Ham Radio and Linux - was: redhat 9 iso image files

[Bill Sconce]

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 09:29:02 -0500
Bill Sconce <sconce at in-spec-inc.com> wrote:

> On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 04:22:31 -0800 (PST)
> micheal kasuba <n1xoa at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> >  Hello I'm in downloading redhat 9 iso file. I'm not
> > sure how to use them after downloading. I plan on
> > burnning to a cd-rom disk. So I can install redhat 9.
> > CAn any one help me with how to do this. Thanks for
> > any help you can give me as I'm still new to linux.
> > I'm also looking for sstv program for linux and a good
> > satellite tracking program for linux. 
> > John
> 
> 
> I know you're working on Red Hat, but I recommend to
> everyone that they consider Libranet (a Debian-based
> distribution).  Costs money, but worth it (my opinion)
> because of the integration and time saved, especially
> in first-time installation.
> 
> That said, and CDs aside, Debian has a number of ham-radio
> related packages.  
> 
> For sstv I see "qsstv", and for satellite tracking, "gpredict",
> "ktrack", "mtrack", "predict", "predict-gsat", "sattrack",
> and "sattrack-x11".
> 
> There's a lot of ham radio activity in the Debian community.
> 
> 
> HTH, es 73
> -Bill N1BFK



UPDATE:  I wrote the above message yesterday morning (and included
a list of packages available from Debian for ham radio).  Then
yesterday afternoon the March 2004 issue of QST arrived.

Remarkably, on page 92, the subject of WA1LOU's "Digital Dimension"
column is ...Linux!

Like many Linux-loving hams, I have often felt a certain distress
when the amateur radio press talks about computers and makes the
tacit assumption that "computers" is equivalent to "Microsoft".
Granted, moving to Linux is not an immediate prospect for a majority
of Microsoft users, whether or not they are technically savvy like hams.
But the amateur radio community expressly dedicates itself to advancing
the state of the art.  And in fact there is more amateur-radio software
available for Linux than for any other system.  It would therefore be
appropriate to at least mention Linux as a possible avenue of exploration
when discussing amateur radio and computers.

(This would have been particularly true when a recent QST column went
on at some length about viruses.  It made the usual pitch about "buy a
good [Microsoft] anti-virus program" but neglected to mention that
dumping the virus-prone software outright is an option, if only for the
technically adventurous.  Doing so IS POSSIBLE, perhaps about as difficult
as learning Morse code, and it's much more effective than even the best
"anti-virus program".)

Well, the March 2004 "Digital Dimension" column is nearly perfect.
It's one page, but Stan introduces Linux competently and objectively.
He mentions distributions, the wide range of applications, and
live-bootable CDs.  The column is candid about difficulties.  GPL and
"Free" are introduced right up front.  There's even a pointer to the
"official" (Linus's own) pronunciation of "Linux".

Really, really great.  (Thank you, Stan!  Please contact any Linux
enthusiast for any help you might wish to have presenting further
information about Linux, or in spreading the word about amateur radio
to the Linux community).  One page in each issue of QST would freshen
the magazine, and would not be too much coverage for this developing
revolution in computer technology.

Here's the first paragraph of the March 2004 column.  It's heartening
that Linux elicits such an encouraging response from the ham community:

    "During the last winter solstice, I broached the subject
    of Linux for hams in _Surfin'_, the weekly column I write
    for the ARRLWeb (www.arrl.org).  In the days that followed
    the posting of my Linux _Surfin'_ columns, I received more
    mail than about anything I have written in over a quarter
    of a century.  Most of the writers were happy to see something
    in the Amateur Radio press about Linux and encouraged me to
    write more about the subject."

Hear, hear!


-Bill N1BFK

P.S.  There was also this:

    "A plug for the Debian distribution is in order because it is
    probably the most ham-radio oriented distribution.  Jaye
    Inabnit, KE6SLS, points out that ham radio applications are
    prepackaged with Debian and 'can be automatically downloaded
    and installed with a simple click of a button (or command
    line for geeks like myself!).  There is also a bootable Debian
    Ham CD [or two floppies!] (debianham.sunsite.dk) tailored to
    contesting.  Exciting stuff really!'"