Enter the following commands.
cd
curl -O https://www.clearskyinstitute.com/ham/HamClock/install-hc-rpi
chmod u+x install-hc-rpi
./install-hc-rpi
Click y (yes) to proceed and hit enter.
This may seem to stall during the installation of necessary helper packages, but it is merely taking a long time to finish.
Once the helper packages have been installed, you will be prompted to indicate whether you wish to build solely for web access. If you are constructing this on a linux pc that has a monitor connected, it is advisable to respond with ‘n’ to this inquiry.
Upon completion, it will prompt you to select your desired resolution. You will observe that it has identified my display as 1680×1050, thus presenting the available resolutions. It is advisable to always choose the highest resolution that your monitor can accommodate, which in most instances will be 1600×960. If your pc is connected to a 4K display, you will also have the options of 2400×1440 and 3200×1920, so once more, select the optimal choice.
HamClock will now construct and provide you with a convenient progress indicator. This is an opportune moment to fetch a cup of tea or coffee, and possibly a digestive biscuit to dip while you await the completion of this phase. On older PC, this process may take a considerable amount of time and might seem to be unresponsive. Exercise patience and wait; it will eventually finish.
Answer ‘y’ to the question about installing a HamClock desktop icon.
Answer ‘y’ to the question about the User Guide (an online version is always available HERE).
Answer ‘y’ to the question about auto starting HamClock.
If everything has been executed properly, you should receive a notification indicating that the HamClock installation has been successfully completed.
Reboot your Raspberry Pi again with the comand below.
sudo reboot nowWhen the Pi reboots, it will automatically start HamClock and because this is the first time it’s been opened, it will drop into the setup routine.
*** Note that this part of the guide has been updated to HamClock 4.17 (beta version). Please also refer to the official HamClock documentation which is updated after every release. ***
Input your callsign in the Call field and your grid in the Grid field. The Latitude and Longitude will refresh automatically. Your callsign must be a valid amateur radio callsign; if you wish to display something else on the main screen, you can utilize the Title option.
Once you have completed this, click on < Page 1 > located in the top right corner to proceed to the next page.
By default, Cluster will be set to No.
Press the space bar to change this to Yes and complete Page 2 as shown below.
Please note that starting from Version 4.17, you will be required to enter an SSID as indicated in the note below the ‘login’ field. This requirement is to prevent any conflicts if you access the DX Cluster network using different software. If you have upgraded from an earlier version of HamClock, this will be automatically set for you as -55.
The port and host details are particularly crucial on this page, as they ensure you connect to the optimal DX Cluster node for HamClock: dxspider.co.uk port 7300. You might think that if you are outside the UK, you should not use this cluster. However, it is optimized for HamClock, and you should use it.
After completing the above steps, click on < Page 2 > located in the top right corner to proceed to the next page.
No modifications are required on Setup Page 3 for a standard setup. Should you wish to alter any of these options, kindly consult the official instructions.
Click on < Page 3 > located in the top right corner to proceed to the next page.
You might consider adjusting the Map center longitude setting from 0E to focus the map on your specific QTH. This decision is completely yours.
After you have finished, click on < Page 4 > located in the top right corner to proceed to the next page.
There are several aspects to consider modifying on Setup Page 5. The recommendations I have are as follows.
Auto SpcWx Map? – Change this to Yes. This feature is excellent for detecting propagation changes. If the DRAP value exceeds 25 MHz, the DRAP map will be included in the rotation and will be removed if it falls below 15 MHz. Additionally, if the likelihood of aurora rises above 50%, the aurora map will be incorporated into the rotation and will be taken out when it drops below 25%.
Units? – You can select from Imperial, Metric, or British.
Log Usage? – Change this to Opt-In. This is beneficial for the developer.
Full scrn direct? – Change this to Yes. This guarantees that HamClock will entirely occupy your screen.
