Adding programs to the Applications Menu

This document is to finalize and set up the system for more convenient operation. For consistency and to avoid confusion, I put the icons for the programs that are run from the home directory in the Applications menu directories located in the home directory structure.

• Install lxterminal to allow scripts to launch new terminals

  sudo apt install lxterminal

• Creating Application menu items
  The CubicSDR and WSJT-X installers make their own icon. For the others, will add a desktop file and add it to the Applications menu
  • GQRX - copy the desktop file from the source folder.

    sudo cp ~/gqrx/gqrx.desktop /usr/local/share/applications/

  • GridTracker. You will need to change the paths in this file if you changed the installation folder.
    • Create a new desktop file.

      featherpad ~/.local/share/applications/GridTracker.desktop

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Name=GridTracker
      Comment=GridTracker
      GenericName=GridTracker, a WSJT-X Companion
      Exec=~/GridTracker/GridTracker
      Icon=~/GridTracker/gridtracker.png
      Path=~/GridTracker
      Type=Application
      Encoding=UTF-8
      Terminal=false
      Categories=None;
      

  • QRadioLink. You will need to change the paths in this file if you changed the installation folder.
    • Create a new desktop file.

      featherpad ~/.local/share/applications/QRadioLink.desktop

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Name=QRadioLink
      Comment=SDR Software
      GenericName=QRadioLink
      Exec=~/qradiolink/build/qradiolink
      Icon=~/qradiolink/src/res/logo.png
      Path=~/qradiolink/build/
      Type=Application
      Terminal=false
      Categories=None;
      

  • SdrGlut. You will need to change the paths in this file if you changed the installation folder.
    • Create a new desktop file.

      featherpad ~/.local/share/applications/SdrGlut.desktop

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Name=SdrGlut
      Comment=SDR Software
      GenericName=SdrGlut
      Exec=~/Desktop/SdrGlut/sdrglut.x
      Icon=~/Desktop/SdrGlut/SdrGlut-Windows/SdrGlut3.ico
      Path=~/Desktop/SdrGlut
      Type=Application
      Encoding=UTF-8
      Terminal=false
      Categories=None;
      

  • Start Hamlib rigctld service with an Application menu icon.
    You can stop the Rig Control server by pressing Ctrl-C or closing the rigctld terminal window.
    • Create a new desktop file.

      featherpad ~/.local/share/applications/rigctld.desktop

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Comment=Rig Control server
      Terminal=true
      Name=rigctld
      Exec=rigctld -v -m 1 -T 127.0.0.1 -t 7356 &
      Type=Application
      Icon=utilities-terminal
      

• Scripts
  Give yourself execute permission to each of these scripts: chmod +x Script_Name.sh
  • Here is a handy script that will start the virtual audio cable, WSJT-X and GridTracker. If you have Hamlib enabled in WSJT-X, Hamlib rigctld must be running before executing this script.
    • Create a new script file.

      featherpad ~/Documents/Start_All_WSJT_apps.sh

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      #! /bin/sh
      
      pacmd load-module module-null-sink sink_name=Virtual0
      pacmd update-sink-proplist Virtual0 device.description=Virtual0
      pacmd update-source-proplist Virtual0.monitor device.description=Virtual0
      sleep 1
      wsjtx &
      sleep 20
      ~/GridTracker/GridTracker &
      

    • Add an Application menu icon and create a new desktop file.

      featherpad ~/.local/share/applications/Start_All_WSJT_apps.desktop

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Version=1.0
      Name=Start All WSJT apps
      Comment=Script to Start All WSJT apps
      Exec=~/Documents/Start_All_WSJT_apps.sh
      Icon=utilities-terminal
      Terminal=false
      Type=Application
      Categories=Application;
      

  • Project 25 trunked radio system scanner with liquidsoap
    This script will open 3 terminal windows with op25, liquidsoap and tail that will show messages.
    • Create a new script file.

      featherpad "~/Documents/op25 with liquidsoap.sh"

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      #! /bin/sh
      
      lxterminal -e 'bash -c "cd ~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps && ./rx.py --args 'driver=sdrplay,soapy=0' -N 'IFGR:28','RFGR:1' -S 1000000 -x 1 -f 855.2875e6 -o 1e3 -q -1 -d 700 -T michigantrunk.tsv -V -2 -w 2> stderr-stream0.2"' &
      lxterminal -e 'bash -c "cd ~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps && ./op25.liq"' &
      lxterminal -e 'bash -c "cd ~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps && tail -f stderr-stream0.2"' &
      

    • Add an Application menu icon and create a new desktop file.

      featherpad "~/.local/share/applications/op25 with liquidsoap.desktop"

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Version=1.0
      Name=Start P25 scanner
      Comment=Start op25
      Exec="~/Documents/op25 with liquidsoap.sh"
      Icon=utilities-terminal
      Terminal=false
      Type=Application
      Categories=None;
      

  • Start the DMR receiver
    This script will open 2 terminal windows with op25 and tail that will show messages. It may also open a plot window if so configured in the .json file.
    • Create a new script file.

      featherpad ~/Documents/start_DMR.sh

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      #! /bin/sh
      
      lxterminal -e 'bash -c "cd ~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps && ./multi_rx.py -c dmr_cfg.json -v 9 2> stderr.2"' &
      lxterminal -e 'bash -c "cd ~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps && tail -f stderr.2"' &
      

    • Add an Application menu icon and create a new desktop file.

      featherpad "~/.local/share/applications/Start DMR.desktop"

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Version=1.0
      Name=Start DMR
      Comment=Start DMR
      Exec=~/Documents/start_DMR.sh
      Icon=utilities-terminal
      Terminal=false
      Type=Application
      Categories=None;
      

  • Start Motorola Type II Smartnet
    This script will open 2 terminal windows with op25 and tail that will show messages.
    • Create a new script file.

      featherpad ~/Documents/start_UM_Snet.sh

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      lxterminal -e 'bash -c "cd ~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps && ./multi_rx.py -v 4 -c smartnet_test.json 2> stderr.2"' &
      # Using built-in audio
      lxterminal -e 'bash -c "cd ~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps && tail -f stderr.2"' &
      

    • Add an Application menu icon and create a new desktop file.

      featherpad "~/.local/share/applications/Start Smartnet.desktop"

    • Paste the code below into the text editor and save it.

      [Desktop Entry]
      Version=1.0
      Name=Start Smartnet
      Comment=Start Smartnet
      Exec=~/Documents/start_UM_Snet.sh
      Icon=utilities-terminal
      Terminal=false
      Type=Application
      Categories=None;