I have been using my IC-9700 (and 7300, although that needs a computer connected via USB) remotely using the open source WFView software for a couple of years now. It is actually my preferred method of operating, even when sitting in front of the radio
To my amazement, Xiegu built the server component of WFView in to their X6100 HF transceiver so now I have another radio that I control with WFView. I have been meaning to write their support and ask them to consider adding FreeDV now that they have gotten over the hurdle of initially adding open source software to their radio firmware image
Oh, I forgot to mention that you are correct about the Kantrinics D4-10. There is a physical switch on the front to change channel. I want a few more of these to use with MMDVM boards at 19k2 speeds.
Ben - the Kantronics D4-10 is a standalone radio - no modem or other intelligence. It's just audio in plus a TX signal, and audio out. Yes, it could do two independent channels, but unfortunately it used crystals. One reason for that was that TX/RX turnaround using a frequency synthesizer (back in that era) was too slow for real high speed data (I think the D4-10 was rated for up to 38,400 bps). The D4-10 was intended (by Kantronics) to be paired with the Kantronics Data Engine, which had optional modem boards for 1200, 9600, 19200, and (I think) 38400 bps.
Ben - I think it's going to take one brave (or hungry, or aggressive...) Amateur Radio manufacturer to implement FreeDV and/or M17 as native modes, and they can claim technical superiority over Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, Electraft... even (amazing to me that they're a laggard...) FlexRadio. And, I would tout that manufacturer here in Zero Retries for having done so.
I've done some mock-up of that very idea, but it goes on the back burner when I start looking at the internal rat's nest of cables between interfaces. And lately the FT-897 has been my mobile rig so I really only think about the project when on road trips.
BTW, this is a really interesting but very expensive CM-4 carrier board that I'm using. If only they had included a sound chip... store.oratek.com
Idea in my mind is get rigctld and some way to do a virtual sound card from the Pi available over a hot spot or wired network connection. But then, what to do with it?
Alan - Interesting idea. I'm starting to hear of radios that include a Raspberry Pi Compute Module for their processing. Thus, as long as Raspberry Pi continues the same pinout of the CM (which I think they've claimed they will do between the RPi CM4 and the unreleased RPi CM5.
One thing I'd really like to see is a true "auto discovery" system for data radios, and a CAT interface becoming standard/required for any data modes going forward. Idea would be monitor a common channel (144.39 APRS could be the obvious choice but would need some wrangling), let the radio build a table of what's around in the area and QSY automagically. So instead of sitting idle on the local repeater listening to everyone cherchunk all afternoon, find out who's around and what they're monitoring. Then just pick from the list. Maybe even set up crossband modes for full-duplex with data repeaters.
Problem is nearly all mobile V/UHF radios have no CAT port, so no way to easily QSY, or set PL tones, etc. Let alone build talkgroups or other digital specific features, if your radio will even be set up to handshake with the repeater at all. And given the very long product lifetimes of most amateur radio hardware it will take decades for manufacturers to adapt anything new.
Ready - This is the best version of the "auto discovery" concept that I've seen is a "Hailing Chanel" for Amateur Radio. It IS doable - see this presentation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wUl-plfc_w. We really, Really, REALLY need some group that offers to be an impartial arbiter and publisher of standards in Amateur Radio, like my proposed Amateur Radio Standards Organization (ARSO) equivalent to the Internet Engineering Task Force and their publication of Requests For Comment (RFCs). The way we do it now is starting to be broken from too many varying implementations of the same idea.
