And that D-STAR protocol definition is defined by the JARL... How much of a prospect is it the JARL would be willing to update the DSTAR protocol with an open source vocoder if it were competitive to AMBE? --------------- Codec2 is in at least partial code form so far: http://www.rowetel.com/ucasterisk/codec2.html
It seems to be competitive in the current market, a third-party daughter board similar to UT-118 would have to be developed that had dual AMBE/Codec2 capability, and sold at-cost to undercut the current UT-118 cost. Assuming (warning - monster assumption!) the SMT design was donated by hams and it was sold at cost, and it had automatic codec detection and switching capability, it would be a competitive way to bring an open source codec to "DSTAR". -73 de Anthony, KE7HQY ________________________________ From: John D. Hays <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: a cutler22 <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, June 7, 2010 12:01:29 AM Subject: Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Codec2 development - open source vocoder On 6/6/2010 5:18 PM, a cutler22 wrote: >>The prospect of an open-source vocoder, ham-developed would open a lot >of doors in the way of experimentation, and reduce the $$$ barrier. A >DSTAR protocol implementing Codec2 Digital Voice would significantly >drop the entrance and appeal to a much wider audience! > >>-73 de Anthony, KE7HQY > > D-STAR by definition includes AMBE, any other vocoder is not D-STAR. I applaud people working to advance the art but D-STAR is defined -- if what the experimenters create is better, then it will get a following. (If it doesn't infringe on someone else's intellectual property -- which means it better get patented or otherwise protected so someone else doesn't patent it after the fact -- big dollars.) I think cost is a red herring -- the AMBE chip is around US$20+ per unit. If the new vocoder can be produced for that price in small quantities for hams it would be very surprising. -- John D. Hays Amateur Radio Station K7VE PO Box 1223 Edmonds, WA 98020-1223 VOIP/SIP: [email protected] Phone: 206-801-0820 801-790-0950 Email: [email protected]
