Faizul "Piju" 9M2PJU: How to Install the Latest CHIRP on Ubuntu

CHIRP is a powerful open-source tool for programming amateur radios, supporting brands like Baofeng, Kenwood, and Yaesu. With the transition from chirp-daily to chirp-next, Ubuntu users need a new approach to install the latest version. This guide provides a step-by-step method to install CHIRP, configure dependencies, and troubleshoot common issues.

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Step 1: Install Required Dependencies

Before installing CHIRP, ensure your system has the necessary dependencies. Open a terminal and execute:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3-wxgtk4.0 pipx

• python3-wxgtk4.0: Provides the graphical components for CHIRP.
• pipx: Ensures a clean and isolated installation of CHIRP.

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Step 2: Download the Latest CHIRP Package

The latest CHIRP version is distributed as a Python wheel (.whl). Download it from the official CHIRP website:

1. Visit: https://trac.chirp.danplanet.com/chirp_next
2. Download the most recent chirp-YYYYMMDD-py3-none-any.whl file.
3. Save it to your Downloads folder for easy access.

Alternatively, download it via wget:

cd ~/Downloads
wget https://trac.chirp.danplanet.com/downloads/chirp-20250321-py3-none-any.whl

(Replace 20250321 with the latest available version.)

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Step 3: Install CHIRP Using Pipx

With the .whl file downloaded, install CHIRP via pipx:

pipx install --system-site-packages ~/Downloads/chirp-20250321-py3-none-any.whl

(Ensure you use the correct file name for your version.)

After installation, CHIRP should be available system-wide.

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Step 4: Ensure CHIRP Is in Your PATH

If CHIRP is not recognized as a command, update your PATH:

pipx ensurepath

Restart your terminal or log out and log back in. You can now run CHIRP using:

chirp

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Step 5: Configure Serial Port Permissions

If CHIRP cannot detect your radio, you may need to grant serial port access.

1. Identify your radio’s device name: dmesg | grep ttyUSB This should return something like /dev/ttyUSB0.
2. Grant access to your user: sudo usermod -a -G $(stat -c %G /dev/ttyUSB0) $USER
3. Log out and back in or reboot your system for the changes to take effect.

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Updating CHIRP

To update CHIRP in the future:

1. Download the latest .whl file.
2. Uninstall the current version: pipx uninstall chirp
3. Reinstall using the latest .whl following Step 3 above.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

CHIRP Doesn’t Start

• Ensure pipx ensurepath has been executed.
• Restart your terminal or log out and back in.

Serial Port Access Denied

• Check user group permissions with: ls -l /dev/ttyUSB0
• Add your user to the required group (e.g., dialout or uucp).

wxPython or Python Issues

• Verify Python version: python3 --version
• Check wxPython installation: python3 -c "import wx; print(wx.__version__)"
• If wxPython is missing or outdated, install it manually: pip3 install -U -f https://extras.wxpython.org/wxPython4/extras/linux/gtk3/ubuntu-20.04 wxPython

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Final Thoughts

By following this guide, you’ll have the latest CHIRP version running smoothly on Ubuntu. Whether you’re programming Baofeng, Kenwood, or other compatible radios, CHIRP simplifies configuration and channel management.

Happy radio programming!

The post How to Install the Latest CHIRP on Ubuntu appeared first on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.

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