Packages Libhamlib Utils

libhamlib-utils

The command-line tools for hamlib — test a radio before blaming software

• Version recorded: 4.6.2
• Categories: rig-control
• Upstream: http://www.hamlib.org

What it does

Carries rigctl and rigctld, the command-line and daemon interfaces to hamlib, plus rotctl and rotctld for antenna rotators. rigctl sets and reads frequency, mode, PTT and everything else a backend supports; rigctld serves the same over a network socket so several programs can share one radio.

Why you would want it

rigctl is the diagnostic that separates a radio problem from a program problem. When fldigi will not key the transmitter, the question is whether hamlib can, and one command answers it. Nearly every Linux ham program uses hamlib underneath, so a fault reproduced here is a fault in the layer everything shares.

Before it will work

A CAT interface and access to its serial device -- the dialout group. Knowing your radio's hamlib model number, which rigctl -l lists.

How it installs

• apt: libhamlib-utils

Known problems

The model number matters and the closest-looking one is often wrong; a mismatched backend produces partial control, where frequency works and mode does not, which reads as a broken cable. Baud rate and, for Icom, the CI-V address must match the radio's own menu settings. rigctld and a program opening the serial port directly will fight over it, and the symptom is erratic behaviour rather than an error -- decide which one owns the port.

Keeping it current

• probe: apt policy
• strategy: apt_upgrade

Where to get help with the software itself

The Hamlib project. The mailing list is where radio-specific backend questions are answered, and the developers do respond to good reports.

Source: catalog/packages/libhamlib-utils.yaml