[Ham-Linux] Which Distro/Apps/Apps development software to use?

[richard]

On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:24:37 -0600
jim smith <jms at brainski.com> wrote:

> On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:30:25 -0000
> "Stephen Farthing" <stephen at stevef.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> > The sorts of things I want to do are :-
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Rig control - FT817, TS 570, Elecraft K2
> 
> Hamlib.
>  
> > Digital and weak signal modes - WSPR, PSK, QRSS, Morse. RTTY
> 
> Lots of things here, I'm sure others will recommend.
> 
> > SDR - I have a Softrock 9. Is there a linux equivalent of Power SDR?
> 
> Linrad works well with the Softrock.
> 
> > Test equipment  - Probably be building a VNA to Toms design in QEX,
> > use of the sound card as an AF generator and component tester, 
> > 
> > AVR programming (probably using the Adruino board and Wiring which
> > I believe runs under Linux
> > 
> > Spice circuit simulation
> 
> spice-3f5.2_5 is the version I'm working with, could be more current
> versions.
> 
> geda/gschem for CAD like stuff.
> 
> > Development of bespoke applications to run under, I guess, Gnome
> > and/or KDE in a high level language (e.g. C, Ruby) 
> 
> Many options.
> 
> > Small scale web site development to document the above and act as a
> > "Lab Notebook"
> 
> Many options.
> 
> > Logging
> 
> Several options here, as well as a couple of options for contest
> logging.  I prefer TLF for contest logging, but YFKtest is
> interesting, too.
>  
> > Connect to the internet via wifi
> 
> Easy.
> 
Hi
I wouldn't recommend linrad for a linux novice, albeit one of the most
powerful weak signal programs, it does lack an intuitive front end.
Sorry Leif, but you have heard me say this many times.
for SDR dttsp is very nice, its the only software that will find weak
signals in the noise that I cant hear.
I moved from Mandriva about 18 months ago to Ubuntu, and the prime
reason was the developers of dttsp use it, like all distros its got it
good point and a few bad.
you can find details of dttsp at www.dttsp.org

If your just using SDR for HF, you dont need to worry about weeding
signals out of the noise so much, but if your into EME or any thing on
the civilised bands above 30 MHz your noise floor will be much lower.
If your AMD processor is dual core make sure you have enough memory to
use both cores properly, check you mobo data.
Personally I think the minimum RAM is 2 GB, and RAM is cheap now, the
prices will stay low until about August and then creep up towards
Christmas.

Have fun

-- 
Best wishes

Richard Bown

#####################################################################
Registered Linux User 36561
OS: Ubuntu 8.10, Intrepid, on AMD Dual Athlon 64 +4400: 8 GB RAM DDR2
Ham Call: G8JVM , QRA IO82SP, Interests Microwave
#####################################################################