how to install and configure pat the Linux winlink client
I will be doing this on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Rev 1.2
Ingredients.
Raspberry Pi 3 4 or zero w
Case for the Pi
a USB lead to power the Pi
if you are using a Pi zero then you will need a USB OTG adaptor
Lastly a power supply this can be a wall adaptor or a power bank if you are using a PI 4 make sure the power bank is a PD compatible unit
Method
installing software
Firstly we will update and upgrade the Raspberry Pi OS by running the following command line sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
Once this is done we need to install gpsd the service daemon that we will use to get GPS date to pat the command we will be using will also give us tools to test that all is configured correctly just run the following command sudo apt install gpsd-clients -y
now we need to install pat at time of writing the latest version is v0.13.1
to get and install this we need to run the following command line wget https://github.com/la5nta/pat/releases/download/v0.13.1/pat_0.13.1_linux_armhf.deb then run sudo dpkg -i pat_0.13.1_linux_armhf.deb -y
now to configure the system
first of configure the GPS. First with out the GPS plugged in run ls /dev/tty???0 note there should be a entry and that ls /dev/ttyAMA0 now plug in your GPS unit and re run the above command again you should see in addition the the ttyAMA0 ether ttyUSB0 or TTYacm0 note what it is and then run
the following commands
cd /etc/default/
sudo rm gpsd
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/M6GSN/Pat-on-a-raspberry-pi/main/gpsd
sudo nano gpsd
here we ned to edit one of two lines both staring #DEVICES depenmds on how your gps unit shows up we need to remove the # from that one and remove the other line when done press Ctrl+s then Ctrl+x.
Testing GPS.first off reboot the system this is so our changes to the GPSD file can take hold in the system to reboot your pi run sudo reboot
When your Pi reboot we will test that the GPS is configered properly by running cgps if all is working you should see GPS including your grid reference and shpod look like the image below but with moving text
Now to configure Pat
run the following command pat configure` then edit the following
"mycall": "YOUR CALL SIGN GOES HERE",
"secure_login_password": "WINLINK PASSWORD", this can be left blank if 1 you have yet to set up winlink or 2 you want to enter your password all everytime
"http_addr": "Localhost:8080", if sunning this has a headless pi change the localhost to 0.0.0.0
then under gpsd change everything to the following
"enable_http": true,
"allow_forms": true,
"use_server_time": false,
"addr": "localhost:2947"
now to test pat this can be done by running pat http then going to your browser and antering eather localhost:8080 or Pi.ip.darress:8080 (ie 192.168.1.10:8080)
to connect to the winlink service go to action then connect I would suggest to run a telnet session to begin with so under transport select telnet if the address filed is bland copy and edit the following YOURCALL:CMSTelnet@cms.winlink.org:8772 your callsign may need to be in upper case then hit connect not pat will connect to the winlink servers you may be assed for your winlink password if you entered it in the pat configure file