From:[email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of David Ranch via groups.io <direwolf-groupsio@...>
Sent:?Saturday, October 12, 2024 3:30 PM
To:[email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject:?Re: [direwolf] I need help!

Hello Doug,

I looked at your .docx file but it doesn't show the output of direwolf starting up.? Can you please add that?

I've been running APRS/Dire Wolf mobile tracker successfully since 2020 with the same physical setup. My SD became corrupt and like a dummy, never made a backup.

Hmmm.. bummer.? SD cards can die if you don't use good quality cards AND tune the Linux operating system to minimize writes.

I'm trying to get it running again with Dire Wolf 1.8 Development D and having a couple issues:

• GPS doesn't move within Dire Wolf (stuck at 4041.76N/08928.70) but moves with GPSMON

I'm not sure what those coordinates are supposed to be.? Maybe you meant 40.417600, 89.287000 (the middle of China).? Anyway, this could be a matter of permissions.? Are you using gpsd with direwolf?? When you're doing testing with Direwolf, are you doing this OUTSIDE with a clear shot of the sky?? A lot of inexpensive GPSes just won't get a good lock w/o exceptional signal levels.? Btw, if you're using the gpsd approach with direwolf, you should be able to run tools like cgps/xgps/etc while direwolf is also running.? With that parallel view, you can confirm if you have good GPS lock, the location is correct, the time is correct, etc.

• Not getting digipeated

I believe the issues are related but can't find the common denominator.

What makes you think your station isn't getting digipeted?? Not showing up on an APRS-IS map?? If so, that would be expected as you need to first send your location to APRS-IS before it will believe other data coming from your station.? You can work around this by sending a PBEACON with a static location just as a test.

Dire Wolf launches without error using -dgt

Please show us all of that startup detail.

I've attached the script that I'm using to create my new installation for reference.

Few things in here:
?? - Which version of Raspberry Pi OS are you installing?? The GUI desktop or the Lite version with no GUI?

?? - The use of the "pi" username is deprecated.? Please use something else like "doug" or whatever

?? - Do NOT remove PulseAudio.? You will damage the resulting OS install.? Things might continue to work for Direwold since it can use ALSA directly but the GUI environment might have permanent issues.

?? - Your TXDELAY is way too fast.? Is this your radio ( ?)?? If so, that's an SDR based radio and most of those radios are very slow.. as such, I recommend to START at a setting of "45" meaning 450ms to properly key up and be stable on-frequency before the packet audio tones start getting played.? The final tuning might need more/less delay depending on how your radio actually performs.? You also might need more TXTAIL time as well.


Using the overlay file system can really help minimize writes to the SD card but it can become a major PITA when you want to do OS updates, etc.? Your choice but if you want to see a less invasive list of hardening, see:

??

--David
KI6ZHD