CAP‑Warn is a modern weather alert system based on the new CAP formats for your repeater or node. As a result, it provides a far more reliable and automated experience than older scripts. In addition, CAP‑Warn uses APT‑GET, which means you will automatically receive updates through the repository. Therefore, there is no need for manual editing or patching—everything is handled for you.
CAP‑Warn downloads alerts directly from the NWS CAP system and the National Hurricane Center nhc.noaa.gov. Afterward, it converts them into audio and sends them to your node. Consequently, your system stays informed even during rapidly changing weather conditions.
Installation Options
1. Automated Install (Recommended)
CAP‑Warn works on a wide range of systems. For example, it supports:
- ASL3
- Debian 12/13
- Raspberry Pi
- Cloud nodes
- Bare‑metal nodes
Just run:
curl -sSL [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tmastersmart/cap-warn/main/install_capwarn.sh](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tmastersmart/cap-warn/main/install_capwarn.sh) | bash
Once executed, this installer:
- installs the GPG key
- adds the repo
- installs dependencies
- installs CAP‑Warn
- places you in the correct directory
- tells you to run setup.sh
2. Manual Install (For those who prefer full control)
Step 1 — Install required PHP modules and tools
sudo apt install php-cli php-curl php-xml php-mbstring php-json sox curl logrotate
Step 2 — Install the GPG key manually
curl -sSL [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tmastersmart/cap-warn/main/debian/public.key](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tmastersmart/cap-warn/main/debian/public.key) \
| sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/capwarn.gpg
Step 3 — Add the APT source manually
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/capwarn.list
Add:
deb [arch=all signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/capwarn.gpg] [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tmastersmart/cap-warn/main/debian](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tmastersmart/cap-warn/main/debian) stable main
After saving, continue with the next steps.
Step 4 — Update APT
sudo apt update
Step 5 — Install CAP‑Warn
sudo apt install cap-warn
Step 6 — Run setup
cd /usr/share/cap-warn
sudo bash setup.sh
At this point, installation is complete.
What About HamVoIP?
CAP‑Warn is designed for Debian‑based systems. Originally, it was written for HamVoIP GMRS nodes, but much has changed since 2023. Today, the recommended platforms are:
- ASL3
- Debian 12/13
- Raspberry Pi OS
However, HamVoIP uses an outdated OS with no APT‑GET support, so a manual install would be required. You could unzip the .deb and install it manually. Nevertheless, I am no longer supporting HamVoIP. Therefore, the recommended path is to upgrade to ASL3.
Final Thoughts
CAP‑Warn is built for hams who want:
- reliable weather alerts
- modern CAP parsing and hurricane support
- clean audio
- easy installation
- active maintenance
- compatibility with ASL3 and Debian 12/13
Ultimately, CAP‑Warn provides a dependable, modern solution for weather alerts on AllStar systems.
CAP-Warn is a modern weather alert system for AllStar nodes that utilizes Common Alerting Protocol formats. It provides automated updates via APT-GET and retrieves weather data directly from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center. The software converts alerts into audio for broadcasting on repeaters and nodes.
The system supports Debian-based platforms, including ASL3 and Raspberry Pi OS, through automated or manual installation processes. While originally developed for HamVoIP, current versions prioritize newer operating systems for better maintenance and reliability. The software aims to offer a dependable replacement for legacy weather scripts.