FreeDV using Codec2 a low bit rate HF codec

[VK4ADC]

A parrot repeater on 40m would be great. Setting it up would be well beyond me.

I set up the FreeDV GUI software from freedv.org on Win7/64 bit yesterday, using my FT8-configured hardware with an extra headset, tried 7.177 & heard nothing, tried 14.150 - again nothing happening, but on 14.153 heard DV transmissions. Couldn't decode anything worthwhile via the GUI but recorded it to file and emailed that to David Rowe.He has responded confirming that it was DV 1600 and that he did get a decode. Maybe my receive levels need reviewing a bit - yet to be tried.  Had a listen on 14.236 at one stage and it was being used for SSB rather than DV at the time.
 
I was all set to try again at 0500Z today on 14.153, gear left running while I went off to a dental appointment. The dentist took longer than expected so arrived back home too late at 0545Z, so will probably try at 0500Z tomorrow, etc.

A FreeDV parrot would be useful in these early stages when trying to get gear functional but whether it should be on 40M or 20M - where more of VK and ZL can access it - remains to be seen. Of course, nothing will beat a real human on the other end as you flip between analogue and digital while trying settings, trying to get it right.

73 Doug - not quite yet a FreeDV convert