Ham Radio - Installing FT8Call on the raspberry pi

There's a new mode in town. This is a great example of the open source philosophy. (And I got Joe Taylor's name wrong! It's Joe not John!)
Link to groups.io site.
groups.io/g/ft...
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[@rjinnh3933]

Great job Kevin, as usual. You are a real asset to HAM Radio! I downloaded the dot.deb file from: "files.jt8call.com/latest.htm" for Rapbian on 05.04.20/2030Hrs. The 'Guide' would not load because it's in docs.google and I haven't registered yet. Since I'm restarting HAMing via QRP, ft8call will be fun to use. Thx for your great explanation....... 73 OM

[@dvcrash]

Kevin, you did a fantastic job at explaining and demonstrating this experimental mode. Nice work yet again sir. 73' from KD8QWH

[@anthonypocock]

So much potential with this mode... I love it! I'll be activating a SOTA summit next weekend with FT8call on Raspberry Pi & ft-817. Should be fun! Thanks for the video. I used the appimage after doing the Deb install and it not linking right. I figured appimage makes it easier to upgrade often. Once it's out of beta, I'll sort the install.

[@ralphwilmot6351]

Thanks for the FT8call review, very topical and interesting at this time - have just downloaded the program and your info helped me get a handle on this new mode. Development should be interesting and hopefully more useful to have a meaningful QSO with. Not very active yet in the UK. I hope your news will be good 73.

[@daveb5041]

Ever since I was a kid I always wanted to make some sort of all in one radio where you could send short texts or text messages to other radios without having to plug a computer into it. Now that we have arduinos it could be done. Similar to those portable SW ardunio based transmitters but visual instead of listening/learning morse.

[@JennyEverywhere]

All call "what's my signal report?" == "Break 1-9 for a radio check!"

[@W4TRI]

Most of those "Auto" commands are from APRS. Wish we could do that over a voice repeater to see who is really listening!

[@prestonshute7243]

Excellent video Sort of reminds me of the old uhf digipeater days back in the 90's. 73 wd4dda

[@KX4UL]

Thanks for the overview Kevin. The beauty of Ham radio is the many options. Personally, I feel a little empty with the digital modes. Voice and QRP CW are what trip my trigger. But bought a SignaLink and plan to dabble in the digital modes a bit. It is interesting what you can do with low power and I am a QRP fan. I hope your upcoming news IS good news and all works out for you. Looking forward to your next “Live” on the air vid.

[@BubbaWarbucks]

Joe's coming out with a new version of FT8 later this year that will be a mandatory upgrade, that will include many of the features of FT8Call and more. I'm holding on for that rather than cluttering up my system with all sorts of additional software.

[@jsherer]

Bubba Warbucks I don't think many of the FT8Call features will ever be included in WSJT-X based on what I've heard from their team. But, I'd love it if my modifications inspire Joe et. al.

[@jdawgaz]

Kevin: if you do this in the terminal: dpkg -c ft8call_0.4.2-devel_armhf.deb it will list every file in the package, and a quick look will tell you where ft8call is. you can either copy that to your menu item, or just simply do a simlink in /usr/bin once you know, it is very simple really.

[@loughkb]

Thanks Jerry. There are several ways, I chose to show the find command since users will find that useful in other situations as well.

[@RamLaska]

10:30 there are also dpkg commands that let you list the files belonging to an installed package. I don't remember what it is, because I don't have a linux box handy, and I've used RedHat way too much... my Debian-fu is not what it used to be. ;)

[@memyname1771]

Files have moved to groups.io/g/js8call. Wouldn't ALLCALL, when more stations use this mode, equate to broadcasting?

[@jsherer]

Good video Kevin! Thanks for spotting those bugs. Folks, let me know if you have any questions about FT8Call! Happy to help any way that I can. Cheers! de KN4CRD

[@loughkb]

Hey Jordan, thanks. It's an interesting endeavor and a perfect example of why open source is such a great thing. I'll be following the project.

[@52Warlock]

Kevin - yet another great video! Thanks. I'd be quite interested in the hardware side of this set up. From the Rpi to your transmitter/transceiver. Again - Thanks.

