EasyPal is a useful program for sending DRM digital files. While optimized for images, it can be used for any kind of file as long as the size isn't too large. I've sent email, html, executable programs, pdf files, windows media video, zip files, midi, and of course images. Runs under Windows, though I have it working in Linux with Wine. Download EasyPal. |
Software Links
There is much useful ham radio software available on the internet, and a lot of it is free. This page is an attempt to share links to programs I found useful, and keep them in one place.
Special consideration will be given for developing a section for the free Linux operating system. I'm new to this platform, and learning the hard way, but it seems that the Open Source community embodies the spirit of amateur radio.
This page is a work in progess. Check back as I scour my bookmarks, post links, and discover new software. At this time, I don't plan on hosting actual packages, just links to home pages - although I'm working on a couple of my own programs that will be shared here.
All links are provided *AS IS* with no warranty or guarantee of any kind. I am not responsible if things don't work out. All copyright and licences remain the property of the respective software developers. Everything is subject to change. The posting of a link does not necessarily constitute an endorsement, and doesn't mean I've actually tried the software.
Windows Compatible Software
These are free programs of interest to amateur radio operators.
| N1MM Contest Logger is programmed for virtually any contest or QSO Party. It supports multiple users, networking, radio control, CW and voice macros, digital contests, and much more. Generates Cabrillo logs, and can export ADIF files for other logging programs. We used this logger for Field Day with networked laptops, and it worked very well. This is the only contest program I use, and if I get it working under Linux, I'll post the solution. N1MM is starting to work on Linux under WINE 1.1.21. Networking is OK, but it crashes when entering a non-North America callsign. See discussion at www.ckarc.ca/QST/index.php |
| Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) is a suite of free Windows programs providing computer control for commonly used transceivers and receivers. HRD also includes mapping, satellite tracking and the digital mode program Digital Master 780 (DM780). HRD is designed for Windows 2000 or higher (XP, Vista, 7), also Internet Explorer 6.0 (or higher) is required. It may work with Windows 98 but this is not supported. The policy is to support Windows versions which are supported by Microsoft. HRD works in Linux under WINE, and so does the satellite module, but it sometimes crashes when changing tabs. PSK31 Deluxe runs fine. |
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EasyPal is the work of Erik VK4AES. This software uses the DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) encoding to allow the sending of image files over an HF voice channel. This is known as Digital SSTV. It's constantly being revised and updated, so check often for new versions.
To run EasyPal under Linux:
Running EasyPal under Linux was tricky to configure. The above list suggests the settings that worked so far for me. I may have forgotten a step, or something listed above may be unneccessary. I don't promise EasyPal will work on your Linux distribution, but it works on my Debian system with WINE-1.1.13 (self-compiled). If you have problems, try adjusting one thing at a time until it's isolated. Known issues include waterfall text problems (it uses c.exe which is 16 bits), RS encoding isn't working yet, and the waterfall sometimes hangs when transmit ends. I'll post the fixes. If you encounter a situation where you can't get MSC even with a strong signal, check your sound card. I had problems in the laptop when "speaker" acceleration was enabled! In typical Windows fashion, this setting wasn't saved between sessions. EasyPal also depends on an accurate sound card clock. This should be investigated if MSC won't lock. My onboard sound card stopped decoding EasyPal (and PSK) and I discovered the clock was wonky. I finally started using a cheap USB sound device and it solved all the issues with my laptop. |
| GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages. This program can do most of what PhotoShop can, and should cover the image editing needs of most users. (more...) A great companion for EasyPal! |
| IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista. It is trying to be simple for beginners and powerful for professionals.This program not only views almost any image format, but also permits basic adjustments. It has the best downsize image resampling of any program I've used, including Photoshop. |
| MultiPSK - Transmission in BPSK31, QPSK31, BPSK63, QPSK63, BPSK125, QPSK125, CHIP (64/128), PSK10, PSKFEC31, PSKAM10-31-50, PSK63F and PSK220F + DIGISSTV "Run", DTMF, CW, CCW, CCW-FSK, QRSS, MFSK8, MFSK16 (+ SSTV), MIL-STD-188-141A + ARQ FAE, ALE400, OLIVIA, Contestia, RTTYM, VOICE, DominoF DF, DominoEX, MT63, THROB, THROBX, JT65, 45, 50 and 75 bauds RTTY, ASCII 110 bauds, AMTOR FEC, PACKET 110-300-1200 bauds+APRS+ DIGISSTV "Run", Pactor 1 FEC, PAX + PAX2 + APRS, FELD HELL, FM HELL (105-245), PSKHELL, HELL 80, HF FAX and SSTV. Can be used as AX25 packet modem. |
| EchoLink® software allows licensed Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology. The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio's communications capabilities. There are more than 200,000 validated users worldwide — in 162 of the world's 193 nations — with about 4,000 online at any given time. Works in Linux under WINE. |
| MMSSTV - Popular program for sending analog slow-scan images using a soundcard. |
| G4FGQ DOS Program Collection - composed by G4FGQ (SK), which mathematically model the behaviour of components, circuits, power amplifiers, transmission lines, aerials, earth electrodes, radio propagation paths, etc. 'Working models' allow experimenters to examine quantitatively how the various input data interact and affect performance. They will relieve the hobbyist of some of the labour, the costs and the disappointments of constructing unsuccessful prototypes. Also of tedious arithmetic. |
