[Hamlib-developer] new to project--want to help

[Larry B. <lb...@ho...>]

Hello,

My name is Larry Braden.

I would like to help with this project, however I am not sure at this point 
in what capacity.  I will be looking over the work that is done so far.

My motivation in subscribing to the list come from owning an ICOM T81A and 
finding the software/hardware necessary for programming the radio a bit 
expensive and, to say the least, I am a bit miffed that the software, at 
least, is not offered free by the company.  When one buys a radio that is 
capable of being controlled and/or programmed by a computer --almost a 
necessity given the features in some cases-- then it should be included.  To 
include the software and/or programming cables would help sell more units of 
the radio, imho which would more than outweigh offering necessary items as 
accesories for additional payment.

Additionally, I believe that linux--in particular--offers users of ham radios 
and computer hardware a great deal of freedom to come up with new, more 
convenient and powerful, means to do high performance radio.  What hams 
actually do with radios is not always anticipated by radio manufacturers.

My background is in information technology.  My radio interests are 
homebrewing, both with tubes and silicon,  and 6 meter band communications.

I am not sure, at this point, if the control codes for the ICOM T81A are 
available or how they compare to the HF rigs this company makes.  I realize 
that this project is dealing primarily with creating a user interface library 
for developing rig control applications, and that the rig control codes sent 
to the radio are at another level of an application.   These control codes 
are accessed as needed and appropriate by the application and the user 
interface, and thus by switching the codes a generalized user interface 
library can be used to control almost any radio device.  Very good idea for a 
number of reasons, and I can see that this would make the development of 
applications go much faster rather than trying to hang the user interface off 
the control codes in a case by case fashion.  So this project is a 
commendable example of putting the horse before the cart, in my opinion.

Best wishes,

Larry Braden
KC5CWG
Catonsville, Maryland