



America's Hams Embrace Linux 249
Anonymous Coward writes "The current survey question over on the eham site shows that around 40% of Amateur Radio operators that responded to the survey are using Linux/Unix as an operating system in some form or other. Part of the ham radio charter is to 'experiment and innovate'...seems the tradition is alive and well in ham radio. Some of the comments are interesting as well ...What's Amateur/Ham Radio? See www.eham.net/newham/"
America's Hams (Score:4, Funny)
Re:America's Hams (Score:2, Funny)
Canada's Hams would've been funnier...
Dontcha' think, eh?
Bayesian radio (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Bayesian radio (Score:4, Insightful)
I'd be more willing to bet that the CBers are Windows users, though. (Yes, I know you were joking. I chose to ignore the humorous side.)
Re:Bayesian radio (Score:2)
There, I said it. FCC didn't create physics, and it can't regulate the application of these natural laws. Although, Microsoft created Microsoft Windows 2003, and Microsoft regulates the use of such. Don't ask me how Micro
This is kinda cool... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:This is kinda cool... (Score:3, Interesting)
gimmie a break dude, what non-geeky person do you know that would consider hooking up a bunch of electronics so they can talk to people around the world at 5wpm? not to mention all the configuration necessary, tweaking the radio, the feedlines, the antenna...
it really takes a special breed of person to be a HAM.
Re:This is kinda cool... (Score:5, Insightful)
Besides, does FreeBSD provide support for ham radio like Linux does? I'm sure the guy wants to eventually integrate everything into one simple solution.
For him, Mandrake just worked. FreeBSD needed a fair amount more configuration for his preferences in a workspace, but Mandrake could meet them with the installation options. He's more or less a normal user--e-mail, light browsing, Solitaire and Mahjong, etc. Nothing overly deep. Linux distros still have a little way to go to be viable for the masses (like him), but FreeBSD is leaps and bounds behind in being ready for the masses. Just my $0.02.
40% ? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:40% ? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:40% ? (Score:2)
Re:40% ? (Score:2)
Obligatory "-1, flamebait" (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Obligatory "-1, flamebait" (Score:2, Funny)
No, its 59.949999%. You have to allow for the
Stats might have been even higher (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
By that logic, Win95 is UNIX, too. Ever install cygwin? It's basically a UNIX-like environment that runs on Windows. In fact, cygwin is more compatible with UNIX/Linux than MacOSX is.
No, Mr. Proud Mac User. MacOSX is NOT unix. It's MacOSX with a unix-like shell. It uses a non-standard kernel, non-standard file system layout, a non-standard API, and a non-standard windowing system. There's
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
The point is, Cygwin supports most UNIX APIs and looks very much like UNIX. However, it isn't. Likewise, MacOS X might look like UNIX. However, it's more like a UNIX compatibility layer on Apple's own system core. There is a ton of proprietary, closed-source, closed-specs stuff like Quartz that is inte
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:3, Interesting)
A little addition. (Score:2)
Re:A little addition. (Score:2)
Also, Unix geeks are used to
Re:Yup. (Score:2)
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
Second, you're clearly very uninformed about Mac OS X. You really should know much more about i
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
And if I use XPde as my window manager and some version of WINE on Linux, I must be using windows, because I can run windows programs, and I see the ugly start menu? Yeah?
No, Mr. Proud Mac User. MacOSX is NOT unix. It's MacOSX with a unix-like shell. It uses a non-standard kernel, non-standard file system layout, a non-stan
MacOSX is Genetic Unix, Here's Why (Score:5, Informative)
Also known as: There and back again, an operating system's tale
As Apple clearly states in their Darwin FAQ [apple.com], "Darwin is a version of the BSD UNIX operating system that offers advanced networking, services such as the Apache web server, and support for both Macintosh and UNIX file systems." I think we all agree that BSD is in fact UNIX with a capital UNIX. In fact it is one of two bloodlines for Genetic UNIX, the other being AT&T's progeny. Everything which calls itself UNIX once had to be genetically descended from one of these two codebases.
