IBP International Beacon Project

IBP shows which of the beacons of the International Beacon Project is transmitting now.
IBP is a Linux program that helps one with monitoring the beacons of the International Beacon Project, by continuously showing which beacon is transmitting on which frequency, along with the distance and antenna directions by PA3FWM.

You can download the program from here

Wind Turbine

Wind Turbine
Click on link to see my wind turbine details

Echolink on Ubuntu Linux (with Wine)

Echolink on Ubuntu (Linux)

The default Windows Echolink installers work fine with Wine on Ubuntu.

1) Install Wine.

2) Download Echolink install.

3) Run install using Wine.

4) There will then be an Echolink Icon in Wine program files and on your Desktop.

5) Start Echolink and set-up your station info.

6) Have fun....

If you are looking for a native Echolink program for Linux read my blog here http://zr6aic.blogspot.com/2013/07/echolink-on-ubuntu-setting-up-svxlink.html

Packet Radio on Ubuntu using Soundmodem

Packet Radio on Ubuntu using Soundmodem (144.800Mhz)

I got my ax25 configuration working with soundmodem on Ubuntu.

1) Install soundmodem and all ax25 options with Synaptic Package Manager or with (apt-get)

1.1)The list of apps I installed. ax25-apps, ax25-tools, ax25-xtools, ax25mail-utils, ax25spyd, soundmodem,

sudo apt-get install ax25-apps
sudo apt-get install ax25-tools
sudo apt-get install ax25-xtools
sudo apt-get install ax25mail-utils
sudo apt-get install ax25spyd
sudo apt-get install soundmodem

1.2) I found this script EasyPacket (install it) http://www.w1hkj.com/EasyPacket.html .
It consist of a series of scipts to simplify the process of starting and configerating a user packet node, see documentation in /usr/share/doc/easypacket (after instillation) for mode details.

1.3) The document was in Spanish and I had to translate it with google. Here is the content.

****************************************************

README
Greetings, My name is Pavel and I am CO7WTCosta Milanes, a Cuban Amateur Radio

This packete software was created to provide aconfiguration standard in mind to facilitate the assembly of apacket station in GNU / Linux, is expected to be as automatic as possible throughout their development.

The ideas or main bases of this software are:

- Used to create 3 soundmodem software modems simultaneous / Individual
- Create three ports of packet: 1k2, 9k6 and 4K8,which correspond to the speed AFSK 1200, 4800 and 9600 AFSK FSK,or all together or each individually.
- As a GNU / Linux has to assign an IP address toScholarly interface, suggests the use of AMPR declared 44.128.xxsegment test for each of the interfaces on different network segments, you must reset the IP address what proveea your local coordinator, allocation is as follows:
IP Address Mode Speed ​​port interface
1200 baud AFSK 1k2 44.128.0.1 x0 4K8 AFSK

4800 baud ax1 44.128.1.1

9600 baud FSK 9k6 44.128.2.1 ax2
- Only taken into account the connections AX25;NETROSE BPQ and others are referred
- Default incoming connections to ttylinkd enrrutanis not actualemnte functional.
- The indicative NOCALL default and is configured using the packetconfig script.

*********************************************

I found the README a bit cryptic.

2) I did the following.

2.1)I run soundmodemconfig  you will need X window server if you are doing this remotely via ssh

sudo soundmodemconfig

Soundmodem config screen

2.2) Configure the sound modem as in the pictures above. ( it will save the config when you exit the app)

plughw0.0 could be different for your Linux depending how many Audio sound cards you have in your ALSA configuration.  

sudo arecord -l will list your device's

**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
xcb_connection_has_error() returned true
Home directory /home/anton not ours.
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC662 rev1 Analog [ALC662 rev1 Analog]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: V10 [FUNcube Dongle V1.0], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1

  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

plughw0.0  will be card 0

2.3) I connected the external speaker sound plug on Radio to laptop line in and tuned VHF radio to 144.800Mhz FM to see some local packet traffic.

2.4) Select new configuration in file menu and then sound card.
On the older Ubuntu it was /dev/dsp (soundcard) new Ubuntu its (alsa and plughw:0,0) and your serial port (my port was /dev/ttyS0) for your PTT (I am using ZS1I radio interface between radio and laptop)

to see what is the list of serial devices run the command ls -al /dev/* | grep ttyS

crw-rw----  1 root dialout   4,  64 Sep  4 17:42 /dev/ttyS0
crw-rw----  1 root dialout   4,  65 Sep  4 17:42 /dev/ttyS1
crw-rw----  1 root dialout   4,  74 Sep  4 17:42 /dev/ttyS10
crw-rw----  1 root dialout   4,  75 Sep  4 17:42 /dev/ttyS11
crw-rw----  1 root dialout   4,  76 Sep  4 17:42 /dev/ttyS12

