[ale] [EXTERNAL] Re: Any ham radio operators among us? Linux in the shack?

[Allen Beddingfield]

I'm a fairly new ham (KO4OJA), and I haven't really gotten into the digital modes at this point.  I'm just doing phone, although I have decoded some SSTV.  I've been playing around with various logging software, and most recently have been messing with LOG4OM2 on a Windows VM.
The RFI from the system in question kind of makes me thing there is an actual problem with the PS (problem started with the introduction of the PS).  I have my work-provided Dell system next to it.  The Dell is silent, as far as RFI noise.  However, if I turn on my home-built system, it sounds like someone has fired up a welding machine nearby.  I think I'm going to do the ferrite chokes, anyway, but I may try swapping out that PS and see if I can take a chunk out of the noise that way.  
Allen B.

--
Allen Beddingfield
Systems Engineer
Office of Information Technology
The University of Alabama
Office 205-348-2251
allen at ua.edu


________________________________________
From: Ale <ale-bounces at ale.org> on behalf of Ben Coleman via Ale <ale at ale.org>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2021 12:52 AM
To: ale at ale.org
Cc: Ben Coleman
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [ale] Any ham radio operators among us? Linux in the shack?

On 10/17/2021 11:15 PM, Allen Beddingfield via Ale wrote:
> I was wondering if there are any other ham radio operators on the list?

There are several.

> If so, I'm curious what Linux applications you make use of in the shack for logging, digital modes, or anything else interesting?

I'll have to admit that though I used to run Linux in the shack,
nowadays I'm heavily into contesting, and I'm running Windows, as N1MM+
covers a lot more contests, out-of-the-box, than any Linux contest
loggers I know of.

Back when I was running Linux in the shack, I was using Xlog for daily
logging, and tlf or yfktest for contest logging.  I was also a
maintainer for the Alinco DX-77T section of Hamlib (Hamlib is a library
for controlling radios, rotators, and other ham computer-controllable
hardware.  Most Linux apps that need to interface with radios use it.

> Also, problems dealing with RFI from PCs and power supplies?

I'm using an Astron analog power supply, so I don't have much problems
with RFI from the power supply.  I've mostly had to deal with RFI the
other way, with RF in the shack affecting devices connected between the
PC and the radio.  That's been dealt with by the selective application
of cables with ferrite beads build in, or by the user of snap-on ferrites.

> I've got a fairly new PowerSpec from Microcenter that jumps me from S3 to S9  of noise floor on 20m when switched on

Some of that may be coming from cables from the computer, which might be
handled by snap-on or wrap-around ferrite chokes (Palomar Engineers has
a nice kit).  Some of my issues were helped by tying my radio and
computer hardware to a common ground bus.  Also check the cables on the
monitor.

Ben
--
Ben Coleman oloryn at benshome.net | For the wise man, doing right trumps
http://oloryn.benshome.net/     | looking right.  For the fool, looking
Amateur Radio NJ8J              | right trumps doing right.