Re: RPi Direwolf packet station.
Though we are constrained by small mobile/portable radio screens (i.e., Kenwood TH-D72). :-) Andrew, KA2DDO ________________________________________ From: [email protected] < [email protected]> on behalf of WB2OSZ <wb2osz@...> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2023 2:07 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [direwolf] RPi Direwolf packet station. I don't see any reason not to use longer packets. We are not constrained by 80 column dumb terminals anymore.
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Re: RPi Direwolf packet station.
I don't see any reason not to use longer packets.
We are not constrained by 80 column dumb terminals anymore.
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
It shouldn't be this difficult.
Let's go back to the beginning, and study this in an organized way.
(1) What is the computer type?? Raspberry Pi?
(2) what is the OS version??? Type "cat /etc/os-release"
(3) Type "cm108" to get information about USB audio adapters.
(4) Is the USB audio adapter plugged directly into the computer or is a USB hub involved?
(5) Provide another screen shot of alsamixer with the current settings.
(6) provide the contents of your direwolf.conf file.
(7) Run direwolf with "-a 10" on the command line.
(8) Wait at least 30 seconds then send a copy of everything that appeared on the screen.
73,
John WB2OSZ
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Saying it works on your Windows laptop means _nothing_ when you're asking why it doesn't work on a Raspberry Pi. You need to test it on the complete hardware and O/S you intend to use.
Might be a driver issue, might be a default volume setting, might be a device naming issue, but testing on the wrong operating system and computer won't tell you anything.
Also, Raspberry Pi's are notorious for RFI sensitivity (not much in the way of shielding and filtering), so that might be an issue as well.
Andrew, KA2DDO
Thanks, Andrew.? We can look at that if you think'll help.? Is it possible to do on my Windows laptop vs. Libre/Raspberry Pi as I have no idea how to configure the latter.
This does seem to beg the question, though, which I say with great humility since I know the least of anyone on this forum....but, is audio input really the most likely suspect as I've used that same radio, audio cable and sound card on my laptop flawlessly
running APRSISCE/32 & UZ7HO in an iGate configuration?? I've shown the audio is getting to the USB sound card....made the alsamixer changes (which, other than a too-high Mic Capture setting, pretty much matched).? If it was an audio issue, I could understand
not seeing some packets, but 100% of them?? That's why I wonder if there's anyway it can be a programming issue.? I realize that the Direwolf program has been used by many hams--it's pretty close to plug & play--but is there any chance I fat fingered something??
(Or, flat didn't follow directions?)? Are there likely lines of code that would rule in or out why I'm having this problem?
_._,_._,_
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
So, at this point I would say we have narrowed this down to 1 of 2 things, and pretty much got it pointing to only one. 1. Sound card - less likely as you appear to be TX'ing okay ??? Assume you are not directly sending to the internet with Direwolf or some other method . ??? Although you keep referring the Windows setup as APRSISce/32 & UZ7HO in an IGATE configuration. ?????? This could mean APRSISce/32 is receiving the packet from UZ7HO 'internally' and sending the packet to APRS-IS. ?????? The actual radio part may not involved - BUT we will assume it is. ??? If (in Direwolf) you have IGLOGIN set, that could be sending your information directly to APRS-IS and it will show on aprs.fi
2. RX Audio levels - most likely ??? Curious if Direwolf decoded anything when you got the "too-high Mic Capture" message? ??? If it did (does), then that confirms this thought. ??? Using Audacity could show the audio levels as well - which will help, so worth the effort ??????? sudo apt install audacity??? Later you can remove it with ??????? sudo apt autoremove audacity ??? But you will probably find it useful.
I'll repeat the key question: ?? Curious if Direwolf decoded anything when you got the "too-high Mic Capture" message?
On Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 01:29:36 AM EDT, Jon W7SEA <jonw7sea@...> wrote:
Thanks, Andrew.? We can look at that if you think'll help.? Is it possible to do on my Windows laptop vs. Libre/Raspberry Pi as I have no idea how to configure the latter.
This does seem to beg the question, though, which I say with great humility since I know the least of anyone on this forum....but, is audio input really the most likely suspect as I've used that same radio, audio cable and sound card on my laptop flawlessly running APRSISCE/32 & UZ7HO in an iGate configuration?? I've shown the audio is getting to the USB sound card....made the alsamixer changes (which, other than a too-high Mic Capture setting, pretty much matched).? If it was an audio issue, I could understand not seeing some packets, but 100% of them?? That's why I wonder if there's anyway it can be a programming issue.? I realize that the Direwolf program has been used by many hams--it's pretty close to plug & play--but is there any chance I fat fingered something?? (Or, flat didn't follow directions?)? Are there likely lines of code that would rule in or out why I'm having this problem?
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Thanks, Andrew.? We can look at that if you think'll help.? Is it possible to do on my Windows laptop vs. Libre/Raspberry Pi as I have no idea how to configure the latter.
