Freescan: New FreeScan & ProScan Instructions for Ubuntu /Linux with Wine

[lasakro]

Hello,

After several days I've finally pieced everything together, and came up with an instruction, on taking a bare bones Ubuntu box, installing Wine, .NET Framework 4.5, and setting up the symbolic serial links with registry entries to get my new BCT15X communicating. This can be found on the “FreeScan Install Under Linux” page here on this site, and below:

http://wiki.radioreference.com/inde...LINUX#Installation_Process_.28Ubuntu_15.10.29

Although I've done it twice using RS-232 and twice using a USB to RS-232 adapter I would happily welcome a second set of eyes for a second check.

I wasn't able to find a “ProScan Install Under Linux” page otherwise I would have entered a reference on it.

I have been using the native BCProgTool v0.8,I-Beta for the last week and started out trying to get the lastest version BCTool+ functional but haven't succeeded so far even though his web site advertises that it's functional in Wine. The problem I'm seeing is that BCTool+ auto-populates the com list where as FreeScan and ProScan only populate with been added to the registry change I found. If anyone, better versed in Wine than I, knows away around this I would be glad to know. I have more digging to do and not a programmer.

The main reason I selected the BCT15X was that all the signals in my area are still analog, except the Feds., and at least the old tck/tl software would work. So anything beyond that is a huge plus in my book. Beats the heck out of my old PRO-2044!

 

[QDP2012]

I wasn't able to find a “ProScan Install Under Linux” page otherwise I would have entered a reference on it.

Thanks for updating the RR Wiki. As I'm sure you know, the Category:FreeSCAN page lists all of the FreeSCAN articles. I, too, searched and did not find any ProScan articles in the RR Wiki.

Hope this helps,

 

[lasakro]

Thanks for updating the RR Wiki.

No problem. It's a pleasure to give back so that others may benefit.

 

[ka3jjz]

I am adding cross links from our software articles to point to this - however there's one thing that needs to be clarified. The article says that 'PSREdit' has been tested - but which one? See the link below....Mike

PSREdit Software Home Page

 

[lasakro]

I am adding cross links from our software articles to point to this - however there's one thing that needs to be clarified. The article says that 'PSREdit' has been tested - but which one? See the link below....Mike

PSREdit Software Home Page

Someone with higher permission than me should probably rename the following page to "PSREdit300 with Wine" and fix any required links.

PSREdit with Wine - The RadioReference Wiki

I better described my link to the above page by adding "300" to PSREdit, see:

Software Setup For Linux - The RadioReference Wiki

Let me know if that clarifies things.

 

[ka3jjz]

Yeah, I'll have the old article dropped so yours can take its place.

I don't suppose you've tested the other PSREdit modules yet....

Mike

 

[nd5y]

I tried FreeScan 1.7 on Xubuntu 15.10 with WINE versions 1.6 (the current version in the Ubuntu repo) and 1.9.5 (from the WINE repo) and it worked on both WINE versions.

A while back I was trying to use a USB serial port adapter for something else not scanner related, and discovered that WINE versions before 1.7 don't support the RS-232 CD, CTS and DSR lines. I don't know if any scanner or radio programming software uses those for hardware flow control or anything. If they do you might have problems.

 

[lasakro]

Yeah, I'll have the old article dropped so yours can take its place.

I don't suppose you've tested the other PSREdit modules yet....

Mike

I guess you haven't read my article. I don't have any Radio Shack scanners so I haven't tested any. I only pointed out in my article that PSREdit300 did work in the past and if tested, by someone with RS equipment, by following my procedure, and referencing the 6 year old article, that there would be a very good chance on getting PRSEdit300, and maybe others, to work fine.

Therefore, DO NOT delete the old article. Please just rename it from "PSREdit In Wine" to PSREdit300 In Wine". The original author should have given it a more specific title. I can also copy the content to a new more specifically titled page if you wish.

Bob

 

[lasakro]

I tried FreeScan 1.7 on Xubuntu 15.10 with WINE versions 1.6 (the current version in the Ubuntu repo) and 1.9.5 (from the WINE repo) and it worked on both WINE versions.

Thanks for the feedback. Were you able to connect to the RR.com database using Import? I tryied again just now using a different Ubuntu Studio (Xubuntu basically) 15.10 with no success again. Both Conv. and Trunking Import windows just give me "Connecting..." but never do connect and just hang.

Did you also experience that when the VCP connected to the scanner it would place the scanner in Hold Mode? I didn't know if I should look of an option to turn that off or if it is a bug.

A while back I was trying to use a USB serial port adapter for something else not scanner related, and discovered that WINE versions before 1.7 don't support the RS-232 CD, CTS and DSR lines. I don't know if any scanner or radio programming software uses those for hardware flow control or anything. If they do you might have problems.

Excellent piece of information. My tests were done with Wine 1.6.2 and now lets assume it doesn't handle flow control with USB adapter. To add to that the cable I made was only using Tx, Rx and GND. I'm going to make a new new cable with flow control and give BCTool+ another try. We may have another one working with Wine. I'll first try the cable and if that fails, like it should with Wine 1.6.2, I'll load Wine 1.8.1.

Edit: Actually I'm going to try software flow control first with BCTool+.

 

[QDP2012]

Please just rename it from "PSREdit In Wine" to PSREdit300 In Wine".

Done.

Hope this helps,

 

[nd5y]

Thanks for the feedback. Were you able to connect to the RR.com database using Import?
Did you also experience that when the VCP connected to the scanner it would place the scanner in Hold Mode? I didn't know if I should look of an option to turn that off or if it is a bug.

I should have stated that the first WINE version I used was 1.6.2 but I forgot the exact version that was in the repo, the USB serial port is a Sabrent brand which has a Prolific chip, the scanner is a BCD396T, and I used the Uniden RS-232 serial cable that came with the scanner.

I don't have a premium account so I don't think I can download anything from RR. I didn't even try that. I don't remember if the VCP put it in hold or not. That's something I never use so I didn't really test it. It appeared to run but I didn't try to change the scanner settings with it.

The other day after I played with it I uninstalled WINE so it will be a while before I can check anything else. I may wait about a month until Ubuntu releases 16.04 and see what version of WINE it has and do more testing.

 

[lasakro]

Done.

Hope this helps,

Great. Links all look good.

....I may wait about a month until Ubuntu releases 16.04 and see what version of WINE it has and do more testing.

I'm also looking forward to it.

I installed Wine 1.8 and made a real cable. No change with BCTool+ so looks like I'm giving up on that. It didn't look to appealing in Windoze any way.

Good news for FreeScan on Wine 1.8. Connects to the RR.com DB flawlessly. I imported and uploaded with no issues.

I also ran through then Linux setup again and there are no changes between 1.6 and 1.8, except FS works better.

BTW, FYI ProScan 10.1 got released today. In case anyone is interested but to lazy to look for the link:

ProScan

 

[nd5y]

Freescan will not run on Wine 2.1 or at least I can't get it to run.