21
May
2020
`Using Direwolf with Xastir instead of SoundModem'
11:40

`Using Direwolf with Xastir instead of SoundModem'

,
21 May 2020 11:40

The standard SoundModem program decodes only strong Packet and APRS signals at a frequency of 144.800, missing weak gears. Therefore, I decided to replace SoundModem with a more modern DireWolf package modem and configure it according to the instructions https://lafargue.github.io/aprs-box/direwolf/#configuring-drewolf.

Installation of the new version of DireWolf ~~ 1.5 ~~ 1.6

In Linux Mint and Debian 10, not the newest version of 1.4 of April 2017 is not available. More fresh 1.5 of October 2018 has
Improved renewal means of AX.25, so I decided to install a version ~ 1. 1.5 ~~ 1.6.

In Debian, you need to perform a preparatory action - add a local user to the Sudoers group (if not performed earlier).

su -
usermod -aG sudo username
exit

(where username is the name of your user account)
To apply new powers, you need to complete the current user's current session (exit and enter).

logout

Then enter the name and password.

We update the cache packages:

sudo apt-get update

Established dependencies:

sudo apt install libudev-dev libasound2-dev

Installation git , C ++ GCC compiler and utilities make:

sudo apt install git gcc make

Attention: without Hamlib support in Dire Wolf, PTT will not work through CAT.
It is necessary before compilation Dire Wolf download the initial texts Hamlib 4, compile and install Hamlib
From here:https://sourceforge.net/projects/hamlib/files/hamlib/

Instruction:

Git Clone https://github.com/hamlib/hamlib.git
CD Hamlib
SH Bootstrap
./configure
Make
Make Check

Sudo Make Install

The first version of the instruction is designed for Hamlib 3.3, but in 2021 the 4th version was released. Compiled under Hamlib 3.3, Direwolf modem will work. But in 2021 it is advisable to switch to a more fresh Hamlib 4.0 (cross the library - see the instructions above). The difference between version 4.0 dated 3.3 in the numation models of acceptors. For example, for the Yaesu FT-857, the code was 122, it became 1022. Then, it is necessary to fix the radio station model code in the DireWolf.conf configuration file ( below ).

Clon GIT, compile and install DireWolf

git clone http://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf

Direwolf project compilation:

cd direwolf
make

During compilation in messages on the screen, the text "This Includes Support for Hamlib." 

sudo make install

Addition of 01.11.2021 - starting with version 1.6, the DireWolf compilation procedure is changed!

sudo apt-get install cmake
git clone http://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
cd ~
git checkout dev
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make -j4
sudo make install
make install-conf

Direwolf setting in AGWPE Engine configuration for use in conjunction with XASTIR

  1. Installed an additional package of utilities for configuration of sound:

sudo apt install alsa-utils

  1. I looked at what sound cards are connected

aplay -l

List of Playback Hardware Devices
Card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], Device 0: Alc662 Rev1 analog [Alc662 Rev1 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: Subdevice #0
Card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], Device 1: Alc662 Rev1 Digital [Alc662 Rev1 Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: Subdevice #0

  1. I connected the headphone to the sound card and checked the presence of sound

For built -in sound card.

speaker-test -Dplughw:0,0 -c2

(Plughw: 0.0 - sound card number 0, device number 0)

or in the case of an external sound card

speaker-test -Dplughw:1,0 -c2

(Plughw: 0.0 - sound card number 1, device number 0)

Or the default device:

speaker-test -Ddefault -c2

(Default - sound device by default).

One of the three options should work.

In the headphones I heard a hiss (white noise) with some stereo effect.

If the noise was not heard, you need to choose the name Plughw: 1.0, etc., focusing on the conclusion of Aplay -l

Mark. In the initial installation version I took DireWolf.conf
From the resource

https://github.com/lafargue/aprs-box/blob/master/config/etc/direwolf/direWolf.conf

and kept it in "loading" .
But the instructions of the program itself advises when the first installation to create a configuration file using a command make install-conf.

In the second installation option, he completed the indicated command make install-conf для создания direwolf.conf.

