Software pages

Homebrew software and related items

Over the years I've written quite a few programs. Some (maybe even most) of them, were quick and dirty tools to get something done. But once in a while, I did find the perseverance to continue with a project and produce something of which I was not completely ashamed of.

If and when I get around to documenting these projects (at least add comments inside the code), I'll publish them here. Most - if not all - program will be written for Linux, as that is my operating system of choice.

Also, I've used quite a few other programs, and in some cases I found useful information on how to use them, and how to avoid some pitfalls. I'll try and describe those here too. In this case, of course the merit is of the program's author, my contribution is just documentary!

Programs

File Comments

linSmith linSmith is a Smith Charting program, mainly designed for educational use. It allows defining multiple load impedances (different frequencies), and adding components (discrete components and line sections) in series and parallel. It plots the impedances on the screen, shows the values in table format, and is able to generate publication quality Postscript output.

cbrPager A no-nonsense, simple to use, small viewer for cbr (comic book archive) files. As it is written in C, the executable is small and fast. It views jpg (or jpeg), gif and png images, and you can zoom in and out.

Other programs: Hints & kinks

Link Size Comments

Bootstrap - How to start uploading programs to a DOS machine without floppies available.

GIOChannel - A short tutorial about the use of GIOChannels, a (fairly) new communication channel management system in GTK+, with some example code.

wxtoimg 152 kB wxtoimg is an excellent program to decode audio from APT or WEFAX-transmitting satellites. Unlike JVFax and others, this program is dedicated to satellite imagery, and contributes a large number of tools not available in the more generic programs.
It is a little more difficult to use, just because of the large number of possibilities. A while ago I was asked to write a review for the Group for Earth Observation's magazine and here's the PDF of that article. Thanks to the GEO people for their permission to publish it here.

wxtoimg 623 kB This is another version, with more resolution, formatted for printing

On-line: Javascript calculators

File Comments

Simple helical antennas This calculator permits designing (or analysing) helical antennas, and produces acceptable results for versions of 3 to more than 30 turns. It suggests a matching section, and gives all mechanical data, including -1dB and -3dB bandwidth, and -3dB beamwidth.

Quadrifilar helical antenna Design your own QFH (or QHA) antenna. Many people have reported good to excellent results. Practical precision has been checked from 100 MHz to over 2 GHz! The calculator also generates a PDF drill pattern to ease construction.

Balloon utilities * Convert pressure/altitude/temperature/density according to the 'standard atmosphere'.
* Calculate descent time and speed for a parachute, given diameter, weight and height.

6628

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File	Comments
linSmith	linSmith is a Smith Charting program, mainly designed for educational use. It allows defining multiple load impedances (different frequencies), and adding components (discrete components and line sections) in series and parallel. It plots the impedances on the screen, shows the values in table format, and is able to generate publication quality Postscript output.
cbrPager	A no-nonsense, simple to use, small viewer for cbr (comic book archive) files. As it is written in C, the executable is small and fast. It views jpg (or jpeg), gif and png images, and you can zoom in and out.

Link	Size	Comments
Bootstrap	-	How to start uploading programs to a DOS machine without floppies available.
GIOChannel	-	A short tutorial about the use of GIOChannels, a (fairly) new communication channel management system in GTK+, with some example code.
wxtoimg	152 kB	`wxtoimg` is an excellent program to decode audio from APT or WEFAX-transmitting satellites. Unlike JVFax and others, this program is dedicated to satellite imagery, and contributes a large number of tools not available in the more generic programs. It is a little more difficult to use, just because of the large number of possibilities. A while ago I was asked to write a review for the Group for Earth Observation's magazine and here's the PDF of that article. Thanks to the GEO people for their permission to publish it here.
wxtoimg	623 kB	This is another version, with more resolution, formatted for printing

File	Comments
Simple helical antennas	This calculator permits designing (or analysing) helical antennas, and produces acceptable results for versions of 3 to more than 30 turns. It suggests a matching section, and gives all mechanical data, including -1dB and -3dB bandwidth, and -3dB beamwidth.
Quadrifilar helical antenna	Design your own QFH (or QHA) antenna. Many people have reported good to excellent results. Practical precision has been checked from 100 MHz to over 2 GHz! The calculator also generates a PDF drill pattern to ease construction.
Balloon utilities	* Convert pressure/altitude/temperature/density according to the 'standard atmosphere'. * Calculate descent time and speed for a parachute, given diameter, weight and height.