Sound levels, alsamixer, etc

[Joe / KJ0TEN / NC]

First off, I've been meaning to post how much fun DigiPi is - it's just such a great environment for tinkering, watching the logs, and learning! Thanks for all your work, Craig!

So, my sound levels were looking hi, though I'm getting pretty great APRS packets through. So, I did the remount then alsamixer then alsactl store routine, first taking Capture <MIC> down to 44, then 25, and finally to 0 and it didn't change a thing... I even restarted between each change and still seeing:

Digipeater WIDE2 (probably KI4WXS-5) audio level = 187(68/63)    __||||___

I checked for other sound cards - just one.

I know the Digirig is an enthusiastic sound card, but pushing through a 0? 

I'm baffled, but that's a condition I'm accustomed to :)

running DigiPi 2.0

Thanks in advance for any tips!

[Scott Sheppard]

Hello

Today I gave a 2 hour workshop to my ARES chapter (DekalbAres.org) on digipi and the reception from the group was very positive.

I too am confused about “AUDIO” in the Digipi UI. I can see an audio level when I look at the packet log. I just adjust my audio pot on my radio (many radios tested they all have K connectors) in this case a Baofeng 82HP.  Where I am confused is how am I supposed to use the AUDIO tool. In general I am not a big You Tuber as I would rather read but in this case is there a good You Tube that explains how AUDIO is to be used with Digipi?

Note I adjust my radio solution pot to get an AUDIO level of 50-60.

   

Scott Sheppard

1702 Frazier Park Drive 

Decatur, GA 30033

732 861 3383 

sshe...@bellsouth.net

KJ4ZZB Call Sign

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[Joe / KJ0TEN / NC]

I totally agree - I'd love a "Guide to Audio On Linux and Raspberry Pi", and I'm pretty frequent on YouTube, and no, I haven't found one. 

One big cesspool of confusion (for me at least) is the raging party war between Alsa and Pulse Audio. Here in DigiPi it seems Alsa based, my Linux install scripts insist on Pulse, and both seem to eschew Pipewire. Why? I can't fathom.

The other one is this weird triad between RigCtrl, FLRig, and HamLib: Pick the right two and everything works smooth as glass; pick the wrong two and you have silence or misbehavior; dare to launch all three and I'm pretty sure you have to start over by reinstalling Linux from scratch (just kidding). The other thing is soooo many help docs with Windows screenshots, and I mean, really which just does no good when troubleshooting Linux/RPi.

I'm attempting to. compile where I stub my toes on this path of learning, not least of which is the inscrutable lack of consistency for Audio Device Names. My DigiRig shows up as (at least) the following names depending on what app or command I run:

• USB PnP Sound Device
  
• C-Media Electronics, INc. CM108 Audio Controller
  
• Silicon Labs CP210x UART Bridge
  
• CM108 Audio Controller Mono
  
• CM108 Audio Controller Stereo
  
• /dev/serial/by-id//usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102N_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_6e4b)b98277ded11a995b06c4fc49859-iff-port0
  
• ttyUSB0: usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102N_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_6e4b0b98277ded11a995b06c4fc49859-if00-port0
  
• 0 [Device ]: USB-Audio - USB PnP Sound Device C-Media Electronics Inc. USB PnP Sound Device at usb-3f980000.usb-1.2.3.1, full
  
• if I run a lsusb I see:
  • Bus 001 Device 007: ID 0d8c:013c C-Media Electronics, Inc. CM108 Audio Controller
  • Bus 001 Device 008: ID 10c4:ea60 Silicon Labs CP210x UART Bridge
• Now, if I run dmesg | grep tty one of the lines it returns is:
  • [ 8.861544] usb 1-1.2.3.2: cp210x converter now attached to ttyUSB0

Granted, I can see a pattern, but that's less than comforting to the newcomer... 

OK, enough of my mirthful Sunday morning rant - Hope everyone has a radio active Sunday!

[Craig]

Hi  Joe - I wish every Linux developer would read your post!

I agree with all of this.  Pulse/pipewire sit on top of ALSA and maybe
add convenience for desktop users, but it's a prohibitive amount of
unnecessary complexity to do something simple like DigiPi.  So, yes
DigiPi is just ALSA.  clicking on SysInfo gives you the basic info you
need.  which is "cat /proc/asound/cards" to see a list of audio devices.
and "ls /dev/ttyUSB* /dev/ttyACM*" to see serial devices, that's it.

In each app, try "default" audio device, short of that try the "plughw*"
device.  sometimes you have to switch to plughw then back to default
and suddenly it starts working (js8call has this issue sometimes).

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digipi/48b33750-f7b7-49ec-b246-814891e9791cn%40googlegroups.com.

[Craig]

Hi Scott - great work on the presentation! 

Clicking "Audio" to set receive and transmit levels will help you
get it dialed in.  don't forget to press "F4" to see the capture/receive
levels.  Also press [save configuration] on the digipi home page to
save your customized levels.  I did a whole video on radio audio
levels for digital modes.

and, yah, just turning the knob on the rig can get your receive-level
working as well.  sometimes you can use a voltage divider (fancy
name for two resistors) to lower hot speaker outputs without
an impedance mess.

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digipi/AA41E745-1980-4A23-B484-B5B90A34918D%40bellsouth.net.

[Scott Sheppard]

Craig 

Thanks 

Do you have the URL

If Digipeter will also I gate then I assume IGATE is only used if the user does NOT want to digipeat. Is that a correct assumption?

Thanks*

Scott Sheppard

1702 Frazier Park Drive 

Decatur, GA 30033

732 861 3383 

sshe...@bellsouth.net

KJ4ZZB Call Sign

[Craig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0A7_TLvxEI&t=718s


Yes, use the igate if you don't want to digipeat on rf (good way to put it)