Module FRN

[sh123]

After using it for 1 week on linux box and several days on ARM device with my RIG my experience is that it should be ok for alpha version. Overall quality of FRN service is not as good as EchoLink, FRN servers are using TCP for media... so lags in audio are common on not so good connections.

[sm0svx]

What's up with this pull-request? Do you feel it's releasable? Are you using it on a daily basis?

[sh123]

Unfortunately, not using it much lately, no interested people in my area. Also, here it seems that nobody tried it out. Probably, this pull request could be closed.

[sm0svx]

Have you tried asking on the svxlink-devel mailing list? Chances are that not many people know the FRN module exist or does not know how to compile SvxLink from the module_frn branch, or even know what FRN is. I must say I'm not very familiar with FRN either. If you can find some arguments where FRN beat EchoLink, it may interest people. For example, isn't it possible to set up FRN on a closed network? EchoLink require an Internet connection.

Maybe more people would be interested if I merged the pull-request to the master branch. I think it would be a pity to just drop the pull-request after all the work you have put in.

[sh123]

I synced with master, everything builds now. Also, did basic test with "Test" echo service in FRN. Seems to work.

I don't think FRN can beat EchoLink, they just have different use cases. EchoLink is for Hams to cross link different cities/countries, while FRN is de-centralized system for linking "low-power" citizen bands (CB, PMR446, LPD, etc) and cross linking between different bands and internet services, e.g. CB <-> PMR446 <-> LPD <-> PC <-> Zello <-> etc.

People with Rasps and other similar linux devices (like myself) can benefit from this module as FRN native client is only for windows.

[sm0svx]

Great! I'll have a closer look at it. Probably will merge it to master if everything looks good.

[sm0svx]

Have you generated Heather sound clips from Acapela Box for this? If you have, can you create a pull request in the Heather voice repository?

[sh123]

Looks like there are couple of problems with Acapela 1.) There is no "US heather" voice anymore. 2.) It does not allow to download clips asking to purchase "Pack of credits". Is Acapela fully commercial service now?

[sm0svx]

As far as I know, the Acapela Box has never been free. If I log in I get access to the Heather voice so it's still there.

I chose Acapela Box as the official SvxLink voice provider since it's reasonably priced, liberally licensed, better quality than any of the free voice synthesisers I have tried and easily accessible for anyone who want to extend SvxLink.

I would certainly have preferred a completely free service but I could not find a free voice synthesizer that was good enough.

[sh123]

Strange, registered and logged in, but still do not see "Heather" in the list of voices for US/UK languages. Am I missing something or using wrong form?

[sm0svx]

Very strange indeed. Maybe one need to have credits on ones account to see it but that seem strange I think. You can always ask a question using the contacts form.

This is how my logged in view looks:

[sh123]

Ahh, indeed, pulled in some credits and Heather appeared, will generate files and create pull request in svxlink-sounds-en_US-heather repo

[sh123]

Added pull request to svxlink-sounds-en_US-heather repository with sounds

[sm0svx]

Very good! Thanks!

So, they did hide some voices for non-paying users. Sneaky ;-)

I can merge it now if you just remove the src/svxlink/scripts/sounds/en_US-heather directory. Those files are obsolete since they're now in the separate Heather repository.

[ur3qjw]

Hello!
Thank you for creating "ModuleFrn". Very nice addition to SvxLink.
If possible, please add future support for the "Macros" in "ModuleFrn".
This will enable quickly connect to a variety servers FRN. Possible format:

[Macros]
1=EchoLink:9999#
9=Parrot:0123456789#
...
72=Frn:Server name (IP-address):Network Name (rooms):Port#
73=Frn:Server2:Rooms2:10024#
...

Many thanks

[sh123]

Hello, UR3QJW, thank you for your feedback.

It might be better to define multiple server-room pairs in FRN configuration file, so user can control connection-disconnection to different servers using DTMF FRN specific commands (e.g. 3X, where X is the index of the predefined server-room pair) and then later it will be possible to point global short macro to that subcommand if needed.

Just open a feature request in "Issues" and I will take a look when will have time.

Thank you.

[Lupastro]

Hello!!

So my dreams of using frn "natively" on linux is becoming reality :)
Italy has a tremendus amount of frn users on their server.

I look forward to see the completed module and thank you very much for your effort.

73 de S56RLU, Luka.