Downloaded, installed, working!!!! So glad to see this. I joined the discord as well. Very excited to see this. Not a fan of VARA and VAR-AC. Open source and cross platform is Ham Radio. Keep up the good work!

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback G, maybe we will catch you on FreeDATA someday soon and chat 👍

I was waiting and waiting and waiting... I can breathe now. Good vid my friend. Thanks for hanging out.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Lol sorry to keep you waiting buddy, thanks for having me on nuggets.

Just subscribed. This looks awesome. I hope it accumulates a community of users who are more interested in keyboard-to-keyboard chat than the folks who use JS8. Definitely going to give this a try.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Thanks David! I have to admit I’m not big into digital modes, but I love to try them so I know somewhat how they work, and I have a friend locally that suffered from frequent migraines and can’t hear very well, so the digital modes is what he gets to enjoy in the hobby, with the combination of folks in the same situation or high noise floors at home, digital modes may be their only viable option to enjoy radio. Thanks for subscribing and commenting! 73

So, so, sorry for your loss. My wife and I are heading there this May. Thanks for the tips.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

I appreciate your condolences, but I'm confused, I haven't had any loses that I can think of. Safe travels to you and your wife, and your welcome for the tips 👍

Free. Joy!

Looking forward to see how this progresses. I like free.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

I look forward to the development as well and yes Free is priced right for my pocket book👍

Will keep tabs on this, as I'm interested to see how it handles weak signals. Is this an ARQ mode/. Just one additional comment... VarAC is free, and VARA-HF can be run without paying for it, if you don't want fast data transfers (which are not necessary for keyboard chats). Nice to see more development in digital (text based) comms.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Joe, yeah they are trying to improve the weak signal SNR. I realized that Vara is free after making this video, just the high speed data transfer is what cost money. Thanks for clarifying that as well.

Looks really cool, but the secret is adoption.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Yep several users have came and gone, it’s been a minute since I opened it up myself , mostly because it don’t currently work with my Win4icom and Log4OM that uses omnirig, where FD is using hamlib for rig control. But it’s fun to watch them develop it.

Hmmm so many questions! Will this work in harsh band conditions? Assuming it has some sort of FEC ? Shows packet in your video but the baud rate is 2400? Seems like a remarkably high baud rate for HF? I burned through the website and really the wiki doesn't say much about SNR or exactly the protocol being used? One thing I noticed is the 80m Freq is Extra only, no Advanced, General or Tech on that frequency (I didn't really look at the other frequencies, assuming this is originating out of Europe?) . Can you guys do another video where you are making contacts, chatting and sharing files? Will it operate in the field with no internet connection and show you the stations on the map that you can hear via RF?

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Hey Daniel, great questions! What I can tell you about harsh band conditions, it at this moment it seems you need to have a pretty decent signal between each other to make a connection, BUT at the same time there is active development on improving SNR decoding. As far as frequencies there isn’t any that they have set in stone, only suggestions listed on their site. Right now it’s up to two or more stations finding a clear frequency or using the explorer map to see what frequency others may be using at the time. If you will go to the NUGGETS video I linked to in the description we get more involved but can see some contacts being made toward the end of the show (recorded live). This would work in the field with out internet, but the explorer map would not. They are just in the beginning stages of developing this program and have many improvements and additions on the drawing board, be patient with them as they are building this program up. You get to watch it develop from the infant stage.

I got mine set up with my 7300. Thanks ! It seemed to work, until my radio started rebooting. Think I had power issues.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Be sure to check the links for the latest beta release, as the most recent release will not communicate with the older versions 👍

@LJH08Ralith

Жыл бұрын

@@K5YVY thanks for the reply. I just saw that in the discord right before I saw your message. Was wondering why I wasn’t getting anything and links weren’t working !

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Developer is working on site certificates so some links may still be down. If you just google FreeDATA you can find the direct GitHub link for latest releases. 0.9 Is what I installed last night.

testing this right away !!! I was wondering what are the frequencies for FreeData ?

