update draft post (packet)

content/posts/2024/64-packet-radio-vara-mobilinkd-and-digirig-on-linux/index.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-title: Packet radio, VARA (FM+HF), Mobilinkd, Digirig and the SignalinkUSB on Linux
+title: Packet radio, VARA (FM+HF), Mobilinkd, Digirig and the SignaLink USB on Linux
 summary: >
   Some basic configuration of my HF and VHF/UHF rigs to participate in the
   Winlink world...
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ tags:
 - packet radio
 - vara fm
 - vara hf
+- winlink
+- digirig
+- mobilinkd
+- signalink
+- sdr
 
 # showBreadcrumbs: true
 # showDate: false
@@ -48,7 +53,7 @@ won't cover all of them. The following examples exist because I own the necessar
 and I already have the software to work with them.
 
 _I would choose the Digirig as my favourite device because it just works every time and it
-also provides a USB soundcard to the computer (like the Signalink)._
+also provides a USB soundcard to the computer (like the SignaLink USB)._
 
 ## Digirig
 
@@ -94,7 +99,7 @@ Besides that, I never used packetradio on HF yet. (300bps)
 The <kbd>agwpe</kbd> section is used by Direwolf:
 
 ~~~console {hl_lines="8"}
-% direwolf -c /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf -p
+$ direwolf -c /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf -p
 Dire Wolf version 1.7
 Includes optional support for:  gpsd hamlib cm108-ptt dns-sd
 
@@ -197,7 +202,10 @@ $ rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600
 
 ## Mobilinkd
 
-The Mobilinkd TNC4 is a KISS TNC and does not provide a USB soundcard.
+{{< alert "circle-info" >}}
+The Mobilinkd TNC4 is a KISS TNC and does not provide a USB soundcard -- I only use
+the Mobilinkd in conjunction with packet radio.
+{{< /alert >}}
 
 I will use <kbd>AX.25+linux</kbd> in pat with the TNC4 paired via Bluetooth.
 
@@ -250,16 +258,48 @@ AX.25 port wl2k bound to device ax0
 Select your PacketRadio Gateway (CALLSIGN-10 usually) and connect using
 <kbd>AX.25+linux</kbd>.
 
-To de-attach the KISS interface we need to kill the process by:
+To de-attach the KISS interface we need to kill the process:
 
 ~~~console
 $ sudo kill $(pgrep kissattach)
 ~~~
 
-## Signalink USB
+## SignaLink USB
 
 I haven't used this now for a while, but I wanted to include this in this list,
-as it provides a USB soundcard to the computer just like the Digirig does.
+as it provides a USB soundcard to the computer just like the Digirig does -- but
+it does not provide a serial interface to control the PTT.
+
+### Packet radio
+
+Start direwolf (using the same configuration as with the Digirig), it will
+complain about not finding `/dev/ttyUSB0` for PTT control. I don't use this that
+often and I don't use another USB device at the same time so I don't care about this.
+If you have another device connected as `/dev/ttyUSB0` you should probably remove its
+reference from the direwolf configuration file.
+
+As mode I select <kbd>AX.25+agwpe</kbd> and I set the output volume of the
+<kbd>PCM2906C Audio CODEC</kbd> to 100% -- the SignaLink USB will now control the PTT.
+
+### VARA FM
+
+Start VARA FM (I use my script mentioned above) and select the proper sound card.
+The input volume level can be adjusted with the volume knob on the radio and the RX
+knob on the SignaLink USB. The output volume level can be checked and adjusted with the
+tune function withing the Soundcard menu from within VARA FM. You may also try the
+Auto-tune function.
+
+### VARA HF
+
+I never tested this because I have no cable for the TX-500 and the SignaLink USB,
+but as the Signalink only provides a soundcard you have to add another USB cable
+for CAT control of the radio. You then start rigctld with the proper values for
+that specific radio.
+
+{{< alert "circle-info" >}}
+That is the reason for the Digirig that combines these two functions
+in one device.
+{{< /alert >}}
 
 ## Some systemd unit-file examples