Skywave Linux 3.1.1 Released

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.

SoapySDR and RX_tools make a great combination. Together, they enable use of widely varied hardware to send data to apps like OpenWebrx, Dump1090, etc. Dump1090 is a perfect example of an app usually written in versions for specific hardware - RTLSDR, SDRplay, etc. Rx_SDR allows any hardware with a SoapySDR driver to overcome such limitations. In Skywave Linux, examples can be seen in Dump1090, OpenWebrx-Rx_SDR, and OpenWebRx-Subcarrier scripts. Each one takes a stream of data from the SDR and sends it to stdout. The back end DSP package reads the data and processes it.

Redsea, the RDS decoder, wasn't working well with the new driver configuration, so it was pulled from Skywave Linux version 3.1.1. QtRadio may be the next to go, since the development is lagging in comparison to its sibling PiHPSDR. The latter works fine on x86 computers as well as Arm devices, is developing quickly, and brings advanced features. QtRadio's feature of connecting to remote servers has been far surpassed by WebSDR, OpebWebrx, and Airspy's new Spy Servers.

Deeper, below the streaming and DSP, Skywave Linux 3.1.1 brings a more mature kernel, a few iterations into Xanmod's 4.16 series. By the time 4.15-Xanmod9 was released, the kinks were pretty well worked out. We learned the hard way, with kernel 4 .15, not to take the earliest iteration of any critical components in an operating system. Ditto for the new LTS Ubuntu release. Skywave will be moved to a base of Ubuntu 18.04 after a couple of point releases have gone out.

Thanks for your patience, enjoy Skywave Linux 3.1.1