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Aleziss great! There are no set frequencies yet (it’s that new in development) but there are a few suggested frequencies on their website, but the best way right now is go to explorer.FreeDATA.app and look at the map, click on any pins to see what frequency they are using at that time. Green pins are most recent.

@Aleziss

Жыл бұрын

@@K5YVY RR ok thanks, yeah I've discovered the map just like in your video where I can see all the stations, I got no reply from anyone. It seems I am not able to pull other station info in the chat either but it seems like a nice interface using Codec2. I have a lot of CW around the 40m freq and it is difficult to get good copy I think but thanks for posting that find ! I am using FreeDV often and nice to see something new with the same codec !

It would be interesting to see how this compares to Vara in 'real-world' circumstances, not just on paper.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

It has a way to go to compete with Vara just yet. But the developers are ambitious and if their ambitions hold strong long enough I could see this being a free alternative to Vara in the future.

@cmh31909

Жыл бұрын

@@K5YVY Have you done any speed or low-signal-to-noise tests to see how it compares to vara?

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

I personally have not…yet, good idea for a follow up.

Is this only HF packet? No other digital modes included? I sure wish some software wizard would come up with a revised program similar to Multi-PSK which does almost every digital mode (including HF packet).

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

As of right now, only packet. Not sure what they will push out next, they are getting ready to put out a update now, which should help the SNR decoding and maybe some modes. They just released v0.9.0-alpha.2, but think it's just a hotfix update.

I wonder, is there ever going to be an agreed upon frequency for each band thst will be the "standard" for FreeData?

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

That’s a good question, I had been trying to help them find a “clear” frequency that is usable for us here in the states that might also be for them ” across the pond “ but I have only found either other digital or cw at any given time on 40 meters. Other bands don’t seem as congested in the digital portions. It would be nice if they/we could find suitable places to park in each band.

ok questions? i did everything on video but when i start tnc is staying in red instead of green. also when testing ptt it works fine but it does not turn green. also how do you change the frequency i tried but no luck also on ptt control on video says usb but on settings says rig

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Not sure about the tnc staying red, I’m not sure I understand because “start tnc” is green button and “stop tnc” is red button and they never change colors. If your PTT test doesn’t turn green then there may still be a setting incorrect. You can’t change the frequency with the program itself, you do that on your radio. On my 7300 ptt control uses USB, if you are using another radio it could need different selection.

@WC2F-Miguel

Жыл бұрын

ok i re-started the program and now ptt is green i move the dial to change frequency to a clear freq now busy on green

@WC2F-Miguel

Жыл бұрын

@@K5YVY roger that i think its working i am on 7.070 but i guess will wait for a friend to install tnx

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Hey! Maybe so. I’ll jump on in a minute and see if I can reach you.

@WC2F-Miguel

Жыл бұрын

@@K5YVY ok i be on 7.070

Hello or installed freedata but or a problem does not read audio and brings everything empty. Me or icom 7300.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

With 7300 connected to your PC, in FreeDATA settings you select the correct sound device for your radio. If still not working maybe something in Windows sound settings needs adjusting.

@pellegrimo

Жыл бұрын

@@K5YVY the problem that the audio reads nothing and all white

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

@@pellegrimo okay so you are getting the audio into the program but not seeing any activity ? This is common as it’s a new mode and not widely used by others yet. It’s best to use the explorer map to see what stations are currently on and check their frequency by hovering your mouse pointer over their map pin. Start to beacon your signal or try to ping another station by entering their callsign and hit ping. If your signal reaches then you should get a return message.

@pellegrimo

Жыл бұрын

@@K5YVY Let me explain better when I open the program the audio and the door doesn't see them, it doesn't see anything. I can't use my radio 7300, it doesn't even see the icom 7300 drive door. The program is very useful and beautiful but I don't know what to do anymore do to make it work, I did everything as written to configure it and everything is ok but the problem remains on the usb port and the audio, which does not read anything, in the curtain and all white yes where there is audio yes where there is the port it does not read audio codec all white.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

so for the audio devices it’s all blank? Nothing to choose from?