As you may or may not know, many if not most commercial UNIX vendors based some releases on BSD, and some on System whatever. SunOS4 is based on BSD 4.something, for example, and SunOS5 (commonly called "Solaris") is System V. So everything today called UNIX is derived from one or another of those sources. It's my understanding that prior to the Open Group getting their grubby hands on the UNIX trademark you pretty much had to be a source licensee to use the name Unix, which was a privilege accorded to Digital, HP, SCO, Sun, and IBM. BSDi was always pretty careful to be called BSDi and not BSD UNIX, as I recall, even though it's based on BSD UNIX.
I think the strongest argument for Unix being mostly a set of behaviors and not a genetic descendance, however, is that there are clearly two things called Unix; BSD UNIX, and Unix System V. (And the various ancestors, of course.) Then, there's the name UNIX, which one pays for. In order to get it, however, one also has to mimic a certain set of behaviors.
In any case, you have to make some sort of decision about what Unix really is. If NeXTStep is Unix, then so is Mac OS X. Christ, they're practically the same thing, except the big joke is, NeXTStep ran on PCs. Ha ha, ain't that hilarious. The question of Linux being Unix or not is a lot muddier, certainly it is not Genetic Unix... or at least we hope it isn't or SCO could be partially right :) But where I'm going here is that Linux acts like Unix, it looks like Unix, people who use it are like any other Unix types (now that everyone uses Unix.) I'm not talking about Mac users who never touch the Unix side here, mind you. I know plenty of hardcore Unix types use it as well, and since Darwin is open source, you can do whatever you like to the Unix side of it. Or hell, just run it by itself.
Your argument about the non-standard kernel, well, that's the best one I could come up with myself. The non-standard filesystem layout doesn't mean anything, Unix filesystem layout has changed a lot over time. The non-standard API is rubbish, it has the standard ones, it just has additional ones. There's no law that says Unix can't be extended, it's been extended plenty over time. A non-standard windowing system? X doesn't make Unix. Unix is one thing, and the X Window System is another thing, which Unix just tends to come with all the time.
Returning to the question of whether or not a microkernel-based operating system can really be Unix, that is a toughie. As you may know, Mach handles processes, memory allocation, multitasking, et cetera. This is what really raises the question, isn't it? If it were just a HAL-style mini-microkernel like NT's, it would be less of a question I think.
But let's face it, most of FreeBSD is in there. Big chunks of the kernel presumably made it in as well. After all, there's lots of things that the kernel does besides process management and memory allocation. I think it's fair to say that it's Unix, it's just on top of a microkernel. Big deal. It also has a whole bunch of makeup dumped on top of it as well, but that doesn't make it any less the same old mom. Here's to Apple Pie, the USA, and Unix forever. Call it Unix, call it UNIX, call it a POSIX-Compliant Unix-workalike, I could give a shit. But let's face it, Mac OS X is Genetic Unix. You can't take that away from it, no matter how hard you try.
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
as a fellow elite unix user, who has used, professionally, everything from Xenix in the olden days to Irix, SunOS 4.x, Solaris, HPUX, AIX, *BSD, and Linux..... and now uses OS X. Heavily....
If you ask me what Unix means, I can tell you that on one hand, it means whatever the Open Group says it means. I can also tell you on the other hand that nobody really gives 2 shits in the real world what the Open Group says. To us, unix means Linux, unix means *BSD, unix means Irix, unix
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
HFS? UFS? (Score:2)
Re:Stats might have been even higher (Score:2)
(It's a joke. Laugh.)
yeah, ok... (Score:1, Flamebait)
Yes, they embrace Linux. But that's 38% of them. 51% are still embracing Windows.
Nice wording (Score:1, Insightful)
Oh come on now! Thats like saying "Americas Idiots Embrace Windows". Wait a sec...