  1. I copied the configuration file DireWolf.conf on the global catalog /etc

 SU -

CD /etc` **

Mkdir Direwolf

Exit

Sudo CP ~/DireWolf/DireWolf.conf /etc/direWolf/direwolf.conf

  1. Opened the DireWolf configuration file for editing

 SU -

nano /etc/direwolf/direWolf.conf

  1. Corrected the name of the sound card in the configuration file.

The name "Adevice Pasym0" has changed to:

" ADEVICE - PLUGHW: 0.0 " from paragraph No. 3

Note: For the built -in sound card, you should try the default option:
ADEVICE default default

Attention: first Entrance parameter, secondary output. Here, in this example, the sound sound "adevice -" is specified incorrectly, because The sound card is indicated for in the way_ sound, but St. Watch comments in the Direwolf.conf file from the developer. The correct line of ADEVICE look at the end of the article .

  1. I corrected the call sign just in case (although this is not necessary - because it controls everything XASTIR).

    MYCALL RA1AHQ-0

  2. In the PTT section, I removed the comment from the “PTT” line and corrected the COM port for the transmission, transmission through the Hamlib Cat team, where 122 is the Hamlib model code for the Yaesu FT-857 transceiver for version 1.5

    PTT RIG 122 /dev/ttyUSB0

In the latest Hamlib versions of 4.x transceivers codes changed - Yaesu FT -857 became No. 1022:

cm.Hamlib Wiki/Supported-Radios

PTT RIG 1022 /dev/ttyUSB0

Note: The radio station code (here 1022) must correspond to the model number from the display of the command rigctl --list

  1. Закомментировал строки для Raspberry PI (у меня стационарный ПК)

    # PTT GPIO 60

And this (temporarily, for the period of testing):

# IGTXLIMITIGTXLIMIT 6 10

  1. Оставляем порты по умолчанию, без изменений

    AGWPORT 8000

    KISSPORT 8001

  2. Комментирую все строки про APRStt GATEWAY

    # TTPOINT

    # TTVECTOR

    # TTGRID

    # TTUTM

    # TTCORRAL

    # TTMACRO

  3. Сохранил direwolf.conf

  4. Запустил xastir

  5. В меню "Interfaces" добавил новый интерфейс «Networked AGWPE» с адресом localhost.
    default port 8000

I saved the settings CRTL+O, Ctrl+X.

  1. Запустил direwolf следующей командой:
    (Since the configuration file is created, it is not necessary to transfer the command string parameters such as the type of work, the transfer speed is not necessary. We only specify the DireWolf.conf configuration file, which was set up earlier).

direwolf -c /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf  -d n 1

Where is the key "-d n" means the output of the debug information (Debug) during the operation of Kiss Network Client.

Conclusion of the version without support PTT (wrong)

Dire Wolf Version 1.5
Includes Optional Support for: CM108-PTT

(missed)

NOTE: Ptt Not Configured for Channel 0. (Ignore this if USing Vox.)

The output of the PTT support version should be this:

Dire Wolf Version 1.5
Includes Optional Support for: Hamlib CM108-PTT

Reading Config File /etc/direWolf/direWolf.conf
Audio Device for Both Receive and Transmit: Plughw: 1.0 (Channel 0)
Channel 0: 1200 Baud, AFSK 1200 & 2200 HZ, E+, 44100 SAMPLE RATE.
Ready to Accept AGW Client Application 0 On Port 8000 ...
Ready to Accept Kiss TCP Client Application 0 On Port 8001 ...

  1. Запустил Xastir

(If he does not start from the label, I advise you to read the article about XASTIR APRS - it tells how to give the right.
For testing purposes, if there is no desire to read the article, you can use the "rude" solution to launch on behalf of Sudo Xastir).

  1. В Xastir стартовал интерфейс «Networked AGWPE» - перешёл в состояние UP

The conclusion in the Driewolf window has changed, the lines were added:

Attached to AGW Client Application 0 ...

Ready to Accept Agw Client Application 1 on Port 8000 ...

  1. Надел наушники и выполнил проверку передачи: Xastir — Interfaces — Transmit now!

Pure sound is not interrupted !!

  1. В окне с терминалом и Direwolf посмотрел нет ли ошибок:

There are no errors either !!!

[0L] RA1AHQ>APX210,WIDE2-2:=6000.00N/03000.00Ex

The setting is successful!

