Setting Up Hamlib and CQRLOG with my FT-840 and Not-Ancient Laptop

 Setting Up Hamlib and CQRLOG with my FT-840

These are my notes.  I took them for my own use if I need to do this again, but if you find them usefule then good.  (I got much of this from other folks's notes, so thanks to them!)

Step 0) Get CQRLOG from its PPA.

CQRLOG wants you to get their stuff from their own repo.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ok2cqr/ppa;sudo apt-get update;sudo apt-get install cqrlog

Get hamlib.

sudo apt install libhamlib2

Get the signing software from the ARRL

 apt instalsudol trustedqsl

2) Add ke1az to the dialout group.

ke1az@ke1az-HP-Notebook:~$ sudo usermod -a -G dialout ke1az
[sudo] password for ke1az:

Step 1) Figure out how to connect to the rig.

The rig has a serial port, but no laptop made in this century does.  So I bought a USB-to-serial cord.  I must figure out how to connect it.  (This information is from http://pa0rob.vandenhoff.info/article/hamlib-rigcltd.  Thanks!).  From a terminal run

dmesg

then turn off radio, then turn it back on and run

dmesg

again.  You are looking for /dev/ttyUSB* messages

   15.088854] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
[   15.088875] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for generic
[   15.198003] usbcore: registered new interface driver ftdi_sio
[   15.198019] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for FTDI USB Serial Device
[   15.198090] ftdi_sio 1-3.4:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[   15.198126] usb 1-3.4: Detected FT232RL
[   15.199949] usb 1-3.4: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[   15.226954] usbcore: registered new interface driver pl2303
[   15.226972] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for pl2303
[   15.226990] pl2303 1-1:1.0: pl2303 converter detected
[   15.227733] usb 1-1: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB1

When plugging in your USB rig it will get mounted as /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyUSB1 or ... The number depends on which other devices are plugged in and can vary after each reboot.  The udev system gives a device a name based on it's manufacturer and device ID. In Ubuntu, these rules are specified in

    /etc/udev/rules.d/

For hamlib devices, create a file named like this. 

  99-hamlib.rules

The 99- governs the order of execution within the udev startup.

Now, to find the rigs device:

~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 064e:930b Suyin Corp. HP Truevision HD
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 0403:6001 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd FT232 Serial (UART) IC
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 046d:c534 Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 2109:2812 VIA Labs, Inc. VL812 Hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2303 Serial Port
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

In my case the sixth line is the Serial port. The VendorId:DeviceId is 067b:2303.

~$ ls -al /dev/ttyUSB*
crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 0 Jan 22 13:29 /dev/ttyUSB0
crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 1 Jan 22 13:29 /dev/ttyUSB1

This gives /dev/ttyUSB0 and /dev/ttyUSB1 as the mounted serial devices.

Now we must find some attribute info for the devices to filter on in the udev rule.

The udevadm info starts with the device specified by the path and then
walks up the chain of parent devices. It prints for every device
found, all possible attributes in the udev rules key format.
You can compose a rule to match using the attributes of the device
and the attributes from one single parent device.

~$  udevadm info -a -p $(udevadm info -q path -n /dev/ttyUSB0)

  looking at device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-3/1-3.4/1-3.4:1.0/ttyUSB0/tty/ttyUSB0':
    KERNEL=="ttyUSB0"
    SUBSYSTEM=="tty"
    DRIVER==""
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-3/1-3.4/1-3.4:1.0/ttyUSB0':
    KERNELS=="ttyUSB0"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb-serial"
    DRIVERS=="ftdi_sio"
    ATTRS{latency_timer}=="16"
    ATTRS{port_number}=="0"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-3/1-3.4/1-3.4:1.0':
    KERNELS=="1-3.4:1.0"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb"
    DRIVERS=="ftdi_sio"
    ATTRS{bAlternateSetting}==" 0"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceClass}=="ff"
    ATTRS{bNumEndpoints}=="02"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceSubClass}=="ff"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceProtocol}=="ff"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceNumber}=="00"
    ATTRS{authorized}=="1"
    ATTRS{interface}=="FT232R USB UART"
    ATTRS{supports_autosuspend}=="1"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-3/1-3.4':
    KERNELS=="1-3.4"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb"
    DRIVERS=="usb"
    ATTRS{bDeviceSubClass}=="00"
    ATTRS{product}=="FT232R USB UART"
    ATTRS{tx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{speed}=="12"
    ATTRS{bNumInterfaces}==" 1"
    ATTRS{bMaxPower}=="90mA"
    ATTRS{avoid_reset_quirk}=="0"
    ATTRS{urbnum}=="16"
    ATTRS{bNumConfigurations}=="1"
    ATTRS{rx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{maxchild}=="0"
    ATTRS{authorized}=="1"
    ATTRS{manufacturer}=="FTDI"
    ATTRS{ltm_capable}=="no"
    ATTRS{idVendor}=="0403"
    ATTRS{quirks}=="0x0"
    ATTRS{configuration}==""
    ATTRS{version}==" 2.00"
    ATTRS{bDeviceClass}=="00"
    ATTRS{idProduct}=="6001"
    ATTRS{devnum}=="6"
    ATTRS{serial}=="A8007UXh"
    ATTRS{bDeviceProtocol}=="00"
    ATTRS{bcdDevice}=="0600"
    ATTRS{devpath}=="3.4"
    ATTRS{bMaxPacketSize0}=="8"
    ATTRS{removable}=="unknown"
    ATTRS{busnum}=="1"
    ATTRS{bConfigurationValue}=="1"
    ATTRS{bmAttributes}=="a0"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-3':
    KERNELS=="1-3"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb"
    DRIVERS=="usb"
    ATTRS{urbnum}=="40"
    ATTRS{bNumInterfaces}==" 1"
    ATTRS{bMaxPower}=="0mA"
    ATTRS{rx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{avoid_reset_quirk}=="0"
    ATTRS{bMaxPacketSize0}=="64"
    ATTRS{bDeviceClass}=="09"
    ATTRS{idProduct}=="2812"
    ATTRS{bDeviceSubClass}=="00"
    ATTRS{maxchild}=="4"
    ATTRS{authorized}=="1"
    ATTRS{ltm_capable}=="no"
