Tag: mint

Show Notes #096

Posted on by Russ Woodman

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

Posted on by Russ Woodman

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.

LHS Episode #095: I Has the Dumb

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Richard called this one of our best efforts to date, which means there must be some kind of worthwhile contained buried in all the tomfoolery somewhere. If you can find it, you'll be that much wiser for whatever it is we discussed. Silliness aside, we discuss some proposed FCC rule changes for the amateur radio community, the difference between hard and soft (symbolic) linking for our Linux segment, and answer questions and receive praise from several members of our audience. On the whole it turned out to be a pretty good episode, and we sure had a lot of fun doing it. Thanks to all our listeners for your support and for keeping us motivated to bring you ever more episodes of Linux in the Ham Shack.

73 de The LHS Guys

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Show Notes #089

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Introduction:

  • The 10th Annual Ohio LinuxFest will be held September 28-30, 2012, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
  • Another riveting episode even though Richard has been attempting unassisted human flight. (We're all worried about the consequences should he succeed.)
  • Our special guest tonight is Rob Hawkins from the mintCast.

Announcements:

  • If you're a subscriber to LHS, you can access the Etherpad, download episodes without music, and you'll soon have the option of episodes in .flac format.
  • Remember the Black Sparrow Media app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. It's free! With it, you can listen to all of the podcasts in the Black Sparrow Media group.
  • Please consider donating to the podcast! Click the Donate link.
  • Check out the KF8GR Linux Ham Home Page. Even though it hasn't been updated in several years, much of the information is still relevant.
  • Richards suggests a Linux/Amateur Radio "best on the web" award. Your web site should have at least one page devoted to Linux or Linux and Ham Radio. Send your nominations to info@lhspodcast.info. If accepted, the LHS hosts will provide an award graphic for your website, and a link to your site from LHS.
  • Richard also found this TechNewsWorld article "Why Ham Radio Is Still Handy".

Topics:

  • Interview with Rob Hawkins of the mintCast podcast.
  • Rob describes his move from Ontario, Canada to Houston, TX, and drops this bombshell: "Texas is nothing like Ontario!" Rob is an engineer by training. His first computer encounter was an IBM 370 mainframe and Fortran at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. His first personal computer was a Radio Shack Color Computer and his first Linux exposure was with Slackware and several dozen floppy disks. He's been using Linux Mint since version 8.
  • Rob goes on to describe how he came to the mintCast.
  • Our hosts and Rob then move on to various technology topics:
    • The current state of Linux Mint.
    • UEFI - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface.
    • Software patents.
    • Windows 8 and possible opportunities for Linux.

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:

  • "The Napalm Theory" by Ophyra, from the album Post Mortem, courtesy of Jamendo.
  • "Velvet Embracer" by Diablo Swing Orchestra, from the album The Butcher's Ballroom, courtesy of Jamendo.

Show Notes #087

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Introduction:

  • Promo: Ohio LinuxFest 2012 will be held September 28-30, 2012, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
  • LHS community sends their good wishes to the victims and their families in Aurora, CO.
  • Our hosts recommend Etherpad for collaborative document editing.

Announcements:

  • Ham Holiday Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, July 27-28, 2012, Biltmore Hotel.
  • Texas Linux Fest, San Antonio, Texas, August 3-4, 2012, Norris Conference Center.
  • Texoma Hamarama Ardmore, Oklahoma, October 26-27, 2012, Exit 33 - I-35: Ardmore Convention Center.
  • Watch the Events Schedule on the LHS website for more events!
  • Click the Amabassadors link on the website and volunteer to be an LHS Amabassador at a Linux or ham-related event.
  • 20th annual Gainesville Hamfest Gainesville, Texas, Saturday, August 25, 2012, Civic Center.
  • Joplin Hamfest, Joplin, Missouri, August 24-25, 2012, Holiday Inn Convention Center. Look for Russ and Cheryl!
  • Russ is anxiously waiting for delivery of two (okay, three) Raspberry Pi computers. Call the LHS voice line 909-547-7469, or send an email to info@lhspodcast.info, and tell Russ what to do with his Rasperry Pis. Wait, that doesn't sound quite right, but you get the drift.

Feedback:

  • Bruce, VE2GZI, writes to express his appreciation for the episode about GNU-Radio (Episode 84). It inspired him to try getting it to work under Linux Mint 11, but it's been a struggle, and he asks for help. Russ managed to compile it on Linux Mint Debian Edition. Jlindsay in the chat room said he ignored the build script, and just did a cmake and make. Also make sure you have the proper version of portaudio installed. Bruce also tells us he's waiting for his Hong Kong Dongle. 'nuff said.
  • Scott, N9LJX, says he's always had trouble with rig control, via Hamlib, and his FT-900, and wonders if that's been improved. He's happy to hear that yfktest works with Winkey USB. Russ looked at the Hamlib website about Yaesu radios, and saw the status listed as ".1 untested", which indicates poor, if any, support for that radio. Richard suggests avoiding the USB or USB-to-serial adapter. Instead, buy an inexpensive serial port card for the computer and connect the radio to a real serial port.
  • Someone in the chat room asked about a good personal cloud storage solution. Russ likes ownCloud. and has described it in episode 9 of his QSK Netcast.
  • Jeremy, KB7QOA, sends a long email thanking us for the show, discussing his gradual move toward Linux, and wonders if he could have a version of the podcast without the music. Well, Jeremy, if you're willing to subscribe to the show, you'll soon have the option of a music-free feed.
  • Grant, AA9LC, has embarked on a project to establish a Linux computer in his hamshack. He met Russ at the recent Dayton Hamvention, and has been trying to boot the LHS disc he received there, but it wants a username and password. He's also tried Linux Mint 11 and is "mostly impressed." As the disc contains nothing more than Linux Mint Debian Edition, Russ suggests the username may be one of "root", "mint", or "linuxmint", and no password. However, it should boot directly into a "live" mode desktop without ever asking for a username or password. If that doesn't help, Grant, let us know and provide a few more details about when you're asked for the username and password. Russ and Richard also provide some hints about managing sound card audio.
  • Look for Russ on Episode 124 of the Mintcast.

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: