[arm-allstar] Update on Weather Scripts and TTS

Thu Jul 30 14:58:28 EST 2015

Attached is a weather report from my area done by Cepstral Callie voice which is the only one they offer for $29.95.

I think it is very acceptable. To play it put it in your /etc/asterisk/local directory then go into the client and type -

rpt localplay <your node #> /etc/asterisk/local/cur_WxRpt_ug

The problem with this for a mass distribution is #1 the cost but also the fact that we can't do it. They would not allow ust to distribute the demo. You are on your own installing and registering. The $100 licensing fee is also optional depending on how much you want to tell them. We just could not distribute it saying that! You have to call on the phone to order and request that it is for the RPi2. Do NOT tell them you are an amateur radio operator unless you want to pay the $100! They will send you an email. When you register your information with them they will turn on the link on the web page for your login to get to the demo download. Then you download it and it will give a barker "not registered" on any file you make. When you buy it they send a LONG code you put in to register the voice.

Personally I would not recommend buying it. At least not the $100 but that is your choice. They are not friendly to amateur radio!
73 Doug
WA3DSP
http://www.crompton.com/hamradio

From: k8it at cac.net
To: arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:08:42 -0400
Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Update on Weather Scripts and TTS

Doug. you had said

Google TTS will still be usable for occasional ID or text 
conversion. Just be careful how many times you use it on a single IP over a 
certain period. The period is not known! Until we make changes and have an 
update you should disable weather forecasts and alerts as repetitive use will 
make Google TTS not work at all.
73 Doug
WA3DSP

Like you have stated in other emails TTS_audio.sh does not work. I tried it 
earlier to make a new id but got no response, so I believe google has totally 
eliminated it! if you have found a way to use it to produce at least id's please 
let the list know. thanks

btw espeak sounds awful. But I for one would not have a problem with 
spending $130 for an unrestricted voice program. I would like to hear a demo 
first!
Being blind and doing most of my work with text readers, 130 dollars is 
cheap! using Jaws is a $1000 program plus a $300 a year license!
if we want audio quality sometimes we have to pay for it!
Thanks
73 Neil Sablatzky  K8IT
Allstar Node 41838 
KITLINK
Allstar Node 42087 KITLINK HUB
IRLP Node exp0068
Echolink 
K8IT-L
WIRES-X K8IT 11479 Room 21479

From: Doug Crompton 
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 10:36 PM
To: arm-allstar at hamvoip.org 
Subject: [arm-allstar] Update on Weather Scripts and 
TTS

If you have been 
listening here the last week or using the weather scripts you probably know by 
now that Google has limited repetitive use of their free online TTS converter. 
Google TTS is a great asset but unfortunately if everyone starts using it I 
guess you can understand why they would set limits. 

We made the Google 
TTS available in the BBB and RPi2 releases for use in ID's, Weather scripts, 
etc.  If you are not using weather scripts and do not intend to in the 
future then this Google change will probably not effect you. If you are then at 
least for now weather reporting will probably not work or may stop working for 
you in the future.

We are working on fixes for this but unfortunately at 
least so far none are as good as Google. Cepstral has a package for the RPi2 
that works and sounds good but they are a bastard company to work with at least 
for amateur radio. The package is reasonable - $29.95 - but they require a $100 
public broadcast license even for amateur radio for EVERY user. We also could 
not distribute even their demo package in the image which could then easily be 
upgraded to full use. So each user would have to purchase the code and license 
and install it on their own. Not a practical idea and few if any would want to 
spend the money. It is a shame when companies like this don't make exceptions 
for amateur radio. It could only help their business.

Espeak is probably 
one of the better (if you want to call it that) free packages for TTS for Linux. 
If you are use to the Google TTS it will sound like crap to you. For the most 
part understandable but not great quality. This may be our only option for 
general distribution.

Using Alison and the existing pre-recorded words is 
also an option we are looking at. It certainly would not have as much 
flexibility though as it would be limited to existing words but it could report 
weather specifics like temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc.

So the 
bottom line is their is no really good free or inexpensive option. If anyone has 
any ideas or suggestions on this please lets us know.

Google TTS will 
still be usable for occasional ID or text conversion. Just be careful how many 
times you use it on a single IP over a certain period. The period is not known! 
Until we make changes and have an update you should disable weather forecasts 
and alerts as repetitive use will make Google TTS not work at 
all.

73 Doug
WA3DSP
http://www.crompton.com/hamradio

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