[Ham-Linux] Anyone using . . .

[Nate Bargmann]

* bdheaton <bdheaton at c4i2.com> [2005 Aug 12 08:04 -0500]:
> Have ya'll looked at Xastir lately?  I consider it to be a good start (if
> not already) the killer app.  The mapping support is first-rate, there is
> support for street level mapping, image overlays register properly, etc,
> etc, etc....

Yes, I've tried it, maybe about a year or so ago.  Unless it now comes
with a comprehensive street-level map database, one must nearly have a
constant Internet connection to make it useful for a street-level
mapping tool.  Sadly, this is where the commercial offerings have it
over an Internet based version.  Out in the boonies, if you haven't
previously anticipated the map you need, you're out of luck.  Granted,
Xastir isn't intended to be a street-level mapping tool, but that is
what I need, with route planning.

> I concur with the "If it ain't plug & play, no way" observation.  I also
> know that the majority of hams haven't learned to "tame Windows" either.
> The majority of computer discussions I've heard on repeaters and at club
> meetings have been very simple things that 5 minutes on Google would have
> answered.  

Perhaps I have just learned to tune out such conversations and didn't
realize there were still such difficulties.  The company supplied me
with a nice laptop for the A+ course and so far XP has been very well
behaved.  But then I've never had the problems with Windows that others
have had over the years, but maybe I'm special.  :-)

> The most disheartening to me is that many of the hams who decry the death of
> experimentation in ham radio via the various online forums are the same
> people that refuse to try Linux or some other alternative operating system.
> That's a disconnect that I don't see going away any time soon.

That's a sad observation, but true in too many instances.

> Right now I'm in Iraq.  Even here I've got:  

Thank you for your service.

> 	Linux Router: providing QoS, firewalling, DNS, and transparent proxy
> forwarding for my SATCOM network.  That same box also terminates the PPTP
> secure tunnels from my wireless users.  So far, we're the only folks that
> have VoIP working reliably without having to get other folks off the network
> to make a call.  Last night we had 3 folks making crystal clear calls at the
> same time will a couple more were web surfing.
> 
> 	Linux Server:  Providing the actual proxy cache, internal web
> server, time synchronization, more DNS, etc.
> 
> 	Linksys WRT54G:  Running the SVEASOFT Linux firmware.  It's the
> second best $20 I've ever spent.
> 
> 	Toshiba Laptop:  Gentoo Linux like the rest of the Linux boxes.  Its
> running Xastir and just about every other Linux application there is.  
> 
> 	I finally got some of my radios shipped in and my next project is
> hooking up digital sound-card modes.  All the capability is there under
> Linux.  You just have to decide you want to use it and make it happen.
> 
>         73/N5VFF

Other than being in Iraq, it looks like you're having fun.

I know several hams whose primary purpose for owning a laptop is travel
mapping.  Linux is not a consideration for them all other things being
equal.  There's no technical reason why the commercial vendors could
not support an LSB distribution, but they probably don't see a viable
market.  Sadly, for a self contained travel mapping application, I will
have to use the XP box for the time being.  I've deprived myself of a
tool like this for many years believing we in the Free Software
community would solve these issues.  Where I am I don't have access to
a printer for making hard-copy maps of my weekend route so having Map 
Point available should be quite useful.

I guess I've stepped down from my idealogical platform for now and
decided to use the best tool available for the job.

73, de Nate >>

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