[App_rpt-users] Some information, from my brain...

Ken ke2n at cs.com
Mon Dec 3 19:38:08 UTC 2012 

It has been posted several times here, and it is on the ohnosec site, that app-rpt is based on Asterisk 1.4 and not the latest release of Asterisk(1.8).

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Morris <edgecomberts at gmail.com>
To: Matthew Pitts <n8ohu at yahoo.com>
Cc: app_rpt mailing list <app_rpt-users at ohnosec.org>
Sent: Mon, Dec 3, 2012 1:07 pm
Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] Some information, from my brain...


Hi Matthew,
It appears that support for app_rpt was dropped in the mainline from
he SVN version on onnosec, and the present version. I know what
ou're thinking - I thought it too, compile up the latest sources,
nd... it don't work. Working with that, I attempted to compile the
ersion of Asterisk on the SVN, with the app_rpt and chan_voter
odules - and ran into these issues.
I could be wrong, but I am pretty certain the latest Asterisk doesn't
upport app_rpt. Ergo, I did a "make menuselect" and no option
xisted. That was sorely disappointing.
Matthew, I hope I'm wrong...! =)
Thanks!
Shane.
On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 3:44 AM, Matthew Pitts <n8ohu at yahoo.com> wrote:
 Shane,

 I will have to double check, but I could swear I saw Asterisk listed as one of 
he available packages for Raspian Linux on the Raspberry Pi; if that is indeed 
he case, I would.think it would be possible to figure out what they did and 
ode something that will enable the use of APP_RPT on the Pi.

 Matthew Pitts
 N8OHU

 Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

 -------- Original Message --------
 Subject: [App_rpt-users] Some information, from my brain...
 From: Shane Morris <edgecomberts at gmail.com>
 Date: Mon, 03-Dec-2012 05:03
 To: app_rpt mailing list <app_rpt-users at ohnosec.org>
 CC:

 I wrote two emails today, one dealing with the subject of the use of
 ARM platforms for app_rpt/ chan_voter software, and one dealing with
 the audio capabilities of modern laptops, particularly Macbook Airs.
 The intent follows:

 --------------------------------------------

 So after alot of wrangling, I've found out something:

 DAHDI and Zaptel support on ARM Linux kernels version 3.0 and above
 just doesn't happen. I personally believe this is because most ARM
 systems lack a PCI slot of any description, and pretty much will
 forever lack PCI slots (the last ARM I heard of that had PCI was the
 Ionynx PC from the UK, running RiSC OS - oops?). Now this doesn't give
 Digium an incentive to code up some support for non-existant hardware,
 under the pretense that app_rpt and chan_voter needs tonezone and a
 handful of other elements from Zaptel (or DAHDI), does it? Which means
 you effectively cannot, for the foreseeable future, use an ARM
 platform as the controller for a PMR network.

 That means that, for the first time in five years, I'm considering
 buying an x86 platform. Huh, you say, this is Shane we're talking
 about here, he don't do x86! Unless a certain set of conditions are
 met, no, I don't...

 Meet the Fit PC-3. You might know it, or the Fit PC-2. I admit to
 knowing the Fit PC-2 quite well. A nice piece of gear. What I didn't
 know was they updated to an AMD APU based system, and qualified the
 PC-3 for use with Linux Mint. Uh huh, headless Ubuntu, here I come!
 And this little, fanless, 17Watt total draw bad boy will run all of
 the usual suspects in a PMR network that you may so desire...

 Which is what I desire. ARM can be such a pain in the ass sometimes...

 This system, with 4GB of RAM, no HDD, and postage from Israel (I don't
 think it'll get here before Christmas, but thanks for asking), is the
 princely sum of $485, max, including Paypal "tax." We pay the nobles a
 damn stiff fee for civilisation, don't we? I have a 40GB SSD here,
 just about ready to go. I also have some 12VDC gear, ready for this
 little thing to strut its stuff.

 As I want it to run headless, I'll probably get it to talk SSH
 ("Shhhhhh!") to the outside world, but I do have a 12VDC compatible 15
 inch DVI monitor, with HDMi to DVI cable. Yes, yes, it uses cold
 cathodes... gah, its so hard to get good help these days. I don't
 actually have to have the monitor on for an entire weekend, only when
 things hit fans in interesting, intersecting ways they're not supposed
 to. If that happens, and I can't log into my PMR controller, I think
 the network is pretty much toast by that point.

 I don't believe I'd need a failover, I remember reading something
 along the lines of underclocking will occur until such time as a heat
 issue can resolve itself, the thing, with SSD, has no moving parts (no
 pesky fans to fail!) and as long as you don't hook the power up
 backwards, this thing is pretty much unkillable. Dual core APU at
 1.0GHz, as mentioned, 4GB RAM, 40GB SSD. Running a nice, recent
 revision of something that can operate in console/ SSH mode. I don't
 want an X server to slow me down. This thing is a PMR controller, not
 a Facebookin' machine.

 So, I've solved all my problems with ARM platforms in one fell swoop.
 This is good you say, I'm finally making progress. Lucky I found out
 with the RPi about the DAHDI/ Zaptel driver situation, and of course,
 the existence of the Radio Thin Client Module as well (thanks Jim! I
 owe you a tall, cold beer one day!). The RTCM is the basis for
 VoterCard, the PMR full transmit simulcast controller for Simoco
 radios.

 --------------------------------------------

 For use of a laptop system with IAXRpt, one finds that most laptops
 audio systems are inadequate, especially in the high noise, and high
 tension area of a command centre. The Macbook Air is further
 disadvantaged by the fact it has no microphone port, simply an inbuilt
 microphone which is prone to picking up alot of noise, and in a
 command situation, broadcasting four operators voices over one channel
 is a recipe for failure, and yes, even danger...

 However after all the work I had invested into getting IAXRpt running
 on my MBA, I felt it appropriate to address what I see as Apples total
 shortcomings in the audio department. Before I go on to explain how I
 addressed these issues, I will elaborate - the running of the Windows
 application IAXRpt under Mac OS X is simple, using a version of WiNE
 for Mac OS X. The particular wrapper software I use is called
 WineBottler. However, I could not use the stock "for OS X 10.6"
 revision software, as it did not support audio in any way, shape or
 form. I actually had to download WineBottler, with 10.6 core, and
 replace the core with 10.7 audio enabled core. As far as I know, the
 10.7 core WILL NOT run on anything less than 10.7. Of course, I don't
 have anything to try now, do I?

 So, a quick look on eBay located a USB sound card, with advertised Mac
 OS X capabilities - have you ever tried putting a Winmodem into a Mac
 G4? =P This was mine for under the $5 mark. Similarly, another quick
 search turned up a headset appropriate for the USB sound card with
 singular headphone and boom mic, as well as separate plugs for the
 audio paths. Compatibility was assured - but I just had to TEST it!

 Today I got the sound card after about a month of waiting. After
 inserting the USB card, I looked through the sound settings - "Generic
 USB Sound Device" came up, and the connection type was "USB" (versus
 "Built In"). After setting the appropriate settings, I took a deep
 breath, and started "Above the Storm" by Alpine Fault in iTunes...

 Success!

 I was listening to those strums, explained to me as being similar to
 those of Nightwish, through my headphone! Noise and auditory
 interference would now be minimised. But what about sending audio?
 Would the mic work too?

 Opening GarageBand, I quickly selected "Voice" and made a recording.
 My nasally voice popped out of the headphone. I was satisfied that the
 Mac would work. Now the real test: would WiNE (and thus, IAXRpt) work?

 I am unable to test sending audio, although the error tone came out
 loud and clear from IAXRpt. It appeared I wouldn't have to change any
 settings on the IAXRpt (Windows) side like I was expecting - it must
 be transparent to the Windows software where the audio is actually
 COMING from or GOING to... gotta love that old Mac reliability to just
 bloody well work...!

 --------------------------------------------

 Hopefully this helps anyone in my position, and updates you all on the
 progress of the RPi project. It is a little unfortunate, but I have
 found out alot along the way - Jim, I do owe you that beer for
 pointing out the RTCM to me. And if you have any news concerning the
 status of the ARM drivers, I'm all ears...
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