First, rig control. Linux has the hamlib libraries that can control many different radios. I had built a simple CI-V serial interface for my ICOM IC-706 a while back. It’s not perfect, but can be made to work at 300 baud. The rigctl command line program is pretty simple to use. The manual page for it has all of the commands listed. Many don’t apply for my particular radio, but I can switch frequency, mode, memory channel, and a few other key operating parameters. I can read all of those parameters as well to make sure I’m where I think I am.

Second, the sound card interface. I got a Signalink USB a few months ago with the appropriate cable to hook to the back of the IC-706. Experimented around a bit with the levels and VOX control settings to come up with something that seemed to work well for me. This also keys up the transmitter so it’s nearly plug and play.

Third, I need a way to get my voice to the radio and get the audio back to my remote location. I see many people using Skype for this, which seems to be overkill to me. I thought there must be some easy point-to-point VoIP program I could use on my home network and potentially route outside the network if I wanted. I found a program called Linphone in the Debian repositories and it was really easy to set up. No need to set up an account or anything like that and it has a smart phone client as well. Installed it on my radio computer and on my laptop, set up the radio computer to automatically answer and use the Signalink USB for audio, then call it from the laptop. That’s all the setup that was needed. Some quick testing and I was able to get two way communication going.

Final test was checking into a net. My local simplex net tonight was run by an operator that I usually have trouble hearing and I had my squelch set too high, so he was cutting in and out pretty bad. That’s one of the settings that aren’t available through the CI-V interface on the IC-706, so I quickly ran into the shack and turned that down a little. I was able to hear him better after that, but I had already missed my turn by then. I switched over to the repeater net a few minutes later and confirmed my check in over there, no problems at all.

Not bad for a couple of hours of tinkering. Most articles I read include installing Ham Radio Deluxe, two Skype accounts, and remote desktop control software. Compare with rigctl, Linphone with no accounts needed, and simple SSH. I think it’s easier anyway.

The net was called up by John KN6SQ with Lou N6VV co-located on top of the hill at Willow Pass that separates Central and East county. It’s a decent location that can hear most of East county. Initially, I was the only one that checked in. It wasn’t until the county emergency notification system was activated that others got on the radio and checked into the net. I think we had a total of 6 stations. We usually have a few more than that for these exercises.

After a while, John was getting us ready for the QSO party activity. He called for participants to come back to him. I gave a call back as did one other station, but it would seem he didn’t hear us. I’m not sure why (too many other radios in the background or the volume was turned down maybe), but after trying to call him back a couple of times, I gave up. I waited around a while to see if he would come back, but he never did. I dug out his phone number and gave him a call. Turns out, he had thought everyone had left, so he gave his status to the county Office of Emergency Services (OES) and was instructed to shut down the net if there were no longer any participants, so he did.

A bit disappointing, but this is why we train, to figure out where communications breakdowns happen and what we can do to mitigate them so they aren’t a problem in an emergency. Will be interesting to hear the debrief next week from East county operators and to hear how things went in other sections of the county.