJ, will be the LHS ambassador at the Dalton Hamfest, February 25, 2012, in Dalton, GA. Stop by and say hello.
Topics:
- Linux Mint 12 Review
- Richard has been using Ubuntu for some time, but he's been unhappy with the latest version. He's rediscovered Linux Mint! Version 12 is out, with Gnome 3, Gnome 2, MATE, and Cinnamon, and he gives a brief review.
- His primary needs: browser, email, Audacity, XChat, and a few others.
- Using the Gnome 3 desktop, as a desktop fills with icons, a new desktop is automatically created.
- By moving the mouse to a hot corner, you'll see a high-level view of all your open applications.
- Russ has been using Linux Mint Debian Edition, so he's missing out on the Gnome 3 goodies, at least for now.
- Our hosts then drift into a discussion of various desktop managers and visual effects.
- WINE: Wine Is Not an Emulator
- WINE is a collection of libraries for Linux that support Windows library calls from a Windows application.
- EchoLink, for example, is a Windows application works quite well under WINE on Linux.
- If you can't find a native Linux application that does what you want, you may find that WINE will allow you to run the Windows program.
- There are a couple of different versions of WINE, all based on the core version of WINE.
- Cedega: a version of WINE that supports a variety of Windows games.
- CrossOver: a version of WINE that originally focused on supporting business applications such as Internet Explorer and MS Office, but has also expanded to include some games and running Windows applications on a Mac.
- Richard browses the list of ham radio applications in the WINE application database.
- Russ talks about installation and configuration:
- Red Hat/Fedora: yum install wine
- Debian-based: apt-get install wine
- Some repositories may not have the most recent version of WINE (1.4 at the time of recording).
- Under System Tools (in Linux Mint, or Debian) there is a WINE Configuration tool.
- To install a Windows program under WINE, download the Windows installer application. At the command line, type "wine [name of installer executable]", and the setup program should proceed just as with Windows. A program icon should appear under the WINE program folder, and the program will, hopefully, run just like in Windows.
- Some Windows programs will run just fine under WINE; others won't. Give your favorite a try and see!
- One of the most-wanted ham radio applications, Ham Radio Deluxe v. 5.0, does not run at all under WINE. If you can find a copy of HRD v. 4, it should work under WINE. Remember, too, the native Linux application fldigi does much of what HRD would do.
- Russ has also tried the N1MM Logger under WINE, and it worked fine.
- The Winetricks tool might help get a Windows application running under WINE.
- The WineHQ forum is a good resource for help.
Feedback:
- We had a donation from William A. Thank you!
- Leif, KC8RWR, continues a comment dialog about the origin of CUPS in Episode 67.
- G8FXM, mentioned LHS in his blog. Thanks, David.
- The Hoosier Hills Ham Club linked to the LHS site and we linked back. Thanks to W.W., KB9TMP.
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:
- To be added.
Black Sparrow Media Mobile App
The Black Sparrow Media mobile application which lets you see all kinds of content related to programs on the BSM Network, is now available in iTunes. Simple search for "black sparrow" on your Apple mobile device and you can download it for free. The application was previously released for Android and is available for any device with access to the Android Marketplace. You can even use the app to listen to live stream shows of Linux in the Ham Shack! New programs are coming to the Black Sparrow Media Network in the very near future, so stay tuned for that as well.