| 4NEC2 is a completely free Nec2, Nec4 and windows based tool for creating, viewing, optimizing and checking 2D and 3D style antenna geometry structures and generate, display and/or compare near/far-field radiation patterns for both the starting and experienced antenna modeler. When running frequency sweeps, linear or logarithmic style SWR, Gain, F/B-ratio and impedance line-charts are produced. With the included Optimizer and Sweeper one is able to optimize antenna- and/or other environment-variables for Gain, resonance, SWR, efficiency and/or F/B, F/R-ratio. This works with no problems in Linux with WINE. |
| VE3SQB ANTENNA DESIGN PROGRAMS are a series of useful free programs for designing antennas. Includes quads, dipoles, yagis, verticals, quagis, discones, J pole, skyhopper, parabolic, gamma matches, baluns, Quadrifilar Helicoildal, circular polarization, and log periodic. |
| Antenna Programs at QRZ.com has a long list of assorted programs for antenna design. |
| Antenna Maker by John Agrelius KM6HG, is an antenna design program for Quads, Yagis, Inverted Vees, J-poles, Trap Dipoles and more. |
| Power Loss / dB Calculator Ver2.0 is a new version of this program by W4SM. It calculates transmission line power loss and input/output power by selecting a standard coax type and frequency, or by directly entering coax loss (dB/100 ft), coax length, and SWR. |
| MOXON Rectangle Generator - Invented by Les Moxon, G6XN, the MOXON is a stealthy gain antenna that's inexpensive and fun to build. This program takes into consideration wire size, allowing for extremely flexible designs. MoxGen will show you the dimensions and (optionally) generate an antenna model file for a 50 ohm Moxon Rectangle antenna, given the design frequency and wire size. The program is written by Dan Maguire, AC6LA (www.qsl.net/ac6la) and is based on an algorithm developed by L. B. Cebik, W4RNL. |
| DXLab is a freeware suite of eight interoperating applications designed to automate amateur radio DXing activities. It includes a DX logger, automatic QRZ lookup, propagation tools, digital modes, eQSL & LotW export, award tracking, and much more. Works in Linux under WINE (install Windows Scripting Host). |
| WinDRM was developed by HB9TLK from a relatively new broadcast standard called Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and its open source encoder/decoder named Dream (http://drm.sourceforge.net). DRM is based on a proven data communications technology called Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) with Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). COFDM uses many parallel narrow band sub-carriers instead of just one single wide band carrier for transporting the data. As a result, WinDRM provides an efficient and robust method to exchange information over HF including Digital Voice using open source CODECs. WinDRM utilizes Forward Error Correction (FEC) and an Automatic-Repeat-Request (ARQ) mode to ensure error free data transfers. |
| Reed-Solomon Encoder/Decoder RS encoding makes a DRM signal more robust. EasyPal includes built-in RS capability, so this program allows other DRM software to decode (EasyPal) RS-encoded signals, and convert files to enable RS-encoded transmission. |
| DIGTRX 3.11 In addition to the RDFT digital SSTV mode, DIGTRX includes the DRM digital SSTV mode. DRM is Digital Radio Mondiale or HF Digital World Radio by HB9TLK. It is based on the DREAM voice encoding program. |
| DREAM Dream is a free software implementation of a Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) receiver. With Dream, DRM broadcasts can be received with a modified analog receiver (SW, MW, LW) and a PC with a sound card. I've not had any luck compiling the source in Windows, but a pre-compiled executable known to work is posted here. After installing the qt-mt230nc.dll (by clicking the linked file inside the zip archive), it worked instantly using an unmodified ICOM PCR-1000 set to 50 kHz wide USB to provide the IF audio. |
| MMTTY by JE3HHT - Makoto Mori. RTTY with Win95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP and Soundcard. Engine and ActiveX available to developers. |
| InterDigital Bandpass Filter The original BASIC program was published in the January 1985 issue of Ham Radio magazine on page 12. The authors are Jerry Hinshaw, N6JH and Shahrokh Monemzadeh. Conversion from Basic to C++ by Dale Heatherington, WA4DSY, 5-16-1996. This is my own port in Dev-C++ that converted input to a standalone DOS console application, and the C++ source code is included. I also added the ability to export the results to a text file. There's no warranty of any kind if you try running or building this. Planned updates to this program might include a GUI. Maybe I'll get around to exporting the graph to Gnuplot. Check for updates (current version is 6-22-2009). |
| FCC Conversions - Useful online radio conversions: FM Channel to Frequency, FM Frequency to Channel, TV Channel to Frequency Band, Feet to/from Meters, Miles to/from Kilometers, Field Strength Units: dBu to/from mV/m, Power Units: kW to/from dBk, Power: Relative Field, Transmission Line Efficiency (FM broadcast band only), Electrical Degrees To/from Meters, Degrees Minutes Seconds to Decimal Degrees, Decimal Degrees to Degrees Minutes Seconds, Hexadecimal RGB Color -- View HTML Color. |
| Gnuplot is a portable command-line driven interactive data and function plotting utility for UNIX, IBM OS/2, MS Windows, DOS, Macintosh, VMS, Atari and many other platforms. The software is copyrighted but freely distributed (i.e., you don't have to pay for it). It was originally intended as to allow scientists and students to visualize mathematical functions and data. It does this job pretty well, but has grown to support many non-interactive uses, including web scripting and integration as a plotting engine for third-party applications like Octave. Gnuplot supports many types of plots in either 2D and 3D. It can draw using lines, points, boxes, contours, vector fields, surfaces, and various associated text. It also supports various specialized plot types. Needed for 4NEC2 and SPLAT. |
| POV-Ray The Persistence of Vision Raytracer is a high-quality, totally free tool for creating stunning three-dimensional graphics. It is available in official versions for Windows, Mac OS/Mac OS X and i86 Linux. The source code is available for those wanting to do their own ports. Integrates with 4NEC2 to produce 3D models. |
| Goldwave is a top rated, professional digital audio editor. It is shareware that contains many valuable features. * Play, edit, mix, and analyze audio * Record audio from cassettes, vinyl records, radio, etc. through your computer's line-in * Record dictation through a microphone or play dictation back at a slower speed for transcription (with foot pedal control) * Record and edit audio for podcasting or telephone systems * Apply special effects, such as fade, equalizer, doppler, mechanize, echo, reverse, flanger, and more * Digitally remaster and restore old recordings with noise reduction and pop/click filters * Convert files to/from different formats, such as iTunes, wav, wma, mp3, ogg, aiff, au, vox and even raw binary data. There's a free limited trial version, but this one is worth the registration fee. Works in Linux under WINE with no trouble. |
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DXSoft includes a series of free and shareware programs.
CwGet (v1.80) A program to decode morse code (CW) via a sound card to text. TrueTTY (v2.75) A program for amateur radio digital communications via a sound card. CwType (v1.75/1.78) The terminal program for CW-operators. Its user can transmit both from the keyboard and from a paddle connected to a gameport or LPT port. |
| DigiPan is a Freeware Program for PSK31 and PSK63. DigiPan stands for "Digital Panoramic Tuning" and brings the ease and simplicity of PANORAMIC reception and transmission to PSK31and PSK63 operation. |
| HamScope is a multi-mode communications interface for amateur radio that supports: PSK31 (BPSK and QPSK, see PSK31 Home Page ), RTTY (HamScope uses Makoto Mori's MMTTY Engine), ASCII (both 7 bit and 8 bit protocols using MMTTY), MFSK16 (see MFSK16 Home Page ), PACKET (HamScope uses George Rossopoulos' AGWPE Engine), CW. Hamscope also offers an advanced user interface with a multitude of features to provide optimal control and convenience during operation: a wide, multifunction panoramic display; a radio control interface for several ICOM, TenTec, Kenwood, and Yaesu transceivers; 42 user-programmable macro buttons; user definable function key mappings. |
| HamCap is a Freeware HF propagation prediction tool for Amateur Radio. |
| SDRadio is a software defined radio receiver by Alberto I2PHD. |
| G8JCF's Software Defined Radio The G8JCFSDR is an SDR which uses RF front-end hardware to down-convert RF frequencies into the 0~24KHz range accepted by most PC soundcards. The PC reads in the soundcard signal and carries out all of the filtering, demodulation, AGC, and notch filtering in software rather than hardware as would be the case in a traditional receiver. Because the receiver is all software, there are things you can do which would be almost impossible in h/w, how about -100 dB filters for a start ! |
| FlexRadio PowerSDR™ software provides all DSP and hardware control functions for FlexRadio Systems' fully software defined radios and is released under the open source General Public License (GPL). While software experimentation is encouraged, no programming experience is ever required to enjoy your software defined radio. The complete application is provided in compiled form so that you can simply download, install and run it. Written in a combination of ANSI C and C#, FlexRadio PowerSDR software is easy to learn and modify. Source code is available to encourage amateur SDR research and experimentation. The capabilities of the FlexRadio PowerSDR are limited only by your imagination. |
| AGWPE - The key to sound card packet is a free program called AGWPE. AGWPE was written by George Rossopoulos, SV2AGW, and is an acronym for " SV2AGW's Packet Engine". It was originally created as a TNC management utility and has many super features of value to TNC users, however, this web site deals primarily with AGWPE's ability to encode and decode packet tones using your computer's sound card. AGWPE is the only program that can do this, other than MixW , Flexnet32 and MultiPSK. AGWPE is particularly valuable since it can act as a "host" program for several good packet "client" programs that do not have sound card packet capabilities of their own but have been written to take advantage of AGWPE. |
| Airmail is a messaging program (similar to Outlook) specifically designed for connection to a HF radio mailbox station. Once connected to a compatible station, message transfer is completely automatic. On the ham bands, Airmail can transfer messages automatically with any station supporting the BBS or F6FBB protocols, such as Winlink-2000 (www.winlink.org), Winlink, F6FBB and MSYS and other Airmail stations. Airmail is also used as the client program by the SailMail marine system and other participating systems. A "dumb terminal" mode is also provided but ordinary QSO's are not the program's forte. |
| Winlink 2000 (WL2K) is a worldwide system of volunteer resources supporting e-mail by radio, with non-commercial links to internet e-mail. These resources come from Amateur Radio, the Military Affiliate Radio Systems (MARS), and other volunteer organizations. The system provides valuable service to emergency communicators, and to licensed radio operators without access to the internet. |
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WinPack 6.8 is a terminal program used by Amateur Radio operators to communicate in a digital mode called “packet”. ( Packet gets its name from the short sentences, or packets, of data exchanged by radio in the form of tone bursts.)
WinPack provides a full-featured Windows© interface to use with a Terminal Node Controller (TNC), a device that generates the tones that are sent to the Amateur radio and transmitted. |
| UISS has been designed for packet communication with ISS (International Space Station), PCSat, ANDE or 'compatible' satellites with ease... Ideal for any UI packet communication (unproto). You can digi or connect the satellites with UI-frames complete with TX-data (text), APRS location and/or APRS messages, bulletins, news, mail, APRS-IS satgate etc...Although designed for HAM operators communicating with satellites, can UISS also be used for normal radioamateur basic packet operations or APRS too. Powerful features allows you easy monitoring of any type of AX25 packet traffic. Plots the heard stations on a map using UISS module: UI-MapView! Discover the unique features of UISS today...The software is free but if you do use it and want your registrationkey that releases a few extra options then please: Make a donation to Amsat or ARISS to help fund future amateur satellites. |
| UI-View is a Windows APRS program. This application differs from most APRS software in that it isn't designed just to be used with TNCs in terminal mode. UI-View also supports TNCs in KISS mode, AGWPE host mode and BPQ host mode. The 32 bit version of UI-View also supports WA8DED/TF host mode, and the variant of it used in the SCS PTC-II and PTC-IIe. The host mode support means that UI-View can be used with an extremely wide range of packet hardware and allows up to 16 RF ports to be used. It can run as a full-featured internal intelligent digipeater with the TNC in KISS mode, and with modification to the UI-View2.INI file, supports the new WIDEn-N settings, and has full support for connecting to APRS servers on the Internet and running as an IGate or Internet Gateway. |
| WSJT6 is the name of a computer program. It stands for ''Weak Signal communication, by K1JT.'' The program currently supports four principal modes: FSK441, designed to support communication using very brief “pings” from meteor trails in the ionosphere; JT6M, also for meteor scatter, but especially optimized for the 6-meter band; JT65, ideal for extremely weak but slowly varying signals such as those found on troposcatter and Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) paths; and the EME Echo mode for detecting and measuring your own echoes from the moon. The program also offers a Measure mode for testing Sun noise and the like, and an EME Calculator to help you estimate the strength of your own and other stations’ echoes from the moon. |
| FDMDV Digital Voice is the latest digital voice mode on HF - it caters to high quality digital voice under poor band conditions, in only 1100Hz bandwidth!. |
| TrunkPCR uses the Packet Output of the PCR1000/PCR1500/PCR2500 or Discriminator Tap on a PCR100 connected to your Sound Card's Line Input or Mic Input to decode the Motorola and Edacs Trunking Systems Control Channel. |
| Radio Mobile software is a tool used to predict the performance of a radio system. It uses digital terrain elevation data for automatic extraction of path profile between an emitter and a receiver. This data is added to system, environmental and statistical parameters to feed the Irregular Terrain Model radio propagation model. Elevation data is also used to produce virtuals maps in background. |
SPLAT! RF Signal Propagation, Loss, And Terrain Analysis Tool
I've spent quite a bit of time on this program, so it gets its own section. In addition to the program link, I've included some of the Canada/Ontario overlays since they were difficult to obtain. A Windows/Linux GUI is under development - there are a few finishing touches and some debugging to be done, but a beta version is now posted as of December 28, 2009.
This Windows interface will generate most combinations of command lines to operate SPLAT, and also includes file conversion utilities. A function to import an azimuth pattern from antennas modelled in 4NEC2 is still being developed, and although parameters can be saved for later recall, there is no provision yet to open those files. A choice of maximum pages and resolution modes is made by selection the desired option. This program is built around Version 1.3.0 of SPLAT, and will be made freely available. Download it below.
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SPLAT with Windows GUI - BETA - At long last, here is my Windows GUI. This software is BETA! There may be errors and bugs. There is no guarantee it will do what you want. It is released, probably prematurely, in the hope it will be useful. Some menu items are stubs that don't do anything yet. Screen shot.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Run the setup program. All the SPLAT executables are included. You don't need to download these separately. Warning - I know that SPLAT isn't going to like the Windows default "Program Files" location due to the space in the file name. If you can, install SPLAT directly to "C:\SPLAT" from the setup program. Make sure that all file names and folders used with SPLAT do not use spaces. If you can't install there directly, MOVE everything there later to keep the DOS applications happy. Update any menu shortcuts to the new location. Below, an updated version of SPLAT! Windows GUI Beta is posted, which contains the latest bugfixes. Right-click the link, and save the file right overtop of your existing SPLAT.exe executable. Run Splat.exe. It will create sub folders and copy conversion programs the first time it runs. If you already have the proper SDF files someplace, copy them into the correct folder that the program created. Do not mix up SD and HD .sdf files. Download the required HGT files at http://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/SRTM3/ and unzip them to the "sdf-sd" folder. If using HD terrain data, available for the United States only, download these from http://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/SRTM1/ and unzip them into the "sdf-hd" folder. Convert them to proper .sdf files using the utility on the "Tools" menu. You can and should select multiple files at a time - hit CTRL+A to select them all. The SD and HD folders must be processed separately, using the right tool. Now you are ready to try SPLAT. Select the type of analysis you want to perform, and set the options. Unavailable options are hidden. All the rules for transmitter and receiver files must be observed according to the SPLAT documentation. You can edit QTH and LRP files by clicking the appropriate button. A crude text version of SPLAT documentation is included on the Help menu. You'll need to find or make city files and boundary files following the instructions in SPLAT documentation. This Windows GUI is mainly a wrapper to provide SPLAT with the proper command line. A copy of the command line generated is saved as a text file. It can be modified later to add command line arguments and switches not accomodated by the GUI, and this can be run by invoking the proper SPLAT executable from a DOS console. Refer to the SPLAT documentation for further information. If SPLAT itself becomes hung, you'll need to kill the DOS program in the task manager, not the Windows GUI. This should release the console window in the GUI. Remember that an analysis could take hours, using full CPU, but there should be some activity in the console window to verify proper operation. HD files are very memory and CPU intensive. There is no warranty or support for this program. It's a work in progress and may be updated or revised without notice. Check below for revised versions. It may be freely used and distributed, although the VB source code is copyright. Comments or suggestions are welcome. |
| SPLAT! Windows GUI Beta Bugfixs - This is release 1.0.2 of the GUI, which fixes a bug where multiple transmitter sites were ignored. Thanks to Ben Myers for beta testing the program and catching that error. Also repairs the disappearing "Radius to Plot" box, caught by John McInnes. Right-click to "Save link as" and copy this file over the previously installed executable file. If installing from scratch, use the full install listed above, then copy the newest SPLAT.exe into your SPLAT directory. Checksum 757202793, 1368064 bytes. February 9, 2010. |
| SPLAT! is an RF Signal Propagation, Loss, And Terrain analysis tool for the spectrum between 20 MHz and 20 GHz. SPLAT! provides site engineering data such as the great circle distances and bearings between sites, antenna elevation angles (uptilt), depression angles (downtilt), antenna height above mean sea level, antenna height above average terrain, bearings and distances to known obstructions, path loss and field strength based on the Longley-Rice Irregular Terrain Model, and minimum antenna height requirements needed to establish line-of-sight communication paths and Fresnel Zone clearances absent of obstructions due to terrain. This is a Linux command line program that requires multiple supplementary files for complete functionality. It works, and produces great maps. See below for Windows ports. Visit Doug Lung's site for more links and articles. |
| SPLAT! 1.3.0 for Windows - This is my own Windows port of SPLAT v-1.3.0, building on the previous work by John McMellen . See the official SPLAT documentation for program instructions. This zip file contains executables for all the MAXPAGES combinations for 3 arc-second details, and versions for up to MAXPAGES=25 for 1 arc-second details. Commented source code is included. You need John McMellen's conversion utilities in the older version (included). See the README-FIRST.txt file for more details about operation under Windows. A new port of the srtm2sdf utility is included. Remember, this is a console application that requires a properly formatted command line, with support files in the appropriate locations. The current version posted July 11, 2009 fixed a couple of bugs, and seems to be pretty much error free now. Feedback would be appreciated. This is GNU software that I hope will be useful, but it comes AS IS without any warranty or guarantee. |
