N5ZY

Getting Started (No Python Experience Required)

The “N5ZY Co-Pilot” is written in Python, but you don’t need to know Python to use it. If you’ve never installed Python before, follow these steps and you’ll be up and running in about 10 minutes.

Step 1: Install Python

1. Go to python.org/downloads and click the big yellow “Download Python 3.x.x” button (grab the latest 3.12 or 3.13 — either works fine)
2. Run the installer
3. ⚠️ IMPORTANT: On the very first screen of the installer, check the box that says “Add python.exe to PATH” — this is the #1 thing people miss and it will save you a headache later
4. Click “Install Now” (the default settings are fine)
5. When it finishes, click “Close”

To verify it worked: Open a Command Prompt (press the Windows key, type cmd, hit Enter) and type:

python --version

You should see something like Python 3.13.2. If you get 'python' is not recognized... instead, the PATH checkbox was missed — uninstall Python and reinstall it with that box checked.

Step 2: Download the N5ZY Co-Pilot

Go to github.com/N5ZY/copilot and click the green “<> Code” button, then “Download ZIP”. Extract the ZIP to a folder — I use “C:\N5ZY CoPilot" but anywhere works.

Step 3: Install Dependencies

The N5ZY Co-Pilot uses a few Python libraries (GPS parsing, serial port communication, etc.) that aren’t included with Python by default. A file called requirements.txt in the download lists everything needed.

1. Open a Command Prompt
2. Navigate to the folder where you extracted the files: cd "C:\N5ZY CoPilot" (adjust the path if you put it somewhere else)
3. Install the dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt
   • If your wondering what is “pip” – it’s short for “installing Python packages from the Python Package Index (PyPI)”
4. Wait for it to finish — you’ll see some downloading/installing messages. As long as it doesn’t end with a red error, you’re good.

Step 4: Run It

From the same Command Prompt (still in the Co-Pilot folder):

python copilot.py

The GUI should appear. From here, head to the Settings tab to configure your callsign, GPS port, contest mode, and WSJT-X ports.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem	Solution
'python' is not recognized	Reinstall Python and check “Add python.exe to PATH”
'pip' is not recognized	Same fix — PATH wasn’t set. Alternatively try: python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
Red errors during pip install	Make sure you have an internet connection and try: pip install --upgrade pip then re-run the install command
GPS not detected	Plug in your USB GPS dongle, open Device Manager, expand Ports (COM & LPT), and note the COM port number. Enter that in the Co-Pilot Settings tab.
Module not found error when running	You may have skipped Step 3 — run pip install -r requirements.txt again

Future: One-Click Installer

I’m working on packaging the N5ZY Co-Pilot as a standalone Windows executable using PyInstaller so none of the above will be necessary — just download, double-click, and go. Check back on the GitHub page for updates, however I will tackle that when I believe I’ve achieved all my major goals.

I also hope to test this on Debian 12 Linux in the near future but it would need to be drastically different without N1MM or N3FJP to pair with.. if only N1MM was available on Linux..