Skywave Linux / Blog: Recent posts

Fellow Linux and SDR enthusiasts,

Here is a brief message to blog to advise that I have upgraded Skywave Linux to version 5.6, bringing a kernel upgrade, feshened SDR lists, along with software updates and bug fixes.

We are now on Xanmod's Linux Kernel 6.14, which has some nice efficiencies, optimizations, and broadened hardware support. Experts who have done considerable testing of this kernel say it is quite good and has top notch hardware support for new and old computing rigs. So far, I am pleased with its running on typical bare metal.... read more

Fellow Linux and SDR enthusiasts,

Here is a brief message to blog subscribers to advise that I have upgraded Skywave Linux to version 5.5, bringing a kernel upgrade, feshened SDR lists, along with software updates and bug fixes. Although this release retains a 5.x version numbering, some of the changes are significant.

We are now on Xanmod's Linux Kernel 6.13, which has some nice efficiencies, optimizations, and broadened hardware support. There are some bleeding-edge versions of Kernel 6.14 out, but I decided to let that series mature more before using it in Skywave Linux. It was enough of a battle getting this release working smoothly with the latest Debian Sid package upgrades. Recent upgrades broke the X server for several days. It was a real mess until I set up some systemd units to properly start the Xserver and DWM. You might not notice the difference boot time, but it is indeed a little faster and much more reliable.... read more

Fellow Linux and SDR enthusiasts,

Here is a brief message to blog subscribers to advise that I have upgraded Skywave Linux to version 5.4, bringing a kernel upgrade and several software updates and fixes for a few bugs.

This release comes fairly soon after the last one, but Linux Kernel 6.12 is worth the effort, as it has significant improvements in efficiency and hardware support. Kernel 6.12 notably brings realtime preempting to the mainline releases, for reduced and consistent latency - good for audio, video, and SDR hardware.... read more

Fellow Linux and SDR enthusiasts,

Here is a brief message to blog subscribers to advise that I have upgraded Skywave Linux to version 5.3, bringing a kernel upgrade and several software updates and fixes for a few bugs.

If you are tracking the current crop of hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, remember that you can easily bring up the Hurricane Watch Net in SuperSDR. Use the keybinds Ctrl + Shift + S to see the radio bookmarks, and find Hurricane Watch -1 or Hurricane Watch -2. Those are set for 7.268 kHz; use the keybind "F" in SuperSDR to retune to 14.325 kHz if daytime radio conditions are good. ... read more

Fellow Linux and SDR users, Shortwave Listeners,

I have updated Skywave Linux to version 5.2.0, bringing some minor updates and fixes.

We're now on Xanmod Kernel 6.9.10. For compatibility with older hardware, the microarchitecture has been changed from x86-64-v3 to x86-64-v2. Firefox, WSJT, and other applications have been updated. System version 5.1.0 had quite a mess of conflicting software dependencies, so I endeavored to clean things up for this version. The differences are not so visible cosmetically, but untangling the dependencies allowed the system to more completely update its many packages and stay close to the bleeding edge of Debian Sid.... read more

Fellow Linux and SDR users, Shortwave Listeners,

I have updated Skywave Linux to version 5.1.0, bringing some minor updates and fixes. We're now on Xanmod Kernel 6.8.8. If you use the SDR map, enjoy the newly added OpenWebRX sites, which were added to the static receiver list. Castero has more podcasts and a freshened database. Lastly, several system applications were also updated, as is typical in the world of Debian Sid.... read more

Fellow Linux and SDR users, Shortwave Listeners,

Skywave Linux is being updated to version 5.0.1 and will be uploaded to SourceForge within a matter of hours. The system has received a kernel upgrade to Linux Xanmod kernel 6.6, along with a bug fix which prevented proper booting of the iso file on flash drives set up using Rufus or Ventoy. Apologies for the inconvenience if this gave you trouble.... read more

Fellow Linux and SDR users, Shortwave Listeners!

I have finished building the newest, Debian Sid based, version of Skywave Linux. That's right - we're off Ubuntu and now a rolling release derived from Sid / Unstable. The new iso is smaller, faster, and fresher. Updates to the website are in progress; here on SourceForge, expect an iso and readme files to be uploaded shortly.... read more

Hello to All,

Uploading is completed for Skywave Linux 4.4.0-GNOME. Please find the associated files for download here on SourceForge. As always, the iso file is also available via bit torrent protocol.

The GNOME desktop is nicely set up with many of the keybinds used in the i3wm version, so it will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used earlier v4 variants of Skywave Linux. DirectKiwi and SuperSDR, the KiwiSDR clients, are both upgraded for this release and working nicely. The BBC has reported that they're changing their internet streaming arrangements, so there is a possibility that the VLC Radio Playlist may need to have its links updated in the near future. If necessary, I will announce here and make the bookmarks file available on GitHub.... read more

Hello to All,

I am pleased to announce that Skywave Linux version 4.4.0-i3wm is released and available for download! As the name implies, this version uses the i3 Window Manager. A Gnome flavor if Skywave Linux is in the works, to be released as soon as it is ready.

