Installing Rig Control, FLRIG, and GPS on Linux Mint

[@Tri-2-Fly]

Excellent instructional video. I have limited knowledge with Linux, but this gave me everything I needed to get flrig up and running in Ubuntu. All of the newer packages installed seemlessly. I'm looking forward to more... Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[@cbjessee]

Worked as described with a reboot needed after adding tty and dialout before they appeared in groups. Thanks, Jason!

[@mattk7yeg682]

Thank you for making this comment! I was going crazy because tty wasn't showing up. A reboot fixed it.

[@peterbuxton7415]

Thank you! This video clearly explains it all and is priceless for command-line tips on using and adapting any version of Linux for any kind of program--not just the apps you showed. You are a great instructor!

[@KM4ACK]

You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful

[@temporarilyoffline]

Excellent tutorial... I like where this is going!

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks TO!

[@Midwest-FieldOps]

Good stuff! The Evolve is a great option for Mint. I use mine in the field. Love that it charges off 12V and I don't have to carry a screen, keyboard, mouse, and power supply separately like I did for the Pi

[@rong8955]

Another very helpful video. In following along I got an error the compiler didn’t work on the ./configure in hamlib. After search it turns out I needed to sudo apt install build-essential first.

[@jbird4h30]

9:40 Groups command doesn't show up with tty and dialout for me even after the usermod commands? I still just have 'adm cdrom sudo dip plugdev lpadmin sambashare' (Edit: getent command does show me as listed in tty and dialout though. Just don't know if NOT showing up for groups command matters)

[@ryanv7075]

mine worked for dialout, but isn't for tty

[@dancing_frank_lee]

Absolut beeindruckend! 🌟

[@KM4ACK]

Gracias señor

[@JoshHoffman]

One thing to note is that Timeshift doesn't play well with the ZFS file system. I have found it treats my install as a Live USB mode. If it something you want to use then use a different files system like ext4.

[@237130]

By the time I watched this video 4.5 was a stable option. I got to the point where you enter ./configure and got a response of checking whether the C compiler works…no Two errors follow that. One states C complier cannot create executables. New to this obviously. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[@KM4ACK]

Try running *sudo apt install build-essential* and then the build again.

[@jacobKC3MRA]

@@KM4ACK Thank you! I had the same problem.

[@theodoreboyer2275]

@@KM4ACKThank you! This saved me.

[@jtovet]

Thank you Jason! That worked great. @@KM4ACK

[@rickpellicciotti]

I have an older hp laptop that I replaced the dead hard drive with a SSD. I installed Mint and perhaps I have a different version but after the "./configure" step I got a message regarding " a compiler with support for C++11 is required" Fixed it with "sudo apt install g++" then ran "./configure" again. Worked fine!

[@joel6221]

Thanks for sharing this, you saved me!

[@billw8dsx939]

I had a comment regarding the installation. When you execute the following commands: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade The linux kernel is updated. If you are using the WiFi on the EM (Evolve Maestro), described in your other video, these must be compiled and reloaded with the following commands: cd ~/Downloads/rtl8723du make sudo make install sudo modprobe -v 8723du If this is not done, the next time you restart the EM, Wifi will NOT work. The command: cd ~/Downloads/rtl8723du navigates to the folder where the drivers were pulled from github. The github page calls for the following to be executed: make clean This command is throwing errors currently, due to incorrect commands in the make file. Also, the github page calls for a "git pull", whenever the drivers are rebuilt. I did not see a reason to do this.

[@TheRanger53]

Jason, when I get to the flrig configuration on the video and I put in my radio I do not get the two lines that indicate my FT-900 yaesu. I get a line for prolific_Technology_inc_USB-Serial_Controller-if00-port0. When I hit the init button I get a message to "Select separate ports". A little lost here as usual. I do keep getting further into the install each time though, Thanks for your patience.

[@theodoreboyer2275]

9:57 I was supposed to have a radio hooked up before doing this? I don't have a worthy radio yet, I thought I could just get all this installed beforehand. 🤦🏻‍♂️ I'm not even sure how to connect a radio to the computer.