I'd consider the sBitx v2 a modern day amateur radio data appliance. All-in-one FT8 hardware without the need for a laptop? Yes please! (It does other modes as well.) https://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/sbitx-v2/
I have been using my IC-9700 (and 7300, although that needs a computer connected via USB) remotely using the open source WFView software for a couple of years now. It is actually my preferred method of operating, even when sitting in front of the radio
To my amazement, Xiegu built the server component of WFView in to their X6100 HF transceiver so now I have another radio that I control with WFView. I have been meaning to write their support and ask them to consider adding FreeDV now that they have gotten over the hurdle of initially adding open source software to their radio firmware image
Oh, I forgot to mention that you are correct about the Kantrinics D4-10. There is a physical switch on the front to change channel. I want a few more of these to use with MMDVM boards at 19k2 speeds.
Ben - the Kantronics D4-10 is a standalone radio - no modem or other intelligence. It's just audio in plus a TX signal, and audio out. Yes, it could do two independent channels, but unfortunately it used crystals. One reason for that was that TX/RX turnaround using a frequency synthesizer (back in that era) was too slow for real high speed data (I think the D4-10 was rated for up to 38,400 bps). The D4-10 was intended (by Kantronics) to be paired with the Kantronics Data Engine, which had optional modem boards for 1200, 9600, 19200, and (I think) 38400 bps.
Ben - I think it's going to take one brave (or hungry, or aggressive...) Amateur Radio manufacturer to implement FreeDV and/or M17 as native modes, and they can claim technical superiority over Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, Electraft... even (amazing to me that they're a laggard...) FlexRadio. And, I would tout that manufacturer here in Zero Retries for having done so.
I'd like to see a transceiver such as the FT-897D which has compartments for two batteries.
One of those spaces could house a Raspberry Pi. A Rpi 5 can now do the FreeDV 2020 modes.
So, put inside the radio with an ethernet port and a USB port available on the back of the radio,
t'would be great. Make it versatile so an newer Pi will fit in the future.
I've done some mock-up of that very idea, but it goes on the back burner when I start looking at the internal rat's nest of cables between interfaces. And lately the FT-897 has been my mobile rig so I really only think about the project when on road trips.
BTW, this is a really interesting but very expensive CM-4 carrier board that I'm using. If only they had included a sound chip... store.oratek.com
Idea in my mind is get rigctld and some way to do a virtual sound card from the Pi available over a hot spot or wired network connection. But then, what to do with it?
Alan - Interesting idea. I'm starting to hear of radios that include a Raspberry Pi Compute Module for their processing. Thus, as long as Raspberry Pi continues the same pinout of the CM (which I think they've claimed they will do between the RPi CM4 and the unreleased RPi CM5.
One thing I'd really like to see is a true "auto discovery" system for data radios, and a CAT interface becoming standard/required for any data modes going forward. Idea would be monitor a common channel (144.39 APRS could be the obvious choice but would need some wrangling), let the radio build a table of what's around in the area and QSY automagically. So instead of sitting idle on the local repeater listening to everyone cherchunk all afternoon, find out who's around and what they're monitoring. Then just pick from the list. Maybe even set up crossband modes for full-duplex with data repeaters.
Problem is nearly all mobile V/UHF radios have no CAT port, so no way to easily QSY, or set PL tones, etc. Let alone build talkgroups or other digital specific features, if your radio will even be set up to handshake with the repeater at all. And given the very long product lifetimes of most amateur radio hardware it will take decades for manufacturers to adapt anything new.
Ready - This is the best version of the "auto discovery" concept that I've seen is a "Hailing Chanel" for Amateur Radio. It IS doable - see this presentation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wUl-plfc_w. We really, Really, REALLY need some group that offers to be an impartial arbiter and publisher of standards in Amateur Radio, like my proposed Amateur Radio Standards Organization (ARSO) equivalent to the Internet Engineering Task Force and their publication of Requests For Comment (RFCs). The way we do it now is starting to be broken from too many varying implementations of the same idea.
I'd consider the sBitx v2 a modern day amateur radio data appliance. All-in-one FT8 hardware without the need for a laptop? Yes please! (It does other modes as well.) https://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/sbitx-v2/
Cale - I agree. Somehow I've been overlooking the sBitx v2. The price / performance is impressive.