Linux User Net: Links for discussion topics

[Listed here are links related to discussion topics on the Linux User Net.]

Audio recordings of the Linux User Net sessions are available for listening at kc7nyr.com.

For more topics and discussion, visit The Linux User Net Group at groups.io.

• Russ, KC7MM, described his success at using an RTL-SDR USB device and Linux command-line software to stream live radio over a network.

• Mark, KC7NYR, told of his experience with AutoTux, A fully automated installable linux system]].
• Roy, KI7PKL, gave us his first impressions of his new PineBook Pro.
• Russ, KC7MM, talked about using the JACK audio connection kit, and JackTrip for audio over a network.

• Gordon, AE7GW, started a discussion on learning to program with Python 3.
• Roy, KI7PKL, gave us an update of his PinePhone.

• Gordon, AE7GW had more on using his Zumspot.
• Roy, KI7PKL, told how he is using rigctld, th Hamlib TCP rig control daemon, with shell scripts to control his rig.
• Russ, KC7MM, talked about using Dconf to back up desktop settings.

• Gordon, AE7GW, is using his new Zumspot with Wires-X.
• Brett, KG7GDB, asked about using Nmap to map a mesh network's topology.

• Jonathan, KI7UEZ, started a discussion of reliability of solid state drives.

• Gordon, KJ7KSI, asked about the differences between HamPi and Build-a-Pi software for Amateur Radio on the Raspberry Pi.

• David, WA9ONY, answered a question about antenna modelling software in Linux. (groups.io)
• Russ, KC7MM, talked about two pre-configured ways to prepare a Raspberry Pi for Amateur Radio use: HamPi and Build-a-Pi. WA9ONY has posted detailed information on installing HamPi at groups.io.

• Kevin K7COI told us of the FCC call sign lookup program (GitHub) that he wrote in PHP.

• Ubuntu announces appliances for Raspberry Pi
• Jitsi Meet: A Free & Open Source Video Conferencing Solution That is Also Free to Use Without Any Set Up.

• PineTab tablet available for pre-order from Pine64.

• Session audio recording available at groups.io.

• Session audio recording available at groups.io.

• Notes and links by WA9ONY.
• Session audio recording available at groups.io.

• Session audio recording available at groups.io.

• Mark, KC7NYR, announced that the Linux User Net now has a discussion group at groups.io. Thanks to David, WA9ONY for setting it up.
• Session notes and discussion available at groups.io.

• Mark, KC7NYR, brought a news item regarding a new camera with interchangeable lenses for Raspberry Pi.
• Roy, KI7PKL, talked about BerryBoot bootloader and installer for Raspberry, which enables encryption and USB storage.

• David, WA9ONY, told how he had installed Ubuntu 20.04 on a Raspberry Pi.

• Roy, KI7PKL, told us that the PinePhone Community Edition is ready for pre-orders.
• Russ, KC7MM, reviewed his recent installation of WINE on Linux Mint.

• Barry, N5NWI, talked about the KerberosSDR RTL-SDR board that has multiple SDR receivers.
• Roy, KI7PKL, reported the release of the PinePhone Community Edition, the latest version of the PinePhone, with a pre-installed OS.

• David, WA9ONY, reported on two utility programs for Raspberry PI: Image reader to create images directly from screen captures, and a new SD card speed test utility.
• Loren, K7IW, noted that the Ubuntu software repository has a package for the Zoom server.

• David, WA9ONY, reported on his use of a low-cost Behringer USB audio interface as on SDR A-to-D converter for RF in the Extremely Low Frequency band.

• Mark, KC7NYR, shared his experience with Netrunner on old hardware.
• Brett, KG7GDB, noted that a new version of PiGate emergency mail server software for the RaspberryPi is available.
• Russ, KC7MM, mentioned rpi-clone, a shell script that backs up a RaspberryPi ISO to a USB drive while the Pi is running.

• Russ, KC7MM, reported on his Mega328 (eBay) inexpensive electronic parts tester.

• Thomas, KI7AML, reported on his success at making a QSO with the NiceRF SA828 walkie-talkie transceiver module. (eBay)
• Roy, KI7PKL, brought us up to date on his experience with the PinePhone: a successful phone call, playing a video in landscape mode.
• Brett, KG7GDB, Asked about Intel's Clear Linux distribution. A discussion followed.
• Mike, KA7PLE, related his experience with his NanoVNA 50KHz-900MHz Vector Network Analyzer Kit. The review: very positive.