| SRTM2SDF 1.3.0 for Windows - This is my own Windows port of the newest srtm2sdf utility. It can convert the terrain data files from .hgt format to the .sdf format required by SPLAT. This port will handle either standard 3 arc-second files, or the new 1 arc-second files used by SPLAT v-1.3.0. All of John McMellen's other SPLAT utilities ported for Windows are included in the archive. See the README-FIRST.txt file for more details and usage instructions. It is also included in the Windows version of SPLAT above. This is GNU software that I hope will be useful, but it comes AS IS without any warranty or guarantee. |
| SPLAT! for Win32 - This is my own Windows port of SPLAT v-1.2.3, building on the work by John McMellen . The main improvements are MAXPAGES=16, giving larger maps, and more informative console feedback was added (to make sure SPLAT is running calculations on the files you think). It also fixes calculation of the 0 and 180 degree average height. Commented source code is included, and John McMellen's port of the conversion utilities is also in the .zip file, along with the documentation. See the README-FIRST.txt file for more details. Run SPLAT-win32.exe for MAXPAGES=16 or SPLAT-win32x.exe for MAXPAGES=25. Remember, this is a console application that requires a properly formatted command line. Feedback would be appreciated. This is GNU software that I hope will be useful, but it comes AS IS without any warranty or guarantee. |
| SDF helper script - I wrote this simple Linux bash script to quickly batch convert the downloaded .hgt files to the .sdf files required by SPLAT. Follow the instructions in the remarks. Requires the Space Shuttle Radar Topology files - see SPLAT documentation for link. Provided AS IS under the GNU General Public Licence. (Remove the .txt extension and chmod to make executable. Make sure none of the .sdf files in the series are missing.) Note: to use the files in Windows, the ":" must be changed to "x" in the filenames. The Windows GUI (released in beta) will batch convert any files. |
| Canadian ARC/INFO files SPLAT requires ARC/INFO files in ASCII format to plot boundaries. The SPLAT site links to the American files in .dat format, which work great if the propagation study includes US land. I couldn't find Canadian files in that format, but this site has ARC/INFO .E00 files. They are available for every region of Canada, in various resolutions, including lakes, rivers, railroads, highways, cities, and counties. Some of these files are huge, and can cause significant clutter on the maps, but I've got them to work with SPLAT. First they need to be converted to a format SPLAT recognizes. (I wrote a quick and dirty program to translate the files, contact me if you need it.) There are still a few bugs, like missing closing segments and incomplete overlays, and I'm not sure if the fault lies with SPLAT, my conversion, or the source file. See next for my converted Ontario files. |
| Ontario ARC/INFO files that I converted for SPLAT from E00 format (beta). The archive includes lakes, rivers, railroads, highways, cities, and counties. The "drainage" file produces the most useful plots. "CK-cities.dat" plots many southern Ontario towns and cities - it's easy to add your own using coordinates from Google Earth. Also included is a sample command line to plot the VE3KCR repeater. There are still a few bugs in these files, like missing closing segments and incomplete overlays, but my files are currently the only thing I found to work. Put them in your SPLAT directory and include the desired filenames in the command line. They are offered here without guarantee, and are known to have mild defects. US boundaries can be obtained as listed in SPLAT documentation (I included a combined Michigan and Ohio file). |
Electronics Software
What's ham radio without electronics? Here are some links and free programs for various electronics test and development tasks.
| TinyCAD is a program to help you draw circuit diagrams. It comes complete with symbol libraries to get you started straight away. As well as being able to simply print your designs, you can use TinyCAD to publish your drawings by copying and pasting into a Word document, or saving as a PNG bitmap for the web. You can use TinyCAD as a front end to a PCB layout program (see the links), by getting TinyCAD to create a netlist of your circuit. TinyCAD is fully open-source so you can use it for free and you can download the source code for use in your own projects. |
| TopSPICE Demo TopSPICE/Win32 is an affordable integrated computer-aided circuit design software package offering advanced native mixed-mode mixed-signal analog/digital/behavioral simulation based on the industry standard SPICE simulator program. With TopSPICE you have the choice to design from schematic drawings, text netlist (SPICE) files or both. All design and simulation functions are available from either the schematic or netlist editor front-ends. This is a free demo version with certain limitations, but no expiry. |
| LT spice IV is a free circuit simulator by Linear Technology. I've had this running on Linux under WINE. |
| AADE FILTER DESIGN AND ANALYSIS FREE. DESIGN Butterworth, Chebyshev, Elliptic (Caur), Bessel, Legendre and Linear Phase, low-pass, high-pass, band-Pass, and band-reject filters. Coupled Resonator band-pass filters, Crystal Ladder band-pass filters using identical crystals. Ideal for Amateur construction from surplus or microprocessor crystals. |
| DiscoverCircuits.com, has 27,000+ electronic circuits. The electronic schematics are carefully cross-referenced into 500+ categories. As a vital resource for engineers, hobbyists, inventors & consultants, the site's collection of information will help you find quick design ideas to electronic design problems. |
Linux & Open Source Projects
These are Linux operating systems, and various programs of interest for the Linux open source platform, including amateur radio software.
