FUNcube-Dongle-Linux

Getting a FUNcube Dongle running on Linux

My FUNcube Dongle, with an SMA <-> BNC converter attached

This is how I got my FUNcube Dongle (FCD from here on in) working under Linux on a Samsung N130 Netbook PC. The Linux distro installed is Ubuntu 11.04, but instructions should be very similar for any recent Linux distro.

First of all insert the FCD into a USB port and determine that it is detected:

 $ lsusb
 Bus 005 Device 003: ID 04d8:fb56 Microchip Technology, Inc.

The FCD uses a Microchip PIC to handle USB connectivity, so the lsusb command lists the FCD as a Microchip Technology, Inc. device. As long as the hex identifier, 04d8:fb56, is listed correctly then the FCD is being detected and not confused with some other device also connected to USB.

At this point it is a good idea to download the latest version of the QTHID FCD control software

Next check how ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) is identifying the FCD (The FCD pretends to be a soundcard)

 $ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Intel          ]: HDA-Intel - HDA-Intel
                         HDA-Intel at 0xf044000 irq 43
 1 [default       ]: USB-Audio - FUNcube Dongle V1.0 at usb-0000:00:id.3.1

Basically this means that ALSA is calling the built in soundcard "hw:0" and the FCD "hw:1", this is all the information we need to