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.

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.

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://archive.chirpmyradio.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://archive.chirpmyradio.com/chirp_next/next-20250321/chirp-20250321-py3-none-any.whl

(Replace 20250321 with the latest available version.)

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.

To add a shortcut for CHIRP to your application menu after installing it via pipx, first create a desktop entry file in the ~/.local/share/applications/ directory. Open a terminal and run nano ~/.local/share/applications/chirp.desktop to create a new file. In this file, add the following content:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=CHIRP
Comment=Open-source radio programming software
Exec=/home/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/chirp
Icon=chirp
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Utility;HamRadio;

Make sure to replace /home/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/chirp with the correct path to the CHIRP executable. Once the file is created, save it and make it executable by running chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/chirp.desktop. After that, refresh the application menu by running update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications or restarting your desktop environment. Your CHIRP application should now appear in the application menu, ready to launch with a custom shortcut.

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

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.

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.

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

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! 🎙️📡