[@loughkb]

I use a USB serial adapter for CAT control on the Yaesu FT817. For audio, I built my own USB interface that's similar to the signalink, but with more options and much cheaper. Search for DuinoVOX to find my write-up and video on it.

[@samglaim4274]

Interesting developments but agree with what you say about the 'allcall' function.... that may well cause problems in the future. Thanks for the video. 73

[@JohnTarbox]

Good luck Kevin on your new endeavor, whatever it is! WA1KLI

[@W4TRI]

Also see OH8STN on KZbin. He is using this in the field low power

[@timk7749]

This also works with Windows 7 just fine. Not a fan of digital but this is fun. Making contacts across the country with my 817 and a indoor magloop! (Contacts were just to easy with IC7300 and endfed lol). Great work and looking forward to the updates. (My straight key is getting jealous). 73 de KF7VUT

[@cmerton]

opt is not an unusual location. but indeed they should have put a link in the path.

[@MyTube4Utoo]

Great video! Your work is appreciated.

[@RamLaska]

FYI Kevin, Groups.io != Google Groups (and groups.io is not owned by Google, either, I don't think).

[@joshuascheuneman1746]

So first thing about linux is there are different distributions. Not at all like windows where you have one windows fits all. Ubuntu and deb are different distributions from mint.

[@loughkb]

Well, sort of, but not quite. Debian is the raw distribution. Ubuntu, and Mint, both take Debian and install a bunch of default packages, then pre-configure many things a certain way. But they both start with Debian. The same is sort of true of Raspian. They start with Debian and cross-compile all of it's pieces for the ARM cpu. Then lots and lots of changes for the hardware, boot loader, and other stuff. As long as you stay in the same architecture, and debian version number, nearly all .deb packages will install under ubuntu, mint, and the many other distros that are based on Debian.

[@jeffminnick5209]

Cool new mode....great meeting you the other day...how was the rv on friday?? Keep on keepin on my friend...onward and upwards 73 Jeff de WD8JM

[@loughkb]

The Friday RV was junk. Have looked at two others as well that didn't fit the bill. The big 33ft beast is probably the one I'm going with. Going to go give it a second look and test drive Monday.

[@timb4655]

Thanks for another great video Kevin. Great explaination of a mode i'm really looking forward to try soon. Good luck with all your "changes/challenges. Tim M6IEH

[@daveb5041]

*This is why I'm not a huge fan of linux in general* When I was younger it was a fun challenge to try and get programs working. Now when I install something I just want it to work. Most of the ham programs for windows either work or they on't not much need to mess around.

[@loughkb]

The developer has mentioned he's going to rework the installer to create links in the right places. This example is an exception to the norm these days. Nearly all of the available software is in the repositories and will create menu items, end up in common locations, etc. It's waaaaay better than it used to be.

[@bluehornet6752]

Bill Gates must love you! The "open" nature of Linux is incredible, if you're the kind of person who likes to see how/why things work, and (more importantly) how you can change them to better suit your needs. But being open source, you can be certain that thousands of skilled programmers are looking at the source code of the OS, to find any security vulnerability(s) there might be in the OS, or in the software application you're using. With Windows, you get whatever Microsoft will give you--and if there's a vulnerability (or 12) that they haven't found yet, no one will know about it because it hasn't been found yet. In fact, the *hackers* are likely driving the bus on that process with Microsoft in actuality, because they're trying to exploit any and all vulnerabilities they can find. There's a reason that pretty much every spacecraft launched into orbit (or beyond) over the last couple of decades has done so powered by a *nix kernel-powered OS. Linux: Because several thousand rocket scientists can't be wrong.

[@daveb5041]

I know linux is better but I can be lazy well not really I have a hard time seeing text so tings like : , instead of . can throw me off for a long time. Windows isn't great my sdrplay worked fine I plugged it the other day for the first time in a few months and the software thinks its not plugged in but widows sees that is plugged in so frustrating to try and fix. Something with the comm ports I just don't understand why if you don't mess with any settings things still just stop working. Nothing changed but yet something had to.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Kevin, Found this on QRZ.COM. NOTE: Until the general release of FT8Call, development versions will only carry a 10 day lifespan. After expiration, you’ll be required to upgrade to the latest version of the application. How has your job hunting been going? 73 WB3BJU

[@loughkb]

Thanks Don. I figured it'd be something like that. I still wonder if it's going to stop working once it hits the end of the time window. Smart move since it's a dev version. Keep all the users on the same version while testing.

