Author: Russ Woodman

LHS Episode #049: CQRlog Revisited

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Hello, everyone! Due to Cheryl having some hand surgery and my being a telecommuter for the last month or so, I haven't been able to keep up with the podcast release cycle.  We've been recording episodes like we're supposed to. It's just been impossible to get them released on time. That means that #047 and #048 are going to be released in rapid succession so you'll get twice the LHS yummy goodness.

This time around, Richard has been looking a little deeper into CQRlog, a great logging program for Linux created by OK2CQR.  We talked about this program in a past episode and we've mentioned it a few more times in passing. This time we're getting down deep into the features and all of the integrations CQRlog has with other ham radio applications. We also address our usual announcements, feedback, other technical topics and throw in a bunch of witty banter just to keep things interesting. Thanks, all, for staying with us while we try and get back to a regular podcasting cycle. Keep listening and keep spreading the word.

73 de The LHS Guys

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Live Video Discontinued

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Hi, everyone. Just a quick update to let everyone know that we will no longer be broadcasting the live episodes via Ustream.TV. On the whole, the video is not terribly interesting and it causes problems when either Richard or I have to broadcast in low-bandwidth situations. In place of the video stream, we will have a live audio stream. In order to access the live audio stream, you will need to point your streaming media player (e.g. Rhythmbox, VLC, iTunes, etc.) at https://stream.lhspodcast.info:8008/lhslive. This link can also be found in the right column of the Web site under the Streaming Audio header.

We will still maintain a live chat room as well. In order to access it, you will need to use an IRC client (e.g. irssi, X-Chat, Colloquy, etc.) and connect to irc.freenode.net on port 6667 (the default). Once there, connect to the channel #lhspodcast. Note that this channel is active all the time and there are several LHS listeners who are always handy to ask questions of or to simply chat with. The live audio stream will start working approximately 30 minutes before each live broadcast. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send them our way.

73 de The LHS Guys

Joplin Hamfest Raffle Winner

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Hello! We have just done the drawing for the raffle we held at the Joplin ARC Hamfest back in August. We would once again like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth and who talked with us about our podcast, Linux, Open Source and the ham radio hobby. Drum roll, please...

The winner is: Jim, K5LAD!

Congratulations, Jim. Your Linux in the Ham Shack swag (T-shirt) is on its way to you as we speak. Thanks for entering the drawing. Until next time, happy listening!

73 de The LHS Guys

LHS Show Notes #048

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Feedback:

  • John, KF6EFG, commenting on the OGG vs. MP3 debate in episode 43, agrees that MP3 is the preferred file format because that it is supported by most media players. He realizes that OGG is superior, but until vendors like Apple support it, it will not gain on MP3. Richard thinks it's because Apple cannot add DRM to OGG files. Russ thinks that if Apple did use OGG, they'd sell more iPods. In any case, LHS will not drop the MP3 feed.
  • Lief, KC8RWR, writes a detailed reply to comments Randall, KC4WZE, made in episode 44 about running the same applications on cell phones and computers. There is a way to hack an Android phone to run Debian, or run Android on your desktop. Check out the TuxPhone project. Richard and Russ discuss.
  • John, EI7IG, was interested in the discussion of Logbook of The World in episode 43. He pointed us to www.rickmurphy.net/lotw for a newer version of TrustedQSL created by Rick Murphy, including a Linux version. Russ tried it and it works. (Ed. note: The softare is no longer available on Rick Murphy's site. Evidently, it has been obsoleted by Trusted QSL 1.13 from ARRL. Linux source packages to compile the library and program are available from the LoTW Instructions page.)
  • David, M0DCM, writes that he was recently at the Telford Hamfest and found that Linux was represented there, thanks to the Shropshire Linux User's Group and MAXPAK, the Midlands AX25 Packet Radio User Group. They had demonstrations of Linux machines running Fldigi and WSPR, showing just how far Linux has come. They gave away a bunch of Ubuntu CDs, some to LHS listeners! (A couple UK podcasts for ham radio and Linux are the ICQ Podcast and the Ubuntu UK Podcast.)
  • Russ was at the Joplin ARC Hamfest and had the LHS booth there. He gave away 20 Ubuntu 10.04 CDs. WebSDR was a big hit, too.

Announcements:

  • May 6-7, 2011: MAGNet Conference in St. Louis, MO. See magnetcon.info for information. If you know anyone that might be a sponsor, exhibitor, or speaker, please let us know. Application forms are available on the web site. Registration will begin December 1, 2010. There will be a live music concert and coctail hour at the close.
  • Links to LHS merchandise have been added to the LHS website. Click the SHOP! link under the banner.

Topics:

  • Websites of interest:
    • Ubuntu Linux for Hams, by Bert, AB0VI, was featured on the main ARRL web page.
    • My Ham Shack provides a free personal web page for ham radio operators. Lots of guys post pictures of their shacks, QSL info, equipment list, etc.
    • It's More Complicated Than That!. A blog by one of the Ubuntu developers, Steve Conklin, AI4QR. Recently, he's been working on controlling a Softrock software defined radio (SDR) with Linux.
  • Linux ham software:
    • More ham radio applications are showing up in the Linux repos, like PSKmail, bulletin board programs, and more. Richard begs for someone to update the 2001 Linux Amateur Radio AX.25 HOWTO.
    • CallGit, a callsign lookup tool that retrieves data from QRZ.com.
    • gPredict, a real-time satellite tracking and orbit prediction program.

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 888-455-0305 or 417-200-4811, or record an introduction to the podcast.
  • Sign up for the LHS mailing list.
  • Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Music: