--- 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... date: 2024-03-30T22:28:25+0100 lastmod: 2024-04-28T09:14:37+0000 coverCaption: An example, a session to OE7XKG-10 on 144.950 MHz. categories: - amateur-radio tags: - packet radio - vara fm - vara hf - winlink - digirig - mobilinkd - signalink - sdr --- Out of curiosity I began another "research-session" because it is really time to get that Winlink back on my Linux laptop (I used OpenBSD on this machine for some months now and I haven't got a single chance to get wine onto that) -- I will stay Linux for a while 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 USB)._ ## Digirig The Digirig gets controlled with `rigctld` -- I use different models for the HF and the FM rig -- but the rig configuration is the same for both: ~~~json "hamlib_rigs": { "my_rig": { "address": "127.0.0.1:4532", "network": "tcp" } }, ~~~ 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", "rig": "", "beacon": { "every": 3600, "message": "Winlink P2P", "destination": "IDENT" } "agwpe": { "addr": "127.0.0.1:8000", "radio_port": 0 }, ~~~ The agwpe section is used by Direwolf: ~~~console {hl_lines="8"} $ direwolf -c /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf -p Dire Wolf version 1.7 Includes optional support for: gpsd hamlib cm108-ptt dns-sd Reading config file /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf Audio device for both receive and transmit: plughw:1,0 (channel 0) Channel 0: 1200 baud, AFSK 1200 & 2200 Hz, A+, 44100 sample rate. Ready to accept AGW client application 0 on port 8000 ... Ready to accept KISS TCP client application 0 on port 8001 ... DNS-SD: Avahi: Failed to create Avahi client: Daemon not running Virtual KISS TNC is available on /dev/pts/8 Created symlink /tmp/kisstnc -> /dev/pts/8 ~~~ The `direwolf.conf` file looks like this (comments removed): ~~~squid ADEVICE plughw:1,0 CHANNEL 0 MYCALL OE7DRT MODEM 1200 PTT /dev/ttyUSB0 RTS DTR AGWPORT 8000 KISSPORT 8001 IGTXLIMIT 6 10 ~~~ Direwolf will warn you if the input audio level is way off; I adjust them 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: ~~~json "varafm": { "addr": "127.0.0.1:8300", "bandwidth": 0, "rig": "my_rig", "ptt_ctrl": true }, ~~~ Start `rigctld` with a Dummy model - just to use the USB port of the Digirig for PTT: ~~~console $ rigctld -m 1 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv ~~~ I start VARA FM by running a small script called `varafm.sh`: ~~~sh #!/usr/bin/sh # Start VARA via wine WINEPREFIX=/home/dominic/.wine-winlink wine "C:\\VARA FM\\VARAFM.exe" ~~~ In VARA FM set the USB soundcard, adjust the volume in `alsamixer` and on your radio, set PTT to VOX -- I tried to use COM1 but that crashed wine several times (that is why I set up _rigctl_ before). If you need to stop rigctl: you can usually do that with CTRL + C but this might not work. So either stop the running pat process by hitting CTRL + C in the "pat terminal" or by killing rigctld with `kill $(pgrep rigctld)`. I also adjust the volumes while connecting to keep the ALC (DIG gain on the TX-500) correct and also the input volume in VARA FM. ### VARA HF Back to the TX-500, the pat configuration looks like: ~~~json "varahf": { "addr": "127.0.0.1:8300", "bandwidth": 2300, "rig": "my_rig", "ptt_ctrl": true }, ~~~ I start rigctld like: ~~~console $ rigctld -m 2050 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvv ~~~ This is for the CAT protocol Lab599. If you use the older implementation (Kenwood TS-2000) start rigctl with model 2014: ~~~console $ rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvv ~~~ ## Mobilinkd {{< 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 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. Then we need the serial port -- right click on TNC4 Mobilinkd and select _Connect with_ Serial port That will create a serial port at `/dev/rfcomm0`. In order to use it in pat, we need to use `kissattach` on that serial device. First we need to setup an AX.25 port called wl2k in `/etc/ax25/axports`: ~~~squid # /etc/ax25/axports # # The format of this file is: # # name callsign speed paclen window description # #1 OH2BNS-1 1200 255 2 144.675 MHz (1200 bps) #2 OH2BNS-9 38400 255 7 TNOS/Linux (38400 bps) wl2k OE7DRT 1200 255 7 Winlink ~~~ This needs also some configuration work in the pat configuration: ~~~json "ax25_linux": { "port": "wl2k" }, "serial-tnc": { "path": "/dev/rfcomm0", "serial_baud": 9600, "hbaud": 