Tag: feedback

LHS Episode #048: Better Late Than Never

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Linux in the Ham Shack took a bit of an unintended hiatus over the last month. We're in the process of trying to catch back up to where we're supposed to be. The current episode recording schedule has been posted and is accurate. We're going to do a couple of broadcasts two weeks in a row and then the next three releases will be coming out in rapid succession so we're back on track.

After the Dayton Hamvention, Southeast Linux Fest, Joplin ARC Hamfest and Ohio Linux Fest, things have slowed down a bit on the event front, but we're just starting up again when it comes to the show. So please stay tuned, tell your friends about us, and make sure to pick up a shirt or a ball cap. These are high quality items, and the only way you can get them is online or when we're at an event close to you. Also, check out the new BADGER WEAR! You can find a link to all of our merchandise at the top of this Web site. Have a good week, everyone, and thanks for listening!

73 de The LHS Guys

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LHS Show Notes #042

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Feedback:

  • This will be an all-feedback episode, ala the Going Linux show.
  • Warren, N0XLT, wrote to Russ back in May. He's catching up on the podcasts, and wonders what programs are available for Linux with similar features to Ham Radio Deluxe or DX Labs,, such as rig control, logging, digital modes, etc. Fldigi, xdx, xlog, gpredict, Hamlib and more have been mentioned on previous episodes. Our hosts discuss.
  • Google alert: LHS was mentioned at K7JM's web site. Thanks, John.
  • Google alert: LinuxPR press release for Southeast LinuxFest, and Russ was a presenter.
  • Bob, no call, enjoys the podcast. He wonders why the Ogg version of the podcast doesn't play on VLC under Windows. Russ has tested the Ogg files with VLC on Windows 7, Mac OS-X and Linux. Maybe a newer version of VLC will help. Let us know what you discover, Bob.
  • Danny, KJ4UHI, is a new linux user and uses Orca as a screen reader for the visually impaired. A future episode will cover Linux accessibility tools for the handicapped. Any listeners with experience with Orca or other accessibility software, contact us!
  • Jonathan, no call, recently listened to Episode 38. He is a daily Orca user, and offers his assistance. Thanks, Jonathan.
  • John, KF6EFG, wrote asking for a small section of the show that covers changes to the licensing and privileges regulations over the years, and trends in the hobby. He also notes that the web site has been slow. (The ARRL has a nice band plan map on their site.)
  • Doug, KB3TOA, met Russ at the Dayton Hamvention, and is catching up on old episodes. He's trying to follow the show on Twitter. Follow the podcast on Twitter with the user name "lhspodcast". Doug also sent a donation. Thanks, Doug! Listen to a future episode for the results of the drawing.
  • Danny asks how he might hear the unedited podcast. Click on the LHS Up All Night link under the Streaming Audio heading on the right side of the page. You'll need an application that will play an Ogg stream, like Totem or VLC, etc. Or join us on UStream for the live show.
  • Danny also asks if Richard is kidding about wearing a kilt, and if not, is it from Utilikilts?
  • The Northwest Tasmania ATV Group has been running episodes of LHS on Tuesday evenings. Thanks, guys! They operate on a linked repeater system and IRLP nodes 6616 and 6124.
  • Lynn, K5AVJ, asks what people use for calendaring. Paper? Phone app? Web app? Program? Smart phone? Mozilla Sunbird, Apple iCal, Mozilla Lightning, Google Calendar, and Scalix are some possibilities.
  • Listeners William and Frasier made donations to the show. Thanks!
  • Larry Bushey of the Going Linux podcast commented on the web site that he listens to the podcast and loves us, too.
  • Don, WS4E, writes that he's been a long-time listener to LHS and Resonant Frequency. He's tried many ham radio applications under Linux. What are the current favorite programs for rig control, logging, digital modes, award tracking, etc. That will likely be an entire episode. (And see the links earlier in this show notes page.)
  • "xPureEvilx" in the chat room asks what is the best Linux distribution for an older, slower machine? Richard recommends Crunchbang Linux Lite. He uses it on his 133MHz Dell Latitude with 128MB of memory. There are others, like Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux. Check out Ted's site, https://wa0eir.ham.org, and look at his applications, too.

Contact Info:

  • Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com, Russ at k5tux@lhspodcast.info, or both at the same time at info@lhspodcast.info.
  • Leave us a voice mail at 1-888-455-0305  or 1-417-200-4811. Note the new number!

Music:

LHS Episode #042: 1.21 Gigahertz Badgers

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Yes, we're running behind AGAIN. It's the story of Linux in the Ham Shack lately. Because of that, this episode turned into an expose on our backlog of feedback. As it turns out, feedback is a good thing. We were able to address several questions and comments from listeners to the show. Hopefully the information we give out as answers to questions will also answer the questions and fulfill the needs of other listeners who are hoping someone will ask their questions for them.  We'd like to encourage everyone to send in feedback and we will address it as soon as we're able. You can send an e-mail to the show, call our hotline at +1-888-455-0305 or +1-417-200-4811, or leave us a comment on the Web site. We encourage all our listeners to tell us what you like, tell us what you don't like, tell KA9WKA he's awesome, ask a question, or just tell us whatever's on your mind. Also, if you happen to have a few extra dollars kicking around, send us a donation to help with our expenses. Keep Linux in the Ham Shack moving into the future and we'll give you proper recognition! And if you buy some of our cool swag, you'll also be helping out the show. Thanks so much for being a part of our world. We love you. It's a big ol' love fest.