[@AL-kn4yx]

Can you make a video on how to configure hamlib, FLRIG for IC 705 connected wirelessly?

[@sferaci2609]

I keep getting a fltk-config script could not be found error. Is there a new process? Thanks

[@chesty1369]

at ./configure i get " checking whether the C compiler works... no" then it errors out

[@cgul1]

Good tutorial as always. plugging my gps dongle (vk162 which works perfect in pi) into the Evolve disconnects wifi, then bluetooth , trackpad and then laptop is unresponsive (brick). Never had luck with the vk172 style sticks, but I may have to order one to continue this project. 73 de n8mac

[@davidverheyen6635]

Thank you. I have the ic705 via wifi access point connected to linux mint (wfview and wsjtx). Only problem is the timesync for ft8 when outdoors with no internet. ic705 does not seem to pass gps info via wifi, only usb. But connecting usb adds lots of noise. Any suggestions to timesync linux laptop with usb gps dongle? Or maybe via bluetooth connection to an android device that has a built-in gps receiver?

[@KM4ACK]

You could use an inexpensive GPS dongle like amzn.to/4d0FI2M or you could stream the GPS data from your phone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJzQgqusiZ11prM I like having both options available.

[@davidverheyen6635]

@@KM4ACK Thank you. I will try the android phone with the bluetooth option, I don't have a hotspot in the field to connect 3 devices (phone, laptop, ic705) . I assume the method with usb dongle should work as in this video but then select the usb dongle in stead of the ic705.

[@M0JSX]

Hi Jason, love your work. Can Build-a-Pi be installed on this (or any other) Debian based Linux install?

[@KM4ACK]

unfortunately not. it was written specifically for the Pi.

[@axandio]

I just checked my new Evolve III (no lte modem OR slot :( so I want a real light OS) and it boots LUBUNTU on the flash drive. It's recognizing sound/wifi... think I might just go ahead and install it. I liked Win4Yaesu and I'm wondering if it will WINE okay on the evolve.

[@KM4ACK]

I have no experience with Win4Yaesu

[@axandio]

@@KM4ACK It's okay. I pulled the trigger and have LUBUNTU on the Evolve III with FLRig/Digi and WSJT-X etc.

[@thuff3207]

Very nice to see this working on mint. I wonder if you could do the same for a bluetooth connection to the radio. If so does the GPS come out via bluetooth.

[@KM4ACK]

I have only played with the bluetooth briefly to verify that it would connect to and work with the Mobilinkd TNC. Worked well.

[@cgul1]

Anyone else attempting this with DigiRig [tx500] and an onboard vk172 GPS? I get flrig to run fine, but as soon as I access the gps for the first time it borks up flrig to the point requiring re-install. Have tried multiple times with no sucess. Is it the usb architecture of the evolve?? Same setup works great on pi 4. Thanks for any input. 73 n8mac

[@mattk7yeg682]

Has anyone had any luck using the Digirig with the G90 on this setup?

[@koningbolo4700]

Do you have any experience using a USB GPS receiver module for purposes of navigation (in a vehicle) in Linux mint please ?

[@KM4ACK]

Maybe try Foxtrot GPS.

[@koningbolo4700]

@@KM4ACK I will. Funny thing is I get a gps signal into the app with Marble and Viking but not with Navit or Pure Maps...

[@yv6eda]

Hi Jason! Thanks for the video. I was following the instructions and ./configure give me an error "c compiler cannot create executables" I have to say I'm using my old laptop HP Envy M6! May you help me?

[@rickfosb]

did you find a fix for this?

[@yv6eda]

@@rickfosb No! I put this project in the back burner!

[@rickfosb]

@@yv6eda OK, since I asked... I went to the PRIOR video and saw the section where he is installing the drivers for the WIFI. I did not need the drivers... so i skipped it. Unfortunately, he also does a section of INSTALLs of libraries that are prerequisite for the wifi drivers... once I followed those steps (right up to, but not probing the wifi_) the next section of installs worked without issue. apparently, some of those prerequisite libraries and installs are needed for other software later on (FLRIG, etc) Good luck if you get back to it...

