Linux in the Ham Shack (MP3 Feed)

Greetings to all of our listeners! Episode #014 is here. Thanks to our fans, the feedback segment has turned into a couple of questions we spend the rest of the episode answering. It's so nice when the topics present themselves with no help from us. Richard and I discuss why a ham radio operator, or anyone for that matter, might want to choose Linux as their preferred operating system. Then we discuss WINE and how it can be used to install and run Windows appliactions under Linux. And then we close with Slow-Scan TV using qsstv, a Linux client, and mmsstv, a Windows client under WINE. Finally we get the word out about our fellow great podcasters and their podcasts. Thanks as always to everyone for downloading the podcast. Please tell everyone you know about us, and if you have a couple of bucks burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to donate to LHS so we can improve the program. In the next couple of episodes we'll have our first formal interview segment so stay tuned for that.

We come to Episode #013 of Linux in the HAM Shack. This one is not for the faint of heart or the triskadecaphobic. Our last couple of episodes have generated a lot of feedback so we spend the first and last segments of the show talking about everyone who sent us comments and answering questions wherever possible. In the middle, we manage to squeeze in some information ham radio and Linux information about getting your radios connecting to your computer for rig control, testing with grig and integrating logging and rig access with fldigi. We'd like to thank the multitudes we had in the chat room for the live broadcast of Episode #013. It was our best turnout yet with more than 25 participants from all over the world. We'd like to encourage everyone to jump in on the next broadcast, which will be on May 13th at 0100Z. The LHS release schedule is being pushed back a week because I will be out of town at a conference during the first week of May. Thanks again to all our downloaders and everyone who takes the time to send us feedback and questions. There would be no podcast without you. Note: We had several audio problems attempting to record this episode due to erratic network connectivity. Everything is cleaned up and organized nicely except for one brief audio dropout that could not be recovered. You'll know it when you hear it. 73 de Russ (K5TUX)

Logging applications are finally on tap for Episode #012. We take a look at a three interesting QSO logging applications, one graphical and the other two console based. And while we know that could have been a show all on its own, we packed in three different perspectives on CrunchBang Linux. Yes, that's right, three perspectives. We've invited a special guest to give us his impressions of CrunchBang Linux on the Acer Eee PC netbook platform. Richard explores CrunchBang on a standard PC using the Live CD image, and I talk about running the Live CD and installing CrunchBang in a virtual machine. And that's not all. We address listener comments, feedback, questions and talk with the live guests in our chatroom. It's the longest and most action-packed Linux in the HAM Shack yet, and we're just getting started. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to keep the feedback coming. 73 de K5TUX

Today we present Linux in the HAM Shack for the eleventh time. Because of a topic snafu we switched to a completely untested and radically different format for the program. However, in the words of esteemed author Douglas Adams: "Don't panic." We simply rolled the live feed into something resembling a roundtable discussion of Linux and ham radio related topics that we think listeners will find rather interesting and engaging. That being said, because of the unusual format of the program some of the dialogue may seem a little strange. In most cases it can be explained as one of the hosts reading questions or reciting information provided by the live participants in the chat room at the time of recording. We also managed to wrangle a special third co-host for the middle portion of the program. All in all it's a wild and crazy ride. Thank you as always for downloading the podcast, and special thanks to those who helped us out by joining us for the live recording of the program. Please check the web site for the next time you can hear us record live and participate in the program yourself. Enjoy this special edition of Linux in the HAM Shack and we'll be back in a couple of weeks with a program on logging software, a review or two of CrunchBang Linux and much, much more. 73 de K5TUX and KB5JBV

That's right, everyone. We've hit Episode 10. I know it's hard to believe. We can hardly believe it ourselves. This one has been sitting in the editing room for a while due to life conflicts once again. It also spent a lot of time going through the editing machine. All that said, it's finally produced, mostly coherent, and occasionally informative. As always, thank you so much for listening to the program. Please help spread the word about Linux in the HAM shack by tweeting about us, posting on your blogs, telling your fellow hams and just getting the word out. We appreciate it, and we'll do the same for you if you send us your information. Tons of feedback in this episode and then we tackle digital modes from RTTY to Throb. Enjoy. 73 de Russ

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Linux in the HAM Shack, Episode #009. I am enjoying my time in sunny and warm Orlando, Florida as this episode is published. Richard and I would like to thank everyone for downloading and listening to the podcast. We've been getting encouraging pingbacks from other bloggers and amateurs and much good feedback as well. We'd like to encourage everyone who listens to the show to spread the word about us. The more amateur radio folks we can help with Linux and Open Source the happier we'll be. In this episode, we start out with listener feedback, answering questions and responding to feedback that has come in since the last episode. We also give a shoutout to some guys, because we're some guys too. We then jump into a thorough examination and review of F0FAK's promising new amateur radio Linux distribution called Shackbox. And in the final segment, we talk about serial bus communication and USB-to-serial adapters for fun and profit--and rig control. Please send us your comments, feedback, questions and remember to spread the word to everyone you know. We can't take over the world without your help. Show notes will follow soon. All hate mail should be directed to Richard. 73 de Russ, K5TUX

Here it is, Episode #008. All the fault for how late this is lies squarely on my shoulders. We've had some difficult weather, which lead to my being sick for almost two weeks. After that, it took a few days to get my motivation back. Now that everything is in sync again, the latest episode of Linux in the HAM Shack has been edited and uploaded and is ready for your waiting ears. As always, Richard and I would like to thank everyone who listens to the podcast and participates in the forums, web site comments and the live recording feed. We wouldn't be anything without our listeners, and we know it. Please send us your comments, your feedback, and use the links on the web site to follow us on Twitter. I know I've already broken my New Year's resolution to make sure the podcast gets out on time. But I'm going to start again with the Chinese New Year. May the Ox bring us good fortune and an actual two-week interval between shows. 73 de Russ (K5TUX)

