Fldigi Running On Raspberry Pi 3 – Icom 7300
Fldigi, Icom 7300, Raspberry Pi 3
I've been looking for some more things to do with the Raspberry Pi 3. DXSpider is running on one of them and the other is used for testing. The one for testing is in my office next to my radio, the Icom IC-7300. I've tried a few applications with it and I'm happy to say that Fldigi runs very well on it.
The Raspberry Pi 3 doesn't take up much room at all! See the photo. It's about the size of a Signalink USB.
If you get a Raspberry Pi 3 and install Raspbian, this is how I installed and setup Fldigi.
Raspberry Pi 3, Raspbian, Fldigi, Update, Setup and QSO!
- Update all of it. Run> sudo apt-get update and > sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
- Set the clock to UTC and localisation settings under Preferences and Raspberry Pi Configuration.
- Connect your cables to your radio or Signalink
- Install Fldigi. Go to the Raspberry Icon> Preferences> Add/Remove Software
- Search for Fldigi and install the packages you want. I installed Fldigi, Flrig and Flmsg
- Open Fldigi. Fldigi will be under the Internet Program Group.
- Go to Configure and setup Rig Control. I'm using the IC-7300.xml and the Prolific CI-V cable.
- Go to Sound Card. I'm using the USB Audio CODEC
I'm happy to say that the software found my cables and all I had to do was select them from the drop down menus in Fldigi.
See the following for more detail. I made this impromptu video using my phone. You can see the setup and a PSK31 QSO I make. It's pretty awesome!
You can buy a Raspberry Pi on Ebay
Here's a clip I made over the weekend using the Raspberry Pi 3, Fldigi and my Icom 7300.
Now if I can get WSJT working I'll be a happy camper. Linux requires a bit of patience, but it's worth it. If you have any questions please comment below. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
You just made my day!
Now I need to find a monitor I can run off 12v that’s light weight.
Hi Vince,
Thanks for commenting and it’s nice to hear from you. I was looking in the auto section of Amazon for monitors a while back. It’s a good source for research, hi.
Thanks again and have a great day!
Rich, K0PIR
I’m going to try this.
As for the monitor, I’ve been successful with VNC to operate my Pi and not have to purchase any additional hardware.
Hi John,
Thanks for the comment.
I have been using mine for a couple of years and haven’t had any problems with it. I am using DXspider on one of them and it has been up and running for years.
73’s,
Rich, K0PIR
I got it up and running but am having a dickens of a time, finding out how to adjust the volume. Both speaker and microphone. I’m using a USB Sound Card and it sees it, just not able to adjust the volumes. I’ve tried using the Audio Device Settings under Preferences and even installed Pavucontrol and it doesn’t seem to matter how I adjust the slides, there isn’t any change to the volume levels.
Is that controlled by FLDIGI?
73 John
Never mind. I found it under the preferences tab, where I was on the Audio Device Settings, there was an additional tab that controlled the Automatic Gain Control. It was checked, not allowing me to control the microphone. Unchecking it allowed movement of the microphone and thus, changing the input from the radio to the pi. My water fall isn’t yellow any more. I can reduce the sound from the radio and my water fall is blue now.
Yes! It’s a little tricky at first, but was working very well for me and the 7300. I hope to get my 7610 working with Fldigi on the Pi.
Thanks for commenting and posting this. I am sure it will help others in the future.
Best 73! Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich. I tried to get my Rasberry Pi working with Fldigi but having a heck of a time getting it to consistently control my IC7300. It has worked a handful of times but for the life of me I couldn’t tell you what changed between those episodic events. I have the ic7300.xml file and the icom specific usb driver selected for rig cat to function but it’s just frustrating me. I have also tried rebooting with the usb cable removed, reinstalling Flrig, and I tried hitting the initialize button repeatedly but it only works when it decides to.
I have a usb for rig control and separate usb to a SignaLink device that I only use for keying CW on the rig. I actually have that wired for CW so I can use fldigi to send CW and it work well on my MacBook just can’t get the pi to work. Any thoughts?
Hi Terry,
Nice to hear from you and that’s very interesting about the SignaLink. I hadn’t thought of that.