Heh (Score:2)
Re:Heh (Score:2)
Re:Heh (Score:2)
Blasphemer!
Somebody hold him and I will get the "M$" branding iron heated up.
Re:Heh (Score:2)
Re:Heh (Score:2)
Re:Heh (Score:2)
Re:Heh (Score:2)
Re:I'm an Extra and so I'm smarter... (Score:2)
I've always wanted to have one underground... Does it same you on heating/cooling bills?
(Sorry, but that was too easy to pass up)
Crystal ball (Score:5, Funny)
This just in... (Score:2, Funny)
According to recent reports from our sources it seems that a mass revolution is taking place in the ham radio world tonight. After a short article appeared on the popular Slashdot website the ham radio frequencies were flooded with new users bringing towers, repeaters, and other equipment arount the world to a virtual standstill.
While we're still trying to determine if this could perhaps be the first radiowave based denial of service attack we were assured by knowledgable users that it
Re:This just in... (Score:2)
Great idea! (Score:5, Insightful)
HAM radio types are often some of the most technically knowledgable in the world. I'll bet that even the ones that still use Windows know enough Linux to survive. They may even have legit reasons for using Windows (like certain Windows-based EDA software still beats anything on Linux...)
I have another great idea. Let's poll KERNEL HACKERS and ask what OS they run :P
Well, not quite the same thing (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm an amateur operator, and I run windows AND linux. I'll admit, Windows is primarily for gaming, but there are some HAM-type applications that just are not as robust under linux. Here's a good example:
Winradio [winradio.com]is a wonderful piece of scanning equipment, whose software runs best under windows. Yes, I'm aware of Linradio [linradio.com]but the software is not as full-featured.
I'm sure other amateurs can come up with other examples. Personally, I'd like to know how many amateur operators run completely SANS windows. I'd lay even money that Bruce Perens doesn't own a windows box, so there's one...
Re:Well, not quite the same thing (Score:2)
Desktop is running Windows 98 (as default boot) and Lycoris 1.19 (Hardly ever use the desktop, unless I want to print something)
Laptop is running Mandrake 9.1 (as default boot) with Windows XP. I only use Windows for.... hmmm..... yeah.... that's about it....
Re:Great idea! (Score:2)
Have you ever heard of KA9Q [ka9q.net]? It's an OS older than Linux and it was written by a Ham radio enthusiast Phil Karn. It's a shame it wasn't mentioned in the survey. I can imagine some people are still using it, but they probably don't have browsers to vote
Hey now... (Score:2)
Besides, I only once mentioned Linux specifically, and in passing. I mostly meant tinker-friendly systems in general.
All that I'm saying is that the same spirit that founded Open/Free softw
Re:Great idea! (Score:2)
But then, maybe you were being facetious and I'm too dense to see it (but since this has been modded "+5 Insightful," not "+5 Funny" I don't think I'm alone).
Anyway, there's lots of different kinds of geeks around, let me tell you about one:
He's had his Amateur Extra Ham license for well over 20 years now.
He's been hobby programming for a good fifteen years.
He's been working with Novell Networks for about ten years; he's Nove
Re:Great idea! (Score:2)
Although I would still expect hardware hackers tend to have a bit of an interest in the kind of software that lets them tinker. I know I do.
Nothing can stop Linux now (Score:4, Funny)
That's all we need... (Score:4, Funny)
What's Easier (Score:5, Interesting)
Add to the fact that many (most?) hams are technically minded, and the fact that Linux and such are free and come with compilers and other such things, and that Linux CAME FROM expiramentation, can we really be that suprised?
MBCook -KC0QBP
Re:What's Easier (Score:4, Insightful)
"With Windows, you... um... good question. You COULD write drivers, but I don't know how you would get started. I'm sure there are a few books on the subject, and maybe some web pages"
There are quite a few boks on the subject, and certainly some web pages. In particular MSDN comes to mind: all the docs and apis you need in one place. You don't know how you would get started, because you've never tried.
