Thank you very much for producing this video. I've been tracking the weather balloons out of Ft. Worth Texas since this spring with the "cheap and dirty" Lilygo module solution but lately I've had the time and masochistic urge to put together the system that the "big boys" use. Your video and links will help me a lot to do my first raspberry pi project! Even if I don't understand it, I've seen you do it and so know that it can be done! 😃😃 73's WA0YMH
Well from out of the box to get working, I followed all your setups and I am up and running, what caught me out was that I was using a different account name, other than PI. Once I edit the files with my user name, it worked straight away, Looking forward to some results over the next few days, I have a 14 element yagi for 430Mhz which will get me going. Then I will move it to the Diamond 7000 vertical at 50ft... Thanks again de Ei2iP, Robbie.
I want to say that you saved my station here today. After the 1.8 update my system broke. I had originally installed from the R Pi image created at version 1.3 but the folks in VK land, but alas, that will no longer work for the updates 1.8 and beyond it seems. The only way I was able to figure all the setup out was following you with a clean install of 32 bit Bookworm on my aging R Pi 2B. I do have one question and that is how are folks tying into the SQ6KXY system using this software. You briefly showed the maping they use and originally I did run his software for a while and still have a valid login and PW for the system but cannot figure out where to set that up in the Station.config file. Thanks again for getting me through this oddly harsh installation. Sean KB8JNE
Glad you were able to get it going again. The SQ6KXY stuff is in the APRS UPLOAD SETTINGS section. You would need to make sure the following items are set. aprs_enabled = true aprs_user = your callsign aprs_pass = 5 digit passcode aprs_server = radiosondy.info aprs_port = 14590 Let me know if that gets you going.
Thanks Stan for posting this. I do not think my plans of running something other than a Raspberry Pi is going to be a viable option for setting up a receiver in Western, IL. I will see about getting a Pi and have an outdoor antenna already along with a band pass filter.
@@k9swx I am a newbie when it comes to Linux and Pi's so will be relying on your expertise in this area. Also to get you chasing a few of these that drop in your area as I have recovered a half dozen so far. Most of them with only an HT, paper clip and using predictions and final received readings.
Is there an easy way to test your reciever without having a real balllon within range? I ask since I’m in a rural spot and would like to test it before driving out to a launch area.
i there , i am living in India .. i can't tarack a balloon using auto rx .. it picks up the signal but it can decode .. i'am 1 km away from the local metro dep.. i did some research on local station I found that .. they are using rsg-20A radiosonde .. does auto rx decode it ? pls help
I don't see that one on their list of supported units. It probably is because they don't have a sample to experiment with. github.com/projecthorus/radiosonde_auto_rx
@@k9swx thanks for you reply. I have another doubt on auto Rx .. some times they launch weatherx models near me .when the balloon launches at the local station ,my auto_rx station picks up and started getting data from it .. when i reboot my pi it , i don't get any data it shows only peack detected . pls help
Sometimes the peaks are not real signals. It is also possible you need to change the threshold so it tries decoding at a lower signal level. Are your balloon always on the same frequency or does it change every launch?
@@k9swx yep... i know the signal( 101.975 and 402.98 ) near by local station uses only 2 frequencies. 5 minutes before my pi got reboot I work fine it starts decoding and i'am getting data on 402.98mhz .. while balloon is in 2 km, my pi got reboot due to power cut .. cze my pi is connected to AC power . after the reboot It only shows peak on the 402.98 frequency . i also tried always scan parameter too..
Thanks to your video I managed to set this up. Not very good with programming Linux on the Pi, so without this video I would have had real problems. Had some issues with accessing Pi via SSH with Putty, but that was because I failed to set up SSH access in the Pi itself while creating the Pi image with the Pi imager. I also had the signal detected on 403.2MHz with no aerial connected, so assume it is a birdie from the RTL itself. This seems to be confirmed by a search on Google. On first use it I detected 2 radiosondes, one of them at a range of 330Km when using a 2Mtr/70cm co-linear aerial. E-Mail notification did not work though. I got an error message in red “E-Mail-Error sending E-mail notification - (Erno 111) Connection refused”. Any idea what may be causing that ? Thanks for the video 73’s, Nick - G4NKV.
@@k9swx Hi - using an e-mail address from my web domain. I have a few different ones created, but am using the one stated on QRZ site. I have a G-Mail address - would it be a good idea to change the station.cfg file to use that ?
@@k9swx I did fail to set that up, but still don’t seem to have it correct. Failed again to send e-mail on detection of radiosonde with a different error. I set smpt_server to my outgoing server, smpt_port to to 587, smpt_authentication to TLS and my email in the to field. Not sure what smpt_login and smpt_password require, so tried setting login to my email and password to my email password. Tried using the command Python -m autorx.email_notification to test from auto_rx folder, but that gives lots of errors such as ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘semver’ Any suggestions ?
