Echolink - Server

1. Background Understanding of the svxlink project
2. TCP/IP Ports Setup
3. Install the svxlink-server Package
4. Install svxlink Sounds
5. Managing the Serial Devices for svxlink
6. Managing the Sound Devices for svxlink
7. Stereo Channels
8. Other Serial Related parameters
9. Test the Initial Install and Sound Output
10. Setup the the Configuration Parameters for Echolink Operation
11. Editing ModuleEcholink.conf
12. Starting and Stopping SVXLink
13. Radio - Tait T2015 with T2000-UIS Interface Card
14. Interface Cable Construction
15. Audio Connection and Considerations
16. I/O Signal Matrix to DB9 Pinouts
17. Tait 2015 Configuration Steps
18. Sound Card Modifications
19. Configuration of the VK4RBA-R Echolink Server
20. IP_ALLOW in ModuleEcholink.conf
21. CQiNet
22. EchoLib
23. Voice Announcement
24. Usefull Commands
25. GPIO Configuration
26. References

1. Tait-Radio Line-Interface-Kits T-2000-UIS-AM2K-UIS.pdf
2. Tait-Radios

The SvxLink Server AUDIO_CHANNEL Specify the audio channel to use. SvxLink can use the left/right stereo channels as two mono channels. Legal values are 0 or 1is a general purpose voice services system, developed by Tobias Blomberg, by SM0SVX which when connected to a transceiver, can act as both an advanced repeater system and can also operate on a simplex channel. One could call it a radio operating system since it sits between the hardware (transceiver) and the applications (modules) and handle basic system services as well as input and output.
Source:https://www.svxlink.org/



6 These are my note from my experiences installing SVXLink on a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.2 with 4Gb RAM running Buster Raspbian GNU/Linux 10

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Background Understanding of the svxlink project

There is a lot of information on this page. It is worth reading in order to get a background uderstanding of how the svxlink package operated.

https://github.com/sm0svx/svxlink/wiki/InstallationInstructions

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TCP/IP Ports Setup

svxlink/EchoLink requires that your router or firewall allow inbound and outbound UDP to ports 5198 and 5199, and outbound TCP to port 5200. If you are using a home-network router, you will also need to configure the router to "forward" UDP ports 5198 and 5199 to the PC on which EchoLink is running.

Update the port fowarding in the access modem to point these ports to the IP address of the device running the svxlink server.

AUDIO_CHANNEL Specify the audio channel to use. SvxLink can use the left/right stereo channels as two mono channels. Legal values are 0 or 1 The " " command should show 5200, 5298, 5199 ports as open.
netstat -atnp # -a --all, -t --tcp, -n --numberic ip addresses, -p --program show pids

The nmap command should show the ports as open. ou will not see the internal IP but the selected device will be servicing the ports if they are open.

nmap -p 5198-5200 <Externa IP address>``>

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Install the svxlink-server Package

At date of writing the is the Debian Package, svxlink-server (17.12.2-4) and on the RPi Buster we will be installing for the arm64 architeture.:
sudo apt update sudo apt install svxlink-server

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Install svxlink Sounds

English Language Pack for SvxLink Server

This is an english language pack for SvxLink Server created using the Heather voice from the Acapela Box service.

NOTE CAREFULLY These are raw files which cannot be used directly with svxLink Server. They must first be processed using the filter_sounds.sh script to get the correct format.

Also, note that this is a commercial service and ever syllable has to be paid for. The prefered option is to download processed sound files from the releases page.Check here for the latest release: https://github.com/sm0svx/svxlink-sounds-en_US-heather/releases

Download the pre processed sound bites. Always check for the latest release.

At time of writing this is 19.09: https://github.com/sm0svx/svxlink-sounds-en_US-heather/releases/tag/19.09.99.1

# change to the sound folder and extract the archive cd /usr/share/svxlink/sounds/ sudo tar xvjf svxlink-sounds-en_US-heather-16k-19.09.tar.bz2 # extracts to en_US-heather-16k sudo ln -s en_US-heather-16k en_US

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Managing the Serial Devices for svxlink

Managing the Sound Devices for svxlink

Stereo Channels

Edit AUDIO_CHANNEL in both [Rx1] and [Tx1] stanza in svxlink.conf.

AUDIO_CHANNEL Specify the audio channel to use. SvxLink can use the left/right stereo channels as two mono channels. Legal values are 0 or 1. Which channel is used for TX and which is used for X depends on how the cable is wired to the sound card jack. See Interface Cable Construction for how I have elected to wire the cable. The config settings must reflect the physical cable wiring.

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Other Serial Related parameters

SQL_DET in [Rx1] Specifies the type of squelch detector to use. Possible values are: VOX, CTCSS, SERIAL, EVDEV, SIGLEV, PTY, GPIO or HIDRAW. I will use VOX.

PTT_PORT in [Tx1]

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Test the Initial Install and Sound Output

In svxlink.conf in the [SimplexLogic] stanza set RX=NONE Only use this to test sounds as it directs audio out to computer default audio out device and not the device the radio is connected to. Start svxlink manually and issue the "*#" command:
sudo -u svxlink svxlink # manually start svxlink-server *# # An audio ammouncement should be heard. [Top][Home]

Setup the the Configuration Parameters for Echolink Operation

Radio-Transceivers/Tait-Radios/Tait-Radios.html#T2000-UIS This is a way of testing that svxlink is operating and able to access the sound files:

sudo vi /etc/svxlink/svxlink.conf

svxlink.conf should look like this::
# In the [SimplexLogic] stanza, change the RX to Rx1 (or NONE for testing), # and set your CALLSIGN. [SimplexLogic] TYPE=Simplex RX=Rx1 TX=Tx1 MODULES=ModuleHelp,ModuleParrot,ModuleEchoLink,ModuleTclVoiceMail CALLSIGN=VK4PK #--------- # In the [Rx1] stanza, set the correct audio iN (MIC) devices [Rx1] TYPE=local AUDIO_DEV=alsa:plughw:2 #--------- # In the [Tx1] stanza, set the correct audio device. [Tx1] TYPE=local AUDIO_DEV=alsa:plughw:2

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Editing ModuleEcholink.conf

Starting and Stopping SVXLink

Radio - Tait T2015 with T2000-UIS Interface Card

A Tait T2015 with a T2000-UIS interface card was available for use. See the Tait radio page here, Tait-Line-Interface-Kits for more details on this model Tait radio

Link Setting:

Interface Cable Construction

Audio Connection and Considerations

Note that the sounds cards are, at mininium, two channel or stereophonic devices and the Radios are single channel or monaural devices, so only one channel is used+. Which channel is used is determined by the wiring and the setting in configuration in the svxlink.conf configuration file unde the relevant [Rx] stanza. The left stereo channel is Channel

The is can be tested with the speaker-test utility.

Audio OUT from Radio on 3.5mm TRS Style Stereo Jack Audio Connections
Plugs into Microphone on sound card:

I/O Signal Matrix to DB9 Pinouts

This is the standard layout and as set up in the Radio used in this project.



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Tait 2015 Configuration Steps

Step to configure the Tait Radio for SVXlink Server operation.

1. Program the T2015 as required, i.e. Tx/Rx frequencies, etc.
2. Confirm the T2015 is fully functional (i.e. test Tx/Rx and adjust if required)
3. If no CTCSS is required, adjust microphone deviation for 5Khz (on a 25Khz channel) or if using CTCSS, 4.5Khz (on a 25Khz channel)
4. Adjust sub audio deviation (if used) for 500Hz (on a 25Khz channel)
5. If fitted remove R513 (0 ohm resistor) on Logic PCB linking options connector S14 Pin 5 (PTT-TO-OPT) and S14 pin 6 (PTT-FRM-OPT)
6. On the UIT board, modify the I/O signals and I/O Pins matrix (changes are highlighted) as follows. RSSI Output on Pin 7 is optional.
7. Modify the Link Settings as set out above.
8. Connect / fit the A2000-UIT to the T2000 series II transceiver.