This does seem to beg the question, though, which I say with great humility since I know the least of anyone on this forum....but, is audio input really the most likely suspect as I've used that same radio, audio cable and sound card on my laptop flawlessly running APRSISCE/32 & UZ7HO in an iGate configuration?? I've shown the audio is getting to the USB sound card....made the alsamixer changes (which, other than a too-high Mic Capture setting, pretty much matched).? If it was an audio issue, I could understand not seeing some packets, but 100% of them?? That's why I wonder if there's anyway it can be a programming issue.? I realize that the Direwolf program has been used by many hams--it's pretty close to plug & play--but is there any chance I fat fingered something?? (Or, flat didn't follow directions?)? Are there likely lines of code that would rule in or out why I'm having this problem?
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
It sounds like your receive audio isn't getting into DireWolf. It doesnt matter if the radio can hear the signals if our sound card can't. And those cheap radios use really non-standard wiring on the speaker-mic jacks; sleeve of the tip-ring-sleeve plug is rarely ground. I recommend you install the program "audacity" on your computer, and run it instead of DireWolf on your sound card interface to verify you actually are getting audio into the computer. Audacity is a digital sound mixer and processor for musicians, so it will display and play back exactly what it gets from the sound card's input. Configure audacity to listen to your sound card and click the red Record button. You will see a real-time plot of the recorded sound signal. Tell us what audio you see on the computer instead of coming out the Anytone's speaker. Hope this helps. Andrew, KA2DDO both kinds of ham (radio and thespian) ________________________________________ From: [email protected] < [email protected]> on behalf of Jon W7SEA <jonw7sea@...> Sent: Monday, September 25, 2023 10:24 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [direwolf] Digipeater build.... not hearing packets Moved everything outside to the garage where I can use my j-pole. Some progress but still stuck. I now show up on the internet and am now able to beacon out which I can see on aprs.fi. No receipts of packets nor digipeating. Not showing up on APRSC website. Have the alsamixer settings as recommended. Squelch = 1. AT878 is seeing everything but it's not gettting translated to Direwolf.
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Moved everything outside to the garage where I can use my j-pole.? Some progress but still stuck.? I now show up on the internet and am now able to beacon out which I can see on aprs.fi.? No receipts of packets nor digipeating.? Not showing up on APRSC website.
Have the alsamixer settings as recommended.? Squelch = 1.? AT878 is seeing everything but it's not gettting translated to Direwolf.
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Quick update.? Libre booted and got to home directory.? PHEW? Folks, don't be like me and try to test something in a noisy crowded kitchen while your family waits for you to make a dinner reservation; Our Lady of Victory will not look favorably upon you.
Because of weather, I can't test outside for awhile.? I'm not seeing packets on my AT878 with 15" whip inside, but that's not unusual.? As usual, I'm on the internet (i.e., my station shows on aprs.fi) but no received traffic.? I have best luck when I'm outside, preferably attached to an elevated 2m j-pole.
Jeff, I used F5 and my settings match yours exactly now.
Michael, I followed your recommendations (squelch = 0; 15 sec Direwolf audio updates).? I, momentarily, could see W7SEA-15 at .? (It's gone now for some reason after I went back to alsamixer to check something.)? Is this what is updated every 15 secs?? (i.e., Not seeing any change to my home screen.)? Where do I see the "audio input volume" and how to adjust???
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Jeff, I did not hit F5, and I see you said to do that.? Will definitely retry if I can get it running again!
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
I suggest looking at the devices separately in alsamixer. First you want to ensure you are looking at the correct device
Press <F6> and select your sound card ?? Press <F4> to make any changes to the "Capture" (decode) settings ?? Press <F3> to make any changes to the "Playback" (TX) settings ????? NOTE:? there "often" is a Mic option in the "Playback" settings. ?????????????????? that is why I recommend looking at the devices separately.
You can use <F5> to view all settings, but (at least to me), that can get too busy and confusing.
On Monday, September 25, 2023 at 08:15:58 AM EDT, Jeff KP3FT via groups.io <kp3ft@...> wrote:
Hopefully you can get the system working again without too much trouble.? When you do, make sure to hit the F5 key after running alsamixer in a terminal.? That will show all the sliders.? It should show a "Capture" slider.? That's the one that controls the audio level input from the radio.
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Hopefully you can get the system working again without too much trouble.? When you do, make sure to hit the F5 key after running alsamixer in a terminal.? That will show all the sliders.? It should show a "Capture" slider.? That's the one that controls the audio level input from the radio.
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
I would remove all USB devices, make sure the SD card (or whatever the device boots from) is properly connected, and try booting without any "extras".? If that doesn't boot, then you will probably need to re-install the OS, or maybe the connection for your boot device was damaged - hope that ISN'T it!