Auto upgrade? – *** New in HamClock 4.16 *** This feature allows you to configure HamClock to automatically update itself when a new version becomes available. You can set it for 03:00, 12:00, 21:00, or turn it off; these times are in DE time, meaning local to you. It is strongly advised to enable this option to ensure you always have the most recent version of HamClock.
Please note that the line thickness / no line option has been removed from Page 5 and relocated to Page 6, where it can be configured in a more detailed manner per band.
Once you have completed your changes, click on < Page 5 > in the top right corner to proceed to the next page.
This is the section where you can customize colors in HamClock. The default color palette was created to provide high contrast, but since I frequently use PSKReporter, HamClock includes a color scheme that aligns with it. You can select ‘pskreporter’ at the bottom to have HamClock adopt these colors. If you choose ‘default’, it will revert the colors to the original HamClock palette. Additionally, you have the option to personalize the colors according to your preferences and save them in either set A or B.
The interface underwent a complete overhaul in HamClock V4.10, enabling much finer control over the line settings for each band.
When you have finished, click on < Page 6 > located in the top right corner to proceed to the next page.
Page 7 is designated for the automatic shutdown of the display. I currently do not have any of these configurations set.
After completing your adjustments, click the Done button located in the bottom right corner to save all your settings and initiate HamClock correctly.
Configuring the panels
HamClock will start with a standard configuration of panels, and you will observe different propagation beacons appearing and disappearing on the map
Setting a large DX Cluster panel
The DX Cluster holds significant importance for me, far exceeding that of the DE: and DX panels. Starting from version 3.07, HamClock can now consolidate both of those panels into a single, expansive DX Cluster panel.
Before proceeding, ensure that you do not have a DX Cluster pane displayed at the top, as it can only be enabled in one location at any given time. If a DX Cluster pane is currently at the top, switch it to a different option; otherwise, it will not appear as a choice here.
Click on the DE text located in the top left corner of the DE panel, and a popup box will be displayed.
Select Data Panes, confirm that DX Cluster is checked below, and then click the Ok button at the bottom.
The DE and DX panels will be consolidated into one DX panel, with spots displayed below and also marked on the map. This panel indicates the frequency, the callsign, and the elapsed time in minutes since the spot was received. If the time is represented as an ‘h’, it signifies that the spot was received over an hour ago.
Space Weather panel
By default, the panel in the top right corner displays beacon information; however, I believe that it is more crucial to show space weather in that location. Click on the NCDXF text, and in the popup window, uncheck NCDXF, select Spc Wx, and then click the Ok button
The Live Spots panel
In addition to DX Cluster spots, I prefer to have PSKReporter spots displayed on my map. To achieve this, I will utilize the panel that is set to VOACAP DE-DX by default.
Click on the VOACAP DE-DX text, choose Live Spots, uncheck VOACAP, and then click the Ok button.
This panel now requires some configuration.
To initiate the configuration, click inside the panel, and the configuration screen will appear. Here’s how I have set it up:
The top row is configured to PSK, allowing me to view PSK Reporter spots.
The second row is designated for ‘of DE’, which displays spots from the DE location.
The third row is set to Grid, enabling the display of spots from stations transmitting within my grid square.
The fourth row is configured to Count, providing visibility on the number of stations reporting.
The fifth row is set to 15 min, ensuring that only stations from the last fifteen minutes are plotted. This helps manage the busy map effectively.
At the bottom, there is a list of bands where I can select the ones I wish to monitor.
After configuring the panel to your preference, click the Ok button at the bottom.
The Live Spots panel is arguably the most beneficial among all the panels for displaying real-time activity on the bands. When configured as described above, this panel reveals the number of transmissions from your grid square that are being received on each band. With a setting of 15 minutes, it operates in near real-time, allowing you to identify potential opportunities for working on each band. This setup utilizes PSK Reporter as its data source, and since there are always users on FT8, it serves as a reliable indicator. Reception reports are represented on the map with small squares at the endpoints, while the best DX on each band is marked by a small circle with a cross and the callsign prefix.