If the abiltity tinker and experiment with your OS is a driving factor, go with Linux, absolutely. (I'd also go with linux based on various other things being your driving motivation) But if you're interested in extending MS lock-in, I mean, uh, writing Windows specific software, you'll find that MS is as helpful and friendly as you could ever hope for. They understand that as mammoth as they are, it's the many third-party developers writing Windows specific code that really make the monopoly thing work. If you want to (or have to) write such code, they really do make life pretty nice for you.
In any case, I've got to agree "Ham radio operators use Linux more than the general population" is definitely a no-brainer. Why is this newsworthy? I mean it's obviously Ham-radio booster month here on Slashdot, but why exactly? Did one of the editors just get into ham radio? I don't dipute that ham radio is cool enough, or rather nerdy enough. Based on the Hams I've known it's got a bigger nerd factor than basically anything, but pace yourselves! This at-least-one-Ham-story-every-day just can't stay interesting. As evidenced by this article. Or even this post; I'm just rambling at this point, clearly. Insomnia will do that. Sigh. Why am I still awake?
Re:What's Easier (Score:2, Informative)
Actually, Linux came out of Linus wishing he could have his own copy of Minix without having to pay for it. So, rather than resorting to outright piracy/theft (as in theft of the install disks from the university), he reverse-engineered it.
Hams? (Score:4, Funny)
Hams and Linux (Score:5, Insightful)
Hams are technically literate folks who don't pay for anything if they don't have to. If you can build it, why pay someone for it? I'm shocked that most of them can make a radio out of some wire and a resistor because it's cheap, yet choose to pay $200 for a Windows license.
And as for the poll, I assume the same rules apply on eham.com as
So whether or not we should put any stock into a poll on another website and make an article out of it makes me wonder.
Re:Hams and Linux (Score:3, Informative)
When it comes to packet radio, there is a lot more linux stuff going on.. mostly because packet started before windows existed, and the only OS that networked was UNIX.
Re:Hams and Linux (Score:4, Insightful)
"Hams are technically literate folks who don't pay for anything if they don't have to. If you can build it, why pay someone for it? I'm shocked that most of them can make a radio out of some wire and a resistor because it's cheap, yet choose to pay $200 for a Windows license."
Speaking as a long-term hamateur (I've been licensed nearly 26 years), I have some comments on your statements above.
First, name me ANYone on this planet that doesn't pay for something if they don't "have" to. I can assure you with absolute confidence that this is not a trait that is limited to ham radio folk.
Amateur radio, like other hobbies, gives back exactly what you put into it. If you just want to spend a minimal amount on a low-end radio for use on the local repeaters, and chat with others, fine. You'll get that, no problem.
If, on the other wing, you want your signal to go halfway around the planet, bounce off the moon and land back on Earth at some distant point, or put up your own repeater or APRS station, you're going to need to invest significant $$ in the appropriate hardware (and software, if needed) to do it.
Considering the high cost of some of that hardware, particularly specialized commercially-made antennas, is it any wonder that many hams (myself included) are tinkerers and kit-builders? Is it any wonder that we're opportunistic as all get-out when it comes to scrounging, and re-utilizing surplus parts to build our own stuff?
As far as your comments on $200 or so for Windows goes, let me add this. Learning how to tinker properly with electronics, especially radio hardware, takes lots of time. It also takes, in most cases, a significant investment in test and measurement equipment, and many specialized hand and power tools. Oscilloscopes, signal generators, and spectrum analyzers are not cheap, even on the used market, any more than a good drill press or contact crimper is.
Given that, and given the high degree of difficulty, and the equally high degree of skill, required to write a decent operating system or application software, I would certainly (heck, I did) choose to simply buy available products if they will meet my needs.
Put it another way; I really don't have the time or skill to write my own OS and software, nor is it something that I would choose to learn. It's enough of a challenge keeping up with what I'm doing on the hardware side (which does, admittedly, include the occasional bit of assembly code for embedded microcontrollers). It's much more expedient, in many cases, to simply buy what is already made that can be adapted to serve my requirements.
