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455 lines
12 KiB
455 lines
12 KiB
---
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title: Packet radio, VARA (FM+HF), Mobilinkd, Digirig and the SignaLink USB on Linux
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summary: >
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Some basic configuration of my HF and VHF/UHF rigs to participate in the
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Winlink world...
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date: 2024-03-30T22:28:25+0100
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lastmod: 2024-04-28T09:14:37+0000
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coverCaption: An example, a session to OE7XKG-10 on 144.950 MHz.
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categories:
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- amateur-radio
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tags:
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- packet radio
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- vara fm
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- vara hf
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- winlink
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- digirig
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- mobilinkd
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- signalink
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- sdr
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---
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Out of curiosity I began another "research-session" because it is really time to get
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that Winlink back on my Linux laptop (I used OpenBSD on this machine for some months now
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and I haven't got a single chance to get wine onto that) -- I will stay Linux for a while
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I guess.
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I've been using a Surface 2 Go for some time (well, a really short time) but ditched it again
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because I wasn't really satisfied with its performance.
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There are several different devices and software solutions to send winlink messages and I
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won't cover all of them. The following examples exist because I own the necessary devices
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and I already have the software to work with them.
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_I would choose the Digirig as my favourite device because it just works every time and it
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also provides a USB soundcard to the computer (like the SignaLink USB)._
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## Digirig
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The Digirig gets controlled with `rigctld` -- I use different models for the
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HF and the FM rig -- but the rig configuration is the same for both:
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~~~json
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"hamlib_rigs": {
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"my_rig": {
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"address": "127.0.0.1:4532",
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"network": "tcp"
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}
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},
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~~~
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That part of the pat configuration makes sure that pat can transmit with the radio.
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### Packet radio
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Using <kbd>AX.25+agwpe</kbd> within pat in combination with Direwolf -- but
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this combination felt a bit slow (which might only be my subjective opinion).
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Someone might want to tune direwolf for better throughput or more reliable connections,
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but I'm not a direwolf expert and I rarely use it in favour of VARA FM.
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Besides that, I never used packetradio on HF yet. (300bps)
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~~~json
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"ax25": {
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"engine": "linux",
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"rig": "",
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"beacon": {
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"every": 3600,
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"message": "Winlink P2P",
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"destination": "IDENT"
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}
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"agwpe": {
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"addr": "127.0.0.1:8000",
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"radio_port": 0
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},
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~~~
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The <kbd>agwpe</kbd> section is used by Direwolf:
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~~~console {hl_lines="8"}
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$ direwolf -c /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf -p
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Dire Wolf version 1.7
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Includes optional support for: gpsd hamlib cm108-ptt dns-sd
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Reading config file /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf
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Audio device for both receive and transmit: plughw:1,0 (channel 0)
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Channel 0: 1200 baud, AFSK 1200 & 2200 Hz, A+, 44100 sample rate.
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Ready to accept AGW client application 0 on port 8000 ...
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Ready to accept KISS TCP client application 0 on port 8001 ...
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DNS-SD: Avahi: Failed to create Avahi client: Daemon not running
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Virtual KISS TNC is available on /dev/pts/8
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Created symlink /tmp/kisstnc -> /dev/pts/8
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~~~
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The `direwolf.conf` file looks like this (comments removed):
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~~~squid
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ADEVICE plughw:1,0
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CHANNEL 0
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MYCALL OE7DRT
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MODEM 1200
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PTT /dev/ttyUSB0 RTS DTR
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AGWPORT 8000
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KISSPORT 8001
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IGTXLIMIT 6 10
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~~~
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Direwolf will warn you if the input audio level is way off; I adjust them
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with the program `alsamixer` (<kbd>F6</kbd> to select the USB soundcard,
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then <kbd>F5</kbd> to list all devices, disable _Auto Gain Control_ with <kbd>m</kbd>
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(mute)).
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Direwolf handles the PTT via the RTS line of the Digirig.
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### VARA FM
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The corresponding configuratoin in the pat config file:
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~~~json
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"varafm": {
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"addr": "127.0.0.1:8300",
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"bandwidth": 0,
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"rig": "my_rig",
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"ptt_ctrl": true
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},
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~~~
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Start `rigctld` with a <kbd>Dummy</kbd> model - just to use the USB port
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of the Digirig for PTT:
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~~~console
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$ rigctld -m 1 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv
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~~~
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I start VARA FM by running a small script called `varafm.sh`:
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~~~sh
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#!/usr/bin/sh
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# Start VARA via wine
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WINEPREFIX=/home/dominic/.wine-winlink wine "C:\\VARA FM\\VARAFM.exe"
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~~~
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In VARA FM set the USB soundcard, adjust the volume in `alsamixer` and on your
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radio, set <kbd>PTT</kbd> to <kbd>VOX</kbd> -- I tried to use <kbd>COM1</kbd> but
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that crashed wine several times (that is why I set up _rigctl_ before).