Episode #007 is out! Due to popular demand, this is an install episode. After running through comments and questions from listeners via the web site, e-mail and forums, we take a look at the procedure of installing Debian and Ubuntu Linux on a computer from start to finish. The show notes from this episode will include video footage of the Debian install so those of you who are interested in installing Debian on your own machines will be able to follow along with the video and audio of the install procedure. We will be posting screen shots of an Ubuntu install later on as well. This is also the first episode that features interaction with participants of the live feed that made it into the edited version of the podcast. We'd like to encourage everyone to listen to (and sometimes watch) us live when Linux in the HAM Shack gets recorded. Get all the juicy tidbits, bloopers and anecdotes that don't make the final cut. And your contribution could easily wind up in the show! Check the web site regularly for the broadcast schedule. Thanks again to all who download and listen to Linux in the HAM Shack. We're nothing without you. And please keep the e-mail and feedback coming.

After putting this off some because of the holidays and other obligations, Episode #006 is now hot off the press. This is the second in our two-part series on PSK31. In the first part, we looked at sound cards, rig control interfaces and the basics of getting a PSK31 software package installed on your Linux operating system. In part two, we take a much closer look at two popular programs for operating PSK31 mode on Linux: gmFSK and fldigi. On top of that, we respond to listener comments and questions, talk about updates to the web site, and explain how you can be involved in the recording of Linux in the HAM Shack by listening to the live feed and interacting with us in the chat room. Next up in Episode #007: Install episode! We'll guide you step by step through the entire process of installing Debian or Ubuntu Linux on a machine to use in your HAM shack. If you join us for the live feed, we'll even be able to answer your questions in real time. Stay tuned, and please, keep the feedback coming.

Episode #005 is here. This is the first in a two-part series where we begin to discuss using Linux with your ham radio to participate in digital modes. We outline the software and hardware you might use to enjoy PSK31, a very popular digital mode in amateur radio. We take a look at sound cards, serial ports, rig control interfaces and prepare you for part two, which will get into the specifics of using Linux software to operate your radio in PSK31 mode. Thank you for downloading our latest episode, and please send us your feedback. Also, we now broadcast the recording of Linux in the HAM Shack using Ustream TV. Follow Richard or Russ on Twitter to find out when the recording goes live, or check on the web site. An event calendar will be available shortly which will let you know when we will be recording. Your comments may even be included in the podcast! 73 de Russ, K5TUX

Episode #004 is finally here! I need to make two apologies. The first is a re-apology for the crackling in the audio for this episode. It appears to have been a problem with the machine that recorded the episode. My studio was in disarray and I didn't have a place for my laptop so I used an older desktop. The crackling that appears on the recording was not evident from my mixing console or to Richard over the Skype connection. Rest assured that it will not happen in Episode #005. Second, I apologize for this being late. We really would like to keep things on schedule at Linux in the HAM Shack, but the last two weeks have been very busy for both Richard and I. In this episode, we go through our feedback from between the last release and this one. Then we get down to the heart of the matter: What software is available under Linux for amateur radio enthusiasts? We answer that question, respond to your questions and comments, talk about virtualization and techniques for getting the most from whatever software you decide to use. We even try to have a little fun here and there. So thank you for downloading this episode and thank you for listening. Please send us feedback, good or bad, and any comments or questions you may have. We'd love to hear from you. 73 de Russ, K5TUX

Richard and I had a lot going on in our lives over the past two weeks. Most of it had nothing to do with amateur radio or Linux. Luckily we managed to get Episode #003 recorded and as I write this it's about 3:15am. But the podcast is going to be released on time. Please remember to send us that feedback, whether it's by e-mail, comment on the LHS web site or the Black Sparrow Media forums. In this episode, we discuss downloading and installing amateur radio software from remote repositories using the various commands provided by Debian-based Linux distributions. We also mention a few other kinds of package managers, those used by Red Hat, OpenSuSE, Gentoo and more. And we touch on installing applications from source code, among other juicy tidbits. Enjoy. 73 de Russ - K5TUX

Welcome to the second episode of Linux in the HAM Shack. In this edition, we respond to listener feedback from the introductory episode. Everyone has been very positive and encouraging, and we've been looking forward to getting the second podcast done. We take a fairly in-depth look at Linux distributions that will get you up and running with ham radio applications and rig control quickly and easily. From Debian to Digipup and other ham-radio-based distributions in between, we look at methods of installation, software repositories and desktop environments. Thanks for listening, and please remember that feedback. We read every word! Russ - K5TUX

Welcome to the first episode of Linux in the HAM Shack. In this episode, we give you a brief introduction to the podcast, explain who we are and what our backgrounds in Linux and Amateur Radio are. And we give a brief overview of what topics weâ€ll hope to cover in future episodes. We sincerely hope you enjoy our opening episode and we look forward to hearing from you, the listener, about anything youâ€d like to say. Weâ€ll be posting these episodes every two weeks on Tuesday morning. Thereâ€s a link to the RSS feed on the left hand navigation of our site, and youâ€ll be able to subscribe to our feed at iTunes, Feedburner and other popular feed management sites. Anyway, enough rambling. On to the podcast. 73 de Russ and Richard