| Debian Linux includes several programs of interest to hams. Download the iso file, burn it to CD, and it boots to the installer. Can be run in a dual-boot environment, or from USB drive. Make sure you install all the Linux headers and the GCC compiler so you can take advantage of programs offered in source code only. |
| Mandriva Linux is another popular distribution of the Linux operating system. Try the Live version, which boots and runs from a CD - great for fixing filesystem or partition problems, and backing up those nasty but critical Windows files that can't be read while in use. Live saves nothing to the hard drive, so it's a very safe way to experiment with Linux. |
| The Open Mind Speech project is part of the Open Mind Initiative and aims to develop free (GPL) speech recognition tools and applications, as well as collect speech data from "e-citizens" using the Internet. The main target will still be Linux (and other UNIX flavors). The software will be designed so that it can be easily integrated into any application, window manager or desktop environments (KDE and gnome). |
| gMFSK is a multimode HF terminal program for Linux and other unix-like operating systems. Despite the name, gMFSK can send and receive many digital conversational modes typically used by radio amateurs on HF. Supported modes are: MFSK (MFSK16 and MFSK8), RTTY, THROB (1, 2 and 4 throbs/sec), PSK31 (BPSK and QPSK), PSK63, MT63, Feldhell. gMFSK is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public Licence, version 2. |
Software Compilers
This is a collection of various compilers and programming tools. Anyone building source code packages for Windows or Linux will need a compiler (possibly several). Most Linux distributions include the neccessary compilers as optional packages. Also needed for writing your own programs. These are all free versions.
| Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Express This is a free suite that includes Visual Basic with .NET, Visual C++, Visual C#, and Visual Web Developer. This is "lite" software and may not compile code designed for the Standard Edition. Seems to work on Windows XP and Vista, but nothing earlier. |
| Mono This open source development suite can compile binaries that will run on any platform. It is also said to support porting of Visual Basic code to Linux and Mac. Check their website for more information and documentation. |
| KBasic is a powerful programming language, which is simply intuitive. An easy-to-learn and easy-to-use tool for professional, novice, hobbyist, and student developer. It is a new programming language, a further BASIC dialect and is related to VB.NET, Visual Basic 6, Visual Basic for Application and Java. It combines the best features of those tools and comes with built-in backward support for those tools and QBasic as it is 100% syntax compatible to VB6, VBA and QBasic. Additionally, it comes with support for VB.NET syntax, functions and similar objects and classes. Only the Linux binary version is free, but source code is GNU for all platforms. |
| MinGW: A collection of freely available and freely distributable Windows specific header files and import libraries, augmenting the GNU Compiler Collection, (GCC), and its associated tools, (GNU binutils). MinGW provides a complete Open Source programming tool set which is suitable for the development of native Windows programs that do not depend on any 3rd-party C runtime DLLs. |
| Borland C++ Builder The Borland C++ 5.5 Compiler is the high performance foundation and core technology of Inprise/Borland's award-winning Borland C++Builder product line and is the basis for Inprise/Borland's recently announced C++Builder(TM) 5 development system for Windows 95, 98, NT, and Windows 2000. It includes the latest ANSI/ISO C++ language support including, the STL (Standard Template Library) framework and C++ template support and the complete Borland C/C++ Runtime Library (RTL). Also included in the free download are the Borland C/C++ command line tools such as the high performance Borland linker and resource compiler. |
| Bloodshed Dev-C++ is a full-featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for the C/C++ programming language. It uses Mingw port of GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) as it's compiler. Dev-C++ can also be used in combination with Cygwin or any other GCC based compiler. Free Software (GPL) For Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP. (I used this to compile my Windows port of SPLAT.) |
Emulators, Virtual Machines & Remote Terminals
This section has virtual machines. This is special software that mimicks a real computer. It's like having a computer inside a computer, with its own window. Virtual Machines are perfect for sandbox testing or cross-platform use. I run Linux on Windows 2000 in a virtual machine, and it works just like a stand-alone computer. It can access the network with its own IP address, and uses any supported device.
| VMware Server is a Virtual Machine program that has a free non-trial version download available for up to 10 machines. It completely emulates a real computer, and provides a GUI client to access the virtual desktop within a normal window. Available for Linux and Windows. Not as fast as a real computer, but surprizing quick, especially on multiple-processor boxes. It's absolutely free but requires registration to activate. Great for sandboxing or running Linux-only applications on Windows. |
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Bochs is a highly portable open source IA-32 (x86) PC emulator written in C++, that runs on most popular platforms. It includes emulation of the Intel x86 CPU, common I/O devices, and a custom BIOS. Currently, Bochs can be compiled to emulate a 386, 486, Pentium/PentiumII/PentiumIII/Pentium4 or x86-64 CPU including optional MMX, SSEx and 3DNow! instructions.
Bochs is capable of running most Operating Systems inside the emulation including Linux, DOS, Windows 95/98 and Windows NT/2000/XP or Windows Vista. |
| Wine is a translation layer (a program loader) capable of running Windows applications on Linux and other POSIX compatible operating systems. Windows programs running in Wine act as native programs would, running without the performance or memory usage penalties of an emulator, with a similar look and feel to other applications on your desktop. Wine is still under development, and it is not yet suitable for general use. Nevertheless, many people find it useful in running a growing number of Windows programs. |
| RealVNC - VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing. It is remote control software which allows you to view and fully interact with one computer desktop (the "VNC server") using a simple program (the "VNC viewer") on another computer desktop anywhere on the Internet. The two computers don't even have to be the same type, so for example you can use VNC to view a Windows Vista desktop at the office on a Linux or Mac computer at home. I use this to access remote Linux desktops, and it would be useful for controlling remote stations or repeater controllers. Free but requires registration. |
Other Audio Tools and Electronics Software
These are programs for testing and analyzing. Included are spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and signal generators. These are all free versions.