* Solution of the PTT program on using HAMLIB.

Ready to Accept Agw Client Application 1 on Port 8000 ...
Error Sending Rig_Set_ptt Command for Channel 0 Ptt
Communication Timed Out
[0L] RA1AHQ-1> APX216, WIDE2-2: = 6000.00N/03000.00EX
Transmit Timing Error: Ptt Is on 207 MSEC Too Long.
Error Sending Rig_Set_ptt Command for Channel 0 Ptt
Communication Timed Out

Solution: In the Yaesu transceiver in the menu 019, increase CAT speed from 4800 to 38400BPS.

Now PTT works. The station appeared on the APRS map.

карта

Осталось наладить приём (его нет). ;-)

Direwolf messages shows that the entrance is taken from StDIN, which is wrong:
Audio Input Device for Receive: STDIN (Channel 0)
And there must be PLUGHW: 1.0 (Channel 0)

The final editing of the configuration file:

ADEVICE PLUGHW: 1.0 plughw: 1.0

либо для встроенной звуковой карты:

ADEVICE default default

The result is positive, and the entrance and exit are now taken from the desired sound card:
после настройки

Now the reception and transmission work.
Configuration File I attach: direWolf.zip

It remains only to configure the volume level of Line in using commands su -, alsamixer.

setting the optimal level of receipt and transmission

installation of the optimal level of reception

With a high level of signal at the reception, DireWolf will give a warning.
level

It is necessary to reduce the level.
If there is a CAT interface with level adjustment (handles) - you can use them. I used Alsamixer:

Enter the Alsamixer team in the console:

sudo alsamixer

The volume mixer alsamixer with a text, pseudographic interface was opened.

I pressed F6 - Select Sound Card, chose the sound card "USB Audio Device"

I pressed F4 - Capture (adjustment of the level of entry from the line input)

Reduced the level of MIC from 70 to 6 (amplification -6DB).
lvl

Pressed ESC

I launched Direwolf again:

direwolf -c /etc/direwolf/direwolf.conf -d n

Raised the interface in XASTIR:

Menu "Interface" - "Interface Control" - (Select a record corresponding to DireWolf) - "Start" button
The interface must go to the UP state.
Close button

After adjusting the level of reception, errors in the Dire Wolf window completely disappear:
DireWolf работает

installation of the optimal transmission level

The volume adjustment to the transmission is carried out by the level regulator (graphic "slider" of the volume control near the clock).

Initially, it installed a large power of 25 W and a volume level by 20%. At the control radio station during the Interface - "Transmit Now" command
I watched the volume and purity of the signal. On the digital Retransel of APRS, installed 5 km from me, I heard response packages, and on Arps.fi followed the change in time,
when the RA1AHQ-1 station was heard for the last time. Then, the selection of the gear level, gradually reducing the output power, sought the best trigger from my signal Digi or I-Gate.

The final setting of the APRS transmission volume level was made at a power of 5 watts.

possible errors

  1. If during the transmission there is an error "Audio output Data Underrun.",
    try to use another sound card (see Speaker -Test -ddefault -c2), with the corresponding correction of the DireWolf.conf configuration file.
  2. If during the reception “Audio Input LEVEL IS to Low. Increase So Most Stations are Around 50 is displayed.” - adjust the sensitivity to the reception using Alsamixer - F4 (Input - Sound Card).
    Since the sensitivity of all cards is different.
  3. After each completion of the work "Direwolf-c /etc/direWolf/direWolf.conf-d N" Do not forget to raise the interface in XASTIR - Interface Control and testing Interface - Transmit Now.
  4. The digital retransaver may not respond to our parcels (for example, outside the reach or disconnected) - it is useless to check the passage of the package by ear, according to the "echo" from digi. RX-to-toe gateways (nodes that translate the packages on the Internet accepted from the air) work much more reliable. RX-OLY SLADS transmit information on a dynamic website with APRS Information of Real Time: https://aprs.fi. That is, after the transmission, you need to look at your call sign on the APRS.Fi map, and not wait for an answer from the APRS RETRARES.

& nbsp

links to DireWolf pages on the Internet:

Data of the last change: 01.11.2021, corrections 04/16/2025.



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