For instance, the zoomed-in image illustrates that the farthest reception from my grid square on 10m is this PY2 in Brazil, along with additional reception reports from my square in the same country, albeit not as distant.
Setting the final two panels
By default, there are two additional panels set to X-Ray and SDO (images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite). I have relevant information shown in the Space WX panel, and since I’m not particularly interested in the SDO images, I have modified these to permanently display the Sunspot Number and Solar Flux, respectively. You can select any option you prefer from the numerous display choices available in HamClock by clicking within the panel and making your selection.
Changing how your callsign is displayed
To modify how your callsign appears in the top left corner, click on the right side of your callsign to adjust the background color, and on the left side to change the color of your callsign. I personally favor a solid color against a black background.
Changing the map type
By default, the HamClock map displays countries, which is visually appealing but not particularly beneficial for amateur radio activities. To access a popup with all available options, click on the top left corner of the map where it indicates ‘Countries.’ I won’t detail each option here; the most effective way to understand their functionality and determine what suits you best is to explore them and choose your favorites.
Personally, I prefer to set the Style to DRAP, the Grid to None, and the Projection to Robinson. I do not have the RSS feed activated, and I have disabled Night and Cities.
Keep in mind that you can choose multiple Styles, and HamClock will rotate them similarly to how other panes are rotated. The duration of the rotation is referred to as Map rotation and can be configured on setup Page 5.
With all these settings configured, this is the appearance of my HamClock.
DX Cluster filtering
By default, you will receive all DX Cluster spots across all bands as reported by everyone. You might find this overwhelming and wish to streamline the information. This can be accomplished by entering basic filter commands on setup Page 2.
To re-enter the setup, click the padlock icon, choose Restart HamClock, and then click Ok. When prompted, click Ok again, and HamClock will restart. You have ten seconds to click anywhere on the screen to access the setup, then click < Page 1 > located in the top right corner to proceed to the next setup page.
On the right side of the screen, you will find several lines designated for Cluster Commands. You can utilize standard DX Cluster filter commands in these lines to limit the information displayed. These commands are outside the scope of this guide; please refer to the Filtering Primer by W3BG here, or feel free to leave a comment on this entry, and I will do my best to assist you.
Filtering out all data spots, including FT8 and FT4 from the DX Cluster feed
Click on the padlock, select ‘Restart HamClock’, and then click Ok. When prompted, click Ok again. After it restarts, click anywhere to enter the setup and navigate to Page 2.
Configure it according to the screenshot provided below. The first line removes any existing filters, the second line adds a filter for all data modes, and the third line verifies the info text for FT8 and FT4, which will assist in detecting any DXpeditions utilizing non-standard frequencies. Ensure that you type these commands exactly as they appear.
Please note that (at the time of writing) this filter will function correctly only if you connect to dxspider.co.uk.
Updating HamClock
HamClock receives regular updates, and you can always view the latest release notes here.
When an update is available, the version number in the top left panel will turn red. I strongly advise updating HamClock as soon as you can; if you notice the version number is red, click on it and follow the instructions to proceed with the update.
Starting from HamClock version 4.16, an Auto Upgrade option is available on setup page 5. It is highly advisable to enable this feature to guarantee that the latest version is automatically downloaded and installed.
Final Words
This guide walks you through the steps of setting up a HamClock from the ground up on linux. I’m merely touching on the various displays that can be shown on your HamClock, so I encourage you to thoroughly read the instructions and determine what aspects are most significant to you.
A HamClock is an incredibly beneficial addition to any amateur radio station; it’s simple to assemble, and you likely already possess most of the necessary components. Additionally, a linux computer consumes very little power, allowing you to keep it running continuously and simply turn on the screen when you enter the shack. If you have an interest in HF, space weather, or propagation, a HamClock can significantly enhance your amateur radio experience.
A massive thanks to https://qso365.co.uk/2024/05/how-to-set-up-a-hamclock-for-your-shack/ on the initial guide to setting up on a rasperry pi, ive simply rewritten the tutorial to work on my debian shack mini pc.