[ale] [EXTERNAL] Re: Any ham radio operators among us? Linux in the shack?

Mon Oct 18 09:55:18 EDT 2021

Up until recently, that's all I've had.  I've only recently started getting into HF (because I've only recently had the gear to do it!).  Much 2M repeater activity in your area?
We are pretty luck in my area with a repeater on a very tall tower that covers multiple counties - sometimes even over into east Mississippi (I'm near Tuscaloosa, AL).
https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/details.php?state_id=01&ID=351
Allen B.
--
Allen Beddingfield
Systems Engineer
Office of Information Technology
The University of Alabama
Office 205-348-2251
allen at ua.edu

________________________________________
From: Ale <ale-bounces at ale.org> on behalf of Jerald Sheets via Ale <ale at ale.org>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2021 7:45 AM
To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
Cc: Jerald Sheets
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [ale] Any ham radio operators among us? Linux in the shack?

KO4JIL here.

I’m much newer than the Elmer’s here. All I’ve got is an HT and a Mobile.  Shopping for a Base + Antenna right now, but I’m having to do the whole “put it in the attic” thing because HoAs suck.

Jerald Sheets

> On Oct 18, 2021, at 4:45 AM, Alex Carver via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:
>
> On 2021-10-17 22:52, Ben Coleman via Ale wrote:
>> On 10/17/2021 11:15 PM, Allen Beddingfield via Ale wrote:
>>> I was wondering if there are any other ham radio operators on the list?
>> There are several.
>>> If so, I'm curious what Linux applications you make use of in the shack for logging, digital modes, or anything else interesting?
>> I'll have to admit that though I used to run Linux in the shack, nowadays I'm heavily into contesting, and I'm running Windows, as N1MM+ covers a lot more contests, out-of-the-box, than any Linux contest loggers I know of.
>> Back when I was running Linux in the shack, I was using Xlog for daily logging, and tlf or yfktest for contest logging.  I was also a maintainer for the Alinco DX-77T section of Hamlib (Hamlib is a library for controlling radios, rotators, and other ham computer-controllable hardware.  Most Linux apps that need to interface with radios use it.
>>> Also, problems dealing with RFI from PCs and power supplies?
>> I'm using an Astron analog power supply, so I don't have much problems with RFI from the power supply.  I've mostly had to deal with RFI the other way, with RF in the shack affecting devices connected between the PC and the radio.  That's been dealt with by the selective application of cables with ferrite beads build in, or by the user of snap-on ferrites.
>>> I've got a fairly new PowerSpec from Microcenter that jumps me from S3 to S9  of noise floor on 20m when switched on
>> Some of that may be coming from cables from the computer, which might be handled by snap-on or wrap-around ferrite chokes (Palomar Engineers has a nice kit).  Some of my issues were helped by tying my radio and computer hardware to a common ground bus.  Also check the cables on the monitor.
>
> I've got loads of both linear and switching power supplies in and around the desk but I spent lots of time putting chokes on everything to keep it clean.  I also usually spend a bit more on the supplies.  Most of my switchers are DIN-rail mount units or similar industrial units that have filters in them and don't radiate much because they're intended to be in close proximity to other sensitive devices like PLCs.  Nearly everything at my desk that used to have a 5V wall wart is now sharing one of three 5V/10A DIN rail units. I have an enclosure at the end of the desk with a single C14 inlet with integrated magnetic filter (like this https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/schaffner-emc-inc/FN9260B-10-06/1929075) and terminal blocks that I use to wire appropriate patch cords to power the devices.  I did the same for a couple higher voltage items (mainly 24V devices) and anything that was network related now runs PoE. I used to have over 40 wall warts and I'm now down to two because they're oddball voltages (one is 7.5, the other is 15).
>
> I also usually put in ground breaks on all the audio lines between the radios and computers.  Most of my radios are patched through a couple Behringer mixers so I can route audio to different places (headphones, computers, speakers, etc.) but I find that a good portion of audio problems almost always stems from ground loops.  I buy the ground isolators intended for automotive applications and patch them inline with the radios.  The good ones are transformer units so you get galvanic isolation on the audio lines as well as the ground break.
>
> I've got three VHF/UHF stations and one HF station and no issues from my operating area.  Nearly all my noise is from the neighborhood coming into the antenna.
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