73 de KC7GR
The Ultimate (Score:5, Informative)
For the ultimate in merging Linux with radios:
GNU Radio [gnu.org]
From the FAQ:
Let's be honest (Score:5, Insightful)
1. Elitism - Yes, Linux users and Hams DO have something in common.
2. Technical aspects - speaks for itself
3. Cheapness - Combine used computer parts from Hamfests and free OS and you got the spirit of Ham Radio operators.
America's Hams? (Score:3, Funny)
If you thought computer guys are nerds ... (Score:2, Funny)
40% of the hams _online_ (Score:2)
Currently, the ax25 stuff under linux works, but it's licences are lame (non-gpl). I had at one point a working version of tcpdump that worked with ax25 frames for ham/digital stuff, but it wasn't 'legal'.
One of the big problems with ham 'warez' are that most of it is really lame windows shareware - - most of the c
Re:40% of the hams _online_ (Score:2)
The linux ax25 stuff is all gpl as its in the kernel... Secondly you don't need tcpdump at all to watch ax25 frames you simply use 'listen' which is part of the gpl'ed ax25 tools
There are some packet programs that are not free but mostly they are monolithic shit ported from dos to work on a more modern os (linux)
Jeroen
Linux Kernel Options (Score:3, Informative)
Last time I played with it (about kernel 2.2.12) it worked fine and connected to the rest of the packet users without any problems. Made it really easy to pass packets destined for the AMPR [ampr.org] out from my network at home.
Marginally Relevant (Score:2, Insightful)
* Primary general-use computer
* Non-primary general-use computer
* Exclusively for Ham work
* Saw picture of penguin on back page of my Linksys router or Tivo manual
Of course we are! (Score:2)
Starting Out... (Score:2, Interesting)
My question, is there a beginners FAQ or anything written up? I'd love to get into it, get my callsign/license and then some equipment, problem is I don't know exactly what all there is to get, or what I need....
Kind of like *NIX needs a better way to promote itself, sounds like Hams could use this also...
Re:Starting Out... (Score:5, Informative)
you might be able to find a good starter radio on ebay for under 100 bucks.
the technician class license is really easy to get, and you don't even have to know morse code to get licensed (general and extra classes require 5 words per minute proficiency). It helps if you have some electronics background, though.
Re:Starting Out... (Score:2)
oh, and i can't think of any ham operator (incl. myself) that will be willing to talk to you on the air if you don't have a callsign, unless you're "third-party" traffic and _not_ the operator.
and sure, it's easy to put together a mcgyver radio, but i sure wouldn't want to walk around town with a fucking grammaphone... i would rather get a cheap HT.
but you have fun talking
Re:Starting Out... (Score:2)
This is the book [radioshack.com]. The Beginner's Handbook of Amateur Radio, 4th Edition. I believe this is the right book.....
Why, then... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why, then... (Score:3, Funny)
Hams & Linux: Not quite yet. (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, more hams are getting into Linux, mainly because experimentation is in their blood... but the question is "what are hams passionate about?"-- answer: ham radio, not necessarily computing, although integration of the two is occuring at a faster pace now.
As a ham, I want my tools to work and work well. I want to spend my time on my hobby (radio) and not that much time figuring out how to use or configure my tools (OS's).
IMHO, linux will begin to rule when it:
1. Has a more intuitive GUI/Menu with descriptive application names that tell me what the app does.
2. Has an application installation procedure that my wife can figure out.
3. When lunatic-fringe linux geeks stop bashing "windoze" simply because it's easy to use.
What am I running right now? XP
Why?
It gives me what I need with the least amount of effort on my part. Call me an "appliance operator" or whatever, but I'm spending more time on what I enjoy: ham radio.
Elecraft open sources DSP code (Score:4, Interesting)
They and TenTec [tentec.com] are the last of American made and assmebled hame radio equipment makers left.