[@yv6eda]

@@rickfosb Thanks for the info Rick!

[@randyshell3892]

Unable to locate package python3-gi-cario

[@KB5WCK_Radio]

So, not sure what the problem is.... Followed the video to the T and when I start FLRig, it tells me it can see the serial device so I hit update and then it shows up. I select it, make sure all the settings match what I run on the pi, and it still will not communicate with the rig. I have a TS-200 btw and it works flawlessly on the pi. Don't have much hair as I shave my head and I'm about to pull out what little has grown back. Would love to have some help fixing this. BTW, it is on the evolve III laptop.

[@KM4ACK]

Is the radio showing up when you ls /dev/serial/by-id ? I don't have a TS2000 to test with.

[@KB5WCK_Radio]

@@KM4ACK yep. It even showed up in FLRig which is why it is weird. I try to configure the transceiver and the light is green after I press Init. The radio display itself does nothing and it still doesn’t talk to the radio.

[@KB5WCK_Radio]

@@KM4ACK yes it is. That’s the weird part. It shows up there and in flrig. Just won’t communicate.

[@sig3579]

When trying to install Hamlin on older Dell E6400 w Mint I get an error trying to run ./configure. “c compiler works…no. Any thoughts?

[@sig3579]

Never mind

[@237130]

I got this as well. What did you do to overcome this? Thanks.

[@sig3579]

I rebooted. FWIW I got another error further into the install that I haven’t been able to overcome. I will probably have to a different direction. Booooo.

[@237130]

@@sig3579 I’ll try the reboot. Thanks for the quick response.

[@va7dgp]

I wonder how this would work with an very old Toughbook CF 27 with not much ram.

[@KM4ACK]

i suspect that it would be ok if you have at least 2GB of ram.

[@joel6221]

Jason, i want to dual boot linux on a cheap laptop. My hard drive is 236 GB with 169GB free ... how much room should i allocate for Linux Mint?

[@KM4ACK]

Good question! I don't dual boot but I just looked at my latest build and it is taking up around 16GB out of the box so at a minimum I would say 32GB. 64 should be more than enough and still leave you with 100GB on the Windows side of the house.

[@chrisherd991]

Thank you Jason.

[@KM4ACK]

My pleasure

[@TheZolon]

For those with the Evolve III that has the EC25 LTE Modem, has anyone figured out how to use that GPS?

[@KM4ACK]

That's something I hadn't even thought about!

[@TheZolon]

@@KM4ACK I have been trying, but it seems the active antenna it needs is missing. Going to go through my parts bins to see if I have one.

[@TheZolon]

@@KM4ACK Ok. I have figured out that in order to get programs that are not native to the cell modem to see any data from the onboard GPS, one has to do a serial connection to the AT COM port and send at+qgps=1 .. That enables the GPS. There is a command to have the GPS start on powerup, but it doesn't seem to be working for me. Still testing.

[@moss-ccw7971]

OMG I really want to give Linux a try, but all the command line commands required are what keeps me from doing so. The learning curve just seems too steep for an old guy like me Thanks for the video.

[@KM4ACK]

You are never too old to learn 😀 and it gets easier each time you sit down in front of the computer.

[@randyshell3892]

Never mind i see my mistake.

[@mikepansini4904]

Thanks for your video time.

[@chrissewell1608]

Being a Windows person, this seems pretty difficult. When you could just download and install, in Windows. But it appears your Linux instructions are very detailed! I just wanted to see all these programs in operation. 👍🏼💻🖱📡

[@KM4ACK]

Coming soon. Next week we will start installing the real radio apps like FT8, JS8Call, and FLDIGI :-)

[@amsoiltek]

@@KM4ACK Will a "Build a Pi" type distro be forthcoming in this environment?