Category: Show Notes

LHS Show Notes #036

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Contributors:

  • Lord Drachenblut, one-time ham radio operator, IRC denizen and podcaster of Ten Buck Review. Lord D has appeared on several other podcasts, including:

    and has been a Linux user for seven or eight years. He uses Linux for everything except for one application that he runs in a virtual Windows machine (Grapevine, the LARP admin utility).

  • Jonathan, KB1KIX. Jonathan holds a General class license and has been a ham for a bit over 6 years. He got started with shortwave listening. He's been using Linux for 10 years and uses it for about 80% of what he does.

Announcements:

  • Southeast Linux Fest is June 12-13, 2010, at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC.
  • Texas Linux Fest is Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Marchesa Event Center in Austin, Texas.
  • OggCamp will take place will take place at The Black-E in Liverpool, England, on May 1-2, 2010.
  • Format change: We're trying a new format. We'll still have three segments, but rearranged into housekeeping, feature, then feedback. Let us know what you think.
  • Russ is trying to organize a Mid-America Linux Fest in Missouri.
  • We received a donation from Craig toward a noise gate for Richard. Thanks, Craig.
  • LHS will be at the 2010 Dayton Hamvention in booth 265 in the North Hall (NH0265). See hamvention.org for more information.
  • The other podcast, Resonant Frequency, is on hiatus for a while.

Contact info:

  • Russ: k5tux@blacksparrowmedia.com
  • Richard: kb5jbv@blacksparrowmedia.com
  • Phone: 888-455-0305 (toll free) or +1-417-429-4069.

Contests:

  • Logo contest: Send your logo for Linux in the Ham Shack as a product and as a podcast, preferably in scalable vector graphic or tiff format, or a large-sized image in a lossy format such as jpeg. We'd like to use it for T-shirts, banners, etc., and have it available before the Dayton Hamvention. The winner will receive $100! Send your submission to one or both of the email addresses above.
  • Intro contest: Record your introduction to the show. We'll use them all. You can record it yourself and email the file, or call us on the phone and record the introduction there. Entries received via the telephone will have two chances to win. We will choose one of them at random to receive $25.

Links and Notes:

  • OpenSolaris
  • Debian
  • openSUSE
  • Harve's Hamshack Hack
  • Linux Mint
  • Ubuntu
  • Lord D prefers Debian and Kubuntu, but has recently begun exploring Fedora 12, and found it to support the Broadcom wifi chips without having to install a proprietary driver. Russ says Linux Mint also supports the Broadcom network chips.
  • Russ has a thumbprint scanner from Thomson Microelectronics that he has not been able to get working under any operating system. Lord D suggests a goat sacrifice may be necessary.
  • Richard opines that Linux has progressed to the point where it's better for a new computer user than the other OSs. The panel discusses.
  • Our panel talks about feature bloat in browsers and performance issues. Everyone seems to like the xmarks add-on to Firefox.
  • Modular vs monolithic kernels. AX.25 kernel support is available as a module under recent versions of Linux Mint, and appears to be available under Fedora, too.
  • Jonathan would like to see a Linux application similar to the Windows program Outpost for packet messaging.
  • Jim, E2ENN, sent an email in response to Episode 31 and raised several issues about Linux drivers. Our panel discusses this message at length.
  • Nouveau: Accelerated Open Source driver for nVidia cards
  • The Cathedral and the Bazaar by Eric S. Raymond.
  • Open FirmWare for WiFi networks
  • XFree86 vs. Xorg
  • Knoppix

Music:

LHS Show Notes #035

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Contributors:

  • Steve posted a message at the Resonant Frequency forums and asked about the early episodes not being available on iTunes. That was a "feature", but Richard "fixed" it. Going forward, once we hit 50 episodes, older ones will drop off the feed to iTunes, so you'll need to go to the web site to get them.
  • Chris, ZL2CCO, posted a link to the LHS site on his blog. Thanks, Chris!
  • Via snail mail we received a donation and feedback from Tom, NC0O. He's been enjoying the podcast and sent a donation to support the Dayton expedition. Thanks, Tom!
  • Walter, KV6M, writes to clear up a mistake from Episode 31. We incorrectly attributed the penultimate donation to the Dayton fund to Walter, WN3LIF, but it was, in fact, from Walter, KV6M. Sorry, Walter, we've corrected the show notes, and thank you for the donation, and correction. We're sorry for the confusion.
  • Doug, N6LMX, sends his greetings and wonders what happened to a message he sent some time ago and was never mentioned, so he sent it again. (Richard had been holding it for the other show.) Doug wonders which Linux distribution Richard chose for his old Dell Latitude laptop. Richard chose Crunchbang Linux Lite. Also mentioned, the Midori browser.
  • Larry, W0AY, writes to express his appreciation for Episode 31. He would like to see Richard get a mute switch for his microphone. Thanks, Larry, and we're currently soliciting donations for a noise gate for Richard.
  • LHS got a mention in an anonymous comment in the Linux Journal forums.
  • Chris, K3DC, mentions LHS in a presentation he prepared, perhaps for a club meeting.
  • Another LHS mention in an IRC log posted to pastebin.
  • Jim, N2ENN, writes to offer some information about microphones in response to Bill's microphone rant in Episode 31, and discusses Linux drivers. Thanks for the information, Jim. We'll talk more about this in a later episode.
  • Glynne, KD5VQD, offers his wallet-sized reference card for the phonetic alphabet. Thanks, Glynne. Russ will post it in the Articles section of the Linux in the Ham Shack web site.
  • Klaatu mentions in his blog that he enjoyed the song "Flash in a Bottle" by Dead Heart Bloom in Episode 30.
  • Others have commented that they enjoyed the song "Don't Go" by Tenpenny Joke that was featured in Episode 31.

Announcements:

  • Southeast Linuxfest v2.0 is set for June 12-13 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC! Russ is planning on being there, as is Klaatu.
  • Texas Linux Fest will be Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Monarch Events Center, Austin, Texas
  • Logo Contest: The Linux in the Ham Shack logo needs an update, and we'd like a new logo before the 2010 Dayton Hamvention. Please submit your original logo, preferably in .tiff or .svg format, or in a very large .jpg, to Russ and/or Richard. Deadline is March 31, 2010. If selected, you will win $100!
  • Program Intro Contest: Record your Linux in the Ham Shack introduction and send it along. Record it on your computer and send the sound file, or call 888-455-0305, or 417-429-4069, and record your intro via the phone. All entries will eventually be used, but one winner will be chosen at random and will receive $25. Recordings made via the phone numbers will have two chances to win.
  • Send your submissions for either contest to Russ k5tux@blacksparrowmedia.com or Richard kb5jbv@blacksparrowmedia.com.
  • We've been having problems with our hosting service. It's likely that the Black Sparrow Media sites will be moving sometime in the next few months. Check the web site for details as they develop.
  • Look for Linux in the Ham Shack at the 2010 Dayton Hamvention. We'll be in the North Hall, booth #265 (NH0265).
  • Our new donation goal is to raise sufficient money to purchase a noise gate for Richard. Every little bit helps, so please click on the Donate link and send along a dollar or two.

Links and Notes:

Music:

  • "Bessie's Secret" by Heifervescent from the album "Murder in the Garden."
  • "Breathing on Another Planet" by No, Really from the album "Rust."

LHS Show Notes #034

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Welcome back, Richard!

Contributors:

  • Linux in the Ham Shack showed up on Podcast Sniper.
  • Chris, ZL2CCO, mentions LHS on his blog. Thanks, Chris!
  • Doug, N6LMX, is listening to Episode 31 and recommends the Griffin SmartTalk Headphone Adapter for the iPod Touch. It adds a microphone to your headphones. He bought his at Fry's. (You can also find it at Amazon for a little less money. Click through our Amazon store and support the Black Sparrow Media podcast empire! -Ed.)

