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
+