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Software Setup For Linux

From The RadioReference Wiki

Linux Scanner Applications Tested

Uniden

BCProgTool

Cross platform scanner application and the easiest to set up in Linux. No Wine required by Linux.

Radio Shack

None

Windows Scanner Applications Working / Worked Using Wine

The following applications do connect to the scanner and will allow upload and downloads. Additional features may be affected with the use in Wine as noted below.

Uniden- Working

ARC-XT-Pro

Slow to authenticate to RR.com. Need to answer no / continue as Ubuntu wants to close it down.
Also receives HTTP timeouts while connecting.

FreeScan

Functions as intended.

ScanControl

Functions as intended. Also compatable with some Radio Shack Models.

ProScan

Doesn't find its User Manual from the toolbar.
  • Testers choice*

Radio Shack- Worked

PSREdit300

Details on this linked page go back to Ubuntu 8.10, support ending 2010, so it was probably written around then. There is a very good chance it, or other versions of PSREdit work with a current installation of Wine as described below. Last but current release was 2013. This user has no RS scanners to test it with.

Win500

Details on this linked page go back to .NET Framework v1.1 (Year 2003). There is a very good chance it will work with a current installation of Wine as described below, just need someone with the hardware to test it and report back. Last release was 2015 and is current in 2016.

Serial Port Setup

Serial Port Permission

Any applications requiring access to the serial port(s) must have the current user added to the "dialout" user group.
1) Copy and Paste the following in a Terminal window. Replace <Your_User_Name_Here> with your user name:
sudo adduser <Your_User_Name_Here> dialout
2) Logout then back in to complete the user group addition.

Identifying Your Serial Port

  • RS-232 connections will be identified as ttyS0-3 and will be assigned to Com 1-4 later.
  • USB / RS-232 Adapters will be identified as ttyUSB0-3 and will be assigned to Com 1-4 later.
PL2303 type adapters work very well on Linux and don't require drivers like Windows.
See details here about about different models available
For the purpose of this testing a TRENDnet TU-S9 was used.


1) Connect Your Scanner to the Computer
2) Copy and Paste the following in a Terminal window to detect your port:
dmesg | grep tty


Example of a RS-232 connection showing that you will be linking ttyS0 to Com1 in the next step:
[    1.058530] 00:06: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4, base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A


Example of a USB to RS-232 connection showing that you will be linking ttyUSB0 to Com1 in the next step:
[32499.503662] usb 9-5: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0
  • If you have another connected device and either ttyS1 or ttyUSB1 display as your new device you will want to link it to Com2 below instead of Com1. The same holds true when adding it to the registry.
  • Now we can assume you have figured out how to Run a command using "Copy and Paste into a Terminal window".

Create symbolic link to the serial port

1) For RS-232 Run:
ln -s /dev/ttyS0 ~/.wine/dosdevices/com1
OR
1) For USB to RS-232 Adapter Run:
ln -s /dev/ttyUSB0 ~/.wine/dosdevices/com1

Adding The Port To The Registry

1) Open the file with:
gedit ~/.wine/system.reg
2) Add the following 2 lines at the beginning of the file right under “#arch=win32”:
[Hardware\\Devicemap\\Serialcomm] 1131331688
"COM1"="COM1"
Note: The above lines were found in this article as an example of what worked for that author. While it also worked for this author it may not work for you. Other examples are referenced, if needed.
3) Save and close the file.

Wine Installation Process

  • Using your Package Manager install the latest version of wine. This was tested using v1.8.0 (2016).

Add the Wine PPA (Ubuntu)

1) Open Software & Updates.
2) Select the "Other Software Tab", add.
3) Enter the line below into the "APT line:" field:
ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
4) Allow system to update.
5) Open your package manager and install Wine.

Create a 32 Bit Wine Prefix

Run each line below separately to:
1) Delete the directory ~/.wine (If still present from a previous installation) and
2) Create the new 32 Bit Prefix.
rm ~/.wine

WINEARCH=win32 WINEPREFIX=~/.wine winecfg
3) Close the Wine Configuration window by selecting “OK”.

Install Winetricks

Run each line below separately to:
1) Install winetricks and then
2) Make it executable:
wget http://www.kegel.com/wine/winetricks

chmod +x winetricks

Prerequsites for .NET Framework 4.5

Note: .NET Framework 3.0 and XML Parser are prerequisites for .NET Framework 4.5. If they are not found in their respective ~/.cache directories the .NET Framework 4.5 installation will fail.
1) Using your File Manager create 2 folders:
~/.cache/winetricks/dotnet30/
~/.cache/winetricks/msxml3/
2) Download .NET Framework 3.0 from:
http://www.oldversion.com/windows/download/net-framework-3-0
Copy netframework3.exe to ~/.cache/winetricks/dotnet30
3) Download MS XML Parser 3.0 SP 7 from:
http://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-XML-Parser-MSXML-3-0-Service-Pack-7-SP7/3000-7241_4-10731613.html
Copy msxml3.msi to ~/.cache/winetricks/msxml3/

Install .NET Framework v4.5:

1) Start the install by running:
bash winetricks -q dotnet45 corefonts
Note: The installation takes ~35 minutes but your mileage may vary. Wait until it finishes with a command prompt.

Check the .NET Framework v4.5 Install

1) Download the tool from here:
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/astebner/2008/10/13/net-framework-setup-verification-tool-users-guide/
2) Run the tool:
wine ~/Downloads/netfx_setupverifier_new/netfx_setupverifier.exe
3) In the "Product to Verify" pull down select ".NET Framework 4.5"
4) Press "Verify Now"
5) When complete press "View Log"
  • You should see the following line. If so the hard part is over, good job! Exit the window.
[DATE,TIME] Install state for .NET Framework 4.5: installed with no service packs.
  • If not return to step 2 above by deleting the ~/.wine directory and starting over.


Select an Application

Select a link to one of the Windows applications above and install. Happy scanning. BTW, love that ProScan.

Remaining Current and Going Forward

As of this date, March 2016, Microsoft is up to .NET Framework 4.6.1, Wine 1.8.1 (Stable version). Of course application and wine developers will lag behind. As they catch up it will be important to be running the most current version of wine that your Ubuntu Package Manager has to offer. Doesn't necessarily have to be the latest WineHQ has stable.
Equally important is to stay up to date with the most current version of .NET Framework that Wine and your Ubuntu distribution will handle. As an example today Wine advertises that .NET Framework 4.5.2 has been successfully tested with Ubuntu LTS 14.04. I happen to have been running Ubuntu Non-LTS 15.10 and after starting the .NET FW 4.5.2 Update I received the warning that it wasn't supported by my operating system. So I'll stick with 4.5.
These current releases are only updates from either 4.0 or 4.5. When Microsoft releases what will no longer be an update but full release it would be advisable to perform the new installation before any .NET FW is installed above. This page will need to be updated when that occurs.


Wine .NET Framework Version Support Table

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=2586