This is a continuation of part 1 here. To summarize the required steps to setup ax25 and Direwolf for software based packet radio, here’s the minimum steps need to get up and running:
Install libasound2-dev and libudev-dev:
sudo apt-get install libasound2-dev sudo apt-get install libudev-dev
Clone the source for Direwolf, then build and install:
git clone https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf.git
Compile and install Direwolf (build steps changed recently):
cd direwolf mkdir build && cd build cmake .. make -j4 sudo make install make install-conf
Plug in a soundcard device like a Signalink or Rigblaster, run ‘aplay -l’
Get the device number, in this case my Rigblaster is 2,0:
card 1: vc4hdmi [vc4-hdmi], device 0: MAI PCM i2s-hifi-0 [MAI PCM i2s-hifi-0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Audio [RIGblaster Advantage Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Configure ~/direwolf.conf – change ADEVICE to refer to the device number from the previous step:, and then set your call sign:
ADEVICE plughw:2,0
MYCALL KK6DCT-5
Run alsamixer, select your soundcard attached to your radio, and make sure playback and capture sound levels are around 70% and not muted:
Install ax25 apps and tools:
sudo apt-get install libax25 ax25-apps ax25-tools
Add 1 line in /etc/ax25/axports – the number in the first column is the port number, you’ll need this in the next steps:
1 KK6DCT-1 1200 255 2 2m packet
Run:
direwolf -t 0 -p
Look for the last line for /dev/pts:
Ready to accept KISS client application on port 8001 ... Virtual KISS TNC is available on /dev/pts/0 WARNING - Dire Wolf will hang eventually if nothing is reading from it. Created symlink /tmp/kisstnc -> /dev/pts/0
Run kissattach:
sudo kissattach [/dev/pts/value here] [ax25 port value here]
e.g.
sudo kissattach /dev/pts/0 1
You should see:
AX.25 port 1 bound to device ax0
Now you’ll set to use the ax tools to connect to other nodes, for example, run:
axcall [ax25 port number] [nodename]
Done!