1200, "type": "Kenwood", "rig": "" }, ~~~ Now we can attach a KISS interface to the serial port: ~~~console $ sudo kissattach /dev/rfcomm0 wl2k AX.25 port wl2k bound to device ax0 ~~~ Select your PacketRadio Gateway (CALLSIGN-10 usually) and connect using AX.25+linux. To de-attach the KISS interface we need to kill the process: ~~~console $ sudo kill $(pgrep kissattach) ~~~ ## SignaLink USB I haven't used this now for a while, but I wanted to include this in this list, as it provides a USB soundcard to the computer just like the Digirig does -- but it does not provide a serial interface to control the PTT. ### Packet radio Start direwolf (using the same configuration as with the Digirig), it will complain about not finding `/dev/ttyUSB0` for PTT control. I don't use this that often and I don't use another USB device at the same time so I don't care about this. If you have another device connected as `/dev/ttyUSB0` you should probably remove its reference from the direwolf configuration file. As mode I select AX.25+agwpe and I set the output volume of the PCM2906C Audio CODEC to 100% -- the SignaLink USB will now control the PTT. ### VARA FM Start VARA FM (I use my script mentioned above) and select the proper sound card. The input volume level can be adjusted with the volume knob on the radio and the RX knob on the SignaLink USB. The output volume level can be checked and adjusted with the tune function withing the Soundcard menu from within VARA FM. You may also try the Auto-tune function. ### VARA HF I never tested this because I have no cable for the TX-500 and the SignaLink USB, but as the Signalink only provides a soundcard you have to add another USB cable for CAT control of the radio. You then start rigctld with the proper values for that specific radio. {{< alert "circle-info" >}} That is the reason for the Digirig that combines these two functions in one device. {{< /alert >}} ## Some systemd unit-file examples Put them into `$HOME/.config/systemd/user`. I created them at the beginning of my "Linux Winlink journey" but actually I only let pat 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. ### pat ~~~systemd [Unit] Description="pat winlink" After=network.target rigctld.service ardopc.service Wants=rigctld.service ardopc.service [Service] Type=simple ExecStart=/home/dominic/bin/pat --listen "ardop,telnet" http TimeoutSec=10 [Install] WantedBy=default.target ~~~ ### rigctld ~~~systemd [Unit] Description="rigctld for TX-500 using Digirig" After=network.target Before=pat.service ardopc.service [Service] Type=simple ; -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 ExecStart=/usr/bin/rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv TimeoutSec=10 [Install] WantedBy=default.target ~~~ 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 ~~~systemd [Unit] Description="ardopc for TX-500 using Digirig" After=network.target Before=pat.service [Service] Type=simple ; ExecStart=/home/dominic/bin/ardopc 8515 hw:1,0 hw:1,0 -c /dev/ttyUSB0:9600 -p /dev/ttyUSB0:9600 ExecStart=/home/dominic/bin/ardopc 8515 plughw:1,0 plughw:1,0 TimeoutSec=10 [Install] 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 Add a channel and select Packet Demoulator. Once packet gets demodulated, add a feature and select APRS: ![Upper left portion of the whole SDRAngen window highlighting the 'Add feature' button](add-feat.png) ![Example view of the APRS feature window](aprs.png) The APRS feature windows let you connect to APRS-IS (top right of the APRS window). You can also add another feature called Map to display the received APRS packets on a map. ![Cropped view of the map feature window](map.png) ### 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 sdrangel Add a channel and select Packet Demoulator. ![An example of a decoded packet session](packet-session.png "A quick connection try at home (the gateway is out of reach so we don't get an answer back)") ### VARA HF We can only decode with VARA HF in monitor mode. It is possible that we can't decode anything. ### POCSAG #### 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 ![Settings of the main settings window](main.png) Set the frequency to 438.025 MHz (in Austria) and add a channel (pink mark box). Select Pager Demodulator and start decoding (click the Play button). That will decode the set POCSAG modulation (defaults to 1200 baud). [![Example of the decode in SDRAngel](pocsag-decode.png "Click the image to enlarge")](pocsag-decode.png)