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If you need to stop rigctl: you can usually do that with
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<kbd>CTRL</kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd> but this might not work. So either stop the running
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pat process by hitting <kbd>CTRL</kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd> in the "pat terminal" or by
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killing rigctld with `kill $(pgrep rigctld)`.
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I also adjust the volumes while connecting to keep the ALC (DIG gain on the TX-500)
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correct and also the input volume in VARA FM.
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### VARA HF
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Back to the TX-500, the pat configuration looks like:
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~~~json
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"varahf": {
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"addr": "127.0.0.1:8300",
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"bandwidth": 2300,
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"rig": "my_rig",
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"ptt_ctrl": true
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},
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~~~
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I start rigctld like:
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~~~console
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$ rigctld -m 2050 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvv
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~~~
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This is for the CAT protocol <kbd>Lab599</kbd>. If you use the older implementation
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(<kbd>Kenwood TS-2000</kbd>) start rigctl with model <kbd>2014</kbd>:
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~~~console
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$ rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvv
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~~~
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## Mobilinkd
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{{< alert "circle-info" >}}
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The Mobilinkd TNC4 is a KISS TNC and does not provide a USB soundcard -- I only use
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the Mobilinkd in conjunction with packet radio.
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{{< /alert >}}
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I will use <kbd>AX.25+linux</kbd> in pat with the TNC4 paired via Bluetooth.
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First of all, power on the TNC4 and pair it -- I use _blueman-manager_ for this.
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Then we need the serial port -- right click on <kbd>TNC4 Mobilinkd</kbd> and select
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_Connect with_ <kbd>Serial port</kbd>
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That will create a serial port at `/dev/rfcomm0`.
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In order to use it in pat, we need to use `kissattach` on that serial device.
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First we need to setup an AX.25 port called <kbd>wl2k</kbd> in `/etc/ax25/axports`:
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~~~squid
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# /etc/ax25/axports
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#
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# The format of this file is:
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#
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# name callsign speed paclen window description
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#
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#1 OH2BNS-1 1200 255 2 144.675 MHz (1200 bps)
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#2 OH2BNS-9 38400 255 7 TNOS/Linux (38400 bps)
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wl2k OE7DRT 1200 255 7 Winlink
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~~~
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This needs also some configuration work in the pat configuration:
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~~~json
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"ax25_linux": {
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"port": "wl2k"
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},
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"serial-tnc": {
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"path": "/dev/rfcomm0",
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"serial_baud": 9600,
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"hbaud": 1200,
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"type": "Kenwood",
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"rig": ""
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},
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~~~
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Now we can attach a KISS interface to the serial port:
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~~~console
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$ sudo kissattach /dev/rfcomm0 wl2k
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AX.25 port wl2k bound to device ax0
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~~~
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Select your PacketRadio Gateway (CALLSIGN-10 usually) and connect using
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<kbd>AX.25+linux</kbd>.
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To de-attach the KISS interface we need to kill the process:
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~~~console
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$ sudo kill $(pgrep kissattach)
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~~~
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## SignaLink USB
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I haven't used this now for a while, but I wanted to include this in this list,
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as it provides a USB soundcard to the computer just like the Digirig does -- but
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it does not provide a serial interface to control the PTT.
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### Packet radio
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Start direwolf (using the same configuration as with the Digirig), it will
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complain about not finding `/dev/ttyUSB0` for PTT control. I don't use this that
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often and I don't use another USB device at the same time so I don't care about this.
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If you have another device connected as `/dev/ttyUSB0` you should probably remove its
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reference from the direwolf configuration file.
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As mode I select <kbd>AX.25+agwpe</kbd> and I set the output volume of the
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<kbd>PCM2906C Audio CODEC</kbd> to 100% -- the SignaLink USB will now control the PTT.
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### VARA FM
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Start VARA FM (I use my script mentioned above) and select the proper sound card.
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The input volume level can be adjusted with the volume knob on the radio and the RX
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knob on the SignaLink USB. The output volume level can be checked and adjusted with the
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tune function withing the Soundcard menu from within VARA FM. You may also try the
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Auto-tune function.
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### VARA HF
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I never tested this because I have no cable for the TX-500 and the SignaLink USB,
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but as the Signalink only provides a soundcard you have to add another USB cable
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for CAT control of the radio. You then start rigctld with the proper values for
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that specific radio.
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{{< alert "circle-info" >}}
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That is the reason for the Digirig that combines these two functions
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in one device.
