Raspberry Pi - Auto start

HOWTO automatically start hamlib's rigctld, FreeDATA's TNC daemon and create a shortcut on the Desktop - Raspberry pi OS

This document will walk you through the required steps in order to get rig control working:

• Setting up hamlib's rigctld
• Running rigctld
• Autostart

Setting up hamlib's rigctld

FreeDATA relies on Hamlib. The recommended setup is to use rigctld, which allows multiple user programs to share one radio.

Installation

Raspberry pi OS:

cd ~
sudo apt-get install automake libtool
git clone https://github.com/Hamlib/Hamlib.git
cd Hamlib
./bootstrap
./configure
make
sudo make install
sudo ldconfig

Running and testing rigctld

Let's assume for a minute that you're going to control a Yeasu FT-857nd connected via usb on /dev/ttyUSB0, 4800 baud.

Get a list of radio identifiers:

rigctl -l

The ft-857 is listed with id 122.

Start the daemon to test that parameters etc. are correct:

rigctld -m 122 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 4800

Stop the daemon using ctrl + c and follow the next steps.

Autostart

First time we need to create a file called ".desktop" in the /home/pi/.config/autostart folder

cd ~
mkdir ~/.config/autostart

Now edit the file called .desktop and add the following

[Desktop Entry]
Name=File Manager
Exec=pcmanfm
Type=Application
Name=FreeDATA
Exec=sh /home/pi/FreeDATA/freedata_startup.sh
Type=Application
NotShowIn=LXDE;

In your FreeDATA folder create a file called: freedata_startup.sh

Now edit the file called and add the following. Remember to change the RADIOID to your radio identifier from rigctld.
The example uses 122 for the ft-857

#! /bin/bash
rigctld -m 122 &

cd $HOME/FreeDATA/tnc
python3 daemon.py &

# Uncomment this if you want the GUI to start automatically
#cd $HOME/FreeDATA/gui
#npm start &

Desktop icon

You can create a icon on your desktop to start the FreeDATA GUI

cd ~/Desktop

Now create and edit a file called i.e.: freedata.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Name=FreeDATA
Exec=sh /home/pi/FreeDATA/freedata_gui.sh
Type=Application
Icon=/home/pi/FreeDATA/gui/src/img/icon_cube_border.png

In your FreeDATA folder create a file called: freedata_gui.sh

Now edit the file called and add the following

#! /bin/bash
cd $HOME/FreeDATA/gui
npm start &

If you don't want the message pop-up warning about that this is an executable script, you can start in a terminal: pcmanfm and in Edit->Preferences tick "Don't ask options on launch executable file"

Reboot and test

You can now reboot and try your settings

TODO

Make sure that the script doesn't start several sessions of the TNC Daemon and/or GUI Daemon.
Add a description and pictures on how to use Desktop Session Settings to enable/disable FreeDATA at startup.