Provided by: libhamlib-utils_4.6.2-1build1_amd64 
NAME
hamlib-utilties - radio and rotator control utilities of Hamlib
DESCRIPTION
Included with the Hamlib distribution are several utility programs. Besides providing a way for
developers to test new code and bug fixes, the programs also offer a reference implementation for
interfacing to the Hamlib library functions both through the C API (Application Programming Interface)
and offering a network accessible API.
This page summarizes the three test programs, ampctl(1) for testing amplifier back ends, rigctl(1) for
testing radio back ends, and rotctl(1) for testing rotator back ends and the three network daemons,
ampctld(1), rigctld(1), and rotcltd(1) for amplifier, radio, and rotator access via network sockets.
Also included are three demonstration utilities, rigmem(1), rigsmtr(1), and rigswr(1) which provide
functional examples of how Hamlib may be used to accomplish various tasks.
rigctl
rigctl(1) is the most frequently used Hamlib utility. As the other ctl utilities share many of the same
characteristics, much of the introductory information presented in this section is applicable to the
other utility programs.
Introduction to rigctl
Most likely the first of the Hamlib utility programs that is used is rigctl(1). rigctl is a character
based interactive program and a command line program able to set or query a radio's value with a single
command. rigctl is invoked from a shell command prompt with various options and additional commands.
In its most simple use as a command line program, rigctl is used to set frequency and mode by typing
commands after any rigctl options:
rigctl F 14205000
rigctl M USB 2400
and then query those values:
rigctl f
rigctl m
Entering interactive mode is a simple matter of not placing any commands after any rigctl options:
rigctl
Entering interactive mode allows successive commands to be entered without exiting rigctl. Recent
additions to rigctl allow command editing and history recall through use of the Readline library.
Interactive mode is indicated by the spartan prompt:
Rig command:
Commands are given at the prompt and follow the general rule that upper case letters set a value and
lower case letters query a value:
Rig command: M
Mode: USB
Passband: 2500
Rig command: m
Mode: USB
Passband: 2500
Rig command:
An additional prompt is printed when more information is required by the command. For M above, rigctl
prompted for the Mode and Passband values. For m above, rigctl returned the Mode and Passband values
without further prompts. The command prompt is returned after each command invocation.
The above examples invoked rigctl without specifying a radio model. This is a feature where the Hamlib
internal radio model 1 dummy is used. The dummy radio provides a way to test Hamlib functions without
the need for actual radio hardware. However, to develop the Hamlib backend capability for a given radio,
having the actual radio connected to the computer is necessary for debugging.
For example, to quickly set frequency on an Elecraft K3:
rigctl -m 2029 -r /dev/rig F 3900000
and to query the frequency and then mode:
rigctl -m 2029 -r /dev/rig f
3900000
rigctl -m 2029 -r /dev/rig m
LSB
2000
Note: the returned values do not have the prompt strings associated with interactive mode as shown
above.
The -m option takes a numeric value that corresponds to a given radio back end model. The -r option
takes the path to the port device on POSIX and the device name on Microsoft Windows.
Note: A complete list of supported radio models may be seen by use of the -l option:
rigctl -l
Rig # Mfg Model Version Status
1 Hamlib Dummy 0.5 Beta
2 Hamlib NET rigctl 0.3 Beta
1001 Yaesu FT-847 0.5 Beta
1003 Yaesu FT-1000D 0.0.6 Alpha
.
.
.
27002 Rohde&Schwarz EB200 0.1 Untested
28001 Philips/Simoco PRM8060 0.1 Alpha
29001 ADAT www.adat.ch ADT-200A 1.36 Beta
The list is long so use Shift-PageUp/Shift-PageDown on Linux, ScrollLock then PageUp/PageDown on Free
BSD, or use the scrollbar to the virtual terminal window (cmd window on Microsoft Windows) or the output
can be piped to more(1) or less(1), e.g., “rigctl -l | more” to scroll back up the list. The list is
sorted numerically by model number since Hamlib 1.2.15.1. Model numbers of a manufacturer/protocol
family are grouped together.
rigctl reference
The complete reference for rigctl can be found in the rigctl(1) manual page.
rotctl
Identical in function to rigctl(1), rotctl(1) provides a means for testing Hamlib functions useful for
rotator control and QTH (Maidenhead gridsquare system, see Maidenhead Locator System) locator
computations. As rotators have a much narrower scope than radios, there are fewer command line options
and commands for rotctl.
