On Sat, 2011-04-23 at 20:00 +1000, Tony Langdon wrote: > At 07:33 PM 4/23/2011, you wrote: > > >The chips are "readily available" at a few hundred dollars apiece, and > >if you attempt to implement your own AMBE codec then you're going to > >have DVSI's lawyers jumping on you. > > More like $20 apiece in small (possible 1 off) quantities.
I'd love to know where you're seeing them for that much in onesy-twoesy quantities > >Proprietary software has no place in Amateur Radio. > > It's hardware with firmware. So let's throw out all the other > proprietary bits (processors with embedded code, etc) and go back to > soldering valves? Yes, throw out the proprietary bits. Write your own, it's easy. > The simple fact of the matter was back around 2000 when the D-STAR > spec was developed, there weren't a lot of choices for how to > compress speech into 2.4kbps and have FEC. AND have it available in > a suitable form for implementation into mobile and handheld > radios. While the proprietary codec is a minor inconvenience in some > situations, it's proved to be no impediment to home brew enhancements > to D-STAR. The number of ham developed D-STAR projects is > significant, so that one chip hasn't proved to be an impediment to > ham experimentation in practice. Yes, "back around 2000". It's over ten years old. We have better codecs and better modulation schemes now. Why are we crippling digital comms with a single-source proprietary codec that sounds like an angry duck in a tin outhouse? The commercial world is no better - just look at DMR, which uses the same awful AMBE codec! Gordon MM0YEQ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
