FreeBSD Adventures - installing YAAC APRS w/ TH-D72

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Update Dec-31-2024-1330

Corrected a few of the steps to make it all work properly. Also testing a new update of YAAC that includes FreeBSD specific look-up for local JSSC. See steps below to update the OpenJDK version from V8

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I’m returning to FreeBSD after almost 10 years using Debian/Fedora for ham field laptop. Its been an expected return with having to compile from source and/or search for obscure packages to get things to work.

YAAC is one of the first ham programs to get installed to my older laptop with a fresh install of FreeBSD 14.2 running a XFCE desktop with 1Tb SSD. Through trial and error, here are my steps to get YAAC communicating with both my GPS and TH-D72:

1. $ su -
2. # pw groupmod dialer -m USER
3. # pkg install comms/java-simple-serial-connector [>11yrs old, is from source for fork used by YAAC, installs OpenJDK8]
4. # pkg install openjdk22
5. # cd /usr/ports/java/openjdk8
6. # make deinstall [removes only the openjdk8 package]
7. $ java -version [in another non-root terminal view, should show V22]
8. # pkg install gpsd
9. plug in GPS
   • note USB port, /dev/cuaU0 on my laptop
10. plug in TH-D72
    • running packet12 mode
      • https://www.ka2ddo.org/ka2ddo/YAACdocs/config_kenwood.html
      • https://www.ka2ddo.org/ka2ddo/YAACdocs/config_serialtnc.html
    • /dev/cuaU1 on my laptop
11. # vi /etc/rc.conf
    • add: gpsd_enable=“YES”
    • add: gpsd_devices="/cuaU0" [check your usb port, I will build a udev style rule for the GPS under FreeBSD]
12. # exit
13. download YAAC to /home/user/Software-local/YAAC
14. $ unzip YAAC
15. $ cd YAAC
16. $ java -jar YAAC.jar [-debug if needed, will fill logs & slow program]
17. config as needed

See Andrew P., Developer of YAAC, comments at https://groups.io/g/yaac-users/topic/yaac_under_freebsd_14_2/110289214 I will continue to test/tune this process with the newest JSSC fork and newer openjdk version. Will report back my findings at groups.io and here