Linux code is a mess. Setup page says use AppImage but there is no app image.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately I can’t speak on the Linux, but the developers are watching the comments for the feedback, thank you for commenting.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

And as said, they just added a download link on the wiki here wiki.freedata.app/en/installation/linux 👍 thanks to your comment

it is not working with Imac yet

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Not sure specifically about the imac, but you have looked at the MacOS instructions correct? wiki.freedata.app/en/installation/macos

I'm sure this has great potential but the whole interface is clunky at the moment. The user interface needs a lot of work.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

This is something the developers noticed right away after watching the Live show we done on Nuggets (link in description). I expect changes to that in the near future.

Yet another 'Connected' mode. And I everybody thinks FLDigi is complicated to set up? At least there is ae 20+modes to play with there. Apparently still in Appha...I'll wait for the 1.01 release.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Always something to dabble with in the world of radio.

First

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

🥇

My first step will need to be: get a computer. 🤷

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Well shoot, now I got to reshoot the whole video and start with “Get you a computer”. 🤦‍♂️😎

I saw a major problem with FreeData in an instant. Installation lists the supported platforms: Linus, macOS, Windows, and Raspberry PI OS but not Android or iOS. Why are hams such masochists? Why do they insist on lunging large, power-hungry hardware about when almost all of them own smartphones? This isn't the 1990s.

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Well, phone apps generally can not be provided for free unless it's filled with ads, especially true with ios devices because of Apple. The common user of digital HF modes will be sitting in their shack with a computer of some type connected to their radio. But who knows, when they get the program more developed and stable for computers, maybe they can consider a phone app in the future with more radios being bluetooth capable in the modern day.

@agentsmith1573

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, but in my experience using SDR devices on an Android or iPhone, they use so much power that you can't use them for much longer than 5 or 10 minutes, so yeah, probably not worth the development...

@super66craig

Жыл бұрын

Michael, in what lifetime would any of us labor over a decade now to create a new SSB mode for Ham radio dependant on proprietary, closed, commercially profitable computing? You would not and that's why they developed a hardware modem to run this free of a computer. This release is just to generate new users, experimenters and early adopters to surge it forward. Its not a commercial venture and lays on the back of our community for successes.

ssb is free. not more digital rubbish

@K5YVY

Жыл бұрын

Ssb voice is where my heart is, but trying Digital rubbish modes is fun just to try at times.

@TheWingnut58

Жыл бұрын

Not to mention that most "digital rubbish" will make contacts when conditions won't work for ssb......which can be lifesaving during em-comm use....

@lmaoroflcopter

Жыл бұрын

​@@TheWingnut58 if that was the case there would be a standard defined for it. Right now you'll have to play guess the mode if in an emergency. CW or RTTY is the best for em-comm, anything else is just noise.

@TheWingnut58

Жыл бұрын

@@lmaoroflcopter I don't disagree, CW is the original "digital mode" after all.....and it doesn't need a computer to work. But, I have to wonder how many today actually put forth the effort needed for CW relative to how many jump on their laptops.....kinda sad in a way. And just to be clear, although I don't personally use radios and computers together in a digital mode sense, I would be supportive of standardizing some form of digital mode for em-comm work.....an extra tool in the toolbox so to speak.... --... ...-- -.. . -.- .--- ....- .. -.-. --. . .

@lmaoroflcopter

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWingnut58 Why not use a computer? It's not like human's can sqwark AX.25 packets into their radio mic. CW has the advantage it is human readable and computer readable. My point was more "because em-comm" is a poor defence for more digital modes. "Because its fun" is a stronger, better defence. And it is. It is fun to do things differently.

Great video! de W2CSI

@K5YVY

11 ай бұрын

Thank you Charles!