[arm-allstar] DTMF to link nodes?

Thu Oct 25 08:35:56 EDT 2018

Thanks for the input now I know better where to look, I'll play around with
it and get back to you!

On Thu, Oct 25, 2018 at 12:18 AM "Doug Crompton via ARM-allstar" <
arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:

> A couple of notes on this -
>
> A service monitor is not needed to align levels for a simplex node. This is
> important as most do not have one nor have access to one.
>
> The bar graph in  simpleusb-tune-menu item 2 is a good way to set levels.
> This is your first step. The level should go up to 5khz on peaks as you
> talk normally on your radio. The word normally is important. This means how
> you would speak when you are not thinking about it. This includes how far
> your mouth is from the mic.
>
> Another way to check levels that works great is the windows iax-rpt
> application. Connect it to your node and observe the bar graph while
> talking. It should go to about 95% of full scale but not higher and never
> off-scale. This ensures you are at the full amplitude of the digital
> signal. We talk in terms of KHz of deviation but in the digital world you
> want to fully modulate the digital signal that is sent out over the
> Internet without going into clipping.
>
> This is the only level that would effect DTMF decode BUT the voice level
> and the DTMF level on many rigs may differ. Some DTMF mics actually have
> DTMF level controls inside or menu settings for levels.
>
> Also it is hard to see DTMF levels because they are normally muted unless
> they do not decode so to see them you would temporarily need to see the
> dtmf_dsp  command in simpleusb.conf.  By default it is set to 1 and this is
> the case if this command is NOT in the simpleusb.conf file. Placing the
> command in the file and setting to =2 would turn off muting and the DTMF
> level would show up. Do NOT forget to remove the command or set it back to
> =1 when you are done!
>
> dtmf_dsp=0    ; NO allstar command decoding, DTMF pass thru
> dtmf_dsp=1    ; Normal Allstar DTMF decoding and muting - this is the
> default
> dtmf_dsp=2    ; BOTH normal Allstar DTMF decoding AND DTMF pass thru. No
> muting
>
> When using the Asterisk client you do not need to set the verbose level and
> setting to verbose 9 would give you way too much information. Just run the
> Asterisk client from the main menu and key and press each DTMF button. The
> results will be shown on the screen Observe what doesn't work.
>
> The setting of  deemphasis in simpleusb-tune-menu will effect both voice
> and DTMF. There is only one right way for this setting either enabled or
> disabled. This depends on how audio comes from your radio. In most cases
> this would be disabled but if you are getting audio from your radio that is
> not deemphasized in the radio you would want to enable this.
>
> You want to have the PL or DCS (preferred) filter turned on in
> simple-usb-tune-menu.
>
> As pointed out if the radio is not on frequency it could cause a problem
> both in DTMF and voice response, Check this if you can with a frequency
> counter. The cheap Baofeng radios are often off frequency and there is an
> internal pot to adjust this.
>
> Personally I have found few radios that don't work but some are just plain
> bad and if you have an alternative radio then use it.
>
>
> *73 Doug*
>
> *WA3DSP*
>
> *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 25, 2018 at 12:33 AM "Benjamin Naber via ARM-allstar" <
> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
>
> > Russel, et al-
> >
> > There are a few things you can check. I am going to assume others may
> > have at one time experienced this issue, as I have, so I am going to
> > include the particular commands and thought process... if there is one.
> >
> > First thing I would do is go into the asterisk console:
> > root at aslbox$ asterisk -r
> >
> > Then I would turn on asterisk console logging:
> > KB9LFZ-1*CLI> core set verbose 9
> >
> >
> > Then I would take the HT/mobile in question, of course on the node's
> > receive frequency, key the PTT and begin to mash the DTMF buttons:
> > You *should* get a response similar to:
> >
> > [Oct 24 22:35:28] NOTICE[1679]: chan_simpleusb.c:2910 simpleusb_read:
> > Got DTMF char *
> >
> >
> > Keep the PTT keyed, and slow-like, one at a time, mash all of the DTMF
> > keys in some logical sequence while watching the output.
> >
> > You may notice that some of the DTMF keys do not respond on the
> > asterisk console. There could be several reasons for this. Some of them
> > include:
> > - the node RX volume is not aligned
> > - the radio in question is not aligned
> >
> >
> > I would repeat the same test with other HTs and mobile radios you can
> > get your hands on.
> >
> >
> > The next step I would do is get a service monitor - find one, steal
> > one, beg someone with one to blow the dust of theirs and make good use
> > of it. Turn it on, wait for 30 minutes for its ref osc to settle, make
> > sure it says it has less than 1 Hz frequency error 5, 10, or 15MHz. Use
> > WWV while you can, it may go away!
> >
> > Using the simpleusb-tune-menu, accurately tune the RX to a close as you
> > can get the level at 3KHz mark on the tune-menu, using the service
> > monitor transmitting *only* a 1KHz tone at 3KHz deviation. It is best
> > to do this at least a -75 dBm signal directly fed into the node radio
> > antenna port.
> >
> > That step is absolutely critical for reliable receive operation.
> >
> >
> > The next thing I would do with that service monitor is make sure your
> > node radio is transmitting on the correct frequency, with no more than
> > 100Hz drift. All modern radios most of us own, have a master reference
> > oscillator the radio's transmitter and receiver use. If the transmitter
> > is off frequency, then the receiver on that same radio is going to be
> > off just by as much.
> >
> > If your node radio is off by more than 100Hz, take no other steps until
> > that is corrected. If it is a Chinese radio, hope off the slippery
> > slope of cheap junk and get one made by a company who has a reputation
> > to uphold. And who has a repair department. If you own an Android or
> > iPhone, getting reputable name-brand radio should not be an issue. New
> > or previously-enjoyed is your choice.
> >
> > While you are at it, measure the transmit frequency error of all of
> > your radios... after they have been powered on for an hour or so. This
> > will allow the ref osc to settle to a reasonable level.
> >
> >
> > If your node radio and radio you are using to talk to the ASL node
> > radio are on frequency, and within 100Hz of each other, the next thing
> > I would so is make sure your HT or mobile radio you are using is
> > transmitting the correct DTMF.... use that service monitor with it's
> > DTMF decode function to ensure your radio is encoding the DTMF buttons
> > correctly.
> >
> >
> > There are more levels to get deeper into, but those should get you
> > headed down the right path.
> >
> > Connect to our Tech Net Tuesday nights at 8PM Eastern to talk more
> > about it. Node 45221
> >
> >
> > Benjamin, KB9LFZ
> > ASL 28569
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 2018-10-24 at 14:35 -0500,
> > > Unless I've broke something, I've never been able to use my radio's
> > > dial
> > > pad to link and unlink nodes. (One reason being Supermon is amazing!!
> > > Thnx
> > > btw)
> > >
> > > I looked around on the site and unless I'm overlooking it I don't see
> > > instructions. I saw something along the lines but it appeared to be
> > > for
> > > autopatching vs linking.
> > >
> > > Can anyone point me in the right direction?
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Russell Thomas, KV4S
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > > ARM-allstar mailing list
> > > ARM-allstar at hamvoip.org
> > > http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
> > >
> > > Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> > _______________________________________________
> >
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> >
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> >
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