Announcements:

  • Texas Linux Fest is Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Monarch Events Center, Austin, Texas.
  • Southeast Linux Fest is June 12-13, 2010 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
  • We met our fund-raising goal for attending Dayton Hamvention 2010! The next goal is to raise enough money for a noise gate for Richard.
  • Richard expresses his appreciation for everyone's patience and support during the past few weeks.

Links and Notes:

  • Amateur radio satellite operation.
  • Doppler shift
  • Footprint
  • Linear transponder: a broadbanded repeater that operates over a range of frequencies.
  • Satellite tracking: there are programs that will help you find when and where a satellite will appear over your location. This page lists several, including some that run on Linux.
  • You will very likely need an antenna with gain, and probably a means of moving the antenna to match the trajectory of the satellite as it passes by.
  • SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment) has been superceded by ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station).
  • Equipment considerations. A VHF/UHF radio with sideband capability is often required, as is a cross-polarized antenna with gain.
  • More info can be found at the AMSAT site including Keplerian Elements and other tracking tools.
  • The ARRL publishes several books on satellite operation.

Music:

LHS Show Notes #033

Posted on by Russ Woodman

All of us at Black Sparrow Media wish to express our sincere condolences to Richard on the passing of his mother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard and his family. He won't be joining us this time, so we'll carry on with a round table episode.

Contributors:

  • Ted WA0EIR, in snowy Iowa, Andy aka Integgroll on IRC, and Bill KA9WKA join us for a round table discussion.
  • Jay writes in about the Linux Journal episode (#029) and the analysis of the Amazon Kindle and DRM issues. Our panel talks about the Kindle , e-readers in general, and DRM issues. Russ mentions how Amazon retracted a couple of George Orwell titles.
  • Google alert tells us that Linux in the Ham Shack and other amateur radio podcasts are being played over a local repeater by Tony VK7AX for the enjoyment of listeners in SE Australia and Tasmania. Good on ya', mate!
  • LHS was mentioned on Joe's (WN2SYZ) blog. Thanks, Joe!
  • Dave, KG4GIY, posted another mention of LHS at Linux Journal when we talked about software-defined radios (SDR) in Episode 26. Thanks, Dave! Check out the Linux Journal amateur radio content.
  • Chris, Twitter ID WOKNSS, tweeted about catching up on back episodes of LHS. Thanks, Chris!
  • LHS was mentioned at the Low SWR podcast website. Low SWR is an amateur radio podcast produced by Rich KD0BJT and Brady KD0BJS. They're up to eight episodes already! Good job, guys!
  • The Axis wrote to us, Mint Cast, and The Linux Link Tech Show to thank us all for content about the Linux program screen. We're glad you enjoyed it. A possible application might be operating digital modes remotely. (Bonus Show Notes Content: The February 2010 issue of QST has a Short Takes article about the Glentek Radio-to-Ethernet Controller. Glentek has a variety of products to facilitate remote operation of an amateur radio station. -Ed.)

Announcements:

  • Texas Linux Fest is April 10, 2010 at the Monarch Events Center in Austin, TX. You might find Richard or Russ there, so say Hi!
  • Donations: We've achieved our goal! Walter, KV6M, made a second donation (thanks, Walter!), and the remainder was supplied by Beth Lynn Eicher of the Ohio Linux Fest. Thank-you, Beth Lynn! Look for the Linux in the Ham Shack booth at Dayton Hamvention 2010. (Note: the podcast incorrectly identifies Walter as WN3LIF, another Walter that also contributed.  We apologize for the confusion. -Ed.)

Links and Notes:

  • From the chat room, Ronnie K4RJJ, asks what PDAs would work with sound card digital modes. There's i-PSK31 that will allow you to use PSK31 with your iPhone and radio. It's also available via the iTunes store. (Note: I mistakenly said the price was $1.99. The actual price is $5.99. Sorry. -Ed.) There is also some documentation on how to wire the headphone plug for the iPhone for connection to your radio.
  • Ted rants about the use of macros in digital conversations, and the panel discusses.
  • The panel discusses the appropriate power levels for digital modes. Lower power, say less than 35W, is usually enough. There are devices, such as the PSKMeter, that attaches to your transmitter output and, along with software, will display your signal so you can avoid splatter. PSKScope is another program for the PSKMeter that provides additional functionality, such as automatic audio drive level control, but only in the Windows version. A Linux version of PSKScope is available, but does not have the automatic drive level control. The other device discussed is the IMD Meter, which is a standalone device that displays your IMD while you are transmitting. No computer or software is necessary.
  • Next, the panel talks about operating via VHF/UHF satellites. (There's a good introductory article on the AMSAT web site. Randy, K7AGE, has produced several YouTube videos of various amateur radio activities, including this one where he operates AO-51. Another video from the 2007 Dayton Hamvention shows a similar system.
  • Bill introduces the microHAM USB Interface III. (That's the Americas website. There is also a site for Europe. The panel discusses the merits of the device.
  • We then move to a discussion of Linux Mint 8 "Helena".
  • Bill rants about Yaesu microphones on their VHF/UHF radios.
  • Russ talks about some cloud computing applications: Ubuntu One and Dropbox. The panel discusses the relative risks and advantages of using such services.

Music:

  • "Don't Go" by TenPenny Joke from the album "Ambush on All Sides".
  • "Mirror of Humans" by Amity in Fame from the album "Dinner for One".

LHS Show Notes #032

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Texas Linux Fest promo

Contributors:

  • Shawn Powers of Linux Journal, and a recent guest on LHS, had a house fire. If you can, please help him out.
  • Google alert says LHS was mentioned in the Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club (NPARC) forums, but it seems to have disappeared.
  • There's been a problem with Russ' email, k5tux@blacksparrowmedia.com, so please also copy Richard, kb5jbv@blacksparrowmedia.com, on any email until the problem is resolved.
  • Michael, DL4MGM, advises WSPR users to make sure their transmitters are on frequency, so as to avoid encroaching on the visual QRSS, particularly on 30m. He also suggests using "sudo su" to get a root shell session.
  • Ted, WA0EIR, writes to express his appreciation for Episode 029, and the plug for his website.
  • Google Alert tells us that a French website, al-aide.com, reprinted the post about Episode 029.

Announcements:

  • Texas Linux Fest will be held in Austin, TX on April 10, 2010, at the Monarch Event Center. You might even find a Linux in the Ham Shack host there! Tracy, one of the organizers of the event, is also starting another Linux-related podcast. Keep an eye on his website for the first episode.
  • We're nearing our goal of raising $750 for the LHS expedition to the Dayton Hamvention in 2010. Please click on the Donate button and make a donation, as every little bit helps. Thank you!

Links and Notes:

  • There has been a lot of ham radio involvement in the relief efforts in Haiti, through such groups as the Texas Baptist Men and SATERN. Russ points us to this YouTube video containing a contact with HH2JR, demonstrating the effectiveness of ham radio in emergency communications.
  • Richard talks about using Linux scripts to automate D-RATS transmissions (auto-QSTs). This script downloads weather information and formats it for sending through D-RATS. 
    	#!/bin/bash
	#
	# Change directory
	cd /home/richard/drats/current_conditions
	#
	# Remove the old downloaded weather file
	#
	rm KHQZ.TXT
	#
	# Download the current weather file from NOAA
	#
	wget -q ftp://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/observations/metar/decoded/KHQZ.TXT
	#
	# Remove the old formatted file
	#
	rm current.txt
	#
	# Strip last line of text of the NOAA file, using sed
	# This sed command strips out everything between "Mesquite" and "Pressure"
	#
	sed '/Mesquite,/,/Pressure / !d' KHQZ.TXT > khqz1.txt
	#
	# Add a blank line to the new file
	#
	echo -e " " >> current.txt
	#
	# Copy Mesquite Weather conditions to new file
	#
	cat khqz1.txt >> current.txt
	#
	# Done!
	# A cron job then periodically sends out the contents of current.txt
	#
  • For more information on using the BASH shell and scripting, see:
  • Russ discusses the Linux "screen" command.
  • Visit us on the IRC channel #lhspodcast at irc.freenode.net or call the voice message line at 888-455-0305, or +1 417 429 4069.

Music: