I built an iGate.

I basically used the instructions from KB9MWR, although aprsx was giving me fits.  I have soundmodem running on Debian (it’s much easier to get it working there than Ubuntu), and the latest aprsx compiled locally.

Hopefully by the time the evening rolls around, more will fill up this map gated by me.

Note that my location on the map is near, but not at, my house (not that I’m not really hard to find, with the magic of ULS/QRZ and Google Street View).

You can see the stats on aprs.fi.  At the time I’m finishing this post, I’ve only gated 6 stations through and they are only digipeaters and weather stations.  I have seen position packets through, but I don’t know if they are not being gated or if they are but APRSIS isn’t sending them because they are duplicates.

Either way, coverage on SR 32 (a high traffic highway) and SR 125 (a high traffic roadway) now have some coverage, and it looks like a local nearby digi is down for now (the owner has indicated in a blog post that he’s moved, so it may be back sometime).

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A few days ago, I tweeted and posted to Google+ “I’m going to do a blog post on Hamr + Linux. I need to help dispel the myth of “there’s not a lot of hamr software for Linux””.  This was started because of a conversation on the local 2m repeater and others making that claim.  I typed this knowing full well that there were already resources out there.

There is A LOT of software for amateur radio.  It is listed on http://radio.linux.org.au/?sectpat=All&ordpat=title.  There’s another list at http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Software/Linux/.  The problems are that some of it isn’t very good, and some aren’t being updated anymore.

So for starters, what distro should you be using?  This is really a personal question, and I’m not going to answer it.  LeRoy, KD8BXP has done an excellent write up about 19 different Linux distros at http://kd8bxp.blogspot.com/2011/10/follow-up-on-19-different-linux-distros.html.  He doesn’t answer that personal question, either, but his blog post will help you answer that question.  I use Mint Linux for now.  I’ve used and enjoyed Fedora and Ubuntu, but I understand the latest version of Ubuntu has a few issues.

Other resources include Linux in the Ham Shack Podcast (at the time of writing, this hasn’t been updated for a few months) (which just got updated with 3 new shows and they’re doing another as I type!) and Resonant Frequency Podcast.

I will be looking at the following subjects, and probably in this order (or close to it):

1. Logging for General Operating
2. Digital Modes
3. Soundmodem (used for Packet and APRS)
4. APRS
5. Contest Logging
6. Satellite Pass Prediction
7. Antenna Analysis
8. Propagation Prediction
9. Packet
10. Software Defined Radio*
11. USB Rig Control*

For each of these, I will look into and give a quick evaluation of all up-to-date packages I can find, and then give a recommendation and detailed “how to use”.  Starred items are items that require me to get or buy something.  Because of that, these may be pushed until I have the items I need or advanced when I get the items (I will update this list as needed).

For now, I bid thee 73s.  If you want to influence my order of things above or make sure I mention something (software, etc) or even a concept (like if you really want me to talk about SSTV), feel free to leave it in the comments section below.

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