LHS Episode #101: O Sole Mio

WalkAloneWelcome to the first episode of Linux in the Ham Shack that doesn't have Richard it in, on purpose. I can personally say that I feel his absence rather heavily in this program, but overall I think the show went rather well. Harrison, VE2HKW, was kind enough to be a guest host to help me out. Episode #102 will also have a couple of guest hosts, rather likeable ones at that, and so it will go until a permanent(?) replacement is found for Richard. We can only hope he comes back one day to grace us with tales of strippers on scooters and discharging firearms indoors. Until then, I soldier on. Thanks for listening and remember, you can send feedback to info@lhspodcast.info, or by voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (547-7469).

73 de Russ, K5TUX

Show Notes @#100

Introduction:

  • Promo: Listen to the Linux Basement Podcast.
  • Happy Birthday, Richard!
  • Yes, folks, it's episode 100 of Linux in the Ham Shack. We're now eligible for syndication! 🙂

Topics:

  • In celebration of our 100th episode, several of our listeners in the chat room call in and participate in a roundtable discussion. Participants include Harrison (VE2HKW), Brian (K5BPC), and Jon (KT4KB). Unfortunately, noise on Jon's connection prevented him from staying on the line.
  • We received voice messages from listeners Michelle, Joy, Rich (KD0RG), Doug (N6LMX), Nick, Jon, "Major J", and Harrison (VE2HKW).
  • Feedback from Matt (KD8SZG), who asks which would be a better choice for a new HF user: a used IC-7000 or new FT-857D. The consensus is to choose the new FT-857D.
  • Jon, KT4KB, asks how Russ and Richard met.
  • Richard makes a shocking announcement!
  • We have a short discussion of FreeDV vs. D-STAR, followed by a brief discussion of various Linux distributions.
  • Richard makes a few final comments.

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 #099: Thorpe Your Octo

octothorpeWe are one episode away from the century mark. It's with a great deal of pride that we, the hosts of Linux in the Ham Shack, present to you our 99tieth episode. We would love to have some audio feedback from as many of our listeners as we can get that we can air on our 100th Episode Extravaganza. If you have the time and inclination, please submit a sound bite telling us how much you love the show, or hate it, or whether a weasel stole your chickens. It doesn't matter; we just want to hear from you! In the meantime, since Russ actually sat down and did some research for the episode, please take a listen and try to glean from it whatever nuggets of wisdom you might find. We're not saying they're in there, but the journey to discovery has been fun so far.

73 de The LHS Guys

Show Notes #096

Introduction:

  • Welcome to another edition of the Super Happy Crappy Hour!

Announcements:

  • The Black Sparrow Media mobile app is again hosted thanks to listener donations. Visit the BSM website to download the app and enjoy all of the BSM affiliated shows.
  • CafeNinja and the Tin Foil Hat Show have joined the Black Sparrow Media network.
  • If you'd like to participate in the chat room, point your IRC client at the irc.freenode.net server, and join the #lhspodcast channel.
  • You can listen to the live show by pointing your media player (VLC, Totem, or whatever) to https://stream.blacksparrow.net:8008/lhslive.
  • Our live recording night will be moving to Wednesday evenings (CST) beginning with Episode 97, scheduled for December 12th, 2012.
  • Welcome Gnorman to the LHS staff.

Topics:

  • TLF Contest Logger.
    • We've mentioned TLF in episodes 12, 65 and 70.
    • TLF is a console-mode general purpose CW and voice keyer, logging and contest program for Linux.
    • Our hosts compare this to YFKTest.
    • If you have used TLF, send us your experience with the program.
  • Our hosts then embark on several digressions about Gnorman, Lua, and other podcasters.

