Calculate proper length of antenna for better signal

To increase signal quality, make sure the antenna length matches the frequency you are receiving at. I've had a 20-40 db increase in signal just by extending or retracting my antenna a couple of inches. A simple process is this:

1. Have on hand a ruler with centimeter markings (I use a retractable tailor tape measure)
2. Open your calculator and do 300 / your_frequency (in mhz) = wavelength
3. wavelength / 2 = how many meters long a half wave dipole would be. If this is too long, divide by 2 again to get the length of a quaterwave dipole in meters.
4. Extend the length of your antenna (I use ANT500s from my SDRs) to one of those lengths using your ruler. You should prefer half wave, but quarter wave is fine too.

For example, I'm listening on the national calling frequency for APRS (144.390) i'd do the following:

1. 300 / 144 = 2.08
2. 2.08 / 2 = 1.04 (half wave dipole length, way too long for my ANT500)
3. 1.04 / 2 = 0.52 (quarter wave dipole, 52 centimeters can be done easily)
4. Measure out 52 centimeters on the tape measure, use it as a guide to extend the antenna to the proper height.

How to loopback audio from one app to another for SDR

Piping the decoded audio from one application to another can be super annoying in linux. Fortunately there is a utility in apt that makes it dead easy (at least on Ubuntu). Simple steps:

• apt install pavucontrol
• start your applications (gqrx/fldigi/direwolf/whatever)
• execute pavucontrol
• In the "Playback" tab, make sure your "output" app is showing up and bouncing the sound meter
• In the "Recording" tab, make sure your "receiving" app is showing up. Click the sound card button and select the "monitor" entry
• Should start working immediately.

For FLDIGI to show up it needs to start recording from the sound card, I had to go to Configure > Sound Card > Audio > Devices > select "PortAudio" > leave capture and playback at "default"