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WD6CNF hosts a series of useful software, linked individually below.
Audio Spectrum Analyzer Analyzes audio from 10 Hz to 20 kHz, Input from microphone or wave file, Variable displays, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) display, Variable sample rates (8000 Hz, 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz, 44100 Hz), Variable transform sizes (1k, 2k, 4k, 8k), Upper and lower limits adjustable, Continuous, averaged, peak hold, Selectable foreground/backgrounds, Variable markers (2), Save a reference plot, compare with the foreground plot, Time display (oscilloscope), Triggered sweep, Waterfall display (color or B/W). Signal Generator Audio Signal Generator |
| SpectraScope is a simple Windows interface program allowing your computer to view up to two audio waveforms in either the time or frequency domain. The program is a Windows soft panel operating as a dual channel oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer. The useful frequency of operation is 20 to 10,000 Hz in the time domain and 20 to 20,000 Hz in the frequency domain. The program uses the computer sound card to capture the audio input. |
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CW Decoder Program Decode Morse code from a radio, 5 to 50 wpm, Scrollable text window, save to a file, Variable text display sizes, upper/lower case, Variable character spacing, Variable speed selection, helps in reducing noise, Spectrum display, waterfall display, timeline display, Variable noise thresholds, noise blanking threshold, Automatic frequency control (AFC),
Transmit Morse code, keyboard input 5 to 50 wpm, Key the transmitter via computer serial (com) port, Synchronize to receive speed, 10 memories, store/recall, Download from a text file, Various transmit modes, Interactive (immediate), Block transfer (send typed screen), Functions keys perform transmit functions. Keep hands on the keyboard, mouse free transmit/receive operation. |
| Packet Terminal Interface Program Simple Windows based TNC interface program, Designed for ARES operation, Simple operator interface to connect and perform communication functions, Control operator programs screens before operations, Both receive and transmit screens, Operation via single or dual screen modes, Transmit control via TNC commands, Text file transfers. |
| DSP Filter Program Audio Digital Filter, Two bandpass filters, Three notch filters, Two noise filters, All filters cascadable, Graphical setting of filter center frequency and bandwidth, Drag vertical lines on top of signal, Microphone input, speaker output, Mono, 5 kHz bandwidth, File record and playback filtered audio, Simultaneous operation, Frequency or time display. |
| Piano Program Musical note capture/display,Tune instruments, or check pitch of voice, Violin, guitar, piano modes, Displays input tone to nearest musical note, Frequency display, Meter center, Hold mode. Useful for both all instruments including wind instruments. |
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DazyWeb Laboratories ds2002.zip - Two channel oscilloscope software for Windows using a soundcard
SA3000.zip - Audio spectrum analyzer for Windows using a soundcard SGOne.zip - Audio Signal generator/wav file player for Windows TMS1.zip - Audio test system for Windows using a soundcard |
| DL4YHF's Amateur Radio Software: Audio Spectrum Analyzer ("Spectrum Lab") Spectrum Analyzer with Waterfall Display and real-time audio processing. |
| VA3AGM DSP Filter PC sound card based Real-time DSP filter and Spectrum scope by VA3AGM. The program takes the input from a audio source. In Rx mode it can be the Line-In of the sound card. The input signal can be filtered using a Low Pass, High Pass or Stop band programmable DSP filter. The processed input is fed to the PC's speaker. The unprocessed or processed signal can be displayed in the Spectrum Display window. For Tx mode the input is the PC Microphone (you need to interface the PC with the transceiver). Site also lists a PC sound card based Signal Generator that can generate USB, LSB and DSB signal. |
Useful Programs to Have
This is where everything else is going to be posted. This includes well-known mainstream applications. Make sure you are equipped with superior browsers, email programs, and office suites. These are all free versions.
The Browser That Has It All. Firefox has security, speed and new features that will change the way you use the Web. Don’t settle for anything less. |
Organize Your Email. Thunderbird 2 includes many new features to help you manage your inbox. With Thunderbird 2, it’s easier to prioritize and find your important email with tags and the new find bar helps you find content within your email faster. |
| Open Office is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose. |
| SystemRescueCd is a Linux system on a bootable CD-ROM for repairing your system and recovering your data after a crash. It aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the partitions of the hard disk. It contains a lot of system tools (parted, partimage, fstools, ...) and basic tools (editors, midnight commander, network tools). Supports networking and includes Firefox browser. Good for solving problems and cloning drives. No grab-and-go system is complete without this disc. |