Fldigi can be quirky, but I did get it working good using the RPi3. It is slow to follow the change in freq., but I never had trouble making contacts. I was using a slower baud rate when I had the CI-V cable for rig control.
I eventually started using just the USB cable and not the CI-V for anything on the RPi. It worked good. I never did do CW with it. Have you tried Hardware PTT instead of CAT?
For me, sometimes, it’s just a matter of trying anything I can think of until something works, hi!
Thanks for commenting. I hope you can get it working. It sounds like a fun project.
Rich, K0PIR
Oops! I figured it out. Working like a charm now.
I had my amplifier turned off because I don’t feel it necessary to use anything more than the IC7300 puts by itself and because the amplifier (Acom 600) uses the Aux/CI-V port on my Icom radio fldigi wouldn’t control my rig unless it was on and running. So, I either unplug the Acom amplifier from the Icom or just power it on and leave it in standby mode. Either way it’s working 100% of the time. Total noob move! Haha. Great post and even better videos.
Happens to me all the time, hi!
Thanks for the video. I have WJST-x running on a RPi to my TT Argo VI. It receives great but TX has so far been a challenge through the Signalink. Next up FLDIGI.
Rich
KA2VCW, Rochester, NY
Thanks for commenting and nice to hear from you Rich.
I never did try my Signalink USB with the Pi, but I know lots of others have.
Great to hear you got it working.
Fldigi worked good for me and I like to use it when I’m operating portable. Just a nice simple interface.
I’d like to gather some input on how others use Fldigi. The macros mainly. Please let me know how it goes on the Pi and the Signalink.
Rich, K0PIR
Hi, guys
Thanks for the great info. Here’s my issue. I installed fldigi, connected cables and selected USC codec in my Pi3. During some test runs the Pi3 will cause my SignaLink to key, but the radio (Yaesu FT-950) does not start to xmit. I have been experimenting with the audio levels, but no-go so far. Very frustrating. Any ideas would be appreciated!
Jim, KW6JIM
Hi Jim,
Nice to hear from you and thanks for commenting. I haven’t used a SignaLink with mine, but I know many other Hams do.
You may want to try the Forum Raspberry Pi for Ham Radio.
Rich, K0PIR
Rich, thanks for you guidance on the 7300 with the Raspberry Pi. Using it I got everything hooked up, downloaded and compiled new versions of fldigi and flrig and got it going just fine. EXCEPT. Decode is junk. The tones are there, the waterfall is present although the lines are more fuzzy than I’m used to in digital, but the decode is gibberish. I’ve tried every setting recommended for the 7300 and for fldigi.
What suggestions do you have to diagnose this?
Hi Bruce,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting.
Try going to 14.070,put the radio in USB-D mode. Put Fldigi in PSK31 mode (Op Mode>PSK>BPSK-31) and see if you can find a PSK31 signal. Click on it and see if it will decode.
Rich,K0PIR
I’m using a raspberry pi 4 with my FT-857D and I’m curious as to the baud rate? I was going to try 9600? I’m in the UK, if that affects anything? Regards
M0VXD.
Hi Sean,
Nice to hear from you. I look forward to trying a RPi4 someday.
I would try higher and then try the highest the radio will do.
Good luck and 73,
Rich,K0PIR
Do you happen to know if this same procedure will work with the IC-7200?
Hi Carlton,
Thank you for the question and thank you for commenting here.
Yes I believe the Icom 7200 will work just like the 7300.
73!
Rich, K0PIR
waiting for my first rpi 3b and will load fldigi to use with ic-7100 (and ft817 with signalink) How do you link to a logging program? can I use N3FJP or is there another program that is rpi friendly?
Jim KI6WJ
Hi Jim,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting here.
I did get CQRLog running on the RPi3,but it was slow on my RPi3.
You can probably use N3FJP on the WindowsPC. In Fldigi you have to insert the correct IP address of the PC. Look under Configure>Logging.
Best 73 from Kansas! On the road to my home QTH.
Rich,K0PIR/M
Best 73 from Kansas! On the road to my home QTH.
Rich,K0PIR/M
Where does a CI-V cable plug into a 7300?
Hi Jim,
It plugs into the remote port on the rear. It is a 3.5mm jack. I hope this helps. Stay safe and Best 73!