    ATTRS{devnum}=="3"
    ATTRS{bNumConfigurations}=="1"
    ATTRS{configuration}==""
    ATTRS{bConfigurationValue}=="1"
    ATTRS{bmAttributes}=="e0"
    ATTRS{tx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{idVendor}=="2109"
    ATTRS{bDeviceProtocol}=="01"
    ATTRS{devpath}=="3"
    ATTRS{busnum}=="1"
    ATTRS{bcdDevice}=="0be0"
    ATTRS{version}==" 2.10"
    ATTRS{product}=="USB2.0 Hub             "
    ATTRS{quirks}=="0x0"
    ATTRS{removable}=="removable"
    ATTRS{speed}=="480"
    ATTRS{manufacturer}=="VIA Labs, Inc.         "
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1':
    KERNELS=="usb1"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb"
    DRIVERS=="usb"
    ATTRS{bcdDevice}=="0511"
    ATTRS{authorized_default}=="1"
    ATTRS{bmAttributes}=="e0"
    ATTRS{version}==" 2.00"
    ATTRS{quirks}=="0x0"
    ATTRS{authorized}=="1"
    ATTRS{devpath}=="0"
    ATTRS{maxchild}=="8"
    ATTRS{busnum}=="1"
    ATTRS{configuration}==""
    ATTRS{devnum}=="1"
    ATTRS{product}=="xHCI Host Controller"
    ATTRS{tx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{speed}=="480"
    ATTRS{manufacturer}=="Linux 5.11.0-34-generic xhci-hcd"
    ATTRS{bConfigurationValue}=="1"
    ATTRS{bDeviceProtocol}=="01"
    ATTRS{bDeviceSubClass}=="00"
    ATTRS{ltm_capable}=="no"
    ATTRS{idProduct}=="0002"
    ATTRS{idVendor}=="1d6b"
    ATTRS{serial}=="0000:00:14.0"
    ATTRS{urbnum}=="60"
    ATTRS{rx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{interface_authorized_default}=="1"
    ATTRS{bNumInterfaces}==" 1"
    ATTRS{avoid_reset_quirk}=="0"
    ATTRS{bMaxPacketSize0}=="64"
    ATTRS{bDeviceClass}=="09"
    ATTRS{bMaxPower}=="0mA"
    ATTRS{bNumConfigurations}=="1"
    ATTRS{removable}=="unknown"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0':
    KERNELS=="0000:00:14.0"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="pci"
    DRIVERS=="xhci_hcd"
    ATTRS{driver_override}=="(null)"
    ATTRS{d3cold_allowed}=="1"
    ATTRS{local_cpulist}=="0-3"
    ATTRS{dma_mask_bits}=="64"
    ATTRS{dbc}=="disabled"
    ATTRS{irq}=="43"
    ATTRS{device}=="0x9c31"
    ATTRS{broken_parity_status}=="0"
    ATTRS{msi_bus}=="1"
    ATTRS{numa_node}=="-1"
    ATTRS{vendor}=="0x8086"
    ATTRS{enable}=="1"
    ATTRS{consistent_dma_mask_bits}=="64"
    ATTRS{class}=="0x0c0330"
    ATTRS{revision}=="0x04"
    ATTRS{subsystem_device}=="0x80c3"
    ATTRS{power_state}=="D0"
    ATTRS{subsystem_vendor}=="0x103c"
    ATTRS{local_cpus}=="f"
    ATTRS{ari_enabled}=="0"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00':
    KERNELS=="pci0000:00"
    SUBSYSTEMS==""
    DRIVERS==""

Here is the other USB.

~$ udevadm info -a -p $(udevadm info -q path -n /dev/ttyUSB1)
  looking at device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/ttyUSB1/tty/ttyUSB1':
    KERNEL=="ttyUSB1"
    SUBSYSTEM=="tty"
    DRIVER==""
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/ttyUSB1':
    KERNELS=="ttyUSB1"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb-serial"
    DRIVERS=="pl2303"
    ATTRS{port_number}=="0"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0':
    KERNELS=="1-1:1.0"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb"
    DRIVERS=="pl2303"
    ATTRS{supports_autosuspend}=="1"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceNumber}=="00"
    ATTRS{bNumEndpoints}=="03"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceSubClass}=="00"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceProtocol}=="00"
    ATTRS{bInterfaceClass}=="ff"
    ATTRS{authorized}=="1"
    ATTRS{bAlternateSetting}==" 0"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1':
    KERNELS=="1-1"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb"
    DRIVERS=="usb"
    ATTRS{ltm_capable}=="no"
    ATTRS{authorized}=="1"
    ATTRS{bDeviceClass}=="00"
    ATTRS{bNumConfigurations}=="1"
    ATTRS{tx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{bMaxPacketSize0}=="64"
    ATTRS{maxchild}=="0"
    ATTRS{urbnum}=="21"
    ATTRS{devpath}=="1"
    ATTRS{idProduct}=="2303"
    ATTRS{product}=="USB-Serial Controller D"
    ATTRS{version}==" 1.10"
    ATTRS{devnum}=="2"
    ATTRS{speed}=="12"
    ATTRS{manufacturer}=="Prolific Technology Inc. "
    ATTRS{configuration}==""
    ATTRS{bcdDevice}=="0400"
    ATTRS{removable}=="removable"
    ATTRS{bConfigurationValue}=="1"
    ATTRS{avoid_reset_quirk}=="0"
    ATTRS{bNumInterfaces}==" 1"
    ATTRS{busnum}=="1"
    ATTRS{idVendor}=="067b"
    ATTRS{bDeviceProtocol}=="00"
    ATTRS{bmAttributes}=="80"
    ATTRS{bMaxPower}=="100mA"
    ATTRS{quirks}=="0x0"
    ATTRS{rx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{bDeviceSubClass}=="00"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1':
    KERNELS=="usb1"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="usb"
    DRIVERS=="usb"
    ATTRS{bNumInterfaces}==" 1"
    ATTRS{manufacturer}=="Linux 5.11.0-34-generic xhci-hcd"
    ATTRS{product}=="xHCI Host Controller"
    ATTRS{speed}=="480"
    ATTRS{devpath}=="0"
    ATTRS{bMaxPacketSize0}=="64"
    ATTRS{bConfigurationValue}=="1"
    ATTRS{authorized_default}=="1"
    ATTRS{version}==" 2.00"
    ATTRS{bcdDevice}=="0511"
    ATTRS{bDeviceClass}=="09"
    ATTRS{devnum}=="1"
    ATTRS{idProduct}=="0002"
    ATTRS{interface_authorized_default}=="1"
    ATTRS{removable}=="unknown"
    ATTRS{tx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{rx_lanes}=="1"
    ATTRS{bDeviceSubClass}=="00"
    ATTRS{urbnum}=="60"
    ATTRS{bNumConfigurations}=="1"
    ATTRS{maxchild}=="8"
    ATTRS{bmAttributes}=="e0"
    ATTRS{busnum}=="1"
    ATTRS{ltm_capable}=="no"
    ATTRS{avoid_reset_quirk}=="0"
    ATTRS{idVendor}=="1d6b"
    ATTRS{serial}=="0000:00:14.0"
    ATTRS{quirks}=="0x0"
    ATTRS{bMaxPower}=="0mA"
    ATTRS{bDeviceProtocol}=="01"
    ATTRS{configuration}==""
    ATTRS{authorized}=="1"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0':
    KERNELS=="0000:00:14.0"
    SUBSYSTEMS=="pci"
    DRIVERS=="xhci_hcd"
    ATTRS{subsystem_device}=="0x80c3"
    ATTRS{dbc}=="disabled"
    ATTRS{subsystem_vendor}=="0x103c"
    ATTRS{class}=="0x0c0330"
    ATTRS{power_state}=="D0"
    ATTRS{d3cold_allowed}=="1"
    ATTRS{enable}=="1"
    ATTRS{msi_bus}=="1"
    ATTRS{ari_enabled}=="0"
    ATTRS{device}=="0x9c31"
    ATTRS{broken_parity_status}=="0"
    ATTRS{numa_node}=="-1"
    ATTRS{vendor}=="0x8086"
    ATTRS{driver_override}=="(null)"
    ATTRS{local_cpus}=="f"
    ATTRS{revision}=="0x04"
    ATTRS{consistent_dma_mask_bits}=="64"
    ATTRS{irq}=="43"
    ATTRS{dma_mask_bits}=="64"
    ATTRS{local_cpulist}=="0-3"
  looking at parent device '/devices/pci0000:00':
    KERNELS=="pci0000:00"
    SUBSYSTEMS==""
    DRIVERS==""

With those in mind, create and edit the rules file.

    sudo emacs /etc/udev/rules.d/99-ham_rig.rules

The .rules file looks like this (replace bold text with your rigs data)

    # FT-991A CP210x UART Bridge
    SUBSYSTEM=="tty", DRIVERS=="cp210x", ATTRS{interface}=="Standard*", SYMLINK+="rig1s"
    SUBSYSTEM=="tty", DRIVERS=="cp210x", ATTRS{interface}=="Enhanced*", SYMLINK+="rig1e"

Save that file and restart the udev service:

    sudo service udev restart
~$ sudo service udev restart
[sudo] password for ke1az: 

Load the new rule:

    sudo udevadm trigger

Check:

~$ ls -al /dev/rig*
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Jan 22 14:42 /dev/rig1e -> ttyUSB1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Jan 22 14:42 /dev/rig1s -> ttyUSB0