@@k9swx I did fail to set that up, but still don’t seem to have it correct. Failed again to send e-mail on detection of radiosonde with a different error. I set smpt_server to my outgoing server, smpt_port to to 587, smpt_authentication to TLS and my email in the to field. Not sure what smpt_login and smpt_password require, so tried setting login to my email and password to my email password. Tried using the command Python -m autorx.email_notification to test from auto_rx folder, but that gives lots of errors such as ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘semver’ Any suggestions ?
Great video! I just wished that auto_rx was not a Linux program. I have all the necessary "parts" for an automatic station but lack Linux knowledge. AB5R
What part are you getting stuck on? Once you get it setup you can just let it run and really not mess with it since it's accessible with a web browser.
@@k9swx Thank you for the reply, but I just saw your reply. Not joking, but I am stuck from the word LINUX and there after! I know absolutely nothing about Linux, period. When it comes to Github, I am lost too. I've given up on the automatic Raspberry Pi approach. 73 Jerry
Hello, which command can I use to make changes later without having to recreate the file (nano station.cfg). The Controls button is now Disabled for me and it also didn't work before without a password
You should be able to edit the file with the same command. You'll have to restart the auto_rx service or just restart the Pi after you make the changes.
So I got to the last step of auto RX and when I try to set it up to run automatically and start the service it doesn't do anything, and when I check the status it says auto rx service failed with result 'exit code' What does this mean?
What commands did you run to set it up automatically? You might try this command and see if it gives you any nuggets of information on why it failed. journalctl -u auto_rx
@@k9swx I just followed along with the video. so I used the same commands you did. everything worked fine up until that point. I can run the program manually.
@@k9swx I just followed along with the video so I used the same commands you did. The log never came up though, it just sat and did nothing and when I went to check the status I got the error message. I can start the program manually and it''ll run fine though.
Can you copy/paste the full error you're getting? I'd also like to see your /etc/systemd/system/auto_rx.service file. That seems to be where the issue is since you can run it manually.
@k9swx is there a way to copy from windows terminal? Right clicking won't do it I'm not too familiar with all the commands. I do have screenshots of it I could make a video and have you respond to it.
This is something that I tried to do several times but failed. Your video is very helpful. Thanks my station is now fully operational
Glad to help!
About to set up my station this week, thanks for this video!
Glad to help!
Thank you very much for producing this video. I've been tracking the weather balloons out of Ft. Worth Texas since this spring with the "cheap and dirty" Lilygo module solution but lately I've had the time and masochistic urge to put together the system that the "big boys" use. Your video and links will help me a lot to do my first raspberry pi project! Even if I don't understand it, I've seen you do it and so know that it can be done! 😃😃 73's WA0YMH
Well from out of the box to get working, I followed all your setups and I am up and running, what caught me out was that I was using a different account name, other than PI. Once I edit the files with my user name, it worked straight away, Looking forward to some results over the next few days, I have a 14 element yagi for 430Mhz which will get me going.
Then I will move it to the Diamond 7000 vertical at 50ft...
Thanks again de Ei2iP, Robbie.
Glad you figured it out!
Thanks man, I've been trying to get it to work and have been failing. This video helped me get it sorted.
Glad to help!
I want to say that you saved my station here today. After the 1.8 update my system broke. I had originally installed from the R Pi image created at version 1.3 but the folks in VK land, but alas, that will no longer work for the updates 1.8 and beyond it seems. The only way I was able to figure all the setup out was following you with a clean install of 32 bit Bookworm on my aging R Pi 2B. I do have one question and that is how are folks tying into the SQ6KXY system using this software. You briefly showed the maping they use and originally I did run his software for a while and still have a valid login and PW for the system but cannot figure out where to set that up in the Station.config file.
Thanks again for getting me through this oddly harsh installation.
Sean
KB8JNE
Glad you were able to get it going again. The SQ6KXY stuff is in the APRS UPLOAD SETTINGS section. You would need to make sure the following items are set.
aprs_enabled = true
aprs_user = your callsign
aprs_pass = 5 digit passcode
aprs_server = radiosondy.info
aprs_port = 14590
Let me know if that gets you going.
Great Video on the setup! What size Pi4 would you recommend?
Thanks! It works fine with the 1GB version.
Thanks Stan for posting this. I do not think my plans of running something other than a Raspberry Pi is going to be a viable option for setting up a receiver in Western, IL. I will see about getting a Pi and have an outdoor antenna already along with a band pass filter.
Sounds good. Let me know when you get it setup.
@@k9swx I am a newbie when it comes to Linux and Pi's so will be relying on your expertise in this area. Also to get you chasing a few of these that drop in your area as I have recovered a half dozen so far. Most of them with only an HT, paper clip and using predictions and final received readings.
I have nooelec sdr which is rtl chip, when I test looks like more loss then need to be how to fix problem with usb?
Is there an easy way to test your reciever without having a real balllon within range? I ask since I’m in a rural spot and would like to test it before driving out to a launch area.
How far away from the launch area are you? Depending on your antenna you might pick them up from home.
Great video and explanation..THANK YOU! Just finished setting up and it appears to work. KF2FC
Glad it worked for you. It's a sweet program and works pretty well. A lot cheaper than buying a digital scanner too!
i there , i am living in India .. i can't tarack a balloon using auto rx .. it picks up the signal but it can decode .. i'am 1 km away from the local metro dep.. i did some research on local station I found that .. they are using rsg-20A radiosonde .. does auto rx decode it ? pls help
I don't see that one on their list of supported units. It probably is because they don't have a sample to experiment with.
github.com/projecthorus/radiosonde_auto_rx
@@k9swx thanks for you reply. I have another doubt on auto Rx .. some times they launch weatherx models near me .when the balloon launches at the local station ,my auto_rx station picks up and started getting data from it .. when i reboot my pi it , i don't get any data it shows only peack detected . pls help
Sometimes the peaks are not real signals. It is also possible you need to change the threshold so it tries decoding at a lower signal level. Are your balloon always on the same frequency or does it change every launch?
@@k9swx yep... i know the signal( 101.975 and 402.98 ) near by local station uses only 2 frequencies. 5 minutes before my pi got reboot I work fine it starts decoding and i'am getting data on 402.98mhz .. while balloon is in 2 km, my pi got reboot due to power cut .. cze my pi is connected to AC power . after the reboot It only shows peak on the 402.98 frequency . i also tried always scan parameter too..
Thanks to your video I managed to set this up. Not very good with programming Linux on the Pi, so without this video I would have had real problems.
Had some issues with accessing Pi via SSH with Putty, but that was because I failed to set up SSH access in the Pi itself while creating the Pi image with the Pi imager.
I also had the signal detected on 403.2MHz with no aerial connected, so assume it is a birdie from the RTL itself. This seems to be confirmed by a search on Google.
On first use it I detected 2 radiosondes, one of them at a range of 330Km when using a 2Mtr/70cm co-linear aerial.
E-Mail notification did not work though. I got an error message in red “E-Mail-Error sending E-mail notification - (Erno 111) Connection refused”. Any idea what may be causing that ?
Thanks for the video 73’s, Nick - G4NKV.
Glad you got it setup! Which email provider are you using to send the emails?
@@k9swx Hi - using an e-mail address from my web domain. I have a few different ones created, but am using the one stated on QRZ site.
I have a G-Mail address - would it be a good idea to change the station.cfg file to use that ?
@nickgrundy6972 Did you enter the mail server information in the station.cfg file?
@@k9swx I did fail to set that up, but still don’t seem to have it correct. Failed again to send e-mail on detection of radiosonde with a different error.
I set smpt_server to my outgoing server, smpt_port to to 587, smpt_authentication to TLS and my email in the to field.
Not sure what smpt_login and smpt_password require, so tried setting login to my email and password to my email password.
Tried using the command Python -m autorx.email_notification to test from auto_rx folder, but that gives lots of errors such as ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘semver’
Any suggestions ?
@@k9swx I did fail to set that up, but still don’t seem to have it correct. Failed again to send e-mail on detection of radiosonde with a different error.
I set smpt_server to my outgoing server, smpt_port to to 587, smpt_authentication to TLS and my email in the to field.
Not sure what smpt_login and smpt_password require, so tried setting login to my email and password to my email password.
Tried using the command Python -m autorx.email_notification to test from auto_rx folder, but that gives lots of errors such as ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘semver’
Any suggestions ?
Great video! I just wished that auto_rx was not a Linux program. I have all the necessary "parts" for an automatic station but lack Linux knowledge. AB5R
What part are you getting stuck on? Once you get it setup you can just let it run and really not mess with it since it's accessible with a web browser.
@@k9swx Thank you for the reply, but I just saw your reply. Not joking, but I am stuck from the word LINUX and there after! I know absolutely nothing about Linux, period. When it comes to Github, I am lost too. I've given up on the automatic Raspberry Pi approach. 73 Jerry
Hello, which command can I use to make changes later without having to recreate the file (nano station.cfg). The Controls button is now Disabled for me and it also didn't work before without a password
You should be able to edit the file with the same command. You'll have to restart the auto_rx service or just restart the Pi after you make the changes.
Tonight's balloon is going to land nearly right on top of you.
Wow you're not kidding. Sometime I'm going to go look for one but not in the dark.
So I got to the last step of auto RX and when I try to set it up to run automatically and start the service it doesn't do anything, and when I check the status it says auto rx service failed with result 'exit code' What does this mean?
What commands did you run to set it up automatically? You might try this command and see if it gives you any nuggets of information on why it failed.
journalctl -u auto_rx
@@k9swx I just followed along with the video. so I used the same commands you did. everything worked fine up until that point. I can run the program manually.
@@k9swx I just followed along with the video so I used the same commands you did. The log never came up though, it just sat and did nothing and when I went to check the status I got the error message. I can start the program manually and it''ll run fine though.
Can you copy/paste the full error you're getting? I'd also like to see your /etc/systemd/system/auto_rx.service file. That seems to be where the issue is since you can run it manually.
@k9swx is there a way to copy from windows terminal? Right clicking won't do it I'm not too familiar with all the commands. I do have screenshots of it I could make a video and have you respond to it.
SQ8LE, 73
Great video. A friend walked me throught the instalation of version 1.5.1 and that is where I have been up to now.
KA7FVV