Feedback:

  • Torsten, DL1THM, sends an email describing his use of a Raspberry Pi as an APRS digi using aprx software and as a D-Star repeater using a DV-RPTR board. Thanks, Torsten.
  • Greg responded to episode 94 about uses for the Raspberry Pi, including a media PC with Raspbmc and perhaps as a weather station. Thanks, Greg.
  • Russ and Richard also talk about D-Star stuff, and D-RATS. (D-RATS has been mentioned in LHS episodes 17, 32, 56, 71 and 90.)
  • Comment from the Web site from Leif, KC8RWR, in response to episode 91 where Russ rants about the lack of speakers in the head units of mobile radios. Thanks, Leif.
  • Fred, DH5FS, sent a suggestion to consider TLF as a Linux contest logger. Thanks, Fred. Your email inspired tonight's topic.
  • Bill, KJ4KNI, on Facebook expressed his appreciation for help getting Linux Mint 13 with the MATE desktop running on his main computer. He also provides several reasons a ham might wish to use RG6 (75 ohm coax) in radio applications. Thanks, Bill.

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:

  • "Crooked Smile Girl" by Heather Pierson, from her album Make It Mine.
  • "Agnostic" by Daniel Bautista from the album 15, courtesy of Jamendo.

Show Notes #095

Introduction:

  • Welcome to episode 95 of Linux in the Ham Shack. Episode 100 looms on the horizon, and we'd like to do something a little special. Call in to the LHS voice mail line at +1-909-LHS-SHOW (1-909-547-7469), or send an email, and share your thoughts about the show.
  • LHS recommends this LOL Cat image.

Announcements:

  • Kevin O'Brien, Publicity Director of the Ohio LinuxFest, is looking for someone to step up and take on the role of Volunteer Coordinator. If anyone is interested please reply to news@ohiolinux.org.
  • We now digress into a ramble about censorship.
  • On page 45 of the December 2012 issue of QST has an article on vertical vs. horizontal antennas, a topic we discussed in episode 91. In the same issue, on page 52, there is also an article about the NorthWest Digital Radio UDR56K, a topic we discussed in episode 90. Are we seeing a pattern here?
  • Also in that issue is a description of several FCC Proposed Rule Changes, and our hosts discuss each of them:
    • Reduction of license expiration grace period from 2 years to 6 months.
    • Reduction of vanity call waiting period from 2 years to 6 months.
    • Reduction of the number of Volunteer Examiners at test sessions from 3 to 2.
    • Possible allowance of "remote testing" facilities using video and audio over a network that allows for proper administration of tests.
    • Allow single-slot TDMA transmissions.
  • The 2012 Fort Wayne Hamfest is this weekend, November 17-18, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is also the ARRL Convention for Indiana. This launches Richard into reminiscing about the presentation of The Last Voice from Kuwait.

Topics:

  • Symbolic (or soft) Links vs. Hard Links
    • Russ and Richard offer a discussion of the difference between soft, or symbolic, links and hard links in Linux.
    • A symbolic link is a pointer to another file name. Symbolic links can be created with the ln -s command:
      ln -s [original file] [link name]
    • Symbolic links can point to files on other volumes or file systems.
    • Hard links, on the other hand, are pointers to the data of another file, just like a directory entry is a pointer to the first block of data for the file. Hard links are also created with the ln command, but without the -s switch.
    • Hard links can only be used on the same file system.
    • A symbolic link is equivalent to a Windows shortcut, a pointer to the name of another file. A hard link is a reference to the data (first inode) of another file, and thus must be created on the same file system.
    • When the original file with associated hard links is deleted, the data remains until all of the hard links are also deleted. Deleting the original file with associated soft links will delete the file and the data, but the soft links will remain, now orphaned.
    • More information about links is available here.

Feedback:

  • Listener Dave left a comment on the web site expressing his appreciation for the show, and also became a subscriber. Thanks, Dave!
  • Jeremy, KD5HQN, also commented on the web site, claiming he's actually learning something from the shows! He also corrected Richard about the proper location of Orthanc. Thanks, Jeremy.
  • Bill, KJ4KNI, asked, via Richard's Facebook page, for suggestions about the best Linux distribution for a beginner. (Linux Mint 13 is a good choice.) He also wonders why a ham might use 75-ohm RG6 coax as an antenna feedline. Our hosts discuss the possibilities.

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:

  • "Easier As Us" by Michael McEachern, courtesy of Jamendo.
  • "Wicked" by Fresh Body Shop, from their album Bring Me Down, courtesy of Jamendo.