Hi!

I need some help in finding a linux distro that contains a lot of Ham Radio digital; logging;and other programs that Hams would find useful. I've been told that Ubuntu/KBuntu/etc was
perfekt,but after going over to the Ubuntu page, it has a lot of detractors in the various distrobutions. NOT a good thing.

I understand that Debian has a great deal of all kinds of software packages, but may not have many Amateur Radio programs and it's kind of tough to learn as a

Now, I'm 65 and have had some major medical problems, one being understanding what I read and comprehending it. Finding someone who KNOWS what they are doing in Linux here, is vertually impossible. They don't even teach it in the Public schools. :-(

I'm not asking for 'charity', but a bit of a hand up.

Respectfully Submitted,
GOD BLESS,

"Buck"/KA5LQJ

KA5LQJ de KA9WGN

Pick any distro and you will find detractors. Even I will be so for some of them. The best distro to pick is the one that suits YOU best. There's no better way to find out than to actually try a FEW. Maybe try out LinuxMint Xfce, unless you prefer Gnome, KDE or LXDE (do you even know, yet)? Or you can get hard core (like diving into the deep end) and go with Slackware. It's your pick. Don't let detractors deter you from discovering what works for you.

2 members found this post helpful.

KA5LQJ de KA5UTN

Skaperen is absolutely correct. You don't select a Linux distrubution based on reviews, you select it based on use. Try it out for a month and see how you feel about it. I tried FreeBSD for awhile... very painful. Then I tried Solaris. Now I'm a Kubuntu user and very happy. The repository has all kinds of HAM stuff. I don't use any because I'm strictly VHF/UHF, but for HF guys, any Debian- type distros would work.

I switched to Linux 2 years ago and I've never looked back. 73s !

mhumm2

1 members found this post helpful.

I would agree with the above posters. In fact, (at least in Synaptic Package Manager), there is a category specifically for Amateur Radio. The main issue that I have is that my preferred shortwave logging program isn't available in Linux--so I have to keep a virtual machine running Windows around for it. (Which is always an option)

The reviews that you've probably seen for Ubuntu are about "Unity" (I'm guessing here). Basically they moved the stuff you'd normally see on the bottom of your screen over to the left-hand side. I would say try it out, and also try the "Classic Desktop" option when you log in--before you decide that it's not your cup of tea.

As mentioned above, you'll find people who are for or against everything in life. Don't let them sway your choices. Go with what's easiest/best for you. I would recommend either Ubuntu or Kubuntu (Kubuntu typically looks more like a Windows desktop), if you're thinking of going that route. Otherwise Fedora is another that I've used.

Have a great day
Patrick.

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi KA5UTN (I won't give your name or QTH away, LOL!)

Well, If possible, I want to use it on 6, 2, and 70 cm as well.
I'm not sure which mode to chose, but I hear BPSK is pretty reliable. I have all sorts of possibilities that I'm hoping to implement.

#1, Skywarn is HUGE around here. The states of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi really get hammered during the season. The local Skywarn bunch is not much interested in getting reports from outside the local NOAA office's Area of Responsibility. That's OK, though. There location out at the Greater Shreveport terminal does not
allow for any tall towers or big antenna arrays to listen to much more than maybe 40 miles away, unless someone brings up the repeater link to the East, which goes to Jackson, MS.

GOD gave me an idea to start a spreadsheet and eventually convert to a database that would have all the FIRE, POLICE, EMS, HOSPITALS, FEMA (700 MHz) & LEGACY (800 MHz) frequencies, callsigns, agency's name, QTH of the transmitter, State, County or Parish, the E.R.P. (effective radiated power) of the base, repeater (mobile relay) and mobiles. I also left some room for a section on REMARKS. I've got some of the agencies out as 250 miles in radius from Blanchard, LA, near Shreveport.

Now, I've been a licensed Amateur Radio Operator for over 30+ years. I don't think I'd be able to hear 250 miles away, even if I put up a 2,000 foot TV tower, LOL! So, I've spoken to several groups in Texas, like Fort Worth, Austin, Belton, Longview, Cass County and Texarkana, TX. They are eager to help
form a 'network' that would pass on ahead information about storm activity to those areas that DON'T have a close by NOAA office. The area that receives this information would pass it =forward to those ahead of them in the path and also informing the NOAA office in their area. It's not REALLY Skywarn reinvented. It's main purpose is to save lives and help protect property.

Tornado's and hurricane's don't travel in straight lines, but if a storm developed, then died out, there have been cases where it popped back up many miles and hours away and struck without warning or short notice in the middle of the night. Hopefully, this will give folks a heads up.

Well, I kinda got off track. "Thanks" to each of you who answered. I did find a wealth of information in each of your post and I am most greatful.

Well, Madame, the 1st wife of 40 years, says it's time
for Supper. If I tary to long, the dogs will eat good, LOL!

GOD BLESS,
73 (Best Regard)

Donald J. Buck Saunders
Amateur Radio - KA5LQJ
Grid Sq: EM-32
QCWA
Area-5-Wx-Group(at)gmail(dot)com

Hi Buck,

All of the comments I've read are good; here age 59 -been ham since '69 and been using linux since RH5.2 (awhile ago). Right now I'm trying to find the right linux for the ham station here (again).

The software is not a problem; you'll find that what you need will run on most any of the distros; your decision will mostly be based on how you like using the flavor you chose. Live distros are a good start; you can see it before you put it on the hard drive.

Right now I'm using Fedora 15 and not quite happy with it ~ cleared Ubuntu to try the Fedora (sigh). I used PCLinuxOS awhile ago at my business machine; I think I'll try that or Mint next.

It can be a hassle to keep (re)installing the distros (keep trying the live versions first). They all work; it's about what you are comfortable with.

Be glad to one-on-one with you if you want to chat about it (I'm an 'OT' -mostly into HF and CW, but active on VHF as well).

73,
KM3D (40mdxer)

1 members found this post helpful.

KA5LQJ/DE/KO6JQ
Hi I'm Sam in the Same Boat bought a Keyboard PC With Ubuntu 11.04 onboard
it Upgraded to Ubuntu long Term Release 12.04 in about 2 long dreded Hours
And it was Easy to Learn, did a search in the Ubuntu Software Center program,
and I came across a Rig Running program, that I tried on My old Ten-Tec
Rx-325 Reciever it worked Even the signal shaping Worked.
Then I found a Packet program there too, so out to the Garage for My old
Ramsey FX-146 12 channel 2 Meter rig, and Ramsey Packet Modem, and I
was at last running packet on 2 Meters without beaconing.
I hear Kubuntu is Nice, and so is Mint, I love and am learning Ubuntu
glad to have left those windows behind
73
Sam/KO6JQ

Another ham here. KE6TDP.
I have not yet gotten around to utilizing Linux programs for record keeping. LibreOffice/OpenOffice use Base as the database management software. To be reliable, I understand that Base needs to be configured as a front-end with an SQL compliant database as a back-end. I have MySQL up and running and Base can access it, but I have yet to develop any programs. Low on my priority list for now.