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{{< /alert >}}
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## Some systemd unit-file examples
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Put them into `$HOME/.config/systemd/user`. I created them at the
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beginning of my "Linux Winlink journey" but actually I only let pat
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start the webgui at boot - the other stuff I start with scripts or
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I search the command history (autocomplete) in my shell.
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I don't even let pat listen to something because this is my main laptop
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and I like the services started in a terminal window.
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### pat
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~~~systemd
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[Unit]
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Description="pat winlink"
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After=network.target rigctld.service ardopc.service
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Wants=rigctld.service ardopc.service
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[Service]
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Type=simple
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ExecStart=/home/dominic/bin/pat --listen "ardop,telnet" http
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TimeoutSec=10
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[Install]
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WantedBy=default.target
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~~~
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### rigctld
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~~~systemd
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[Unit]
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Description="rigctld for TX-500 using Digirig"
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After=network.target
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Before=pat.service ardopc.service
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[Service]
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Type=simple
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; -m 2050 for Lab599 TX-500 CAT protocol
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; ExecStart=/usr/bin/rigctld -m 2050 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv
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; -m 2014 for Kenwood TS-2000 CAT protocol
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; ExecStart=/usr/bin/rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv
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ExecStart=/usr/bin/rigctld -m 2014 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -P RTS -s 9600 -vvvv
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TimeoutSec=10
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[Install]
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WantedBy=default.target
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~~~
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You can change the used protocol (<kbd>Kenwood TS-2000</kbd> or <kbd>Lab599 TX-500</kbd> for CAT control within
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the menu on the TX-500 (last menu setting)).
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### ardopc
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~~~systemd
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[Unit]
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Description="ardopc for TX-500 using Digirig"
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After=network.target
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Before=pat.service
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[Service]
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Type=simple
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; ExecStart=/home/dominic/bin/ardopc 8515 hw:1,0 hw:1,0 -c /dev/ttyUSB0:9600 -p /dev/ttyUSB0:9600
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ExecStart=/home/dominic/bin/ardopc 8515 plughw:1,0 plughw:1,0
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TimeoutSec=10
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[Install]
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WantedBy=default.target
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~~~
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Maybe `hw:…` works better, but I had less trouble when using `plughw:…`.
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## Decoding other stations
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### APRS
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#### With direwolf
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This also sends a beacon and the received stations to APRS-IS. You can watch it on
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<https://aprs.fi>.
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~~~console
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$ rtl_fm -M fm -f 144.8M -p 36 -s 24000 -g 42 - | direwolf -c sdr-1200bps.conf -r 24000 -D 1 -B 1200 -
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~~~
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The direwolf configuration:
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~~~squid
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ACHANNELS 1
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ADEVICE null null
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CHANNEL 0
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MYCALL {callsign}
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IGLOGIN {callsign} {passcode}
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IGSERVER rotate.aprs2.net
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MODEM 1200
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AGWPORT 8000
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KISSPORT 8001
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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"
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IGTXLIMIT 6 10
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~~~
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#### With multimon-ng
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~~~console
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$ rtl_fm -f 144.8M -g 42 -s 22050 -l 20 - | multimon-ng -t raw -a AFSK1200 -
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~~~
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#### With sdrangel
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Add a channel and select <kbd>Packet Demoulator</kbd>.
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Once packet gets demodulated, add a feature and select APRS:
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The APRS feature windows let you connect to APRS-IS (top right of the APRS window).
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You can also add another feature called <kbd>Map</kbd> to display the received
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APRS packets on a map.
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### Packet radio
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#### With direwolf
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~~~console
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$ rtl_fm -f 144.950M -M fm -s 200000 -r 32000 -g 35 | direwolf -n 1 -r 32000 -b 16 -t 0 -
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~~~
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~~~console
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$ rtl_fm -M fm -f 144.950M -s 22050 | direwolf -n 1 -r 22050 -b 16 -
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~~~
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#### With sdrangel
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Add a channel and select <kbd>Packet Demoulator</kbd>.
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### VARA HF
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We can only decode with VARA HF in monitor mode. It is possible that we can't decode anything.
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### POCSAG
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#### With multimon-ng
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~~~console
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$ rtl_fm -M fm -f 438.025M -s 22050 | multimon-ng -t raw -a POCSAG512 -a POCSAG1200 -a POCSAG2400 -a FLEX -f alpha -
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~~~
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#### With sdrangel
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Set the frequency to <kbd>438.025 MHz</kbd> (in Austria) and add a channel
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(pink mark box). Select <kbd>Pager Demodulator</kbd> and start decoding
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(click the Play button).
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That will decode the set POCSAG modulation (defaults to 1200 baud).
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[](pocsag-decode.png)
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