New in this version are enhancements for users of the many KiwiSDR and WebSDR servers on the net. It has a self-contained map and SDR list, which is capable of self-updating. Launching the SDR Map will cause the map to open in a new web browser tab. Clicking on an SDR will open another tab to connect and stream from that server.... read more

Here is a pair of handbooks helpful to you if you use KiwiSDRs or RTL-SDRs:

KiwiSDR: 21st Century Radio for the People is a handbook for anyone who owns or uses the internet connected KiwiSDR radios. It discusses some of the SDR's history, technical aspects of how it works as a third generation design, and how to set up a new radio. There is an illustrated panel by panel guide to the controls and indicators. Most useful are sections on best practices for broadcast listening, tuning utilities, and also amateur radio signals.... read more

A notification from SourceForge has arrived in my mailbox, informing me that that Skywave Linux has crossed the milestone of 100,000 downloads during the lifetime of the project. It has taken a few years to accomplish this. While some other projects may draw only a fraction of the number of users as this one, and others surpass 100k in a month, I am happy that people find Skywave Linux useful and enjoy what it offers. Thank you all for giving me a reason to do something meaningful with my time and to find ever more ways to intertwine my favorite three technologies: radio, GNU/Linux, and the internet.... read more

At the request of a Skywave Linux fan who has enjoyed the project from close to the beginning, I have created a version which has the Gnome Flashback desktop and a favorite wallpaper from years ago. This one has some system and app updates beyond version 4.2 and a very different look from the i3 tiling window environment.

It is called Skywave Linux 4.3.0 Flashback and is being shared by bit torrent only. Always check your download's sha256sum before trying to use it, to verify the authenticity and integrity.... read more

With great satisfaction, I report to you you that Skywave Linux version 4.2 is released and on the wires. It is available here on SourceForge and via bit torrent (links posted on the Skywave Linux website). This newest release brings a bit of rework to be more user friendly, efficient, and fix a number of small annoyances.

Most noticeable is the move away from drivers obtained from the Ubuntu and Debian repositories. Skywave Linux now gets SoapySDR, the hardware drivers, and numerous small utilities from git repositories. The directory /usr/local/src is packed with fresh source code from cloned repos. Bash scripts there are used to manage updates, where you can simply run a script and it will freshen the local source, compile the binaries, and install them. Here are some other changes:... read more

Skywave Linux 4.2 is in the works, with an expected release in April 2021.

Planned changes / fixes:
- upgraded Xanmod kernel 5.10.x
- default screen resolution 1920 x 1080
- removed LightDM (now boot directly to the desktop)
- i3wm "master and stack" tiling window layout
- updated fzf and fzf plugin for Neovim
- Neovim changed to LSP; fewer plugins for reduced latency
- LinHPSDR working with devices through SoapySDR
- Added SDR++ (SDRplusplus) working with devices through SoapySDR
- New RTLSDR bookmarks
- Revamped internet radio streamer
- updated SSH tunneling (sshuttle)

You can get scripts and dotfiles to use in your own Linux machines on my Github: https://github.com/AB9IL. You will often see updates and tweaks appear there long before the release of a Skywave Linux iso file.

Skywave Linux v4.1.0 (Released 11/15/2020)

"Fix things that are broken; take upgrades if available."

SLNW: Skywave Linux Is Not Windows:

• I'm not even close to cutting my hair and going mainstream.
• Not pretending to assimilate with slick graphical environments.
• i3 window manager or the terminal, friends...
• Hardware support: recent rt kernel, plus extra drivers and firmware are installed.... read more

Come and get it - Skywave Linux 4.0, featuring a tiling desktop, realtime kernel, and SDR apps galore.
Available here on SourceForge and also by bit torrent on Linuxtracker.org. Magnet link is "magnet:?xt=urn:btih:5AYDS36W7LAY7Z4PKGEKFGJVK5END5VJ"

Preview on YouTube...

After a long delay in development, Skywave Linux version 4 is in its final testing and shakeout. It will have a slightly narrower, sharper focus on ease of use, more elegant scripting, and apps which do their jobs with fewer rounds of user input. You will be able to calibrate your RTLSDR and SoapySDR devices and store some parameters on a per-session basis.

Is anyone out there into both radio and data science? This release will be coder-friendly too, with a meaty set of Python3.8 modules and more advanced editing features.... read more

Skywave Linux 3.1.1 is uploading, with expected completion by 0300 UTC. This version is primarily a bug fix, with some system and web browser updates.

Here is the link to Skywave Linux 3.1.1 via Bittorrent

Gqrx and Cubic SDR are now installed as AppImages, containing their own set of dependencies and configurations. More SDR drivers are now configured to update from the repositories, so getting updates is as simple as doing an apt update and apt upgrade. ... read more

Skywave Linux 3.1 has a few quirks, which came with the upgrade to kernel 4.15.0. To be specific, it will not properly detect and mount external USB drives. Being one who routinely needs to plug in external drives, copy and edit files on them, etc., that is a big problem. Installing Skywave Linux to other devices is also hampered, so this bug needs fixing quickly. Users who strictly boot the iso file and operate local SDRs or connect to internet servers are unaffected.... read more

Skywave Linux 3.1.0 is now available for download. This release fixes bugs and brings many internal system updates. Find it here on SourceForge or download Skywave Linux via bit torrent.

After removing a ton of "suggested and recommended" packages, the iso is down to 1.8 GB and boots in one minute on modest hardware. Updates are installed, but more testing for use in virtual machines is prudent, so expect the upload in another week.

Skywave Linux 3.1 will arrive soon, with system and SDR software updates to keep up with recently released radio hardware. Whoa! Those Airspy and SDRplay rigs are great, and support is coming.

I have also heard the gripes from you who want better virtual machine support, and that is improved too. Want Skywave Linux in your regular Windows, Mac, or Linux system without rebooting? Alright then, you have it.... read more

Skywave Linux 3.0.2 is now available for download. This release fixes bugs and brings just a few internal system updates. Find it here on SourceForge or download Skywave Linux via bit torrent.

Skywave Linux 3.0.1 is uploading, painfully slowly to SourceForge. Expect a fully available iso file by October 7, 0600 UTC. You can download it faster on bit torrent from Linuxtracker:

http://linuxtracker.org/index.php?page=torrent-details&id=015b927fb707550cf0e6da6461bad8935e400c5f

This is a bugfix to correct a bootloader error.