73 de The LHS Guys

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LHS Show Notes #038

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Announcements:

  • OGGCamp will take place at The Black-E in Liverpool on the 1st and 2nd of May.
  • The 2010 Southeast LinuxFest is set for June 12-13 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC.
  • Look for Russ on Shortcast #0003 of the Fresh Ubuntu Podcast.
  • LHS has a new audio promo for the show! So far, it's only been played by the Working in the Open podcast.
  • Jerry, KD0BIK, again mentioned LHS as a good Linux podcast on a recent episode of The Practical Amateur Radio Podcast. Thanks, Jerry!
  • We received no entries for our logo contest, so Russ bought one! Check out the new website design and logo and let us know what you think. LHS merchandise is coming soon!
  • Russ and Richard will be at the 2010 Dayton Hamvention, May 14-16, in booth 265 in the North Hall (NH0265). We hope to see you there!
  • Russ will also be at the SouthEast LinuxFest, June 12-13, 2010, at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC. Russ will be delivering a talk on ham radio and Linux.
  • Richard has a noise gate! It was a gift from Jim, W9GNG. Thanks very much, Jim!
  • Due to problems with the existing service provider, the LHS website has moved to lhspodcast.info. If you have a web page with a link to Linux in the Ham Shack at blacksparrowmedia.com/lhs, please change it to lhspodcast.info. Blacksparrowmedia.com will be going away in the near future.
  • The other show, Resonant Frequency, is still on hiatus, but those links will be changing, too. Watch this space for more information.
  • Look for LHS in IRC at irc.freenode.net, channel #lhspodcast. Join us!
  • LHS, along with other podcasts on the Tech Podcasts Network are now available on the Boxee and Roku media players.

Feature:

  • Richard and Russ discuss XDX, an X-windows client to connect to a DX-cluster, written by Joop Stakenborg, PG4I.
  • In Linux Mint, Ubuntu, or Debian, you can use 
            apt-get install xdx

    to install the program. Setup is simple:

    • Click Settings, then Preferences. Enter your call sign, and if you have your radio connected to the computer and it can be controlled by the hamlib utilities, click the "Enable hamlib" checkbox. Click OK.
    • Click Host, Connect... and enter the information for your favorite DX cluster. Visit the AR-Cluster Node List web page to find one near you. Russ used k2can.net, port 4000. Click Connect. (If a port is not specified, try 23.)
    • Type your call sign and press enter to log in. The cluster may ask a few questions to confirm your name and location.
  • Spots appear in the upper window pane. Prompts from the host appear in the middle pane, and your entry goes in the bottom pane.
  • If you wish to send a spot, look in the help file for examples such as: 
            dx 28002.2 xz7a worked with 80m dipole!!
  • In general, it's "dx" followed by the frequency, the station you've spotted, and a comment.
  • Other commands are documented in the help file.
  • Another web page that lists cluster nodes is www.ng3k.com/Misc/cluster.html.

Feedback:

  • Along with the noise gate, Jim, W9GNG, sent a letter expressing his appreciation for the podcast and tells us a bit about his background.
  • Jim, N2ENN, writes a response to our discussion of his email back in Episode 034, again condemning the state of drivers in Linux. Thanks for the response and discussion points, Jim.
  • Thanks to Gary, KE2YK, for mentioning the podcast at every opportunity, and his donation! Donations will be applied to hosting costs.
  • William (Bill?), KB9TMP, recently discovered the podcast via Resonant Frequency. He's also a new Linux user, but is having trouble finding help, and he comments about "old" hams and "new" hams. Our hosts respond.
  • Danny, not currently a ham, is blind and studying for his license test. He'd like to use Linux with Orca and wonders what hardware is best and what other Linux programs for ham radio are suitable for the blind user. Check out the Courage Center Handiham System and Frostbite Sytems. There is a version of Ubuntu for the visually impaired called Vinux, and a version of Arch Linux for the blind. Ask around your local amateur radio club, too.

Contact Info:

  • Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com, Russ at k5tux@lhspodcast.info, or both at the same time at info@lhspodcast.info.
  • Leave us a voice mail at 888-455-0305 or 417-429-4069. Record an introduction to the podcast and have a chance at winning $25!

Music:

  • "Dead Penguin by 3 Blind Mice from the album "Good Grief"
  • "Sahara" by Lochinvar from the album "Fire Eyes"

LHS Episode #038: XDX ‘n Stuff

Posted on by Russ Woodman

The season of Linux fests is now under way. The Texas Linux Fest took place a couple of weeks ago. By all accounts, the turnout was excellent, the educational opportunities were plentiful and fun was had by all.

Oggcamp in the UK is next on the list. Then there will be ham fests and Linux fests all over the country and the rest of the world for the rest of the spring, summer and early fall. Linux in the Ham Shack will be represented at the Dayton Hamvention in May and at the Southeast Linux Fest in June. I'm also trying to start a new Linux fest called the Mid-America Linux Fest which will be held in early November. It's possible that could be November of 2010, but it's more likely to be November 2011. If you want more information about the Mid-America Linux Fest or are willing to volunteer your time or services, please check out the Web site at https://midamericalinuxfest.org.

And yes, I know this episode of Linux in the Ham Shack is late. Life has been very busy of late and I think all of our listeners for your eternal patience. We hope to see you at the live recording of Episode #037 on April 27th at 8:00pm.

73

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