ubuntu-hams team mailing list archive

[Lee McKusick <leemck@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Ubuntu hams this is Lee McKusick AG6CB.

	Congratulations on running ham software on Ubuntu Linux. I urge you to
take a sheet of paper and write how to set up and run your software. The
operating system installation will be stable for years. 

 The computer I am using has run since March 2010. 

	I encourage you to do not "wipe the disk and reinstall everything
again." A simpler path is simply accept the default Ubuntu install and
avoid booting Windows in the future.

 Doing reinstalls is generally not a good idea, it starts a collapse of
confidence process. 

Linux can be frustrating, but the solutions are simple and they exist.
Over the last few years Linux changed sound systems and that affected
the fldigi program. Google search on the exact text of the error message
will help you out. About one in five results for you Google search will
be something written by a ham like you who found the simple solution.

 Use that sheet of paper and write down what you find works and the
date. The software will be running great for more years than your memory
can recall eventually. 

	Personally, I find hamlib, fldigi, gpredict, crispw and logging
software programs installed from packages are just fine. ( I have not
succeeded in getting Ubuntu to run the Kenwood Windows only software...
yet.) 

	Another email details how to add yourself to the dialout group. Yes you
need to do that. Once you have added yourself to the dialout group you
are set for years.

	Here is how to find out the name of a serial port USB device.

	Start a terminal session. Type the following commands, words following
the ; are my explanation to you of what happens.
	
	Start the computer with the serial port USB device not plugged in.
	Start a terminal session. Typical name xterm.
	
	;  Next line means you type dmesg 
dmesg   ;  Kernel boot messages scroll by screen.
	;  The last lines are the last things the kernel did to boot. 
	;  dmesg | more is a great way to see how the kernel starts. Not now please.
	;  Plug the serial port USB device into any USB socket
dmesg	;  The last lines show the name of the port
	;  /dev/ttyUSB0 is typical name of the new serial port USB device.
	;  Write it down. 
	;  Another command that is confusing but always available is
lsusb   ;  Lists the major and minor device names of USB system. Don't
write them down because the end user doesn't set ports at this level.

	
	Best wishes, Lee