LHS Show Notes #017

Contributors:

  • Don WS4E sent us a pointed email. He uses SuperOS and was even able to get his programming software for his talkies. Likes SatScape for satellites in Linux.
  • Bob K4BB says that you can use MONO for running HRD on Linux. behind on the podcast. And Likes Unetbootin Really likes the quality of the show. Feels the websites need help. Bob had four or five pieces of feedback this time. Thinks the music is a waste.
  • BTW Colin and Martin at ICQ Podcast are our friends 🙂
  • Captain Spauldings Blog, He uses Ubuntu and likes the podcast. (Hooray for Captain Spaulding the African explorer)
  • Donation Mark K. Thanks Mark
  • Richard says “Join the fun and be a guest co-host”
  • The Techie Geek gave us a mention. Thanks for the tip on the Sansa Clip Russ
  • We have appeared again in a comment over at Solder Smoke. Keep spreading the word.
  • Thanks to the guys at TiTradio podcast for the mention
  • Hello to Azimuth, Wayne KB7CFD, Don't fear the badger.
  • Kent VE4KEH sent us a message about forwarding X11 over SSH using xming

Announcements:

  • We now have voice mail. Leave us a message and we will get it on the show +1-888-455-0305

Links and Notes:

  • Russ talks about Java for a while:
  • Its cross platform
  • A little clunkie
  • Side track to Adobe Air
  • Cool stuff available
  • BTW there is a version of Adobe Air for Linux
  • Now that we have our Java, We need a doughnut 😛

  • Drats extravaganza:
  • Terminal for D-Star low speed data on Talkies and Mobile Rigs
  • Dan KK7DS
  • Drats.com
  • It is cross Platform
  • Written in Python and GTK
  • Not only the terminal but a repeater too
  • Windows installer
  • on Linux you also need a few libraries
  • Easy to use if you have ever used terminal software
  • If you haven't used terminal software before, Still easy to set up to run
  • Auto QST's, Preformatted forms, Weather info, APRS, even internet email.
  • Heard List, APRS data
  • Session activity log
  • Ratflector access for testing

  • The Drats Repeater Proxy:
  • Very simple
  • Setup you own repeater at your house
  • Can be setup for over the air or network operation
  • Don't have to setup the ports for your local network while testing
  • Auto id of repeater
  • Monitor screen shows connected computers and radios
  • Sometimes Simplicity is best
  • Web page has How-to's, Wiki, Info and mailing list for information about Drats
  • Ratflector on ports 9000 and 9001 for testing over at the Drats website
  • Russ says it works on MAC
  • Check out the website at
  • Richard Hopes that Drats becomes the standard for D-Star low speed digital

Music:

LHS Show Notes #014

Contributors:

  • Tim KI6BGE tells us he is finally up and running with Ubuntu on his laptop
  • Jerry KD0BIK thanks us for mentioning Practical Amateur Radio Podcast
  • Blog post from Tim VK5FNET at the Homebrew Blog Talking about Linux in the Ham Shack and Solder Smoke
  • XE1GXG  in Jalisco Mexico tells us by way of 73's.org that he enjoys the show and there is no swine flu in Jalisco
  • Thanks to the Japanese Blog Atworld.jp/radioshack for the mention
  • A New five star review at Itunes for the show
  • KI6FEN Would like to know why Linux is better than the alternatives because everybody tells him to use something different
  • Myron KC5OHG Downloaded Ubuntu and wants to know how to install it.
  • Alex OZ9AEC with corrections to Episode 12 concerning Grig. An icon for Grig can be found at "/usr/share/pixmaps/grig/ic910.png" ( I am Russ, I am! )
  • Jeff KB5WCK tells us he put a link on his website for us at kb5wck.com and ask what software we use to record the podcast
  • KI4YMD uses xlog for logging and a signallink usb with FLdigi but needs help with SSTV

Announcements:

  • Resonant Frequency is now running on Drupal check it out www.rfpodcast.info Russ even likes it and does a mini review
  • We did not mention South East Linux Fest

Links and Notes:

  • You can get Linux for free
  • Most of the more common software is open source and there is a Linux version
  • You don't have to go to best buy to get Linux. You can download it from Home
  • Windows and Apple application are closed source. In Linux you get the source code and are free to modify it to fit your needs
  • Richard runs a couple of windows machines and has to reboot them very often. He also runs Linux machines he doesn't have to reboot for months
  • The myth of support is that Windows online support is helpful and you can't get support for Linux. The truth is Windows support people are inept and Linux support can be found in community forums, online tutorials, Howto's, and some distro's allow you to sign up for online tech support at a cost that is much lower than the cost of a copy of Windows or OSX. Yes if it is pre-installed you are still paying for the operating system.
  • Issues with QSSTV
  • Problems finding usb0
  • lspci and lsusb commands
  • An alternative to QSSTV for Slow Scan TV
  • The current version of QSSTV seems to be a little deaf
  • Use a piece of software written for Windows
  • Enter WINE
  • Add WINE from the Repo's or from Winehq.org
  • At WINEHQ you can find an application database of programs that are known to run under WINE. If it is not in the database that doesn't mean it doesn't run under WINE.
  • When WINE is installed then download MMSSTV from
  • at the command prompt in a terminal type "wine program-name" Probably mmsstv.exe
  • Don't be afraid of the wine configuration area
  • Change your station information in MMSSTV
  • Set your audio levels
  • You will need a copy of MS paint to install in wine to edit pictures for MMSSTV but we would never tell you to do so 🙂
  • If you choose to use Windows. Please use a legal copy.

Music:

LHS Episode #011

Today we present Linux in the HAM Shack for the eleventh time. Because of a topic snafu we switched to a completely untested and radically different format for the program. However, in the words of esteemed author Douglas Adams: "Don't panic." We simply rolled the live feed into something resembling a roundtable discussion of Linux and ham radio related topics that we think listeners will find rather interesting and engaging.

That being said, because of the unusual format of the program some of the dialogue may seem a little strange. In most cases it can be explained as one of the hosts reading questions or reciting information provided by the live participants in the chat room at the time of recording. We also managed to wrangle a special third co-host for the middle portion of the program.

All in all it's a wild and crazy ride. Thank you as always for downloading the podcast, and special thanks to those who helped us out by joining us for the live recording of the program. Please check the web site for the next time you can hear us record live and participate in the program yourself.

Enjoy this special edition of Linux in the HAM Shack and we'll be back in a couple of weeks with a program on logging software, a review or two of CrunchBang Linux and much, much more.

73 de K5TUX and KB5JBV

LHS Episode #006

After putting this off some because of the holidays and other obligations, Episode #006 is now hot off the press. This is the second in our two-part series on PSK31. In the first part, we looked at sound cards, rig control interfaces and the basics of getting a PSK31 software package installed on your Linux operating system.

In part two, we take a much closer look at two popular programs for operating PSK31 mode on Linux: gmFSK and fldigi. On top of that, we respond to listener comments and questions, talk about updates to the web site, and explain how you can be involved in the recording of Linux in the HAM Shack by listening to the live feed and interacting with us in the chat room.

Next up in Episode #007: Install episode! We'll guide you step by step through the entire process of installing Debian or Ubuntu Linux on a machine to use in your HAM shack. If you join us for the live feed, we'll even be able to answer your questions in real time.

Stay tuned, and please, keep the feedback coming.