[App_rpt-users] [pcrepeatercontroller] Re: Analog Repeater Weatherinformation

Wed Dec 21 15:09:18 UTC 2011

I haven't read all of the post, but what are you looking for? If you want
NOAA Weather then try this. You can make a cron job to run the script.

On 12/10/2010 09:22 AM, David KE6UPI wrote:
I have used this script. Works well.

 asterisk at home festival weather configuration

MP3 Audio directly from NOAA! Updated URLs on 12-15-06

If you are in the San Diego NOAA Office area (and maybe others, check
your regional NOAA Office homepage from http://weather.gov/), you can
get an audio file of the current forecast for your zone and play it
directly.

For the San Diego NOAA Office area, go to
http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/ and click on the Audio selection under
Forecasts. Get the URL of the audio file for your zone from the map.

Create an announcement in wav format from:
http://www.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php
I like the UK-Audrey voice, but try some others too.
Make something like:
  latest-forecast.wav "Please wait while I download the latest forecast"
  select-weatherorvmc.wav
"Press 1 for voicemail press 2 for the latest weather forecast"
You will have to convert the wav files from 16000Hz to 8000Hz and maybe
speed them up a bit (135%) and reduce the volume (60%) before you use
them. Put them in /var/lib/asterisk/sounds named latest-forecast.wav and
select-weatherorvmc.wav

Add something like this to your extensions.conf (maybe in the rans
<http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/rans> section) to get the latest
forecast when you dial whatever extension (like 865) that you choose.

My extensions.conf for audio weather:

|
exten =>  865,1,Answer
exten =>  865,2,Playback(latest-forecast)

> exten => 865,3,System(/usr/bin/curl -shttp://www.wrh.noaa
> .gov/sgx/data/audio/LAXSAFC42.mp3  >  /tmp/LAXSAFC42.mp3)
>
> exten =>  865,4,Wait(1)
> exten =>  865,5,MP3Player(/tmp/LAXSAFC42.mp3)
> exten =>  865,6,System(rm /tmp/LAXSAFC42.mp3 -f)
> exten =>  865,7,Hangup
> |
>
>
>
> If you have trouble, make sure you have curl installed, change the path
> above if necessary. find / -type f -name "curl" will find your curl
> executable. I'm using MP3Player instead of Playback because I don't have
> a sound card in the Asterisk box so mpg123 fails when it tries to use
> /dev/dsp. I suppose there is a way to have a dummy dev, but I don't know
> how. If you do use Playback instead of MP3Player, don't use the .mp3
> file extension in your extensions.conf.
>
>
>
> http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/asterisk+at+home+festival+weather+configuration
>
> David

Question: Why does people want a weather script this time of the year?

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 5:27 AM, Bryan D. Boyle <bdboyle at bdboyle.com> wrote:

> On 12/21/11 6:08 AM, Shaun Rudling wrote:
>
>> I think we are missing the point. We have 2 kinds of people
>> here.............
>> 1- Those that write and code software (with feedback from users to
>> debug, inspire and suggest)------------ (A huge undertaking)
>> 2- Those that implement the software and run around installing and
>> maintaining the hardware. ------------ (also a huge undertaking) respect
>> all, brother.
>>
>> So, this hardy guy, is asking the softy guys to add a feature -
>> automatic WX announcements. There is no ways the majority of us are
>> going to suddenly learn how to write scripts, software etc.
>> So in the spirit of Xmas, we are asking for a gift. Hi!
>>
>> But hey, there are not many volunteers writing software, so this is
>> going to remain a suggestion until someone takes on this idea. But I do
>> want to add, that I think it is a very worthwhile feature and would
>> be a huge selling point for D-Star, AllStar to have this. I mean, all
>> hams talk about the weather, don't they? Besides, it is good for warning
>> about impending inclement weather and even the public could monitor the
>> repeaters to make use of a "value-added service" . Good for promoting
>> Amateur Radio.
>>
>> Let's do what the honeybees do when their forage bees numbers are
>> dropping, feed some bees a bit of royal jelly and turn them into forage
>> bees.
>> So let's feed up any potential software developers to build up their
>> numbers.
>>
>> May I be the first to wish everyone a festive season, travel safely and
>> don't eat too much cholesterol.
>>
>
> Good points.  However...it depends on how the question is asked:
>
> 1. "Gee...this seems like it would be a good thing to do.  I've searched
> Google/Bing/Yahoogroups/voip-**info.org/etc <http://voip-info.org/etc>and haven't found anything like this.  Anyone working on it?  Anyone need a
> beta tester?  I'd like to help...maybe if it worked this way....what does
> everyone think???"
>
> 2.  "I want a weather script.  Why hasn't ? written one yet?  This
> software is a POS.  X does this.  Why doesn't Y do this?"
>
> It doesn't take much to learn how to bash (or shell, or c-shell) script.
>  But, it's not an immediate rush of instant gratification.  Someone CAN do
> it for you.  But then you're dependent on them (and their time and
> inclination) to support it.  I believe in self-sufficiency.
>
> So...let's take a look at what's needed to provide this functionality:
>
> 1. A repeater controller that can play back audio files.  Anyone know of a
> good one?  (hint: that's the software this list supports)
> 2. Audio files of the weather.  Hmmm....where do these come from?
> 3. Some 'automated' way of either a) downloading pre-recorded weather
> reports or b) some way of generating audio files from text.
>
> So...let's take it one at a time (and this is biased towards the US.
> Sorry, that's where I live.  That's the weather service I use)
>
> 1. Asterisk app_rpt.  Read the documentation.  Can app_rpt, under the
> controlling software do this?  Of course...why else would they have all
> those wonderful voice announcements that Allison Smith spent so much time
> DONATING to the cause?  So, we've established that the controller CAN play
> back audio.
>
> 2. This is variable.  At least here in the US, there is no consistency as
> to whether the local WX office to the repeater location will have audio
> files (podcasts, computer generated, what have you) of the current,
> forecast, significant weather, bulletins, etc.  So, we have to assume that
> WE will have to 1) grab the textual data, 2) strip out the parts we want,
> 3) convert the text to speech, 4) make a decision as to whether to store
> for later/on-demand retrieval or transmit immediately (alert).
>
> 3.  Use a combination of bash, perl, and cepstral text to speech with the
> proper encoding bit-rate.  Yeah, you have to spend a couple dollars.  But
> it works better than the free stuff.
>
> The author(s) (Duuude) of app_rpt are busy enough with Real Life, and may
> or may not be able to do this.  Expecting them to do so is, at best, imho,
> an imposition on their time, especially when the request sounds more like a
> demand.  The software is free, as in free beer.  Try approaching the
> functionality of asterisk with any of the commercial off-the-shelf hardware
> controllers.  The other stuff can't hold a candle to this package.  But
> with that, comes the need to get out of the appliance operator mindset
> (anyone can solder up some cables and hook them into an appliance
> controller and get it to work with the limited set of commands
> possible...).  Running this controller is NOT plug and play...but with that
> comes the capability to pretty much do anything you want.  But, like most
> open source, sometimes you just have to figure it out for yourself.
>
> That being said...I'll post my weather scripts on my station website for
> your perusal, downloading, etc.  YOU are responsible for installing the
> support software (perl, sox, and cepstral with william-8K voice files are
> the only additions I can recall of the top of the noggin) for making them
> work.  But, they DO work, and have been active on my system for the last
> year.  No guarantee that they will work for you (especially if you're
> outside the US...since they're based on US Metar formats and weather
> service text files...which means YOU have to do some digging and code
> bashing).  But, maybe they'll inspire you to push your own comfort envelope
> a bit.
>
> I'll post the URL later.  I need to get some Real Job work done...:)
>
> --
> Bryan
> In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.
> Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.
> You may quote me.
>
> Sent from my MacBook Pro.
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