January 2013 - App_rpt-users - lists.keekles.org

ARM Arch Linux version of allstar
by Anthony Percy 30 Jan '13

30 Jan '13

Hi Shane, I have also uploaded the ARM Raspberry PI version of the allstar code as well which did include chan_voter...at https://github.com/anthcp/Arch-ARM-RAS-PI-Allstar I hope it helps. The compile process is the same as my previous email. Just to to let you know, I found the sound on chan_usbradio with a CM108 usb fob was distorted for about 20% of the time when I did the *99 test tone on the PI. It could be acceptable on voice but I didn't test it any further. I then tried to use chan_alsaradio but I think the CPU overhead was too high due to the downsampling from 44.1hz (?) to 8Khz. I have ordered a Griffin iMIC2 usb sound card which has hardware 8Khz sampling built in to see if it will work OK on the PI.( still waiting for it) If it does then it will mean that we will have to use the PI GPIO's for PTT and COR etc but that shouldn't be to hard.....(hopefully :-) ) Regards Anthony, VK2ACP Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:11:29 +1100 From: Shane Morris <edgecomberts(a)gmail.com> To: Eric Guth <eric(a)efratnetworks.com> Cc: app_rpt mailing list <app_rpt-users(a)ohnosec.org> Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] Arch Linux version of allstar has been stable for 2 weeks now.... Message-ID: <CANZw+5eg7T3OmjMVJquwFhZLJ3-yWo9iY-hDeBtTzgJWYdeYdw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Interesting! Certainly smaller than my FitPC, but you knew that, cheaper too. Its a single core 1GHz x86, whereas my FitPC is a dual core 1GHz. I imagine its all passively cooled Eric? I was planning to run Allstar on a single core 1GHz ARM at some point in the future, Anthony mentioned in his first post two weeks ago he hopes to port the software to RaspberryPi (not to bring up the debate again, I'm only mentioning it for completeness - my goal is to run chan_voter, which DOESN'T need USB) and I think it would be simple to port to other ARM platforms, for the sake of argument, the Beagle Board, running newer kernel revisions. My FitPC does get quite warm Eric, even under "no load" conditions. I'm not entirely certain what it would do in 35+ degree Celsius heat in the middle of the Australian bush. I hope "work fine," not "explode"! So that might be a consideration for a totally passively cooled unit. My unit is going to be used to conduct a RTCM network, using chan_voter. None of the USB interfaces will be used, say, for URIs or other sound fobs. It'll be connected to the remote stations by long shot wifi links (Ubiquiti Bullet2s and Loco2s over ethernet). Eric, if you're going to use the USB ports on the 3350-AP, have a look at the structure of the USB hubs inside the computer. That'll tell you alot about whether you can use the sound fob with other devices, or you'll run into issues like the RPi. USB performance is critical, and I'm uncertain what the "on chip" USB ports would be like for such an integrated chipset. I hope this helps - technically, it should run it, from a "raw performance" standpoint. However, the practicality might be a little different. I do hope it works - please let me know how you go, I'm rather interested! That is a cheaper computer than the FitPC!

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Limey Linux, parallel ports... working
by Benjamin L. Naber 30 Jan '13

30 Jan '13

Greetings All, I'm happy to say that I figured out at least a couple steps to get a functioning node that users across Allstarlink can connect to. I managed to get the TX working with the K0KN PLRI, and I'm using DSP for the receive side. I'd don't know what I did incorrectly, but now the radio keeps saying busy even with no antenna connected to it. This never happened before. I've be able to call into the node with the VoIP PBX to the public SIP connection and I can hear myself both ways. With very little latency. No choppiness, and no distortion. To review, I'm using Limey Linux for i686 on a Neoware CA-22. 1GHz VIA C7 processor, 1GB RAM, 1GB flash. I tried using the distro kerneled for VIA, but that didn't work for me for one reason or the other. I still have to figure out why the node doesn't recognize DTMF tones over RF, but I will get to that. Possibly I messed with the volume knob on the radio and have to use the radio-tune-menu again with the service monitor. It's a very crude, first ever, node setup using a 12V 18Ah SLA battery, Kenwood TM-241 radio, old 3A power supply from my CB radio days and lots of solder smoke still lingering in the Lab. It was fun to get this working, and I appreciate the advice from those whom have working systems. Thank you. You are all invited to test it out and make some noise in my local area. It's on 147.565MHz and the node number 28569. I was testing it on 146.52 to hopefully ruffle some feathers and generate some good activity on the call channel, and I was successful. ~Benjamin, KB9LFZ

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New to apt_rpt
by Adi Linden 30 Jan '13

30 Jan '13

Hi, I am new to app_rpt. I am currently running a repeater with IRLP node. The repeater controller is PC based and runs independent of IRLP. I also have a hardware auto patch connected via an ATA186. I would like to run Asterisk on this system. I already run Asterisk for my PBX at home, including multiple DID and LD SIP providers. Eliminating some hardware, like the auto patch and the ATA186 would be nice. I did read that app_rpt supports the use of IRLP hardware. But further complicating things is that I am moving towards a small ARM board to run the repeater. In particular, I am building some hardware to interface sound and control to a BeagleBoard. That bring up some questions. Can app_rpt utilize a generic ALSA sound card for audio input and output? Can app_rpt use the GPIO of an ARM board to access COS, PPT, etc? Adi VA3ADI

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XIPPR download won't complete
by Rick 30 Jan '13

30 Jan '13

XIPPR download won't complete 100% Stops at 98% retrieving image?? using : xosipt_20100518_1438.iso Any Ideas? Rick , W4kdm

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FW: Test message from ARA Dispatch
by Gregory 28 Jan '13

28 Jan '13

-----Original Message----- From: Adrienne Dabbs Owen [mailto:araship@cox.net] Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 11:47 AM To: Radcliffe John Cc: Radcliffe John Subject: Test message from ARA Dispatch This is a test from ARA Dispatch. Please reply if received. With best regards, Adrienne Adrienne Dabbs Owen American Radio Association, AFL-CIO Dispatcher 985-966-9107 araship(a)cox.net

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how to update or reinstall
by Steve Liggett 28 Jan '13

28 Jan '13

This represents two questions: What is the best war to update to the latest version of asterisk? I do not think that ./astupd.sh works anymore Secondly, even if you have the latest version, but you may have mucked it up beyond hope, what is the best way to reinstall? steve W3RX 28325

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limey linux and parallel ports
by Benjamin L. Naber 28 Jan '13

28 Jan '13

Well I'm not sure what rude behavior is all about, but I did get the TX ptt portion working. I used the radio-tune-menu to get the TX audio where the levels should be with an IFR-1600 service monitor and it sounds great. No distortion, good clean audio. What I did figure out is that upon boot, then TX ptt is set to on. Then when I connect via telephone portal, the TX drops, and then rekeys with the node announce info. Then the TX ptt drops until it needs to rekey again. Is this a bug? the TX ptt drive is set to 'on' until the machine tells something to somewhere to enable ptt and output some audio? Now to get the RX to work. I also used the radio-tune-menu to make the RX adjustments, however, it seems I have a quirk that needs to be figured out. As soon as I key my HT, the node receives it and then keys the TX immediately, does the courtesy tone, and drops carrier. I have tried several different configurations under 'carrierfrom' and 'ctcssfrom'. And it seems that if I set it to anything other than 'usb' or 'dsp' it almost acts as if it's in a permanent loopback. After changes are made and saved, I'll reboot the node and it will key up as stated before, then it will wait about a minute, ID, drop carrier, then the node will keyup again, do the no-link courtesy tone, drop carrier, wait about half a second and then do it all over again. And this will continue on until I unplug something. Any ideas? If some one is interested in hearing and intelligently talking to me about this, I routinely monitor the AK4PY-L echolink and W4TVM IRLP node. Or, you can call me. ~Benjamin, KB9LFZ

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Differences in Asterisk Versions
by Shane Morris 27 Jan '13

27 Jan '13

Hi all, Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering what features the later mainline releases of Asterisk offer above and beyond the version of Asterisk 1.4 with app_rpt, and chan_voter. The reason I'm asking is because I would like to implement an actual office PABX system that can use both phones and radios, for an office base and a workforce that will mostly be in the field. Of course, why reinvent the wheel - ie, why would I have two separate servers (one for app_rpt, and one for the phone system) when I could potentially run the entire system off the one server? One server makes logical sense to me, of course, and reduces management overhead... but is there any do or die features that 1.6 and 1.8 offers me that would indicate I need another server, or can I just do the whole she-bang (albeit, without Digiums support) on a 1.4 server with app_rpt? I've just been told about an Android 3G smartphone from China that integrates a 1Watt UHF PMR (400 - 470MHz) FM radio, and Android control software. Its also IP67 rated for you types that like dropping your phone in the mud and stuff...! This as a client for an app_rpt network - on both the PMR and VoIP/ broadband interfaces - is of extreme interest to me, for my application. Saves carrying around a separate PMR radio in any case... as for an application to back up onto the 3G network via VoIP when you can't receive a signal from the PMR network... well... I'll see about that...! Thanks everyone! Shane.

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uri to msf5000 interface - ever done one?
by James Smith 26 Jan '13

26 Jan '13

not enough tx audio problem ive been having. i cant get anymore than 1.1khz max dieviation out of it using the uri. if i use the uri amplifier to boost the audio , i get somewhere around 2.5khz, i am able to her that it is clearly distorted and choppy audio. so , ive got a digital capable uhf r2 msf5000. it worked great as a stand alone ham band repeater on 442.925 and the audio - everything was fine using its own controller. so i changed the codeplug to what some guy WA1??? on repeater-builder recommended for the settings for using an external controller. because i want the allstar box to control the whole box. i preferred dsp for audio. i soldered to the TP2 ,3,4,and TP9 test point to get my audio and everything else. i want to use those because it said the tp for reciever audio is pre-emphasis. so all the wires go to one area and then all my connections are soldered to the corresponding TestPoint connectors. so i tried making a interface cable to the j2 side mount plug (the 25pin on the side of the station) same result on audio. i used line 2+ and line 4+ for the audio. With the audio maxed out -still 1.1 khz coming out with no audio amp and about 2.6khz and distorted and choppy coming out with the audio amp. anything come to mind? i hope to get this figured out , so i can interface the next msf. where did y'all interface your uri's to an msf? thanks so much , james kd5oxm

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No interface found
by Rick 26 Jan '13

26 Jan '13

Hi, I have installed the Acid Centos ISO on a Bosanova thin client with a Via chipset. The USB fob is a modded StarTech with the cm108 chip on it. I have tried to reinstall it a couple times and dowloaded the config. from AllStar site with my node #. When I open the Asririsk CLI and use the Radio active interface command or radio active usb , I get the "no interface found" or no USB found. Could this be caused by a incompatibility with the Via chipset or have I missed a step in the setup. Any comment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rick W4KDM

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