Wonder how this will spur interest in custom DSP desgined radios. There's also a link from the elecraft page to a samll and inexpensive DSP development platform [tapr.org].
73's
N2PDB
Debian's Ham section. (Score:2)
Ham Radio section [debian.org]
I just think that's cool.
The Ham Ethos & Computing (Score:4, Insightful)
I've always viewed my friends who are especially into Linux and ham radio (Rob Carlson [vees.net] -- radio callsign KC2AEI -- is one friend of mine who's fluent in both fields) as advanced hobbyists, the type of folks who might have scoured mall Radio Shacks for 6.5536 mhz crystals [s5.com] and dabbled in Heathkit [boulder.co.us]
catelogues several decades ago. Tinkerers, in other words, passionate about tweaking the miniscule component constituents of their electronics to achieve a personal, customized result.
On the other hand, the similarities between radio "consumers" and Windows users are too tempting not to make. Unlike the Linux/ham radio enthusiasts, these folks operate their store-bought PCs/radio receivers as black boxes, strictly according to the design intended by the devices' manufacturer and rarely cracking open cases out of curiousity. Of course, I'm painting w/ a broad metaphorical brush here, lumping swaths of individuals into overly generalized categories.
Alas, no Echolink ... (Score:2)
Re:Alas, no Echolink ... (Score:2)
Other polls... (Score:2)
Sadly, the commonest response in the OS poll taken on www.wideworldofsports.com was: "What's Linux?"
The second-best response was: "What's an operating system?"
finally! (Score:4, Funny)
SuSE Prof Ed -features- lotsa Ham applications (Score:2)
Search for "Ham" on this page:
www.suse.de/en/private/products/suse_linux/i386/p
How does that list compare to other Linux
(or BSD's, et al. for that matter)?
Dyslexia (Score:2)
So part of that 40% Unix must be Mac Users or is (Score:2)
Elmer - teaches for the ham radio exam
Antenna Master - helps design ham setups and antenna design
MacTNC - terminal control for Ham radio
Moonsked - ham radio moon bounce software
All of these are available for all flavors of the Mac OS - even X
I'm an amateur radio operator (Score:2)
Maybe this is because there is not much quality free software for ham applications out there. On top of this, I'm not so sure an informal poll on eham really means much anyway. The most heavily trafficked ham sites are probably QRZ.com
So what you're saying is.. (Score:2)
Sorry, am I missing something?
America's Hams Embrace Linux? (Score:2)
I didn't realize Chevy Chase was such a techie.
But the other 60%... (Score:2)
Embrace!? Hams prefer Windows!! (Score:2)
And fer cryin' out loud why put the political spin on this subject line? Have we sunk to the depths of the big bad corporations that we have to taint our news to suit our needs? Or is it that Open Source advocates simply resents MS because they envy its clout and money?
Re:New Linux Distro? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:New Linux Distro? (Score:2)
Nah; It'll be called Swinux.
Re:Geeks using Linux?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Hardware access in Windows becomes more abstracted and obfuscated with each release, much to the detriment of things like accurate timing which is essential for things like MIDI and controlling some hardware.
Linux gives the hacker plenty of ways to poke around with hardware ports etc..
Re:A Perfect Match (Score:4, Insightful)
I am just taking your flamebait post as a chance to remind you that if it dosen't use wires, hams have probably been involved in development at some stage.
Re:innovate? (Score:2)
And by nobody, I mean everybody.
You don't use any form of wireless communication? if it aint laser, then its radio.
Re:innovate? (Score:2)
When all of the modern stuff doesn't work (due to natural disasters, etc.), the hams manage to get communications through.
KG4HVP (Score:2)
I use Mandrake on my box, and I too am a young ham (18).
Re:What's Linux - Windows (Score:2)
So, no, they're really not redundant at all when some logical thought is applied.
Re:The survey is to scewed to be useful (Score:2)