• Russ, KC7MM, talked about the Digilent Analog Discovery, a portable SBC that functions as a multitude of test instruments.

• Brett, KG7GDB, announced that he had succeeded in setting up a Raspberry Pi 3 GPS-based NTP time server, using a USB GPS dongle. Details here.
• David, WA9ONY, brought us up to date with his exploration of PiSDR distro for Raspberry Pi.
• Russ, KC7MM related his experience with his newly-installed password manager, KeePassCX.

• Mark, KC7NYR announced his series of How To Linux Videos.
• David, WA9ONY, discussed his experience with the PiSDR distro for Raspberry Pi, a modified Raspbian image with the latest SDR software pre-installed
• Russ, KC7MM, mentioned a 1W. UHF transceiver module for experimenters, the NiceRF SA828 (eBay).

• Brett, KG7GDB gave us an update of developments on the Salem Mesh Network
• Russ, KC7MM, talked about installing a printer using the CUPS browser-based management utility.

• In response to a question about single-board computers that have specialized processors on board for program development:
  • DE10-Nano Development Kit, built around the Intel Cyclone System-on-Chip FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).
  • NVIDIA Jetson Nano development kit for AI. (YouTube review video)

• Russ, KC7MM asked for help with a problem he encountered with the grub bootloader while installing DokuWiki from a Turnkey Linux appliance ISO.

• Brett, KG6GDB, mentioned the availability of an interactive tool (Github) for backing up and restoring both the memory settings and menu settings of the Yaesu FT991 transceiver. It's written in Python by Jeff, KJ7GVA, and licensed under GPLv3.

LoRa is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology. It is based on spread spectrum modulation techniques derived from chirp spread spectrum (CSS) technology. In the U.S., 915MHz band is used by many devices – in the middle of the Amateur 33cm. band. Designed for IoT applications, it trades bandwidth for long range and low power consumption.

Some links:

• LoRa / LoRaWAN De-Mystified / Tutorial (YouTube)
• Introducing LoRa (Instructables)
• 12 LoRa projects (Arduino Web site)
• Testing LoStik LoRa units. A low-cost USB dongle. (ArsTechnica)
• LoRaHam Ham radio protocols and Arduino examples for LoRa on 70cm (Github)

• Rich, W7EET, announced upcoming gatherings for Linux-using Hams, beginning in January 2020. They will be held on the second Saturday of each month from 1000 to 1400, in Newberg, OR. More details to come.
• David, WA9ONY, talked about using an SDR dongle to detect and identify aircraft navigation beacons on very low frequencies.
• Kevin, KE7K, described how he uses WeeWX software running on a Raspberry Pi to log and publish data from his weather station.

• GalliumOS: Linux for Chromebooks. Web site. Related firmware for Chromebooks: MrChromebox
• uBITX QRP transceiver kit.
• Salem mesh network at groups.io

A look at two Single Board Computers from Pine64 to see what potential they might have for operating as computers attached to our mesh net. Both boards are much like the Raspberry Pi.

• Rock64
  • Wiki page with OS images, technical details.
  • 2-3-4 GB ram: $25, $35, $45. Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, eMMC slot up to 128 GB.
  • Runs Android as well as Linux, has a NextCloudPi image available.
  • Looks good as a server, not so much as a desktop.
  • ROCK64 OpenMediaVault NAS instructional video on YouTube.
• Pine H64 Model B
  • Wiki page with OS images, technical details.
  • $36 2GB, $45 3GB. Lots of I/O ports, Gigabit Ethernet, Wifi/Bluetooth, USB 3.0, eMMC slot up to 128 GB
  • Also runs Android
  • Looks like a good candidate for general use and development, server or desktop.

Pine64 is all Open Source. Doesn't have the breadth of community support of the Raspberry Pi.

• (KA7PLE) DistroTest Web site Test run Linux distros in your browser.
• (KC7MM) Pine64 Web site Open-source laptops, single-board computers, and more.

(KA7PLE)

• Bridging (Networking) (Wikipedia)
• Use a Bridge to Expand Your Local Network
• How to Configure a Network Bridge with Network Manager on Ubuntu
• Seven Layers of the OSI Model and functions of seven layers of OSI model
• Four Layers of the TCP/IP Model, Comparison and Difference between TCP/IP and OSI models