On Monday, September 25, 2023 at 12:31:54 AM EDT, Jon W7SEA <jonw7sea@...> wrote:
Here's an update....and a new problem (self-caused). On the alsamixer front, my screen for the sound card looks different in that I have three bars (speaker, mic, AGC) not four.? I found that speaker was set at 33, Mic was muted as was AGC.? I unmuted Mic and tried at 29 (IIRC) and wasn't seeming to get anything on aprs.fi, but, also, I was precariously set up on a kitchen table with the Anytone a fair distance from a window.? It also wasn't seeing packets, so I went to move the radio, tripped on the bird nest of cords I stupidly had laid out, and Libre, keyboard, radio....everything went crashing to the floor.? I was in a bit of a shock and finally unconnected things as it was a mess.? Now, my new problem is that my Libre won't boot normally.? I'm in a loop that I can't get out of.? This script starts then the screen goes blank and it starts over again (picture below just before screen goes blank and starts over again). So, in my effort to cross things off the list, I'm adding things.? Yep, frustrated.? Any & all thoughts are appreciated.  
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Here's an update....and a new problem (self-caused). On the alsamixer front, my screen for the sound card looks different in that I have three bars (speaker, mic, AGC) not four.? I found that speaker was set at 33, Mic was muted as was AGC.? I unmuted Mic and tried at 29 (IIRC) and wasn't seeming to get anything on aprs.fi, but, also, I was precariously set up on a kitchen table with the Anytone a fair distance from a window.? It also wasn't seeing packets, so I went to move the radio, tripped on the bird nest of cords I stupidly had laid out, and Libre, keyboard, radio....everything went crashing to the floor.? I was in a bit of a shock and finally unconnected things as it was a mess.? Now, my new problem is that my Libre won't boot normally.? I'm in a loop that I can't get out of.? This script starts then the screen goes blank and it starts over again (picture below just before screen goes blank and starts over again). So, in my effort to cross things off the list, I'm adding things.? Yep, frustrated.? Any & all thoughts are appreciated.  
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
I'd try the following:
* Open the squelch all the way so you're not missing the first bits of each frame.
* Run direwolf with "-a 15" to get audio statistics every 15 seconds.? Adjust the audio input volume until the level is reported around 50.
? --Michael? WZ0C
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Re: Anyone Using L76X GPS HAT?
Never used the L76X GPS hat, but if you give some configuration information, we might be able to help: There appears to be 2 method of connecting the L76X to the Pi: 1. Simplest would be to set the Jumpers in position B (control through the Raspberry Pi) and ?? Make sure the serial port (typically /dev/ttyAMA0) is configured for normal use ?? Check for NMEA data with something like minicom with ?????? minicom -D /dev/ttyAMA0 -b9600 ?? assumes default output is at 9600 baud 9per website)
If you see NMEA sentences, change the direwolf.conf accordingly.
2. Option 2 would be to set the jumpers to A and add a USB cable between the L76X USB out and the Pi USB in. ?? This would be the same as you are currently using an external USB GPS.
?? This may seem a bit strange, but should work.
On Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 05:13:26 PM EDT, Doug Kaye (K6DRK) <doug@...> wrote:
I've got my Pi Zero W running direwolf with an exernal USB-connected GPS receiver. Now I'm trying to get it working with a GPS hat to make it more compact. Has anyone successfully used a L76X GPS Hat? See?
? ?...doug
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
exact same USB sound card
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Anyone Using L76X GPS HAT?
I've got my Pi Zero W running direwolf with an exernal USB-connected GPS receiver. Now I'm trying to get it working with a GPS hat to make it more compact. Has anyone successfully used a L76X GPS Hat? See?
? ?...doug
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Re: Digipeater build.... not hearing packets
Did you use the exact same USB sound card or the laptop's sound card with UZ7HO?
If USB, definitely the alsamixer change should get you going. If not, try that.? Get thd USB card working on the laptop (not the laptop's sound card). ? It still could be cable routing.
Robert Giuliano
On Sun, Sep 24, 2023 at 14:28, Jon W7SEA <jonw7sea@...> wrote: Here's my to-date testing.? This will likely leave open some of Rob's points, but it's as far as I've gotten.
- Headset (with 2.5mm and 3.5mm jacks) plugged directly into radio; hear packets.
- I hooked up my audio cable (two-pin 2.5/3.5mm jack) from my Anytone to my laptop (with APRSISCE32 and UZ7HO installed) and it receives and decodes normally.
- I added splitter to end of that cable and plugged one jack into USB sound card mic side; everything worked normally.
- I booted up Direwolf.? Had both ends of splitter into USB sound card.? Same as before--show up on aprs.fi but not receiving packages.? USB sound card is blinking away as it does when receiving packets on laptop.
Let me know if I left off a test that might help diagnose.? I haven't had a chance to look up threads here on AT/Wouxun issues, but is it time for me to head down the Alsamixer path?? Is there any chance a line of code is wrong?
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Re: RPi Direwolf packet station.
Thanks again, John.?
I was experimenting today and was tickled to see your suggestion actually works well!
I have Direwolf running on a Pi 3b who's connected via a Signalink USB to a Yaesu FTM-6000 back in my shack.
I have easyterm49 running here on my Win7 machine. Under the TNC setup menu I entered the IP address of the Pi 3 in the HOST window.
Viola!? All over WiFi.
Connects and acts just like a TNC. One question, I notice easyterm uses 80 byte packet length by default. I think we usually default to 128 in the TNCs.?
Any reason I shouldn't change it in easyterm?
73
Mike N0QBH
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Jeff KP3FT