WSJT-X, KD8CEC code, and Hamlib

Rod KM6SN found that WSJT-X running on some versions of Linux would not work well with the µBITX. The problem was the Hamlib FT-817 protocol was not successfully connecting to the uBITX at startup.

For the past two weeks Rod has been working with Bill Somerville, G4WJS (developer of Hamlib) on the issues.   He explained the nature of the problem, and provided CAT link protocol logic analyzer traces, and did bench testing of new Hamlib code Bill provided.

Bill took a lot of time out of his schedule to work on this, and it has borne fruit, having now identified the area that needed changes, provided modified software, and stayed with the problem through quite a few iterations of testing.

Rod and the rest of the digital mode enthusiast community will  no doubt be grateful for Bill’s persistence.

The Hamlib FT-817 protocol has been modified to resolve the problem, and there should be an official WSJT-X release for Linux including this patch soon.

Details will be posted on uBITx.net when the new WSJT-X version is available.

Reference

WSTJX-Portable

Ian Lee KD8CEC has been busy releasing his Version 1.01 sketch for the uBITx.  However, he has also been busy with modding the wsjt-x Linux software to do some amazing things with the uBITx.

He has now announced the release of version 0.5 (Beta) of Wsjtx-Portable.

For those who are not familiar with wsjt-x, this software is a general purpose graphical user interface (complete with waterfall display) for digital HF modes.  The software is a great product, and is available in Windows, Linux, and MacOS flavours to cover every amateur operator’s PC set up.  What is more, if you have installed KD8CEC’s V1.01 uBITx sketch, this includes Hamlib CAT functionality so WSJT-X will work with your uBITx on all of those digital modes.

So what is WSTJX-Portable?   This is a modified version of WSJT-X that is designed to be used on a Raspberry Pi and a 3.5″ TFT touch screen.

Did you want a nice compact touch screen for your uBITx, but don’t want to hack your uBITx enclosure and push your Arduino Nano to the limits?  Then here is the answer! The uBITx is controlled by the Raspberry Pi via the 3.5″ touch screen.  You can dial up a frequency, set the step value, change band or mode, go to TX or RX, etc. right from the touch screen.   Quite a feat!