LHS Episode #614: Deep Dive Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Show Notes

Deep Dive Topic - Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon

  • Canonical released Ubuntu 26.04 LTS “Resolute Raccoon” on April 23, 2026, marking a significant modernization of the distribution with GNOME 50 and the Linux kernel 7.0. This LTS version offers five years of standard support until April 2031, extending to ten years with Ubuntu Pro.
    • Key updates include:
      • Wayland-Only Desktop: The GNOME session now runs exclusively on Wayland, dropping Xorg support, though X11 applications remain functional via XWayland.
      • Enhanced Security: The release introduces TPM-backed full-disk encryption, post-quantum cryptography support in OpenSSL, and the Security Center app for desktop management.
      • New Default Applications: Canonical replaced legacy tools with modern GTK4/libadwaita apps, including Ptyxis (terminal), Papers (PDF), Loupe (images), Showtime (video), and Resources (system monitor).
      • Developer & Server Improvements: The toolchain features GCC 15.2 and Python 3.14, while server editions support Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP confidential computing.
      • Hardware Requirements: The recommended minimum RAM has increased to 6 GB to accommodate the modern desktop environment.
  • Source: https://lhs.fyi/Lq (Press Release)

Subscribers & Supporters:

  • Facebook
    • David Campbell
    • Amateur Radio Digital Communications
    • Stephan Forka
  • X / Twitter
    • Ted Poppke
  • Mastadon
    • KE9V Jeff
    • IU2WJH Salvatore
  • Live Show Participants
    • K4XSS - Tony
    • K1TTZ - Jill
    • KJ5T - Steve
    • KQ4ALK - Delring
    • KB2YSI - Don
    • BX8AAD - Gene

Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

Upgrading HamClock to a new server.

 

OHB ver 4.23

 I have been sitting back and watching the many Hamclock projects evolve. What I was looking for was a project that, when finished, resembled Elwood's Hamclock. I am happy to report that I have settled on using OHB or Open Hamclock Backend. This has a very polished look and looks and operates, in my humble opinion, the closest to Elwood's Hamclock. It is a group effort and has progressed at a smooth pace. There is an OHB web page that offers support and status updates. I operate HamClock on my Pi4B, and if you operate Elwood's HamClock on a Pi, below is the process you go through to move from Elwood's version 4.22 HamClock to OHB version 4.23 HamClock. 

It involves opening terminal and entering some commands to move away from Clearsky or Elwoods HamClock feed and change to OHB feed for their HamClock. Below is the how-to:

1. If, when you start up your Pi, HamClock loads (as it does in my case), you need to shut it down before you can begin the process. That is done by clicking on the padlock and choosing the option to exit  HamClock. Once you click ok to this, you will see HamClock shut down.

2. You now need to open terminal to enter commands. Terminal, in my case, is located at the top of the taskbar. I found it best to copy and paste the commands as opposed to typing them yourself. 

3. This is the first command you enter into terminal: 

curl -fsSL https://hamclock.co.uk/tools | sudo bash



This script will download the script that you are going to need when entering the script listed below. As a side note, with some Pi OS's like Trixie, you will be prompted to enter your password whenever a "sudo" command is used. Just be aware that your password may be needed.  

 

 

4. The next command is: 

sudo fix-hosts

 I have read that you only need to enter if you are running Trixie or newer. In my case, I entered it anyway, as the instructions indicate you can if you would like to. I just did it as a just-in-case. 

5. After the above command has been entered, you may or may not be asked to reboot. I was not, but again I did anyway just to make sure. So I entered this command: 

sudo reboot now

 And it reboots the Pi, and if your HamClock starts up and is on the desktop, you need to again click on the lock and exit HamClock. 

6. You are now able to move over to either OHB, or you can also move to Hamclock.com backend. I will just be dealing with OHB in this post, but I will give you the command script for Hamclock.com backend as well. For moving to OHB enter this command: 

sudo ohb

If you want to move to Hamclock.com backend, then enter this script: 

sudo hcdc

7. Once you have done this, you can confirm that you have actually moved by entering this script: 

what

And it will confirm that you have moved to either OHB or HCDC, which over sudo command you entered above. In my case, the return script was: 

Your HamClock is set to Open HamClock Backend



   This confirmed to me that I had moved to OHB. 

 

 

 

 

8. The final step is to restart by entering this script: 

sudo reboot now

And once you have rebooted and HamClock goes through its startup, you will be asked if you want to go from version 4.22 to 4.23 and click YES.  

Updating 


 

 

 

 

 

 

As a way of 2 side notes:

1. I did have to, for reasons not known to me, do the above process twice, as when I rebooted into the new feed for HamClock, I was not asked if I wanted to upgrade to 4.23. For some reason, it stayed on 4.22. Once I did steps 1-8 again, I was then asked to upgrade to 4.23.  