[@jsherer]

Next version will be available soon! de KN4CRD

[@recumbentogiro26]

Excellent video. I wonder can you install this on an Android phone or tablet? I imagine it's easier to install on Windows too. Best wishes on your new endeavor. Can't wait to hear your announcement. 73

[@johnpawlicki1184]

Again a great video. Getting back to using Linux on a regular basis. This is a great incentive. 73

[@charlesschindler1971]

good morning Mr.K.......Charlie

[@loughkb]

Hi Charlie.

[@LogicBob]

18.04 is the current version of Ubuntu

[@tywilliams7780]

Thank you

[@ronshaver8750]

Kevin very good video. But I wish it would install on my Pi. Tried a couple of different ways to install it but it does not install. Works fine on windows but not the Pi. Any ideas?

[@loughkb]

No, not without any further information. What way did you try and what happened? Error messages?

[@ronshaver8750]

Well found the problem. I reinstalled using NOOBS and it works. Who knows. Might have been a problem with the download of the original. But working fine now. Thanks for the reply. 73's Ron W7SHA

[@edk4590]

Kevin, I am sorry but besides the experimental aspects of this it seems to me that this digital mode (FT8/ FT8call etc.)is removing the human from the use of the ham bands/ amateur radio, which to me is the point of the hobby. Having the computer receive and reply simply to have a contact that you/human are not involved in is Not what the hobble is all about. Please enlighten me if this perception is wrong in some way.

[@loughkb]

I'm personally far more interested in communication modes as well. But it's a big hobby and I have a large audience, so I cover everything when I can.

[@edk4590]

Sorry if you took that to be directed at you. It was a comment about FT8 not that you are covering it, as I enjoy your work.

[@jsherer]

Edward Kress One thing to note is that FT8Call is all about putting the human communication back into weak signal digital modes. Give it a try... You might like it 😁

[@daveb5041]

Is there a way to use this with a cheap or low power radio like a bitx 5 watt radio? Like send the data through the mic input and have it key up by having your computer communicate with the arduino that runs it?

[@loughkb]

In the example of the uBitx, he actually has included CAT control through the arduino's serial port. You set your radio up in the program as a Yaesu FT-817 and it works just fine. If you're taking audio directly from the computer's line out, you'd probably want to tap a second input on the radio just after the mic amp in the audio chain. But you could feed it into the mic input directly and just turn the computers volume way down.

[@daveb5041]

Thats exactly what I wanted it to do. I wonder if it's wise to buy another arduino to run it and mess with it that way if it gets screwed up you can just plug the old arduino back in. If I knew more about electronics I would have invented the bitx; that was the first use i thought of when I discovered the arduino.

[@biringen]

There is also a new mode that is using FT8 or JT65 protocol to send images like sstv but with better quality,,, any ideas of that

[@loughkb]

I can't see how they could with the very small packet size of the mode. Unless they are doing something like the hybrid DRM mode does. Sending an IP address of the computer and relying on FTP to send the actual picture data over the internet.

[@biringen]

Kevin Loughin if you are on facebook there is a group called FT8 & JT65 image on hf

[@hccripe]

Joe Taylor - K1JT

[@loughkb]

Thanks Howard, I added a correction to the video description.

[@dietalkaa]

Actually it is a big deal.. to create account like that...

[@JNET_Reloaded]

where isit getting signal from?

[@loughkb]

Is getting from FT-817. ;-)

[@JNET_Reloaded]

Cool how isit connected to the rpi? usb?

[@loughkb]

I built my own USB interface with off the shelf parts. Only around $25, much cheaper than a signalink. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHnWmYOaapefY9k

[@timothygodfrey4950]

I can do all that with my cell phone...

[@loughkb]

Not everywhere.

[@loughkb]

Not everywhere.