FreeDV using Codec2 a low bit rate HF codec

[VK2ZIW]

I've done a re-write of my "parrot" repeater derived from "freebeacon". The FreeDV API has changed a bit to allow data transmission.
Now, I do not have to modify the Codec2 library to get the Codec2 packed data bits. Sourcecode and instructions are here:
http://www.unixservice.com.au/parrot/src/

Mode 700D is my focus as it's not as CPU hungry as mode 2020 and is on the SM1000 with the latest firmware.

Now we need some HF sites to deploy it.

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Codec2 on 7177KHz
================

Our Australian 40m bandplan mentions "Digital Data" from 7040 to 7060 KHz.
And, "Digital Voice" is "lumped" in with SSB 7060 - 7300 KHz. Often busy!!
And, 7040 to 7050 remains quiet.
Question: Did the ACMA or WIA envisage a Digital Voice mode in a 1KHz bandwidth
when the bandplan was created?
Things are getting "blurry" now. The FreeDV team have recognised that their
improved HF modems with Forward Error Correction (FEC) are useful for Data.
So, if I implement TCP/IP or AX25 and over that, convey audio with a low-bitrate
codec, is it Data or Digital Voice?
In essence, I'm looking for a reasonably clear piece of spectrum for the testing
of a FreeDV mode 700D "repeater" (store and repeat) to assess it's usefulness.
I got a reply from a ham in USA, our FCC won't permit Digital Voice in the Data segment. Period.
Hence 7177 KHz was chosen.

What do ya say?

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Codec2 mode 700D 10145KHz USB repeater listening trigger Tx with just cq <call> in txt

Running all day.

Please test, Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Please check the qso.freedv.org QSO website for my current frequency.

Night 3697 KHz LSB

Morning and late afternoon 7195 KHz LSB

Daytime, 14.236 MHz USB

Please use qso.freedv.org to ask for another frequency. This is the quickest.

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Hi again all,
I've added a beacon every 3 mins broadcasting the callsign (in mode 700D).

On Saturday (in the USA) David did a FreeDV talk on the TAPR conference.
TAPR did a live UTube video of the Conference, David's talk 5:30AM on Sunday here.

My HF noise level is high here and my antennae are not great and I'm in the middle
between Melbourne and Brisbane. This is making testing/demonstrating it's usefulness
is hard, quite hard. I need reports from a skip distance away and that's 1000Km plus
for 20m in the day.
How do I get some stations to test the mode? I always publish my current frequency
on qso.freedv.org. I've "bothered" other email groups such as "RepeaterBuilder" and
"UKMicrowave". Only one taker??
My sourcecode is available for others to try, "freebeacon" with mods.
www.unixservice.com.au/parrot/src

Hardware requirement is simple, any SSB transceiver that can stay on frequency within 10Hz.
Even an old crystal locked ex. marine radio (on a ham band of course) Other users can move to your frequency.
Any Linux computer, Intel or Raspberry Pi, any sound dongle or internal and a serial port for PTT.

Need help with the Linux, please please ask.

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

It's December now, and my "parrot" repeater has been running a year now with not one QSO between two amateurs
through it.
It's time for a change.

In the meanwhile the M17 project has created quite a network (50+) linked servers and clients (internet) but there isn't
a way (available yet) to feed a signal in from a radio????

I've mentioned our NSW country ambulances and bases have been fitted with Digital HF radios so that with
all those scattered bases, good coverage.

So I plan to "connect" a Codec2 HF base station to one of the M17 networks. (there are 26, A to Z)
This should mean, there's a much better chance that the casual HF station will have somebody world-wide
listening. I'm not a programming guru so progress is slow.
Using a Codec2 mode available on David's SM1000 now. Mode 700D

Noting also, there's a new mode: 700E

My "parrot" repeater will continue running until the new code is ready.
Always on a "standard" frequency, see qso.freedv.org for a list and my current.

---

Another interesting issue!!!!!
Voice codecs that generate less than 700 bits/sec in US law are "special", super secret.
In the Codec2 suite there's a 450 mode but there's no modem to connect to a radio.

Keep smiling

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

"freebeacon" modified to do the new 700E mode is now available:
www.unixservice.com.au/parrot/src/freebeacon.c

6BK4 replacing 73

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Hi all,

A YEAR has passed by since my last post. Hil has added Codec2 as a mode on VKSpotter and there is activity in the USA as noted on qso.freedv.org.

So, what will 2022 bring??? The Apple M1 ® may bring "neon" up to x86 "AVX2" capability to the ARM64 CPUs and these may be available
to the "Raspberry Pi" small board computers and allow the neural network code to run in hand-held devices.

Looking forward.

Right now I need some interstate or at "skip distance from Sydney" 40m HF stations to test the usability of the 7177KHz LSB mode 700E system
here. Please do some test transmissions. My system idents every 15 mins. Tx to it with some text (see options) such as "de VK3ZZZ".

Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Success at last, the "repeat" side of my project is WORKING !!!!

Sourcecode at: https://github.com/AlanVK2ZIW/freebeacon

Download the app from FreeDV.org and announce your presence on
QSO.freedv.org and set in the app Tools->Options Txt Msg to contain
"//" as in "// de VK2ZZZ" to trigger my repeater here in Sydney,

7053 KHz LSB mode 700D
Cheers
Alan VK2ZIW

[VK2ZIW]

Are out latest SBCs up to the task of 2020 (Neural Network) modes?

I acquired an Odroid M1 with the Rockchip RK3568 SoC.

Short answer: NO.

Anybody here who'd like to optimise the code using the NPU capability of this chip?
0x73
Alan VK2ZIW