diff --git a/content/posts/2024/packetradio-vara-mobilinkd-and-digirig-on-linux/index.md b/content/posts/2024/packetradio-vara-mobilinkd-and-digirig-on-linux/index.md index 7fd339f..d92116f 100644 --- a/content/posts/2024/packetradio-vara-mobilinkd-and-digirig-on-linux/index.md +++ b/content/posts/2024/packetradio-vara-mobilinkd-and-digirig-on-linux/index.md @@ -1,14 +1,16 @@ --- -title: Packet radio, VARA (FM+HF), Mobilinkd and Digirig on Linux +title: Packet radio, VARA (FM+HF), Mobilinkd, Digirig and the SignalinkUSB on Linux summary: > - + Some basic configuration of my HF and VHF/UHF rigs to participate in the + Winlink world... date: 2024-02-13T22:05:30+01:00 -lastmod: 2024-03-12T05:03:59+0000 +lastmod: 2024-03-23T18:47:43+0000 categories: - amateur-radio -- computerstuff tags: -- draft_post +- packet radio +- vara fm +- vara hf # showBreadcrumbs: true # showDate: false @@ -41,6 +43,13 @@ I guess. I've been using a Surface 2 Go for some time (well, a really short time) but ditched it again because I wasn't really satisfied with its performance. +There are several different devices and software solutions to send winlink messages and I +won't cover all of them. The following examples exist because I own the necessary devices +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)._ + ## Digirig The Digirig gets controlled with `rigctld` -- I use different models for the @@ -55,11 +64,18 @@ HF and the FM rig -- but the rig configuration is the same for both: }, ~~~ +That part of the pat configuration makes sure that pat can transmit with the radio. + ### Packet radio Using AX.25+agwpe within pat in combination with Direwolf -- but this combination felt a bit slow (which might only be my subjective opinion). +Someone might want to tune direwolf for better throughput or more reliable connections, +but I'm not a direwolf expert and I rarely use it in favour of VARA FM. + +Besides that, I never used packetradio on HF yet. (300bps) + ~~~json "ax25": { "engine": "linux", @@ -110,6 +126,8 @@ with the program `alsamixer` (F6 to select the USB soundcard, then F5 to list all devices, disable _Auto Gain Control_ with m (mute)). +Direwolf handles the PTT via the RTS line of the Digirig. + ### VARA FM The corresponding configuratoin in the pat config file: @@ -167,14 +185,20 @@ Back to the TX-500, the pat configuration looks like: I start rigctld like: ~~~console -$ rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv +$ rigctld -m 2050 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvv ~~~ -Untested, untested... +This is for the CAT protocol Lab599. If you use the older implementation +(Kenwood TS-2000) start rigctl with the proper model: +~~~console +$ rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvv +~~~ ## Mobilinkd +The Mobilinkd TNC4 is a KISS TNC and does not provide a USB soundcard. + I will use AX.25+linux in pat with the TNC4 paired via Bluetooth. First of all, power on the TNC4 and pair it -- I use _blueman-manager_ for this. @@ -232,6 +256,11 @@ To de-attach the KISS interface we need to kill the process by: $ sudo kill $(pgrep kissattach) ~~~ +## Signalink USB + +I haven't used this now for a while, but I wanted to include this in this list, +as it provides a USB soundcard to the computer just like the Digirig does. + ## Some systemd unit-file examples Put them into `$HOME/.config/systemd/user`. I created them at the @@ -240,8 +269,7 @@ start the webgui at boot - the other stuff I start with scripts or I search the command history (autocomplete) in my shell. I don't even let pat listen to something because this is my main laptop -and I like the services started in a terminal window where I actually can -see some output when running. +and I like the services started in a terminal window. ### pat @@ -270,7 +298,7 @@ Before=pat.service ardopc.service [Service] Type=simple -; -m 2005 for Lab500 TX-500 CAT protocol +; -m 2050 for Lab599 TX-500 CAT protocol ; ExecStart=/usr/bin/rigctld -m 2050 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv ; -m 2014 for Kenwood TS-2000 CAT protocol ; ExecStart=/usr/bin/rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv @@ -281,7 +309,7 @@ TimeoutSec=10 WantedBy=default.target ~~~ -You can change the used protocol (_Kenwood TS-200_ or _Lab599 TX-500_l for CAT control within +You can change the used protocol (Kenwood TS-2000 or Lab599 TX-500 for CAT control within the menu on the TX-500 (last menu setting)). ### ardopc @@ -302,3 +330,79 @@ TimeoutSec=10 WantedBy=default.target ~~~ +Maybe `hw:…` works better, but I had less trouble when using `plughw:…`. + +## Decoding other stations + +### APRS + +#### With direwolf + +This also sends a beacon and the received stations to APRS-IS. You can watch it on +. + +~~~console +$ rtl_fm -M fm -f 144.8M -p 36 -s 24000 -g 42 - | direwolf -c sdr-1200bps.conf -r 24000 -D 1 -B 1200 - +~~~ + +The direwolf configuration: + +~~~squid +ACHANNELS 1 +ADEVICE null null +CHANNEL 0 + +MYCALL {callsign} +IGLOGIN {callsign} {passcode} +IGSERVER rotate.aprs2.net + +MODEM 1200 + +AGWPORT 8000 +KISSPORT 8001 + +PBEACON sendto=IG delay=0:30 every=30:00 symbol="igate" overlay=R lat=X long=Y alt=in_meter comment="144.8MHz Receive-only gateway AFSK 1200bps" + +IGTXLIMIT 6 10 +~~~ + +#### With multimon-ng + +~~~console +$ rtl_fm -f 144.8M -g 42 -s 22050 -l 20 - | multimon-ng -t raw -a AFSK1200 - +~~~ + +#### With sdrangel + +### Packet radio + +#### With direwolf + +~~~console +$ rtl_fm -f 144.950M -M fm -s 200000 -r 32000 -g 35 | direwolf -n 1 -r 32000 -b 16 -t 0 - +~~~ + +~~~console +$ rtl_fm -M fm -f 144.950M -s 22050 | direwolf -n 1 -r 22050 -b 16 - +~~~ + +#### With multimon-ng + +#### With sdrangel + +### VARA HF + +We can only decode with VARA HF in monitor mode. + +### POCSAG + +#### With direwolf + +#### With multimon-ng + +~~~console +$ rtl_fm -M fm -f 438.025M -s 22050 | multimon-ng -t raw -a POCSAG512 -a POCSAG1200 -a POCSAG2400 -a FLEX -f alpha - +~~~ + +#### With sdrangel +