| Trace: Amateur Radio & Computers |
Amateur Radio & Computers
From TSGARC
Many amateur radio operators and listener are also have a parallel interest in computers and IT, and often use their computers as part of their hobby in a number of different ways.
| This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of Amateur Radio Software, rather it is a list of software that our members use. |
Contents |
Logging Software
One of the requirements of the amateur radio licence is for the operator to keep a log of all transmissions they make, and SWL (Short Wave Listeners) will often keep a log of stations that they pick up. There are a number of award schemes for both operators and listeners such as Worked All Britain that set challenges for people to make contact with operators across the whole of the UK.
To help with this a lot people use computer based logging software that allows them to record all the contacts they make, club members have used some of the programmes listed below, many of which are free on the web.
| Name & Web link | What it does | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Ham Radio Deluxe | Just about everything:
| A really excellent piece of software that has been developed and is avaiable free on the web. |
| MacLoggerDX | Very similar softawre to Ham Radio Deluxe but form Apple Mac PC & laptops, although it does not yet offer as much for working in digital modes. | Although not free this is an excellent piece of software that makes control of radio's and logging transmissions very straight forward. |
Radio Control Software
Many of the more modern radios can be connected to a computer and controlled through it via a mouse, this link is normally two way with the selected frequency and transmission mode being displayed for the operator, often this type of software will either have it's own built in logbook software or will work with stand alone logbooks so that times, frequencies and modes are entered automatically.
| Name & Web link | What it does | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Ham Radio Deluxe | See Logging Software | See Logging Software |
| MacLoggerDX | See Logging Software | See Logging Software |
Digital Modes Software
As well as using radios for voice and Morse code transmission there are now a great variety of 'digital modes' in use these convert (modulate) the speech or text into special transmission codes or sounds and this will de-modulated at the other end.
| Name & Web link | What it does | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Ham Radio Deluxe | See Logging Software | See Logging Software |
| Ui-View APRS Software | APRS (Amateur Radio Positioning System) is a digital format the combines amateur radio, GPS and transmission of text besed messages to support emergency communications, this software integrates with maps to show you where transmissions are coming from and if the operator is mobile in a car with GPS it also shows direction and speed | This is well developed and delivered software that is easy to use and works well. |
| AGWPE | This software uses your inbuilt sound card on the PC or laptop to send and receive packet (a digital data mode) without having to use a hardware to generate the signals for your radio | This is simple software to use and works well with programmes like Ui-View |
| MacLoggerDX | See Logging Software | See Logging Software |
Picture and TV software
| Name & Web link | What it does | Comments |
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