Introduction to rotctl
rotctl(1) is a character based interactive program and a command line program able to set or query a
rotator's value with a single command. rotctl is invoked from a shell command prompt with various
options and additional commands.
In its most simple use as a command line program, rotctl is used to set azimuth position and (optionally)
elevation by typing commands after any rotctl options:
rotctl P 145.0 23.0
rotctl M 8 25
and then query those values:
rotctl p
Entering interactive mode is a simple matter of not placing any commands after any rotctl options:
rotctl
Entering interactive mode allows successive commands to be entered without exiting rotctl. Interactive
mode allows for command editing and history recall through the use of the Readline library.
Interactive mode is indicated by the spartan prompt:
Rotator command:
Commands are given at the prompt:
Rotator command: M
Direction: 16
Speed: 60
Rotator command: p
Azimuth: 11.352000
Elevation: 0.000000
Rotator command: p
Azimuth: 27.594000
Elevation: 0.000000
Rotator command:
An additional prompt is printed when more information is required by the command. For M above, rotctl
prompted for the Direction and Speed values. For p above, rotctl returned the Azimuth and Elevation
values without further prompts. The command prompt is returned after each command invocation.
The above examples invoked rotctl without specifying a rotator model. This is a feature where the Hamlib
internal rotator model 1 dummy is used instead. The dummy rotator provides a way to test Hamlib
functions without the need for actual rotator hardware. However, to develop back end capability for a
given rotator, having the actual controller connected to the computer is necessary for debugging.
For example, to quickly set position for RotorEZ:
rotctl -m 401 -r /dev/rotor P 100.0 0.0
and to query the position:
rotctl -m 401 -r /dev/rotor p
100.000000
0.000000
The returned values do not have the prompt strings associated with interactive mode as shown above.
The -m option takes a numeric value that corresponds to a given rotator back end model. The -r option
takes the path to the port device on POSIX or the device name on Microsoft Windows.
Note: A complete list of supported rotator models may be seen by use of the -l option:
rotctl -l
Rot # Mfg Model Version Status
1 Hamlib Dummy 0.5 Beta
2 Hamlib NET rotctl 0.3 Beta
201 Hamlib EasycommI 0.3 Beta
202 Hamlib EasycommII 0.3 Beta
.
.
.
1201 AMSAT IF-100 0.1 Untested
1301 LA7LKA ts7400 0.1 Beta
1401 Celestron NexStar 0.1 Untested
The list is long so use Shift-PageUp/Shift-PageDown on Linux, ScrollLock then PageUp/PageDown on Free
BSD, or use the scrollbar to the virtual terminal window (cmd window on Microsoft Windows) or the output
can be piped to more(1) or less(1), e.g. “rotctl -l | more” to scroll back up the list. The list is
sorted numerically by model number since Hamlib 1.2.15.1. Model numbers of a manufacturer/protocol
family are grouped together.
rotctl reference
The complete reference for rotctl can be found in the rotctl(1) manual page.
ampctl
The ampctl(1) utility is a recent addition to the Hamlib utilities as a part of the 4.0 development
cycle. It is intended to test the Hamlib implementation of amplifier control and is similar in function
to the utilities previously described. See the ampctl(1) manual page for the complete reference.
rigctld
The rigctld(1) program is a network server that accepts the familiar commands of rigctl(1) and provides
the response data over a TCP/IP network socket to an application. In this manner an application can
access a rigctld instance from nearly anywhere (caveat, no security is currently provided by rigctld).
Applications using rigctld do not link directly to Hamlib nor use its C API.
Introduction to rigctld
rigctld(1) communicates to a client through a TCP network socket using text commands shared with
rigctl(1). The protocol is simple; commands are sent to rigctld on one line and rigctld responds to get
commands with the requested values, one per line, when successful, otherwise, it responds with one line
RPRT x, where x is a negative number indicating the Hamlib error code. Commands that do not return
values respond with the line RPRT x, where x is zero when successful, otherwise a negative number
indicating the Hamlib error code. Each line is terminated with a newline, \n, character. This protocol
is primarily for use by the NET rigctl (radio model 2) backend.
A separate Extended Response protocol extends the above behavior by echoing the received command string
as a header, any returned values as a key: value pair, and the RPRT x string as the end of response
marker which includes the Hamlib success or failure value. Consider using this protocol for clients that
will interact with rigctld directly through a TCP network socket.
