DigiPi and AOIC

[Jeff Marden]

Hello Craig & Group:

While I saw the message thread using the G1RLO script for URC/AOIC operation with the DigiPi, I was wondering if any work to integrate AOIC selection and use  into perhaps an updated version of DigiPi?

Thanks,

--

Jeff Marden

N1JCM

[Jeff Marden]

Hello Craig and Group:

No responses to my message on AIOC support. For me the G1RLO script locked my UV5R into TX...

So, Craig, Any chance a future version of DigiPi will support the AIOC in the Initialize menu directly?

Thanks,

--

Jeff Marden

N1JCM

[Craig]

Hey Jeff, all,

DigiPi doesn't overtly support the AIOC nor DigiRigLite, as they're essentially
the same thing, employing GPIO pins on the CM108 audio chip.

If you search this mailing list, I'm pretty sure some guys were able to
add the line "PTT CM108" to the bottom of each direwolf  .conf file on DigiPi.

I also recall some permissions shenanigans for the HID device file for the
cm108.

I don't have the devices, yet, but I'll look into it.

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

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[Jeff Marden]

Hello Craig:

Thanks for the follow-up.

I looked at the script provided by G1RLO and it appears he adds a "PTT /dev/DEVICEFILE -RTS DTR" to the DIrewolf.xxx.conf files to get the AIOC working. For me "DEVICEFILE" is ttyACM0. Not sure what "-RTS DTR means; Serial Request to Send and Data Terminal Ready signals, or something else.

Anyway, when I added this text to the "direwolf.tnc.conf" and "direwolf.digipeater.conf files, Digipi for these selections appeared to work including PPT.

More testing. to do.

Thanks,

--

Jeff Marden

N1JCM

[Steve Stroh]

I think Jeff getting the AIOC working with Dire Wolf on DigiPi is a BIG deal!

AIOC (I prefer the assembled / tested version by NA6D - https://na6d.com/products/aioc-ham-radio-all-in-one-cable) and a Raspberry Pi anything make for an admirably compact digital / data station. What I like is that the analog is kept very very local (AIOC through the jack to the radio) and the link between the RPi and the AIOC is a standard USB-A (or USB-Micro) to USB-C cable.

Now that Jeff pointed out that config line, I think I could get Dire Wolf working on my laptop with an AIOC on a portable.

I’m mentioning this development in today’s Zero Retries 0187 which will publish at 15:30 Pacific - https://www.zeroretries.org.

Thanks Jeff!

And as always, thanks Craig for an awesome app and system in DigiRig. With the new hardware it’s plug and play now, but I think the inclusion of AIOC makes for an even more plug and play starter package.

Put another way, DigiPi plus an AIOC is a great entry into data modes for those new hams with a Baofeng that wonder “Hmmm, what else can I do with this thing?”.

Steve N8GNJ

---

Steve Stroh N8GNJ (he / him / his)

Editor

Zero Retries Newsletter - https://www.zeroretries.org

Radios are Computers - With Antennas!

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[Craig]

I'll add support for AIOC in the next release so this is easier, but I'll need all your
help in testing.   I know other guys have it working, but I need to know exactly
what to put in direwolf.conf and also any udev rules required for access/permissions.
It needs to be deterministic/scriptable.

PTT CM108     ???  any device file requirements?


cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

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[Jeff Marden]

Hello Craig:

Some follow-up to try and help on support for the AIOC in DigiPi:

Mark/G1LRO (finally got his call correct :-) has two products; The Universal Radio Controller (URC) and the All In One Cable (AIOC), and the has a web site that has pages describing usage.

From his page on the AIOC  - https://g1lro.uk/?p=85

The AIOC and Universal Radio Controller use the same CPU and firmware so if you need more connectivity options and extended features, check out the URC too.

And from his page on the URC V2  - https://g1lro.uk/?p=160

Full PTT control to allow automatic receive & transmit using either serial port settings (DTR & CTS) or the CM108 standard supported by popular software (including DireWolf). PTT switching is by a hardware relay for maximum versatility and reliability.

If you are using DireWolf, add this line in the PTT section (change to match your com port assignment):

PTT COM4 -RTS DTR

For my configuration of the AIOC and Baofeng, I used the serial interface of the AIOC and ttyACM0, resulting in the Direwolf conf file PPT entry of 

PTT ttyACM0 -RTS DTR, and this seemed to work for me in igate and digi modes.

As noted in an earlier message from from Mark/G1LRO, there was a script he pointed-to that automated the process for DigiPi, but I had less success with this and made my mods manually.

Happy to test DigiPi if/when you have a candidate image to try.

Thanks for all the DigiPi work!

--

Jeff Marden

N1JCM

[Craig]

okay, cool, so, this must be automated and deterministic.  there are HIDraw udev
security rules to consider too, and we can't have digipi users chasing changing
devices files.  I have an AIOC on the way (thanks steve!), so i'll know more then.

