No /dev/dsp, no RTTY
I like Linux. I have been using it for about 15 years now, maybe longer. But unfortunately no OS is perfect, and also with Linux I do encounter problems from time to time. One of those problems is the sound system. The switch from OSS to Alsa was not easy, but I managed. I was still running Gentoo back then, and Gentoo was always at least close to cutting edge, so the switch was made easy.
This time it is not that easy. Linux is in the process of switching to Pulseaudio. Some distributions have already implemented it, others may make its use optional. While Pulseaudio offers neat features, its introduction was not as smooth as hoped. But while the system may have switched, the applications may not have done so. There are still plenty of software packages out there that rely on Alsa or even OSS.
They need a sound device at /dev/dsp, which does not exist in Pulseaudio. As a workaround, "padsp" can be used. So if I want to run "qrq", I enter the command "padsp qrq" and everything is fine. Really. Unfortunately, this does not work with all packages. gMFSK is one of those resisting. To be honest, I did not get a single RTTY software to run on Ubuntu Maverick.
So for the time being, using Linux means no RTTY (which unfortunately cost me a few points with ZL8X). I hope that either the RTTY programs will be updated or someone comes up with a genius workaround - because so far I have not found any. Probably time to reactivate the A1200...
Of course, if someone has a solution for this problem...
Comments
One day....
Tuesday 04 January 2011 11:01:17 pm
Hans Fong
We always do!
Monday 03 January 2011 9:17:55 pm
Olaf F
Have fun!
Friday 31 December 2010 6:54:35 pm
Hans Fong
Looking good
Friday 31 December 2010 3:03:01 pm
Olaf F
Use fldigi
Sunday 19 December 2010 12:13:29 pm
Hans Fong
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