~$ rigctld -m 111 -r /dev/rig1e -t 4532 -s 4800 --set-conf=data_bits=8, stop_bits=2, serial_parity=None, serial_handshake=None, dtr_state=OFF, rts_state=ON &
[1] 83876
ke1az@ke1az-HP-Notebook:~$ rig_open: error = IO error 
^C
[1]+  Exit 2                  rigctld -m 111 -r /dev/rig1e -t 4532 -s 4800 --set-conf=data_bits=8, stop_bits=2, serial_parity=None, serial_handshake=None, dtr_state=OFF, rts_state=ON
ke1az@ke1az-HP-Notebook:~$ rigctld -m 111 -r /dev/rig1s -t 4532 -s 4800 --set-conf=data_bits=8, stop_bits=2, serial_parity=None, serial_handshake=None, dtr_state=OFF, rts_state=ON &
[1] 83877
ke1az@ke1az-HP-Notebook:~$ rig_open: error = IO error 
^C
[1]+  Exit 2                  rigctld -m 111 -r /dev/rig1s -t 4532 -s 4800 --set-conf=data_bits=8, stop_bits=2, serial_parity=None, serial_handshake=None, dtr_state=OFF, rts_state=ON~$ ls -la /dev/ttyUSB1

crw-rw---- 1 root dialout 188, 1 Jan 22 14:42 /dev/ttyUSB1
ke1az@ke1az-HP-Notebook:~$ ls -la /dev/rig1e
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Jan 22 14:42 /dev/rig1e -> ttyUSB1

Member of dialout group?

~$ grep dialout /etc/group
dialout:x:20:ke1az

Step 2) Getting ther Winkeyer to go.

In CQRLOG, use CQRLOG > Preferences > CW Interface.

Under Radio 1 use WinKeyer USB.  For the Radio 1 keyer port, disconnect from USB and connect back again.

[  762.711103] ftdi_sio ttyUSB0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[  762.711127] ftdi_sio 1-3.4:1.0: device disconnected
[  764.735666] usb 1-3.4: new full-speed USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd
[  764.853975] usb 1-3.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0403, idProduct=6001, bcdDevice= 6.00
[  764.853982] usb 1-3.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[  764.853985] usb 1-3.4: Product: FT232R USB UART
[  764.853987] usb 1-3.4: Manufacturer: FTDI
[  764.853989] usb 1-3.4: SerialNumber: A8007UXh
[  764.861008] ftdi_sio 1-3.4:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[  764.861063] usb 1-3.4: Detected FT232RL
[  764.861613] usb 1-3.4: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB3

Use /dev/ttyUSB0 as the port under CW.

I guess Amazon is not interested.

I got an email from an annoyed user of my Linear Algebra text.  They had bought a paper copy and also bought a book of answers to the exercises.  The thing is, though, that the answers to exercises book that they bought, published by someone that I don't know, is from 2012.  So it doesn't match the 2022 version of the text.  That's why they wrote me, annoyed.

I explained that because the license is Free it allows people to do what they want with the work and in particular it allows someone to post the answers as a book on Amazon, and this person did just that, in 2012.  They haven't updated it.

I also went to Amazon and posted a user review for that book, explaining the situation, so a potential buyer would have a heads-up.  A couple of days later I got a notice from Amazon, saying this.

Thank you for submitting a customer review on Amazon. After carefully reviewing your submission, your review could not be posted to the website. It appears your content did not comply with our guidelines.

While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines

Amazon Community Guidelines

from James S. Hefferon on February 12, 2022

THese are quite old

I am Jim Hefferon, the author of the Linear Algebra textbook. I am not the producer of this version so I cannot withdraw it. But please note that the text has new versions since these answers were produced, and these do not match the current text.

(My comment had more but they only included the first few sentences.)  They also gave a list of things I might have done wrong.  

A few common issues to keep in mind:

Your review should focus on specific features of the product and your experience with it. Feedback on the seller or your shipment experience should be provided at https://www.amazon.com/hz/feedback.

We do not allow profane or obscene content. This applies to adult products too.

Advertisements, promotional material or repeated posts that make the same point excessively are considered spam.

Please do not include URLs external to Amazon or personally identifiable content in your review.

Any attempt to manipulate Community content or features, including contributing false, misleading, or inauthentic content, is strictly prohibited.

Obviously this leaves a person taking a stab at precisely what is their objection.  OK, I'll stab.

Cearly I am focused on specific features of the product.  I did not get a shipment, so I'm not complaining about that.  I did not swear.  I did not contribute false or misleading content.  So they objected to my naming myself as the author?  

Crazy.