Sound Card Modifications

Cheap sound cards have a COB (black blob on the PCB) so any extra GPIO lines cannot be accessed, if they even exist. They do have status LEDs

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Configuration of the VK4RBA-R Echolink Server

Leigh VK4LAH did an excellent job building and testing this svxlink Echolink server for the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club based at Roachdale, Brisbane. Futher testing is being conduced and some reconfiguration and fine tuning is anticitated.

Notes on this configuration:
Hardware employed on this site is a Raspberry Pi 3B, USB2 C-Media C108A sound card, and a prolific USB to serial cable. The radio transceiver is a Tait T2020 with a T2000-UIS interface card. There is a short RF link to the VK4RBA repeater station. In this configuration the Server is operating in simplex mode.

Serial pinouts in use are:

• RTS to PTT1
• DTR to PTT2

Some issues controlling the with the serial output When RTS is pulled low, the radio will transmit with the setting PTT_PIN=!RTS as the radio is using DTR as the reference.

At this stage the gate signal (pin 2) is not being actuated by the Serial Interface. It was attempted to use DCD to ground. This didn’t work because the A2000-UIS card needs a reference and it is suggestion to use the RTS or DTR signal. This interferes with the PTT function, so VOX was used.

The [Rx1] stanza of svxlink.conf:

[Rx1] TYPE=Local AUDIO_DEV=alsa:plughw:1 AUDIO_CHANNEL=0 SQL_DET=VOX SQL_START_DELAY=2500 SQL_DELAY=0black SQL_HANGTIME=2000sudo systemctl start svxlink VOX_FILTER_DEPTH=20 VOX_THRESH=200 SERIAL_PORT=/dev/ttyUSB0 SERIAL_PIN=DCD SIGLEV_SLOPE=1 SIGLEV_OFFSET=0 SIGLEV_OPEN_THRESH=30 SIGLEV_CLOSE_THRESH=10 DEEMPHASIS=0 PEAK_METER=1 DTMF_DEC_TYPE=INTERNAL DTMF_MUTING=1 DTMF_HANGTIME=40 DTMF_SERIAL=/dev/ttyS0

sudo systemctl start svxlink sudo systemctl stop svxlink Monitor the system via the svxlink log. tail -f /var/log/svxlink The [Tx1] stanza of svxlink.conf:
[Tx1] TYPE=Local AUDIO_DEV=alsa:plughw:1 AUDIO_CHANNEL=0 PTT_TYPE=SerialPin PTT_PORT=/dev/ttyUSB0 PTT_PIN=!RTS TIMEOUT=300 TX_DELAY=500 PREEMPHASIS=0 DTMF_TONE_LENGTH=100 DTMF_TONE_SPACING=50 DTMF_DIGIT_PWR=-15

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IP_ALLOW in ModuleEcholink.conf

The IP_ALLOW in ModuleEcholink.conf is used to let clients on the local network to setup an EchoLink (voice) connection without being authenticated. Use this to run Qtel, connecting to your own node.

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CQiNet

The SVXLink relied on the work done by CQiNet in decipering the Echolink Protocol

http://cqinet.sourceforge.net/index.shtml

EchoLib

Voice Announcement

Search for a Text to Speech site similar to this one and enter the required text. Select a site that allow for the downloading of an audio file. I selected "Australian/Nicole" on this site for the language and accent. After listening and making changes I save the mp3 file. For example I have to add spaces between somew of the characters VK4RBA to make it sound more naturally spoken.

https://ttsmp3.com/

Welcome to the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club, Echolink Node, VK4 R B A

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Usefull Commands

GPIO Configuration

References

This is a quick instruction on how to install svxlink from source code. An easier way is to use pre-compiled packages already available in the latest Raspbian release.

Instruction on how to install svxlink from source code:
https://github.com/sm0svx/svxlink/wiki/installSRCHwRpi

These instructions explain how to install SvxLink on a Raspberry Pi, with pre-compiled packages from the official Raspbian software repository.

Instruction on how to install svxlink from the official Raspbian software repository:
https://github.com/sm0svx/svxlink/wiki/InstallBinRaspbian

Make SVXlink Tell 24h Time / UTC:
https://www.florian-wolters.de/blog/2017/08/11/make-svxlink-tell-24h-time-slash-utc/

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