What is it?⌗

It’ author describes freedata.app (or as I like to call it FD.A) as

“a versatile, open-source platform designed specifically for HF communications, leveraging Codec2 data modes for robust global digital communication. It features a network-based server-client architecture, a REST API, multi-platform compatibility, and a messaging system.”

My personal view.⌗

It’s really a nice project and digimode to try out and perhaps use even for EMCOMM activies.

There’s also a well written wiki, describing everything important a user might need to install Freedata (I’ll just call it FD.A) and use it either for keyboard-to-keyboard chat, to send and receive files or anything else that the REST API and open-source allows you to do!

That’s another reason why FD.A is so appealing, it’s not just a yet another closed off chat/QSO app but also allows external applications, scripts and what not to utilize the communication channel… HomeAssistant control over HF anyone? ;)

JS8Call for example offers something similar, but it’s speed isn’t as great, it requires babysiting for speed which depends on the propagation conditions and to my knowledge there’s no JS8Call app that could run on a headless system without GUI.

How i use it.⌗

Let’s set the scene of what OS/hardware I use.

  • Debian 12.7
  • Icom IC756-ProIII
  • Microham MicroKeyer II

Because MicroKeyer isn’t just a dumb rig interface I have to use utility called mhuxd to expose all of the functionalities to the OS.

This gives me CAT and PTT on /dev/mhuxd/cat and /dev/mhuxd/ptt.

It’s also necessary to use alsamixer to select the LINE input on the Microkeyer and not MIC, to get audio from the radio.

FD.A does allow to run rigctld automatically within itself, but that doesn’t give me the amount of control I require.

Only now I can run Hamlib for FD.A to connect to, command is as follows.

rigctld -m 3057 -s 19200 -r /dev/mhuxd/cat -p /dev/mhuxd/ptt -P RTS -vv

FD.A will automatically connect (if the Hamlib-External is chosen) and start to communicate with the radio. Giving you the ability to control some parameters of your rig directly from the web UI but also see the real-time S-meter and SWR values.

Epilogue⌗

There’s still a ton of “quality of life” features missing for sure. Some things are buggy and so on but that’s to be expected in an alpha release. Freedata.app is sort of unique with some of it’ features that it offers and definetelly has a solid foundation set for itself. It really just depends on the author, contributors and the community where it’ll go from this point on.

So don’t be scared to try it and give us a shout on 7053kHz. ;)

-73 Robin OK2AWO