Multiple radios can be controlled on different TCP ports by use of multiple rigctld processes each
listening on a unique TCP port. It is hoped that rigctld will be especially useful for client authors
using languages such as Perl, Python, PHP, Ruby, TCL, and others.
rigctld reference
The complete reference for rigctld can be found in the rigctld(1) manual page.
rotctld
The rotctld(1) program is a network server that accepts the familiar commands of rotctl(1) and provides
the response data over a TCP/IP network socket to an application. In this manner an application can
access a rotctld instance from nearly anywhere (caveat, no security is currently provided by rotctld).
Applications using rotctld do not link directly to Hamlib nor use its C API.
Introduction to rotctld
rotctld(1) communicates to a client through a TCP network socket using text commands shared with
rotctl(1). The protocol is simple, commands are sent to rotctld on one line and rotctld responds to get
commands with the requested values, one per line, when successful, otherwise, it responds with one line
RPRT x, where x is a negative number indicating the Hamlib error code. Commands that do not return
values respond with the line RPRT x, where x is zero when successful, otherwise a negative number
indicating the Hamlib error code. Each line is terminated with a newline, \n character. This protocol
is primarily for use by the NET rotctl (rotator model 2) backend.
A separate Extended Response protocol extends the above behavior by echoing the received command string
as a header, any returned values as a key: value pair, and the RPRT x string as the end of response
marker which includes the Hamlib success or failure value. Consider using this protocol for clients that
will interact with rotctld directly through a TCP network socket.
Multiple rotators can be controlled on different TCP ports by use of multiple rotctld processes each
listening on a unique TCP port. It is hoped that rotctld will be especially useful for client authors
using languages such as Perl, Python, PHP, Ruby, TCL, and others.
rotctld reference
The complete reference for rotctld can be found in the rotctld(1) manual page.
ampctl
The ampctld(1) utility is a recent addition to the Hamlib utilities as a part of the 4.0 development
cycle. It provides network socket access for the Hamlib implementation of amplifier control and is
similar in function to the network utilities previously described. See the ampctld(1) manual page for
the complete reference.
rigmem
rigmem may be used to backup and restore memory of radio transceivers and receivers.
Introduction to rigmem
Backup and restore memory of radio transceivers and receivers. rigmem accepts commands from the command
line only.
rigmem reference
The complete reference for rigmem can be found in the rigmem(1) manual page.
rigsmtr
rigsmtr uses Hamlib to control a radio to measure S-Meter value versus antenna azimuth.
Introduction to rigsmtr
rigsmtr rotates the antenna from minimum azimuth to maximum azimuth. Every second, or time_step if
specified in seconds, it retrieves the signal strength. Azimuth in degrees and the corresponding S-Meter
level in dB relative to S9 are then printed on stdout.
To work correctly, rigsmtr needs a radio that could measure S-Meter and a Hamlib backend that is able to
retrieve it, connected to a Hamlib supported rotator.
rigsmtr reference
The complete reference for rigsmtr can be found in the rigsmtr(1) manual page.
rigswr
rigswr may be used to measure VSWR vs frequency.
Introduction to rigswr
rigswr uses Hamlib to control a radio to measure VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) over a frequency
range.
It scans frequencies from start_freq to stop_freq with an optional increment of freq_step (default step
is 100 kHz). All values must be entered as an integer in Hertz (cycles per second).
Note: rigswr assumes that start_freq is less than or equal to stop_freq. If it is greater, rigswr will
exit without doing anything.
For each frequency, rigswr transmits at 25% of total POWER during 0.5 second in CW mode and reads VSWR.
Frequency and the corresponding VSWR are then printed on stdout.
To work correctly, rigswr needs a radio that can measure VSWR and a Hamlib backend that supports reading
VSWR from the radio.
rigswr reference
The complete reference for rigswr can be found in the rigswr(1) manual page.
COPYING
This file is part of Hamlib, a project to develop a library that simplifies radio and rotator control
functions for developers of software primarily of interest to radio amateurs and those interested in
radio communications.
Copyright © 2001-2020 Hamlib Group (various contributors)
This is free software; see the file COPYING for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
SEE ALSO
less(1), more(1), ampctl(1), ampctld(1), rigctl(1), rigctld(1), rotctl(1), rotctld(1), rigmem(1),
rigsmtr(1), rigswr(1), hamlib(7), hamlib-primer(7)
COLOPHON
Links to the Hamlib Wiki, Git repository, release archives, and daily snapshot archives are available via
hamlib.org.
Hamlib 2020-09-08 HAMLIB-UTILITIES(7)