Releases

NOCT for Raspberry Pi

One image that turns a Raspberry Pi into a NOCT appliance. Flash it, power on, open a browser and follow the setup wizard. No terminal needed.

0.9.0 Beta

Released 2026-10-03

Raspberry Pi image

Download image @IMAGE_SIZE@

SHA-256 (file):

@IMAGE_SHA256@

Source code

The complete corresponding source for this image: NOCT itself, every GPL, LGPL and MPL package it contains at the exact version shipped, the upstream projects NOCT builds, and the scripts that build the image.

Download source @SOURCE_SIZE@

SHA-256 (file). Where the libraries bundled inside JS8Call come from: JS8CALL-SOURCES.txt.

Boards: Raspberry Pi 4 (tested). Pi 3 and Pi 5 should work but are not yet verified for this release.
Card: 8 GB or larger microSD card or USB SSD
Based on: Debian 13 (trixie), 64-bit, built from Raspberry Pi OS Lite sources
Login: noct / noct1234, SSH on. Change it on first use with passwd over SSH.
Hotspot: Wi-Fi NOCT, password noct1234. Change it from the System page.

Install

Download the image and check its SHA-256 against the value above.
Open Raspberry Pi Imager. Choose your board, then Operating System → Use custom and pick the .img.xz file. Choose your card.
When Imager offers OS customisation, choose No. The image sets its own user, hostname and SSH.
Put the card in the Pi and power it on. The first boot takes a minute or two longer while the unit makes its own keys and certificate.
Connect one of three ways:
- Ethernet on your network: open http://noct.local
- No network: join the NOCT Wi-Fi hotspot, then open http://192.168.50.1
- A laptop cabled straight to the Pi: open http://169.254.100.1
Follow the setup wizard. Connect radios when it asks for them.

If another NOCT is already on your network, the new one appears as noct-2.local.

About this beta

Every radio service is installed and held at boot; start the ones you use from System → Services or the setup wizard.
Updates are by reflashing a newer image. In-place updates and station backup/restore are planned.
Change the factory login and hotspot password before taking a unit into the field. NOCT is meant for a local or field network, not the open Internet.

Source code and licences

NOCT is free software: Copyright © 2026 The Comms Channel, LLC, licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 3 or any later version. The image also contains software from many other projects under their own licences; each unit lists them under System → Info → About / Licenses, in /opt/noct/THIRD-PARTY-LICENSES.txt and in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.

The source code for every release is downloadable above, alongside its image. For at least three years from a release, it is also available on request: write to thecommschannel@proton.me quoting the image version.