Ver 4.22 poor quality compared to 4.23


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. If you are operating Elwood's version of HamClock while it is loading, you will be asked if you want to upgrade to version 4.23, but as you say YES, you will be greeted with the following error message. To fix this, you need to change your back end. This is done by following the above 8 steps. 


 

 


Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 418

Amateur Radio Weekly

Icom teases X-026 radio to be Revealed at Hamvention
Dubbed as a “concept mock-up,” the radio appears to be a mobile VHF/UHF/HF rig.
Icom

AST SpaceMobile to use 430 MHz band for 248 satellites
FCC announced that AST SpaceMobile will be using the Amateur 430 MHz band.
AMSAT-UK

SteppIR returns to Amateur Radio market
We will be bringing back select antennas that will be purchased as kits on our website.
Amateur Radio Daily

ROTA: Recliners on the Air
Because life happens in the living room, not the shed.
ROTA

Reviving Teletext for Ham Radio
Hack the airwaves with some of the best tech of the 1980s.
IEEE Spectrum

MeshCore development teams split
We’ve released more than 85 versions of the MeshCore Companion, Repeater and Room Server firmwares with support for more than 75 hardware variants.
Meshcore.io

The really big dish: China’s sky eye
The contrasts with Arecibo are quite telling.
Solder Smoke Daily News

PARC: Protected Area Radio Community
The new Amateur Radio park activation program.
PARC

Flipper Zero transmits APRS with no extra parts
Because of the FSK-as-FM modulation it won’t be decoded by everything, but you can’t argue with the bill of materials if you happen to own a Flipper.
Hackaday

M17 over RF with your phone and HT
Is this viable?
Random Wire

The Old Man
The radio shack was an eclectic mix of antique and more modern radio equipment.
KE9V

Utilizing HERMES in fishing boats off the shore of Bangladesh
The initiative aimed to improve safety at sea and strengthen communication in areas lacking infrastructure.
Community Networks Learning Center

Hibbian Linux for Ham Radio
Debian based distro contains many Ham Radio packages.
Hibbian

Video

HamTV recording of contact with astronaut Sophie Adenot
This version was recorded by ARISS HamTV ground stations while Adenot spoke with students in French.
ARISS

A conversation with She’s On Frequency
Elle-Marie shares how she discovered Ham Radio while looking for reliable off-grid communication.
Alliance Amateur Radio Network

Inside Hamvention 2026: What to expect
Michael Kalter W8CI is the voice and steady hand behind the Dayton Hamvention.
Q5

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Amateur Radio Weekly is curated by Cale Mooth K4HCK. Sign up free to receive ham radio's most relevant news, projects, technology and events by e-mail each week at http://www.hamweekly.com.

Advantages to having radio control software.

Snap shot of my Win4icom setup. 

 

Radio Control Software: Taking the Complexity Out of Ham Radio

For some time now, new radios have come with onboard sound cards, LAN and USB connections, among other features. It seems that integrating your radio into the computer world is becoming increasingly easier. I have been using radio control software for some time now. I use VA2FSQ Innovations software, or as some may know it, Win4Icom, Win4K3, Win4K4, or Win4Yaesu. Tom (VA2FSQ) has excellent software that continues to be improved upon, as well as offering great support. The company is also Canadian, which is a bonus, as this household is Canada-first when it comes to purchasing.

What Are the Advantages of Radio Control Programs?

Most controls you may need are just a mouse click away. There is no diving into radio menus to find something. Easy tuning with a mouse wheel, and the list goes on. In my case, the best thing about radio control programs are the macros and the ability to control other programs. Being a contester, when I start Win4Icom it loads N1MM+ contesting software as well. But the icing on the cake, in my case, is the macros.

Macros in Action

For example, I have macros set up for contesting. When I click on the 40m macro, here is what I have programmed to happen:
  • The radio goes to 40m if not already there, on VFO A
  • Antenna 2 is selected.
  • CW mode is chosen.
  • I am dropped into the middle of the 40m CW band segment.
  • A custom audio level is set.
  • Filter 1 (300Hz) is applied.
  • NB, Digi select, RF gain, and NR are all set to custom values optimized for 40m CW.
This all happens with a single click of the 40mA macro (A is for VFO A). I have all the bands set up with macros customized for each one. If you are not into contesting, not to worry — I also have macros for split on/off, dual watch on/off, and filter settings at 400Hz, 300Hz, and 200Hz, among others.

