Linux users?

[leftystrat]

I'm starting to look into hooking the scanners to the computer. Yes, I *could* use my Windows box, but it's not on all the time. Plus what fun would it be to run `normal' software?

I have an AR8200B MkI (bloody cable is $100), Pro-92, BC895, 780, and a Grundig 800.
Is it possible to run most or all of them from one computer in the first place (regardless of OS)? I figure you have to add some ports (series or usb).

Are there other linux folks here? Software recommendations?


Thanks.

 

[mikea7531]

Great Topic! I'm a big supporter of open source operating systems myself. I'm an avid linux user, but as with all the scanners i own, i have to still keep a windows 2000 box running. I have a Uniden 785D, 796D, 2 Optocoms, RS Pro-96, 2096, 2035 /w OS535 card and NONE of them seem to have any linux software for them. I also run trunker on one of the optocoms, and i would like to see a version of trunker for Linux.

 

[jlh]

Slack, Mandy, and Knoppix guy here, also looking at BSD lately.

Lefty, you may want to look at this :
http://www.obairlann.net/~reaper/sctl/

I have loaded it on one of my mandrake boxes but haven't tried it yet.

Agree that there is a shortage of linux radio control software.

 

[leftystrat]

Slack, Mandy, and Knoppix guy here, also looking at BSD lately.

Lefty, you may want to look at this :
http://www.obairlann.net/~reaper/sctl/

I love Knoppix - used it for all of my HD installs and rescues.

DL'd the program and will let you know what I find.

Also did a brief search for software:

http://unixforge.org/~tronkito/
Tronkito is the first Open Source software (Free and source available) able to decode a MPT-1327 control channel and to track communications you specify by means of the use PC sound card and the serial control of a Icom receiver.
[gee, now I have to buy an Icom to go with the others!]

http://www.acarsd.org/
ACARS ( Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System ) is a digital data link system transmitted via VHF radio which allows Airline Flight Operations Departments to communicate with the various Aircraft in their Fleet. (not every aircraft is equipped with the ACARS System or the system is disabled)

http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=2811
DXtra Inc. WorldStation(TM) - RX-320 - WorldStation(TM) is a graphically advanced control program for the Ten-Tec RX-320. Written entiely in Java 2, WorldStation(TM) runs on Windows 95/98/NT, Linux and MAac platforms.

http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Software/Linux/
Linux ham software listing

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bc-sctl/ (Is this the same one?)
sctl is a CLI program to control as many aspects of Uniden Bearcat radio scanners as possible, including backup and restore of memory contents, scanning, searching, trunk scanning, etc. Please see the homepage link for more info

http://radio.linux.org.au/?sectpat=rigcontrol&ordpat=title
Linux rig control software - for all sorts of HF/VHF/UHF radios

http://parnass.org/tk92/tk92-0.7.tar.gz
Bob Parnass' tk92 Pro-92/2067 cloning software

http://radio.linux.org.au/pkgdetail...l&ordpat=title&descpat=&pkgid=214
control suite for Icom PCR1000

http://radio.linux.org.au/pkgdetail...l&ordpat=title&descpat=&pkgid=303
780XLT small display status indicator

http://www.ftp.funet.fi/pub/ham/rigctrl/linux/
Yaesu+AOR

http://members.cox.net/kplotkin/92linux.zip
92Linux

http://freshmeat.net/browse/38/?filter=900&orderby=&offset=20
search of Freshmeat.com for Ham software (includes scanner)

http://freshmeat.net/projects/780xlt-display/
780 display tool

 

[SCPD]

I also run trunker on one of the optocoms, and i would like to see a version of trunker for Linux.

This has been sitting on the drawing board for some time now. I don't think anyone has bothered getting a slicer working under Linux (anybody?) so this will most likely require using sound input.

-rick

 

[smokestack]

I use mandriva..i also have a pro-2051. Does anyone know if there is software for it?

 

[ka3jjz]

Nothing in the Linux world that I know of. The only thing I know that is a Windoze app that supposedly works is Scancat Lite Plus.

Back to Linux for a moment. This site (from my Strong Signals page) is a pretty good reference point. Unfortunately it seems that none of the newer Uniden digitals or RS/GRE models have a package yet, but I suppose it's only a matter of time....

Hamsoft Radio Applications

73s Mike

 

[smokestack]

Thanks. Scancat is the only one ive heard of for my scanner. I have a few friends that code for linux, Maybe i can talk them into looking at what it would take to clone that program for me in unix.
That would be cool

 

[cj5]

I highly recommend the Gentoo Linux flavor. It has a built in kernel mod for amateur radio.

 

[kfcrosby]

With Linux a little more mainstream

OK....With Linux a little more mainstream now, what updated resources are available?

I am getting ready to revive an old DELL laptop this weekend and I am thinking about getting the latest release of Ubuntu loaded to try.

