The idea
Radio makes abstract engineering problems immediately concrete: software controls a real transmitter, timing matters down to the second, protocols have to actually interoperate, and mistakes have physical consequences. That’s the appeal — it’s a hands-on exploration of the boundary between software and the physical world.
What it does
The station runs digital-mode operation — primarily FT8 — with a Linux computer controlling the radio hardware, decoding and encoding audio, and logging contacts. It started with a low-power (tr)uSDX QRP transceiver and has since expanded toward more capable SDR hardware with a Hermes Lite 2.
How it works
A Linux station computer ties everything together: Hamlib and rigctld handle radio control over USB serial (CAT), a CM108 USB audio interface handles the audio path, and WSJT-X does the digital-mode encoding/decoding with GridTracker layered on top for contact/grid visualization. Getting the radio talking to Linux cleanly meant digging into USB serial behavior, CAT protocol compatibility, audio routing, and PTT (push-to-talk) timing.
Interesting challenges
The real work here wasn’t any single component — it was interoperability. Radio control protocols, audio routing, and timing-sensitive PTT behavior all have to line up correctly across the transceiver, the CAT interface, and the software stack before a single contact goes through.
Progress and outcomes
The station has completed digital-mode (FT8) contacts using this setup, with radio hardware, control software, audio processing, and networked interfaces kept as distinct, swappable layers.
What comes next
Continued expansion around the Hermes Lite 2 SDR, and integration with the physical SDR control console concept for a more tactile operating experience.