[arm-allstar] Update V1.5.3-38 is out

[Doug Crompton]

There is a hamvoip update now available which adds the following features.
Use the ADMIN menu item 1 to update,

An option has been added to the rxondelay command in simpleusb-tune-menu.
If the delay number is negative the delay time is only applied if the node
has transmitted
(PTT asserted)
prior to cos. This avoids the issue of the delayed cos causing a cut- off
of the beginning of a transmission when the node receives cos but that cos
is not immediately after a transmission from that node.  rxondelay values
are 20ms increments. Example:  rxondelay=10  is a 200ms delay with the
delay added regardless of transmit state. rxondelay=-10 is a 200ms delay
but only after a prior transmission.
rxondelay is the 'm' option in simpleusb-tune-menu. Unless you have a need
for this feature leave it at the '0' setting. Values can range from -100 to
+100. It now uses the hi-res timing so delay timing is accurate. rxondelay
is often used to eliminate keying loops when used with a repeater and for
"kerchunk" (very short keyup) elimination.

It was determined that the one-way audio detection code that was introduced
in V1.5.3-29  was causing a disconnect when a user had remote base enable
d. A check is now made to not validate one way audio for remote base nodes
thus allowing them to operate normally.

Awhile back we expressed our intent to remove the remote base code from the
image. Roughly 5% of the Allstar active users have remote base activated.
This is activated with a check-box at allstarlink,org in the node
configuration area. Many or even most who have checked the remote base box
have done it by mistake and
are not using what is defined as a remote base. If you have this checked
only one node can connect to you at a time. The theory being that this node
was controlling a remote radio and there could be only one controller at a
time. If you are not actually using the code to control a remote base radio
you do NOT need to have this turned on. Further the remote base code in
Allstar is somewhat flaky. Today the external hamlib programs are a much
better choice for remote radio control. hamlib is part of the hamvoip code.
Users should be aware that the remote base code will be removed from
hamvoip in the near future and if you are currently using it to control a
remote radio you should investigate other means. This howto from the
hamvoip.org web page explains a method to pass DTMF to any external script
or program and would be useful for this application -

https://www.hamvoip.org/Allstar_extended_functions_using_autopatch.pdf

We will have a more detailed howto on this soon. You can check if you have
you node set to remote base by doing a dns-query. If it has a 'y' at the
end it is set to remote base.

dns-query 48598
+OK|radio at 35.137.74.22:4569/48598,35.137.74.22,y

Two new scripts -

say-hamvoip-sys-update.sh
<node>

     This script allows a voice prompted system update. This is
particularly useful for portable headless operation and also for our many
sight-impaired users.
This script can be run manually but typically would be added as a DTMF
command. The added node number is optional. If left off it uses the first
defined node - $NODE1

 Example:  C2=cmd,/usr/local/sbin/say-hamvoip-sys-update.sh ; Update
hamvoip with voice feedback, Play to first node

truncate_log
s.sh

     This is a configurable script that truncates logs to avoid conditions
of full ramdisks on systems that have heavy use and rarely get rebooted.
The scripts default configuration limits the size (truncates) the Asterisk
message file and the httpd access and error logs. These are the files that
fill the most in normal use. You can optionally configure other files, file
maximum size, and comments written to the journal. This script is typically
run
daily
from a cron.

0
4
04 * * * /
usr/local/sbin
/truncate_logs
.sh     ; execute log check at 4:04 AM


Behind the scenes code is also part of this update to prepare for the DNS
and registration server update coming soon.


*73 Doug*

*WA3DSP*

*http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*