U can use the terminal program to see if its the correct serial port.
Install minicom serial terminal program.

sudo apt-get install minicom

sudo minicom

Welcome to minicom 2.5

OPTIONS: I18n
Compiled on May  2 2011, 00:39:27.
Port /dev/tty8

Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys

Press [ctrl]A and then Z

You should then get this menu

    +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

     |                                  Minicom Command Summary                       |

     |                                                                                                      |

     |          Commands can be called by CTRL-A <key>                       |

     |                                                                                                      |

     |               Main Functions                  Other Functions                     |

     |                                                                                                      |

     | Dialing directory..D  run script (Go)....G        | Clear Screen.......C  |

     | Send files.........S  Receive files......R         | cOnfigure Minicom..O  |

     | comm Parameters....P  Add linefeed.......A | Suspend minicom....J  |

     | Capture on/off.....L  Hangup.............H          | eXit and reset.....X  |

     | send break.........F  initialize Modem...M      | Quit with no reset.Q |

     | Terminal settings..T  run Kermit.........K      | Cursor key mode....I  |

     | lineWrap on/off....W  local Echo on/off..E      | Help screen........Z  |

     | Paste file.........Y                                            | scroll Back........B   |

     |                                                                                                      |

     |      Select function or press Enter for none.                                     |

     |                                                                                                      |

     |             Written by Miquel van Smoorenburg 1991-1995               |

     |             Some additions by Jukka Lahtinen 1997-2000                  |

     |             i18n by Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo 1998                           |

     +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Select option  O

+-----[configuration]------+

 | Filenames and paths      |

 | File transfer protocols    |

 | Serial port setup            |

 | Modem and dialing        |

 | Screen and keyboard     |

 | Save setup as dfl           |

 | Save setup as..              |

 | Exit                               |

+--------------------------+

Select Serial port setup

Change your comm port by selecting A

and then edit your port  /dev/ttyS0  ??

Save and exit to get back to terminal and send some characters and check your serial port TX pins for data.
select  X to exit

2.5) Then select file new channel in the soundmodemconfig ( Select modulator and demodulator afsk the rest of the defaults should be ok.)

Change your cal-sign in Packet IO tab.

2.6) Select Channel menu on left and the click on Diagnostics menu and click on scope. You should see your audio from your radio ext speaker. ( if you get an error you have the wrong audio device change it until it work)

Set the volume on receiver for reasonable level (You might have to set the level with sudo alsamixer)

Sudo alsamixer

Use the F5 and F6 keys to select the sound card and input M also selects options

2.7) Exit the soundmodem config program. ( it will save the config on exit)

2.8) There should be a config file in /etc/ax25/soundmodem.conf

2.9) make a copy and rename it to soundmodem.9k6.conf

3) you can now start the easypacket script (sudo packeton 9k6)

3.1) you should see something like (The following interfaces are ready to rock: sm0 ZR6AIC)

hi......

Almost done.

you could now monitor packet in listening mode with the following commands. (sudo ax25spy or sudo  listen  has changed to sudo axlistin -c -a).

I will continue next time how to connect using the ax25 tools ....

here is the list of commands that manages your AX25 connections.

Command	Description
mheard	Mheard  displays information about most recently heard AX.25 callsigns, the interface upon which they were heard, the total packets heard,  the time  at  which  the  last one was heard and other information.  Mheard displays different information, in different orders  depending  on  the settings  of  the  arguments. Information on specific ports can be displayed by giving the port names as arguments.
ax25d	Ax25d  is  a  general purpose server daemon that listens on a number of AX.25, NET/ROM and Rose ports and offers different  services  depending upon port, callsign and other parameters.
axctl	The axctl commands to be issued to the Linux AX.25 protocol layer for existing AX.25 connections. The connection is uniquely  identified  via  the  combination  of port, destination callsign and source callsign, with that information the kernel is able to change the parameters, or abort the connection. .
axparms	Configure AX.25 interfaces
axspawn	Allow automatic login to a Linux system
beacon	Transmit periodic messages on an AX.25 port
bpqparms	Configure BPQ ethernet devices
mheardd	Collect information about packet activity
rxecho	Route AX.25 packets between ports transparently
sethdlc	Get/set Linux HDLC packet radio modem driver port information
smmixer	Get/set Linux soundcard packet radio modem driver mixer
smdiag	Linux soundcard packet radio modem driver diagnostics utility
kissattach	Attach a KISS or 6PACK interface
kissnetd	Create a virtual network
kissparms	Configure KISS TNCs
net2kiss	Convert a network AX.25 driver to a KISS stream on a pseudo-tty
mkiss	Attach a multi KISS interface
nodesave	Saves NET/ROM routing information
nrattach	Start a NET/ROM interface
nrparms	Configure the NET/ROM interface
nrsdrv	KISS to NET/ROM serial converter
netromd	Send and receive NET/ROM routing messages
rsattach	Start a ROSE interface
rsdwnlnk	User exit from the ROSE network
rsparms	Configure the ROSE interface
rsuplnk	User entry into the ROSE network
ttylinkd	TTYlink daemon for AX.25, NET/ROM, ROSE and IP
rip98d	Send and receive RIP98 routing messages
ax25_call	Make an AX.25, NET/ROM, ROSE or TCP connection
netrom_call	Make an AX.25, NET/ROM, ROSE or TCP connection
rose_call	Make an AX.25, NET/ROM, ROSE or TCP connection
tcp_call	Make an AX.25, NET/ROM, ROSE or TCP connection
yamcfg	Configure YAM driver parameters
dmascc_cfg	Configure dmascc devices
ax25ipd	AX.25 into IP Encapsulator
ax25rtd	AX.25 routing daemon
ax25rtctl	AX.25 routing daemon control utility
call > now axcall	Make an AX.25, NET/ROM or ROSE connection
listen	Monitor AX.25 traffic
ax25mond	Dump the AX.25 network traffic and and provide sockets where the received data will be retransmitted
soundmodem	Soundcard modem driver
soundmodemconfig	Soundcard modem configuration utility
aprsd	APRS daemon
aprspass	APRS passcode generator
aprsdigi	APRS digipeater
aprsmon	Monitor APRS AX.25 traffic for JavAPRS

More info is avalable here http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/AX25-HOWTO/index.html

Weather satellite reception with Funcube and WXtoImg (ubuntu)

Weather satellite reception with Funcube and WXtoImg (Ubuntu)

I am using QUISK,QTHID and xwxtoimg on my Ubuntu to receive weather satellite reception.

Still trying to get the bandwidth bigger in fun-cube but here's the details so far.

I am using a mobile 2M 1/4 wave mag mount on roof for reception Antenna.

1) Start QTHID
2.1) Change the frequency to one of the following.
2.2) Polar orbiting satellites TX freq 137.10 137.40 137.50 137.62 or 137.9125 50ksz or NFM until you receive a satellite. Satellite will pass twice per day
about 12h apart.
3) Start QUISK.
3.1) select FM and click on center of wave.
4)Start WXtoImg.
4.1) Firs time you use WXtoImg set your location it is needed to calculate your satellite time and freq. (wxtoimg -G)
4.1) select file update Keplers.
4.2) Click on Satellite Pass List.
4.3) select freq for next pass on QTHID.
4.4) Select Record and the image and then OK.
4.5) Play with volume control to get best results.
4.6) Band with on fun-cube still to narrow still puzzling out how to make it wider.

Satellite News

Cubesats Deployed From Vandenberg Atlas V Launch

The Atlas V NROL-36 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Cali- fornia, originally planned for August, successfully launched on 13 September at 2139 UTC.

This launch carried a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. Also aboard this flight at four cubesats as part of ELaNa IV mission and seven cubesats for government missions.

Several hours after launch Justin Foley, KI6EPH, announced via the #Cubesat IRC Channel that all eight P-PODS had successfully deployed.

The ELaNa Cubesats aboard are:

+ CINEMA (Cubesat for Ion, Neutral, Electron, Magnetic fields)

   o Downlinks for engineering telemetry and command are in the 2400-2450 MHz range; Science telemetry is in 2200-2300 MHz range.

+ CSSWE (Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment)

   o Downlink 437.345 MHz, 9k6 with AX25

+ CP5 (PolySat)

   o Downlink 437.405 MHz at 1 watt, AFSK on LSB AX.25 over NRZI at 1200 baud, every 2 minutes, begins 3.5 hours after first turn-on.

+ CXBN (Cosmic X-Ray Background Nanosatellite)

   o Downlink 437.525 MHz, GFSK, AX.25

A detailed article of the launch can be found on-line at:

http://www.americaspace.org/?p=23568&feature=youtu.be

CubeSat Deployment From ISS Set for September 27
Five cubesats launched on July 21 and now aboard the ISS have been integrated with the J-SSOD small satellite deployer on the the Jap-anese Experiment Module, also known as Kibo. They will be deployed with the Kibo robotic arm planned September 27, 2012.

First,  15:10-15:20 UTC: WE-WISH, RAIKO by Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide
Second, 16:30-16:40 UTC: TechEdSat, NanoRack/F-1, FITSAT-1 by JAXA GS

Satellite	Downlink	Beacon	Mode
FITSAT-1	437.445, 5.84GHz	437.250	FM,CWWE
WISH	437.505	437.505	SSTV,
CWRAIKO	2.2GHz, 13GHz	13GHz	38.4 - 500kbps
TechEdSat	437.465	437.465	-
CWF-1	145.980	437.485	1200bps AFSK,FM,CW

Also, refer to the previous ANS bulletin on this topic at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000650.html [ANS thanks Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL for the above information]