We just need to make this scriptable and we're good to go for both the aioc
and the URC (I'd really like to checkout the URC).

thanks guys,
-craig
KM6LYW

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[Seth Cameron]

I also hope to use my AOIC with DigiPi.  This person wrote a script that might prove helpful. (I haven't tested it yet)  https://g1lro.uk/?p=63

Would it be possible/useful to add CHIRP to the DigiPi menu? I suppose that any device running a browser could also run CHIRP itself, but it would be convenient to be able to run Chirp on the Pi Zero + AIOC already connected... Just a thought.

- Seth

KK7WEI

[Craig]

Thanks Seth, AIOC is supported and working in the next release of DigiPi - great stuff!  You can
select AIOC from the radio interface selector when Initializing.

I have mixed feelings about chirp, mostly because it bricks (my) Yaesu HT's.

In the bigger picture, we need a process to side-load stuff.  I can't force assumptions on
the entire community, but everyone should be able to add their pet projects.

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

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[Don Porter]

Me again, new adventure after figuring out the HF side. I have my ht connected to the AIOC but so far CM108 isn't doing anything. Guessing I don't have a clue how to edit tnc.conf. Also, tried dev/ttyACM0 and depending on the RTS DTR combination with or without the (-) the HT will either lock into tx or rx.

DonP

[Don Porter]

Here's a snippet: Reading config file /run/direwolf.tnc.conf
Could not extract card number or name from default
Can't automatically find matching HID for PTT.
Audio device for both receive and transmit: default  (channel 0)
Channel 0: 1200 baud, AFSK 1200 & 2200 Hz, A+, 44100 sample rate / 3, Tx AX.25.
Initializing GPIO common structure
Opening GPIO line 12 on chip /dev/gpiochip0
Opening GPIO line 16 on chip /dev/gpiochip0

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 11:16:02 AM UTC-5 km6...@gmail.com wrote:

[Don Porter]

Also, I can key the ht from the command line using sudo cm108 /dev/hidraw0

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 11:16:02 AM UTC-5 km6...@gmail.com wrote:

[Don Porter]

(Just on the hotspot for now) A little more info and have made some progress. So, alsamixer shows 2 in and 2 out for the AIOC. Wondering about that -

Reading config file /run/direwolf.tnc.conf
Audio device for both receive and transmit: plughw:0,0  (channel 0)

Channel 0: 1200 baud, AFSK 1200 & 2200 Hz, A+, 44100 sample rate / 3, Tx AX.25.
Initializing GPIO common structure

Opening GPIO line 16 on chip /dev/gpiochip0
Using /dev/hidraw0 GPIO 3 for channel 0 PTT control.
Ready to accept AGW client application 0 on port 8000 ...
Ready to accept KISS TCP client application 0 on port 8001 ...
DNS-SD: Avahi: Announcing KISS TCP on port 8001 as 'Dire Wolf on digipi'
Virtual KISS TNC is available on /dev/pts/2
Created symlink /tmp/kisstnc -> /dev/pts/2
DNS-SD: Avahi: Service 'Dire Wolf on digipi' successfully registered.
Can't get address for IGate server noam.aprs2.net, Temporary failure in name resolution
Can't get address for IGate server noam.aprs2.net, Temporary failure in name resolution
Can't get address for IGate server noam.aprs2.net, Temporary failure in name resolution

Audio input level is too low.  Increase so most stations are around 50.
[0.0] W9JUN-2>APDW18:!R:qB:8tKN&  ! DigiPi http://digipi.org/

[Craig]

Hi Don, that PktLog looks good, except the Rx volume is low obviously.

The Kplug rigs (baofeng) need their volume knob turned up about 75% in my experience.
At that point you can click "audio" and then press F4 for "capture" and up the
Rx volume there.  it's set to a modest 87% by default.

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

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[Don Porter]

I appreciate the reply! No combo of volume settings will do the trick. Also, I can key the ht from the command line using sudo cm108 /dev/hidraw0 but nothing when running direwolf with cm108.

[Craig]

Don, do me a favor, cable everything up, then turn it on.

Click PktLog

Then turn on APRS Digipeater.

wait exactly 8 seconds at let me know if the AIOC LED blinks, and if the radio keys.


then show us what you see in PktLog here.

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

[Don Porter]

Ok, digipeater keyed the ht....So, I've missed a fundamental since tnc.conf doesn't key the HT

[Don Porter]

I only get the following (Audio input level is too low.) when using tnc.conf, all the other .conf seem to be fine.

W9JUN-7 audio level = 58(13/6)    ___|||||_
[0.5] W9JUN-7>APN000,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1:=3847.78N/08522.26W[214/000/A=000915

Audio input level is too low.  Increase so most stations are around 50.
[0.0] W9JUN-2>APDW18:!R:qB:8tKN&  ! DigiPi http://digipi.org/

[Craig]

The example shows an audio level of "58" which is really ideal.  15-90 is a good range.

[Craig]

Okay, good test, DigiPi keyed the ht in digipeater mode, so you know your hardware and
software configuration is good.  the igate/tnc is identical, it just doesn't beacon/repeat on RF
like the digipeater.

I'm not sure why you're referring to tnc.conf.

Boot DigiPi with everything connected, turn [on] APRS TNC/igate, then turn [on] APRS WebChat,
then click the "WebChat" link at the bottom of the page, then click [send beacon].


if it helps,
-craig
KM6LYW

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