Installing Ubuntu 22.04 with spectrometer_w_cal.grc on Bootable Flashdrive

Image the Flashdrive:

1. Before starting, you will need the program balenaEtcher, which is an easy-to-use cross-platform tool for burning images to SD cards, USB drives and other removable devices. It can be downloaded from https://www.balena.io/etcher/.

2. Download the file ubuntu_radio_astro08_2022_2.zip while in either Windows 10 or 11 or Ubuntu 22.04 or higher. This file will create a self contained persistent UBUNTU 22.04 computer environment.

3. If you wish to create a self contained persistent UBUNTU 24.04 computer environment, then download the file ubuntu_radio_astro2025.zip

4. Unzip this file in a folder of your choice.

5. Install a 32 GB flash drive for the UBUNTU 22.04 file or a 128 GB flash drive for the UBUNTU 24.04 file in your usb port. [We recommend a Samsung FIT Plus flash drive.]

6. Run balenaEtcher. Choose the file ubuntu_radio_astro08_2022_2.img or ubuntu_radio_astro2025.img as the image and the flash drive as the target.

7. The Ubuntu with spectrometer_w_cal.grc image should now be on this bootable flashdrive.

How to Run Gnuradio and the spectrometer_w_cal.grc program from the flashdrive.

1. To run Gnuradio and the spectrometer_w_cal.grc program, place the bootable flash drive in a USB port.

2. Start or reboot the computer. While it is starting, hold down the bootable key (F12) to pull up a menu of boot options.

3. Scroll down to the flashdrive and hit enter.

4. On the first installation screen, choose run Ubuntu persistent live (the choice at the top). IT MAY TAKE A FEW MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM TO BOOT UP, DEPENDING ON THE FLASHDRIVE USED. BE PATIENT!

5. Open a Terminal by selecting the terminal icon on the left menu bar.

6. Type and enter gnuradio-companion at the prompt.

7. The spectrometer_w_cal.grc program should open.

8. Before you hit the Play button at the top of the program window, you will need to adjust the gains for the AIRSpy in the OSMOCOM block. The nominal gain values for the AIRSpy are 17 12 10.

9. NOTE: When the save/write to file buttons are hit, the data files are written to the Spectra folder. Before you run GNURadio, you will need to create the Spectra folder. Click on the Files icon on the left side of the screen. Create the Spectra folder at this level.

10. NOTE: The system clock time defaults to UTC/London. Change it if needed.

11. Enjoy radio astronomy observations!