OT Linux for Elecraft K3 use - Which Distribution to use?

[Jeff Cochrane - VK4XA]

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[ac0h]

For ease of install you can't beat the Debian based distro Ubuntu.
I'd suggest a really lightweight desktop manager like Fluxbox, XFCE, or
the like because you don't have the horsepower to run Gnome or KDE.

I run Ubuntu 10.10 amd64 with an XFCE desktop manager.
For rig control your going to need Hamlib.
For logging I use CQRLog (MySQL database back end).
For digimodes I use FLDigi.
The nice thing about both of those packages is that they support the
K1EL winkeyer. My version is the USB.

I do run Windows (XP and 7) in virtual sessions on my machine using
Oracle Virtualbox because I have to support them professionally. The
only thing keeping me from dumping windows totally is my work and a
really good contesing app for Linux. Yes, I know about TLF but it can't
compete with N1MM.

There is a Linux version of the K3 utility you should be able to
get to from the Elecraft website.

You shouldn't have many hardware issues because the laptop is old
enough to be fully supported from that point of view. Even on cutting
edge hardware Linux is a whole lot better than it used to be.


On Thu, 2 Jun 2011 21:35:24 +1000
Jeff Cochrane <[hidden email]> wrote:
 

> What I want to be able to do is to run a logging program, update &
> control my K3 and do other general around the shack work.
> The computers are not what you would call 'powerhouses', they are an
> Intel 466MHz Celeron powered Toshiba laptop & an Intel Atom powered
> netbook. Hopefully I can get some useful advice on the list from
> those of you "in the know"
>
> Thanks to all in advance for your replies,
>
> Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF

--
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
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[Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX]

Jeff,
I've been on-and-off Linux for years, and I'm convinced the Apple Mac
OS-X is the most robust computing solution for no-hassle daily
operations. I gave up on Windows, although I have Win-7 running
successfully as a Virtual Machine on my Mac Pro.

See http://wilcoxengineering.com/projects/amateur-projects/44-psk31-k2 
... shows how my MacBook Pro runs with my K2. I don't happen to do much
with logging programs, but even that small laptop is up to a lot of
activity.

There's a lot of ham software available for the Mac. If I must run a
Windows application, I do it in the Win-7 VM.

Best 73, Alan

Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40)
570-321-1516
http://WilcoxEngineering.com
http://eBookEditor.net
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/28062?ref=awilcox
Williamsport, PA 17701


On 6/2/11 7:35 AM, Jeff Cochrane wrote:

> Hi everyone,
> I would like some advice please, from the Linux / Wine users amongst us.
>
> Question: Which Linux distribution to use and why?
> My reason for asking is the impending demise in support for Win XP from
> Microsoft and my lack of trust in Windows 7 (Or any other version of Windows
> for that matter) to do what I want, when I want it to. :-)
>
> I have some experience with Linux and Unix both (From operating an IRLP node
> + other stuff earlier on in my career) but with so many distributions
> available nowadays, it's a bit daunting.
>
> What I want to be able to do is to run a logging program, update&  control
> my K3 and do other general around the shack work.
> The computers are not what you would call 'powerhouses', they are an Intel
> 466MHz Celeron powered Toshiba laptop&  an Intel Atom powered netbook.
> Hopefully I can get some useful advice on the list from those of you "in the
> know"
>
> Thanks to all in advance for your replies,
>
> Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF
>

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[Nate Bargmann]

* On 2011 02 Jun 07:47 -0500, R. Kevin Stover wrote:
> For ease of install you can't beat the Debian based distro Ubuntu.
> I'd suggest a really lightweight desktop manager like Fluxbox, XFCE, or
> the like because you don't have the horsepower to run Gnome or KDE.
>
> I run Ubuntu 10.10 amd64 with an XFCE desktop manager.

I can recommend XFCE as a good desktop.  It is easily installed with the
Ubuntu distribution as Xubuntu which is simply a much lighter
installation than the standard Ubuntu with no loss of functionality.  It
is light enough that I have run it from a 4 GB thumb drive when on the
road with the work laptop.

> For rig control your going to need Hamlib.

More precisely, version 1.2.13 or later.  I did a lot of work with the
K3 support that made it into that version so the K3 is much better
supported.  There are still some issues with Fldigi that I have found
where if one changes band and mode at once from a bookmark that the mode
is changed first and then the frequency is changed.  That results in the
mode being changed on the first band and then it being whatever was last
used on the target band.  I haven't brought that issue up with W1HKJ
yet, however, as he has a more pressing need.

> For logging I use CQRLog (MySQL database back end).
> For digimodes I use FLDigi.
> The nice thing about both of those packages is that they support the
> K1EL winkeyer. My version is the USB.

I have the Master Keyer 1 that supports K1EL protocol.  So far, so good.

> There is a Linux version of the K3 utility you should be able to
> get to from the Elecraft website.

The latest version does seem to work well.  One just needs to be sure to
have the curl package installed for querying of firmware updates to
work.

73, de Nate >>

--

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds.  The pessimist fears this is true."

Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us
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[chas]

On 02/06/11 12:35, Jeff Cochrane wrote:
> What I want to be able to do is to run a logging program, update&  control
> my K3 and do other general around the shack work.

I am currently running Linux Ubuntu 10.10 and CQRLOG on my Acer 5742Z
laptop in the shack. CQRLOG is fully integrated with the K3 and
certainly makes DX chasing a lot easier. I recently demonstrated the
setup at my radio club when my friend John G3BFP (FOC) nabbed a Russian
op who was in Taiwan on 20m. The antenna was a bit of wire up a nearby
flagpole. I doubt if we would have found him without the help of CQRLOG.

I have not used Microsoft Windows for the last twelve years and the
Linux GUI has improved considerably in that time.

The current setup is the best operating system and the best logging
program that I have experienced and it is all free of cost.
Never had a virus of any kind since leaving Windows behind :-)

Charles
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[Iain Haywood]

Like you I didn't want to continue with windoze further than Xp so I
installed ubuntu desktop. I also have an Ubuntu server so it was a
useful learning experience.
As an assembler and C++ programmer, I loved the way everything is logged
an can be reduce down to command line and batch files.
Stability was excellent and forum support is good.
BUT one day I installed a new video driver and all hell broke loose. Now
wont boot up and on investigation I think I have to re-build my kernel.
I have no idea, as I'm not a Linux expert. It iust broke down before I
was good enough to fix it.
Ive checked forums, not much help.
Linux experts are harder to find in my area, so I had, reluctantly move
back to XP.
Luckily I'd left it intact on a separate partition.

This sort of thing happens with windows but as I've used it for nearly
20 years i know a lot of the tricks and fixes, not to Linux.


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[Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU]

The Atom will do fine with Ubuntu 10.04.  fldigi runs on all the major operating systems (windows, mac, various linux flavors).  It does digimodes, logging, and rig control.  I'd set the 466 MHz one aside; even a $300 used laptop on eBay will outperform it.

Leigh/WA5ZNU

[Alan Bloom]

On Thu, 2011-06-02 at 09:33 -0700, Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU wrote:
> The Atom will do fine with Ubuntu 10.04.

As long as we're off topic...

I can't get sound to work using Ubuntu 8.10.  It worked when Ubuntu was
first installed, but the audio quit working after one of the automatic
updates not long afterwards.  It's not a hardware problem because it's a
dual-boot machine and the sound works fine under Windows XP.

Any ideas?

Please reply off-list since this is so far off-topic.

Alan N1AL


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[Doug Person-3]

It's nice to hear some good words about linux.  It's a great operating
system.  The advances in the user interface in the last few years have
been very dramatic.  Linux is now easier to use then Windows.  There are
4 or 5 different interfaces and you can use any or all when ever you
want. (You just log off, select a different desktop interface and log
back on).  I prefer ubuntu myself and you can select and install all of
the popular ham software directly from the free software catalog. The
installation is all automatic.

I've been working with Windows literally from day one of its first
version.  Windows always had a lead over linux.  It was more stable and
easier to use. Now the tables are turned and the reverse is true.  
Windows 7 is pretty good.  Better than any Windows version yet.  But
linux, especially my favorite - ubuntu, has been on an accelerated
development curve.  And in the last few releases, it has become a
stunner.  Its beautiful, stable, logical, easy to get the hang of and
has just about every kind of software you need - completely free.  You
can install ubuntu linux right on your Windows machine without changing
anything permanently.  Its incredibly simple.

I suspect there are a number of linux fans lurking about here.  If you
have any questions about how to use linux with your K2 or K3, I'll bet
the answers will come quickly.  I use several of the linux PSK31
programs and they work great and were a snap to setup and get working.  
I'm always happy to answer questions if anyone wants to try linux needs
help getting started.

73, Doug -- K0DXV

On 6/2/2011 9:09 AM, Charles wrote:

> On 02/06/11 12:35, Jeff Cochrane wrote:
>> What I want to be able to do is to run a logging program, update&   control
>> my K3 and do other general around the shack work.
> I am currently running Linux Ubuntu 10.10 and CQRLOG on my Acer 5742Z
> laptop in the shack. CQRLOG is fully integrated with the K3 and
> certainly makes DX chasing a lot easier. I recently demonstrated the
> setup at my radio club when my friend John G3BFP (FOC) nabbed a Russian
> op who was in Taiwan on 20m. The antenna was a bit of wire up a nearby
> flagpole. I doubt if we would have found him without the help of CQRLOG.
>
> I have not used Microsoft Windows for the last twelve years and the
> Linux GUI has improved considerably in that time.
>
> The current setup is the best operating system and the best logging
> program that I have experienced and it is all free of cost.
> Never had a virus of any kind since leaving Windows behind :-)
>
> Charles
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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