The Split Operation Macro

Let’s look at the split on macro as another example. With one click:
  • Dual watch is turned on.
  • Split is turned on
  • The appropriate antenna is selected based on the current band.
  • VFO A and B are set to the same band
  • VFO B is set to 1kHz above VFO A
  • Filters are configured for both VFOs
With this in mind, you can have macros set up for digital modes, SSB, and any settings you commonly use that are otherwise buried in the radio’s menu system.

A Word on Reliability

Some may say that adding a radio control program is just another layer where things can go wrong. At times, yes, there is a hiccup or two, but overall, you rarely see this anymore. In most cases, when there is an issue, it is due to operator error rather than the program itself.
If you have never used a radio control program before, give it a whirl — most, if not all, programs out there offer a free trial period to help you get your feet wet.

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

LHS Episode #613: Puter Talk

Show Notes

Amateur Radio Topics:

Open Source / Linux Topics:

Linux in the Ham Shack Topics:

Announcements & Feedback:

  • Announcements:
    • Can you help support the show?  
      • You can do that via Patreon, Paypal, Merch - just a few bucks a month helps us out immensely when it comes to covering the costs of giving you the most terrific amateur radio podcast on the internet!
    • We need topics! 
      • Weekender episodes - anything goes!  
      • We need ideas for things you’d like to hear about in our Deep Dive episodes!  Help us out by emailing suggestions to [email protected]
    • Come see us at Hamvention
      • May 15-17, 2026 - Booth 2206, Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio.  That is building E2/Tesla Hall, and we’re directly across from Flex Radio and Begali Keys in the big walkway between the 2 garage doors (so it’s nice and cool!).  We’ll be there from 9-5 on Friday and Saturday… and since we both have long drives ahead of us, we’ll be there at 9am and leave early (probably by 11) on Sunday… so make sure, if you’re waiting to visit us until Sunday, you get there EARLY!
      • Join us for dinner at Hamvention!
        • Friday:
          • Join Bill and I for dinner at BJ’s Brewhouse (2715 Fairfield Commons Boulevard, Beavercreek, OH 45431; it’s about 10 miles from Hamvention) on FRIDAY, May 15th, at 6pm.  Their menu is extremely diverse… pizza, pasta, burgers, steaks, etc.  Several Gluten-Free (although, because of their menu, there is a chance of cross-contamination; management told me to alert the server and they would do their best to avoid contamination) and Vegetarian options are available, too
        • Saturday:
          • Join Bill and I for dinner at Chuy’s Tex-Mex (2717 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek, OH 45431) on Saturday, May 16th, at 6pm.  Bill and I are very keen on Mexican food, so this is somewhat of a no-brainer.  And there are Gluten-Free (again, possible risk of cross-contamination) and Vegetarian options available!
    • Repeater for sale!
      • Spread the word to anyone you think might be interested, if you’re not!  The repeater that Russ had set up has been taken offline because of Russ’s death.  If anyone is interested in everything available (sold as a package deal only), please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll send you the details/pictures.  Pickup in SW Missouri, the Billings, Montana area or at Hamvention (or if you live along the route between either of our homes and Hamvention; other places hinge on whether we will be traveling through/to where it needs to go.  Don’t hesitate to ask!).
    • Memorial Service for Russ, K5TUX
      • There will be a memorial service held for Russ at our home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on November 1, 2026.  Everyone is welcome!  If you’d like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll send you more info!
  • Feedback:
    • Bob, K4RFK via email:
      • How about you revisit setting up TLF and/or YFKtest and include how to set up contests that aren’t included in the initial downloads.  I’ve looked at their instructions and cant make head nor tails out of them.

Subscribers & Supporters:

  • Facebook
    • Jim Mooney
    • Schm Soltana
  • Mastadon
    • Corey B
  • Discord
    • GregNM8B[Conover]
    • Keith K2UNI
    • macrator
    • AB4WS - Jack
    • Primit1v3
    • Deleted User
    • Voice
    • russellmckay2
    • Brian AK6MA
    • Geoff - KD8VAX
    • Noah
    • Jack KM7CIB
  • Live Show Participants
    • Mike, K6GTE
    • Tucker, KJ5NIT
    • David, W4DPE
    • Don, KC9ZMY
    • Dan, KB6NUV
    • Don, KB2YSI
    • Noah
    • Jack - KM7CIB

Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

ICQPodcast Episode 481 – Home Brewing & Kit Building

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Colin Butler M6BOY to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is Home brewing / Kit building.

We would like to thank our John Merkel (AJ1DM) and monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate


Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

AmateurLogic 216: Repair or Replace


AmateurLogic.TV Episode 216 is now available for download.

Exploring the Ham Dash App ham radio dashboard. Consolidating the shack with Raspberry Pi 5 and M.2 solid state drive. Should you Repair or Replace that appliance with the recently expired warranty.

Download
YouTube


George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].

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