(r20) HamRadio < GNHLUG

GNHLUG Web>HamRadio (revision 20) (raw view)~~EditAttach~~
%TOC%

---++ Introduction

Linux and ham radio go together very well.  They share much of the same spirit of freedom, independence, and "do it yourself" attitude.  Perhaps not surprisingly, there is a great deal of radio-related software available for Linux, much of it high quality, FreeSoftware, and free of charge.  Some of this software is interesting even to non-hams - satellite tracking programs, for instance, or PC programs for listening to special modes, or for receiving WEFAX (weather faxes).  Linux also offers a great deal of engineering-related software, such as circuit-design and diagramming programs.

Linux is beginning to get broader attention in the amateur radio community.  See, for instance, "Digital Dimension", March 2004 _QST_, where Stan Horpeza WA1LOU writes, "In the days that followed the posting of my _Linux_ Surfin' columns, I received more mail than about anything I've written in over a quarter of a century."

---++ GNHLUG Involvement

[[http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg/][It has been announced that the Hosstraders event itself has been discontinued.]]

GNHLUG usually had a booth at [[http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg/][Hosstraders Hamfest]], to spread the word about Linux and GNHLUG, and (when possible) to demonstrate radio-related Linux software. We used our Organizational.ArtWork, banners, business cards, Organizational.BrochureWare and current Linux distributions.

We were there for Spring 2006.  See [[http://www.mail-archive.com/gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org/msg14218.html][Hosstraders report]].

We sampled the first year of [[http://www.near-fest.com/][NEAR-Fest]], too.  However, we reached the conclusion that the time for GNHLUG involvement in hamfest has passed.  Linux was gone mainstream; handing out CDs and advocating Linux is no longer needed.  This decision was reached mostly independently of the Hosstraders/NEAR-Fest transition.

See also: HosstradersAnnouncement, PastHosstradersPhotos

---++ More Stuff

More information on radio-related software for Linux is available at many sites on the Web.

---+++ Software Directories

These sites are directories (listings) of radio-related software for Linux.  If you are looking for a program to do a particular thing, try looking here.

   * http://radio.linux.org.au -- this is the website we print out and bring with us to Hosstraders
   * http://www.n9nu.net/linux/linux.php -- another  listing, with an emphasis on the Mandrake distribution

---+++ AFU-Knoppix

http://www.afu-knoppix.de/

A German ham, Hubert Fink (DG7MGY), has created a customized version of the Knoppix Linux system, called AFU-Knoppix.  Knoppix (and AFU-Knoppx) are "Live CD" systems.  You can boot (start) you computer, and run all the software, right off the CD, with no installation required.  AFU-Knoppix includes many ham and GPS applications ready to run, complete with icons on the desktop.  It has most of the standard Knoppix applications as well.

---+++ Harv's Hamshack Hack

http://hamshack-hack.sourceforge.net/

Another Knoppix-plus-ham Live CD, created by Harv AI9NL.  It appears to be tracking Knoppix releases more quickly then AFU-Knoppix.  Harv is also an English-speaker, which makes his stuff easier to read for people who don't read German.

---+++ Debian-Ham

http://debianham.sunsite.dk

Debian-Ham is a floppy-based Linux ham radio software system.  It was conceived as an alternative to to K1EA's well-known "CT" program for Microsoft Windows.

---+++ Debian Dxpedition Disk

http://home.iae.nl/users/reinc/dxpedition_disk.html

This is a CD-based system designed for ham radio operations, especially DX Expeditions.  It relies upon the use of a USB Memory Drive (commonly called "key drives" or "pen drives") to store data, config files, and the logging program TLF.  It enables anyone to slip a CD into a laptop and boot into a Linux system with ham radio software loaded without touching the hard drive.  TLF is a very full featured contest loging program, and worth using at the base station as well.
Topic revision: r20 - 2009-06-11 - BenScott
GNHLUG
Site Tools
Search site
Site changes
Webs
GNHLUG
Main
Org
TWiki
Contact GNHLUG
All content is Copyright © 1999-2024 by, and the property of, the contributing authors.
Questions, comments, or concerns? Contact GNHLUG.
All use of this site subject to our Legal Notice (includes Terms of Service).