How to install latest TQSL on Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS and 20.04 LTS (Latest UPDATE is 01.04.2024 for latest TQSL 2.7.2)

Hello friends,
these days I face interesting problem where I needed to install latest TQSL 2.4.3 on my fresh Ubuntu OS. Before I had installed repository version 2.3.1 wich did a job but due to full erase of my disk I decide that I should try install latest release 2.4.3.
First at all latest release could be found on ARRL's official web page in tar.gz format.
After downloading you should extract (usually right click -> extract here) it in one of your home folder(s). It is reccomended to read INSTALL file in TQSL folder extracted from tar.gz archive in order to be familiar what are you doing.
I must mention that installing "as it is",following suggested install procedure will result in lot of errors and unsuccessful installation of TQSL.
After browsing a little I decide to "take a shot" and started following suggested libraries that should be downloaded.
At least beside software center you should have installed Synaptic and use it with your installation procedure with required libraries and programs:

- sudo apt-get install synaptic

I do not know if MONO is obligatory for TQSL but I can suggest also to install this program with 

- sudo apt install mono

The reason why I suggest is that I noticed it is mentioned in some files/libraries that are installed trough Synaptic.

INSTAL suggest these installations to be present on your computer:

- OpenSSL (http://www.openssl.org/) - OpenSSL 1.0.1j was used for TQSL 1.14.
- expat 1.x XML parser library (http://expat.sourceforge.net/) - expat 2.1.0
- zlib (http://zlib.net/) zlib 1.2.8
- Berkeley DB (http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/products/berkeleydb/downloads/index.html) - BDB 6.1.19
- wxWidgets (http://wxwidgets.org/downloads) - wxWidgets 2.8.12.
- curl - (http://curl.haxx.se/download.html) - curl 7.39.0

Following libraries/files are installed in terminal with sudo:

1. Required for proper compiling of TQSL

- sudo apt install cmake 

2. As a part of OpenSSL:

- sudo apt install libcurl4-openssl-dev

- sudo apt-get install libssl-dev

3. BerkleyDB

- sudo apt-get install libdb-dev

- sudo apt-get install sqldeveloper-package 


4. Trough Synaptic, using search option you should install these libraries/files as a part of 

   4.1 wxWidgets:
                 
                 libwxbase3.0-0-unofficial

                 libwxbase3.0-dev

                 libwxgtk3.0-0-unofficial

                 libwxgtk3.0-dev

                 wx3.0-headers

                 wx-common

                 libwxbase3.0-dbg

                 libwxgtk3.0-dbg

                 wx3.0-i18n 

Please take note that when you search for files, Synaptic will give you 2 solutions with the same name and the difference is that one have V5 added in it description. For me, I installed both suggested trough my search for above mentioned libraries/files.

    4.2 Zlib , also installed via Synaptic. 
           For this library I installed all suggested that are listed starting with zlib1g in Synaptic. 

   4.3 CURL, check it also in Synaptic is it installed. If not please install it.

EDIT: We almost forgot


     4.4 Expat, do not forget to install expat :)


- Note for above libraries/files: It is enough to use first part of the name as a search criteria (ex. libwxbase3 is enough to search for libwxbase3.0-0-unofficial).



After this you are ready to install latest TQSL on your Ubuntu 18.04 LTS version.

Personally I installed it with root privileges sudo su , although you can install it also with sudo .
Just follow procedure describet in INSTALL:

From the parent directory where TQSL is extracted:
 
cmake .

make

make install

Take a coffee break and your TQSL should be installed in shortly.

Note: No shortcut is made in Menus so to check is it running just type in terminal : tqsl ,and it should start.

Now you only have to make a Menu shortcut and import your signatures in TQSL, following standard procedures for it.

73 de Z34PEC

UPDATE UBUNTU 22.04

If you run Ubuntu 22.04 beside expat from synaptic you should install development package:  

sudo apt-get install -y libexpat1 libexpat1-dev

UPDATE 01.04.2024 (Not a April fools :) )

Latest TQSL require these two things to be installed:

sudo apt install sqlite3

sudo apt-get install libsqlite3-dev

HOW TO PROPERLY SET XGGCOMMS'S DIGIMODE-3 INTERFACE TO WORK WITH UBUNTU 18.04

Hello to everyone.

    Recently I purchased a XGGCOMS Digimode-3 interface in order to take a step in to a digital world of FT8, JT9, PSK31 and other “egsotic” digital modes of work.
    I have second hand Icom 706MKII that works well and I thought buying a digi interface will be a good reason not to use it just for SSB modes of work but also trying to gain knowledge about new ways of usage of our ham equipment.
    After arrival I read manual published on seller’s site. It quite well (maybe it need some additional text inside) describe setting of Digimode-3 under Windows OS, but sadly there is no any written word or video record how to do it under Linux OS , especially with Icom 706MKII radio :)
    My first contact was so disappointing because no matter how much I tried , suggested ALC level stayed around 5-6 squares and even I managed to work some station with such a setup.
    There must be a way to do it under Linux, in my situation Ubuntu 18.04. And there is a solution. I do not know how much people who work HAM under Ubuntu or other Linux based system are experienced but for me I may say (middle experienced user) this OS is still sometimes a mystery. You do not see it on the menu bar or program bar, then you do not know that it exist :)

The fastest way to set digimode-3 is to do it with ALSAMIXER.

Note: My Ubuntu is set to work with gnome meta-city extension (oldie but Goldie) so this explanation is for this environment. For new Ubuntu 18.04 environment it is almost the same (sidebar).