Is this still considered too bleeding edge?

KC

 

[orbital]

Ubunbu 7.04 ( Feisty Fawn ) user here with a BC246T.
I've used ARC246 software on my XP Pro but there is some
Linux software out there that will run on Fedora Core, Ubuntu,
Slackware & Mandriva. The name of the software is called
BC246T.TCL version 0.8d. I have not used it but have successfully
installed and loaded it in Ubuntu, so it does install and load without errors.
It's not as nice as the ARC software but at least there is
software for Linux.

BC246T.TCL
http://home.comcast.net/~kilowattradio/files


kfcrosby, if your Laptop is old, I'd suggest you install
Xubuntu. Download the Alternative Version and that
should work great for you. I run this on my old 400mhz
laptop. Runs Great !!!
http://www.xubuntu.org

 

[iMONITOR]

For those apps requiring Windows, you can run a Windows emulator on a Linux system.

 

[kfcrosby]

Thanks for the info Orbital.

I know about xubuntu and may have to go that direction if the video in the LT bogs down too much. I am running SUSE 10.1 on the laptop now, so here's hoping for an easy install of Gusty

GL - I am hesitant to step to far into WINE, I simply have not had real good luck with a lot of my Windows programs running stable. It has been a couple of years, so maybe I need to try it again. I am by no means a LINUX snob, just want a more secure enviro without having to spend a bundle, especially on a "hobby" machine.

 

[orbital]

Good deal..... Yeah Xubuntu is a great alternative when you have a system
with little resources to shell out. Gnome and KDE hit the system pretty hard
so Xfce is a great way to go. I've also found Puppy Linux to work well on
slow machines, kinda reminds me of a Win98 setup.....

As for Gusty, I can't wait. It's supposed to have a lot more hardware support
so everything should be recognized better.

 

[Jay911]

I have Ubuntu running on two machines ... a Thinkpad T23 notebook and a desktop machine manufactured by Voodoo PC (local Calgary company). Both were originally Windows machines, of course. I've managed to get a version of MTrunker to run under wine on the Thinkpad, with a bit of a laggy screen (I think the video in that system needs tweaking under Ubuntu). The desktop isn't cooperating with Ubuntu as far as the sound card goes, so I can't try any trunker-type software with it. For what it's worth, Unitrunker won't work on the Thinkpad; won't even start. See the most recent Unitrunker thread for commentary on that bit. And I haven't tried any of the native Unix/Linux programs, nor the things like ARC396/996/250/etc.

 

[orbital]

Well, guys........ Wine is a decent solution but I personally hadn't had much luck
with it either. Of course there are 2 other solutions which are Duel Booting or
a Virtual Machine. I've had really good luck with Virtual Box. Just a note
Virtual Machines are RAM hungry and I wouldn't even attempt to run
one without at least 1 Gig of Ram. Also another Draw back with both
of these solutions are it requires a copy of windows..... So since we
live in a Windows World We'll always have to give Bill some money
even if it's just for one program we need to run. However, we are
getting close, we just need to code some of this proprietary software
and we'll be golden.....

Jay911...... I really like your avatar. " Wake'em Up "

 

[kfcrosby]

In my opinion if I am forced to buy a copy of Winders, I may as well use the damn thing. You would thing with all the computer savy hobbyist in radio (HAM's included) there would be more app's written for linux. I know it takes time, patience, and lots of testing (I used to write code myself and lost the patience) but I guess I can't ***** to much if I'm not willing to crank some out....

 

[orbital]

I feel the same way....... I only use windows for programs that just
are not ported into Linux..... Example: ARC246t.
If everything worked in a Linux environment, Bill wouldn't see a cent from me.
I'm not a windows hater by any means, I just like Linux better

 

[madnachos]

I have been using Linux since you had to pretty much 'roll yer own' and while you can find a lot of cool GPL'ed software that related to HAM radio (satellite tracking software and such) almost no scanner applications exist. My solution is to use a small (shoebox sized) system that runs XP and has 4 extra serial ports installed. It runs headless...I connect to it using a RDP client. Works very well. I also use VMWare to run XP in a virtual machine but I have found the serial IO to get a little wacky when using XP in a virtual machine while the host system is under heavy CPU loads. I have also considered writing my own software...but I just never have the time so its easier to just run XP on a dedicated 'scanner box'....

BTW: You can get most of the Win scanner programs to run under WINE but the serial IO never seems to work, so its kinda a deal breaker.

 

[kfcrosby]

BTW: You can get most of the Win scanner programs to run under WINE but the serial IO never seems to work, so its kinda a deal breaker.

I can see that it would get flaky. Windows wants to be the ONLY one talking to the hardware. This used to give me fits when first switching to using windows from DOS and running different modem configs for TTY and TWX machines...