Blog

Setup IP Networking via Packet Radio with DireWolf and IL2P

This guide will get you a working TCP/IP network connection over the 2m or 70cm band over just about any radio. This guide will get you a working direwolf installation, a program called tncattach installed, and a network interface connected via IL2P (Improved Layer 2 Protocol). Tncattach is a modern way of creating am IP interface for KISS TNC’s. IL2P […]

Share Soundcard between Direwolf and VARA on Linux

I wish I could make this one simple, but we are getting into complex territory. Please read the instructions and follow along carefully. This is not something I recommend doing without knowing your way around Linux, and so the basics are not covered(it would be too long). this should let you share the same soundcard between direwolf and other apps […]

Host your own FCC Ham Radio Database for Offline Use with HamDB

First, I want to give all credit for this blog post and script to this website(blog.radioartisan.com), and the ham who created it (K3NG). The only reason I am posting it here is to walk through the database installation portion, and show how the database can be expanded onto to include extra information, as well as add some more detailed documentation. […]

Packet Radio – Building a Station (Shopping List)

This is made to be a decent go-to reference for those new to packet radio looking to build a station. This by no means encompasses all products. The item’s I’ve listed here are a reflection of the modern packet radio landscape. If you are new to Packet Radio, start here to get a grasp on what the modern landscape of […]

Setup PAT Winlink On Raspberry PI with RigControl

This page will walk you through downloading and installing the PAT Winlink software on your raspberry pi. Afterwards, we will setup a basic RigControl and PTT Interface for your radio with rigctl, and enable the service to start on boot. This is mainly for my own documentation, so it may not be pretty. Installing PAT Winlink Install the Prerequisites Download […]

How to Secure your Packet BBS / BPQ32 or LinBPQ Instance

After some security research in the packet radio BBS communities, I noticed a major lack of best security practices. I wrote a blog post on it here if your curious. I pointed out WHY things are problematic in the cybersecurity field, and gave a few pointers. This post is a follow up that I can share with others that shows […]

BBS Botnet – The Packet Radio Cybersecurity Crisis in Ham Radio

Ham radio operators are generally technically inclined people. It takes a special person to take an interest in the electronic aspect of amateur radio stations. Combine this with the computer knowledge and passion it takes to develop the applications that often go along with the hobby, you wouldn’t think something as novel as cyber security would be an issue. But […]