Time-Out Timer (TOT) feature survey

[Mooneer Salem]

Hi all,

I'm currently working on a Time-Out Timer (TOT) feature in FreeDV, similar to what you'd find on a VHF or UHF repeater. (Current implementation on GitHub: https://github.com/drowe67/freedv-gui/pull/1366.) We're fairly close to being able to merge this feature but a few questions have come up that might be better answered by the wider community:

1. Should this feature be enabled by default?

2. What timeout (in seconds) should it default to?

Currently in the linked PR, (1) is Yes and (2) is 180 seconds (3 minutes), but I've been made aware that some may not want this enabled by default and/or want a longer default timeout, hence the email :) Let me know if you have any comments or concerns.

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

[Walter Holmes]

I would recommend YES to be on by default. But have the ability to disable if needed.

 

And 180 seconds is typical, but I’m sure there will be corner cases that need longer, so it would need to be configurable as well.

 

If it trips, it would be great to have a very LARGE and bright warning message that this happened, so that it so annoying, they will be motivated to prevent it from happeing.

 

Perhaps an audible alert as well.

 

Ie.. most radios will have an audible alert when they are tripped themselves.

 

It’s very unfortunate that this even has to be done at the application level.

 

Walter/K5WH

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[ma...@flyfast.net]

Have the feature, make it configurable by the user. Whether it is default or not doesn’t matter to me.

 

So many radios already allow you to set a TOT on the radio. We’re seriously implementing it in a codec/app instead? As mentioned in the PR, TOT is available in nearly all radios – not just commercial. If you’re using a radio that doesn’t have TOT, why place your limitation on the community?

 

As a person who maintains fleet systems, I have customers that have TOT set to 60 seconds and I have customers that range up to 8 minutes, and in some cases off. It is highly dependent on the use case.

 

I’m not a space bar user as I type while operating. I use the serial in method with foot switch. And maybe this is why I’m not in support of a TOT. I assume the number of folks with a physical PTT are in the minority, and this feature is geared to “clicker” people that can easily activate PTT and not be aware.

 

Matt

AL0R

 

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Mooneer Salem
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2026 03:34
To: digitalvoice <digita...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [digitalvoice] Time-Out Timer (TOT) feature survey

 

Hi all,

--

[Dayne Aldridge]

Mooneer, 

I suggest you include a button to reset the timer at any time while still transmitting. Maybe a count-down clock or line to show

when timeout is approaching would be helpful too.

I think this would be a great addition.  We have had a few times on the 40 meter net where the station stayed on and on ...

after the person quit talking

Dayne

K8CHY

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digitalvoice/05d701dcf99e%2415752520%24405f6f60%24%40flyfast.net.

[Rick Kunath]

Interesting idea. But for me, this is HF and time-out doesn’t apply.

If you are going to do this I’d say make the time configurable and the feature disabled by default.

I’m mot sure why the need though? I know I won’t be using it.

Rick Kunath, K9AO

[Mooneer Salem]

BTW there will indeed be a popup around 15 seconds before the timeout expires, with an audio warning when this appears as well as a button to reset the timer. Example on macOS:

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Fred Larrick]

Please add a time-out timer to the FreeDV app. I have fallen into the "stuck" PTT trap too often. I would like for it to be settable at the app level as I want to be able to adjust it on the fly depending upon what I am doing: net control, rag chewing, or whatever. I do not want to change it on my radio, especially since I use multiple radios and changing them on the fly and remembering how I set each one is not desirable.

I suggest that the timeout timer be active and set to 90 seconds as a default and that a visual and audible warning be activated. Why - because some people are installing the app literally within minutes and then immediately getting on the air (based on the comments of several people checking into the net). As a result, they do not fully understand the functionality or the defaults. This will prevent them from accidentally transmitting and disrupting the frequency for a tolerable period of time. In addition, when they see/hear the warning, they would be alerted to the fact that they need to figure out how to set/disable the timeout timer. 

Thanks for reading.

Fred

N3FL

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From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Walter Holmes <wal...@k5wh.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2026 7:28 AM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [digitalvoice] Time-Out Timer (TOT) feature survey

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[Dudley - WA5QPZ]

I have my Flex set to 5 minute timeout, just to keep from burning anything up.    I personally think 90 seconds is a little bit short, most are use to repeater timers of 180 seconds , most will agree with that , and a warning is is great, BUT doesn’t that prove to be difficult with all the different radio API interfaces?  This could be a real headache for Mooneer and crew .   

I think most of the SDRs have time out timers already , just need to set them.  

Dudley
WA5QPZ

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[Rick, W4XA]

I think having a transmit time-out-timer is a good idea if completely user configurable.  I don't mind if it's ON by default as long as I can turn it off or configure it.

I know of one user that was transmitting for a couple of hours because he inadvertently touched the space bar and left the room!

Maybe a more "smart" timer could  begin counting down when microphone voice audio ceases etc?

(Almost like a very long hang time for "VOX") 

[Rick Kunath]

I can live with it as long as it’s disable and the time is configurable.

Who knows, I might wind up liking it.

Rick
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