1. Open with ctrl+alt+t terminal window and at the prompt write/start alsamixer.
- Choose proper audio device (C-Media USB set) with pressing F6 and select it from menu.
- In order to see all possibilities press F5  (View All).


Picture 1. Selecting Digimode-3 in alsamixer

- Moving around given settings is possible with your cursor keys left/right arrows.     Increase/decrease of values is set with up/down arrows.
- Go to Headphones.
- With Q/Z keys change of balance is made for left channel and with W/X keys you can balance right channel.
- Set to lowest possible value for both channels (around 33%) .


Picture 2. Help menu with keys

Note: Do not close or exit alsamixer and terminal window.

2.  From drop down menu Applications-System tools-Preferences-Settings-Sound select “Digital output S/PDIF – Audio adapter” . Set value of balance to be in the middle, and mic level should be minimum. Audio level should be at minimum or near minimum.
- Start WSJT-X and wait to load. From the right side, set power meter (gliding up-down bar line) to the middle or upper to ¾ of the bar.
- Set your radio to 50% of it power (I set mine to 50W for start) and get good SWR at 7.074 (FT8) or other work frequency of available digi modes.
- Set on your radio ALC level to be displayed.

3. In WSJT-X select option TUNE and get back to terminal window and alsamixer. For now, your radio should not transmit anything, because VOX level is not enough to activate TX.
- With Q/Z keys increment audio level ONLY to LEFT channel while right stays at it present level of 33%. Around 80% you should hear relay triggering TX on your Icom. Now it is transmitting and
ALC level should be absent (no ALC level readings on indicator).
- With W/X keys slowly increment ONLY RIGHT channel until you see only one bar of ALC level indicator. When you see it, get back one step lower. Now you have set best signal for digital work.
- Get back to WSJT-X and try to move power meter to higher position and get readings on your SWR/POWER meter. At present settings you should run around 20-30W of power without any ALC activation or distortion of signal.


Picture 3. Properly set of alsamixer and power meter (background)

- Deactivate TUNE option from WSJT-X.
- Close alsamixer (ESC key) and terminal window.

Your radio now is just one step from complete settings for digi work.

Note: If above settings (step number 3) did not trigger relay for TX, then slightly increase power meter in WSJT-X and try again will it trigger TX relay. Find the balance for trigger of TX relay ONLY with your LEFT channel and power meter. DO NOT TOUCH or set right channel, it is already set on it best value (for now). You can also try leaving your left channel value just below red zone and only try with power meter from WSJT-X. Changing values of power meter is best to be done with your mouse scroll wheel or touch pad trackball option.



4. Set MIC level (Microphone audio adapter) for good receive of signals. Suggested minimum signal level should be 30db (WSJT-X suggestion). Anything in the green zone is good signal value.


Picture 4. Setting MIC level for best receive signal

That’s all folks.
Now your digimode-3 is properly set to work with Ubuntu or other Linux based system.

Small note for authors of WSJT-X:
Increase/decrease of power in WSJT-X result with not so smooth change of output power like running under Windows. On my computer (Asus 1015PEM Intel Atom N550 dual core) there is some response delay of around 0.5 sec , difference between change of power and command reaction of the radio. Take note about this when changing power to new values.


73 DE PETRIKA
Z34PEC
KN01qx

How to - HF Propagations and Solar predictions on Ubunu

Here is link to this good site and good "How to" guide for installation.
HF propagations and Solar predictions on your Ubuntu

Welcome to your new home

Yesterday new receiver has arrived in my home: Icom 706 MKII .
Got it from a friend of mine that wasn't using it for over a year.
In a good condition, maintaned and keep well.
Well, maybe this is start of something new. Z3FF, BOTA, SOTA, who knows :)
I wish to everyone to have such a pleasant surprise and good unit.
73

HBR4HF my radio

After a longer period finally I managed to start work with my HBR4HF radio station. Declared as 25-30W , Bitx based radio, 3.5-7-10-14 MHz SSB/CW together with HF-P1 antenna and MFJ 971 ATU I tried to make some QSO's in past period. Unfortunately, not so much experienced in field activities, with lot of difficulties I managed to make my first contacts.
I must admit I was little bit unprepared for such activity and I failed. Well, RA life is made of failures and sucesses, so no dissapointed at all.
I must say, I have great satisfaction about this radio and I warmly suggest this radio as a good startup equiment for every RA.

If somebody want to buy it, he/she can go to Hambuilder's site and make an order.

The only negative side is maybe lack of technical documentation but I suppose designer of this radio will manage this problem also.

Weekend is coming and I hope I will continue to make new contacts with my equiment, mostly in portable mode.

Stay well,
73
Z34PEC

How to work with HAM satellites

Browsing the web, I stopped to this interesting blog site, also HAM oriented. It's name is AMSAT-UK and they have so much interesting texts.
Here is link to one of their blogswritten for communication with satelites with given frequencies and shifts.
AMSAT-UK how to work with HAM satelites.
Enloy,
Z34PEC

Vellman CW (Morse) decoder

Couple of days ago a friend of mine post add, selling his almost new Vellman cw decoding kit. I miss a moment so my other friend bought it. Today he make a post on FB that show this thing actually work despite all bad copies made from China :)
I google a little and I found schematics for this great cw (morse) decoder so I decided do make a "footprint" of it on my blog.
I hope someone will find it and use it and find it interesting too.
Enjoy.
Z34PEC