How to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint? [SOLVED]


Tips and Tricks

Author: Omer Cakmak
Reviewer: Deepak Prasad

WSJT-X is an open-source, free software designed for weak-signal digital communication by amateur radio operators. The software is compatible with various operating systems, including Linux Mint, a popular Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. Installing WSJT-X on Linux Mint is a relatively simple process, and it requires a few basic steps to get started. In this article, we will explore the steps required to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint, including prerequisites, installation steps, and tips for using the software. With WSJT-X installed on Linux Mint, users can communicate with other amateur radio operators around the world, experiment with various digital modes, and participate in contests and special events. Whether you are a seasoned amateur radio operator or a beginner looking to get started with digital modes, WSJT-X is a powerful tool that can help you connect with other radio enthusiasts globally. In the following sections, we will discuss the steps required to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint and get started with using this powerful software.

 

Pre-requisites

Here are the pre-requisites required to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint:

Linux Mint Operating System:

The first prerequisite is to have Linux Mint installed on your computer. WSJT-X is compatible with Linux Mint 18 and later versions. To check the version of Linux Mint installed on your computer, you can use the following command:

# lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: LinuxMint
Description:    Linux Mint 20.3
Release:        20.3
Codename:       una

Internet connection:

A stable internet connection is required to download and install WSJT-X and its dependencies.

Software updates:

Before installing WSJT-X, it is recommended to update the software repositories and the system itself using the following apt command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Installing Dependencies:

WSJT-X requires certain dependencies to be installed, such as hamlib, which provides a standardized interface for controlling amateur radio equipment. To install hamlib and other dependencies, run the following command:

sudo apt install hamlib libqt5multimedia5-plugins libqt5multimediawidgets5 qtmultimedia5-dev libudev-dev libportaudio2 libportaudiocpp0 portaudio19-dev libhamlib-utils libhamlib-dev -y

 

Different methods to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint

We will explain 4 different methods of installing WSJT-X on Linux Mint. Since WSJT-X is an open source application, it is available in Mint repositories. You can also install the .deb package by downloading it. You can install it visually with the Software Manager. Finally, the Linux Mint community offers you an easy method for installation.

First, review the installation steps, start the installation with the method that is convenient and easy for you.

 

Method-1: Install From Repository

The Linux Mint repositories have the open source WSJT-X package:

$ sudo apt search wsjtx
...
p   wsjtx                        - Weak-signal amateur radio communicati
p   wsjtx-data                   - Weak-signal amateur radio communicati
p   wsjtx-doc

If you don't find this package, then you can first go ahead and add the required repository

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ki7mt/wsjtx

For installation, simply run the following command in terminal:

$ sudo apt install wsjtx -y

After installation, invoke WSJT-X from the applications menu according to the desktop environment you are using:

How to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint? [SOLVED]

Installation from the repository completed successfully. To remove the WSJT-X package from the system, run the following command:

$ sudo apt remove wsjtx -y

 

Method-2: Install From Community Web Page

The quick installation link of the application has been shared on the Linux Mint community page. Click the Install button:

Install WSJT-X  on Linux Mint

Then follow the steps below:

  • Install additional software? → Install
  • To install or remove software, you need to authenticate. → Type your password

After these processes, the installation will be completed visually in a short time.

 

Method-3: Install From .deb Package

In this last method we will download and install the latest version of WSJT-X package as .deb. You can access and download the packaged application for Debian and Redhat based systems.

Start the download from the terminal by typing the .deb package link after the wget command:

$ wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/wsjt/files/wsjtx-2.6.1/wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb
--2023-03-26 23:02:26--  https://sourceforge.net/projects/wsjt/files/wsjtx-2.6.1/wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb
Resolving sourceforge.net (sourceforge.net)... 104.18.10.128, 104.18.11.128, 2606:4700::6812:b80, ...
...
Resolving downloads.sourceforge.net (downloads.sourceforge.net)... 204.68.111.105
Connecting to downloads.sourceforge.net (downloads.sourceforge.net)|204.68.111.105|:443... connected.
Location: https://nav.dl.sourceforge.net/project/wsjt/wsjtx-2.6.1/wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb [following]
--2023-03-26 23:02:28--  https://nav.dl.sourceforge.net/project/wsjt/wsjtx-2.6.1/wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb
Resolving nav.dl.sourceforge.net (nav.dl.sourceforge.net)... 5.154.224.27
Connecting to nav.dl.sourceforge.net (nav.dl.sourceforge.net)|5.154.224.27|:443... connected.



HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 17319760 (17M) [application/octet-stream]
Saving to: ‘wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb’

wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64 100%[=============>]  16,52M   401KB/s    in 53s     

2023-03-26 23:04:00 (320 KB/s) - ‘wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb’ saved [17319760/17319760]

After the file is downloaded, start the installation of the wsjtx application with its dependencies with the following command:

$ sudo apt install ./wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Note, selecting 'wsjtx' instead of './wsjtx_2.6.1_amd64.deb'
...es

After installation, you can access the WSJT-X application with the latest version.

How to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint? [SOLVED]

To remove the WSJT-X package run the following command:

$ sudo apt remove wsjtx -y

 

Method-4: Install From Software Manager(Flathub or Repository)

You can install WSJT-X with Linux Mint Software Manager. This application offers installation with 2 different methods. The installation steps of these methods are the same, but the WSJT-X version will be different after installation.

Open Software Manager from applications and search for WSJT-X:

How to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint? [SOLVED]

 

You can install by selecting version 2.5.4+repack-1 (left) from the repository, and version 2.6.1 (right) with Flathub. Click the Install button and start the installation:

How to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint? [SOLVED]

You can install the more recent version by choosing Flathub. To remove it from the system, simply click the Remove button.

 

Configuring WSJT-X

After installing WSJT-X, the next step is to configure it for use with your radio equipment. Here are the steps to configure WSJT-X:

Open WSJT-X: To launch WSJT-X, click on the "Menu" button in the bottom-left corner of the screen, then click on "Internet" and select "WSJT-X" from the list of applications.

Set up Audio:

Click on the "File" menu and select "Settings". Under the "Audio" tab, select the sound card you wish to use for input and output. Set the audio input level to a value that ensures proper decoding of signals, but does not result in overloading.

How to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint? [SOLVED]

 

Set up Radio:

Under the "Radio" tab, select your radio type and configure the communication parameters such as baud rate, serial port, and control protocol. If your radio is not listed, you may need to manually configure the radio control settings using the "Hamlib" library.

How to install WSJT-X on Linux Mint? [SOLVED]

 

Set up CAT control:

CAT control allows WSJT-X to control the frequency and mode of your radio. Under the "Radio" tab, select the "CAT" control tab and configure the parameters such as baud rate, serial port, and data format.

Save settings:

Once you have configured all the settings, click the "OK" button to save the changes.

 

Troubleshooting Errors

You may encounter below error while trying to launch wsjtx

qt.qpa.xcb: could not connect to display 
qt.qpa.plugin: Could not load the Qt platform plugin "xcb" in "" even though it was found.
This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

Available platform plugins are: eglfs, linuxfb, minimal, minimalegl, offscreen, vnc, xcb.

The error message suggests that WSJT-X is unable to connect to the display because it cannot find the required Qt platform plugin. This can happen if the system is missing some dependencies or if the plugin has not been installed correctly.

To fix this error, you can try the following steps:

Install missing dependencies: Enter the following command to install the required dependencies:

sudo apt-get install libxcb-xinerama0

Reinstall the Qt platform plugin: Enter the following command to reinstall the Qt platform plugin:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall libxcb-xinerama0

Set the QT_QPA_PLATFORM_PLUGIN_PATH environment variable: Enter the following command to set the environment variable:

export QT_QPA_PLATFORM_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/qt5/plugins/platforms/

Launch WSJT-X: Once you have completed the above steps, try launching WSJT-X again using the command wsjtx in the Terminal.

 

Summary

In summary, installing WSJT-X on Linux Mint involves the following steps:

  • Ensure that your Linux Mint installation is up to date, and that your system meets the necessary prerequisites for installing WSJT-X, such as the correct version of Qt and audio support.
  • Download the WSJT-X installation package from the official website, and extract the files to a directory on your system.
  • Install any required dependencies for WSJT-X, such as the Hamlib radio control library.
  • Configure WSJT-X by selecting your audio input and output devices, and specifying your radio or transceiver settings.
  • Test your configuration by running the WSJT-X program and verifying that it is receiving and decoding signals correctly.

You can also install different specific version of WSJT-X. Feel free to comment on any problems you encounter during installation.

 

References

wsjt.sourceforge.io - WSJT-X User Guide
linux-packages.com - wsjtx on Linux Mint 20.3 "Una"

 

Omer Cakmak

Omer Cakmak

He is highly skilled at managing Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Oracle Linux, and Red Hat servers. Proficient in bash scripting, Ansible, and AWX central server management, he handles server operations on OpenStack, KVM, Proxmox, and VMware. You can connect with him on his LinkedIn profile.

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