EchoNewsMP3Plus

EchoNewsMP3Plus

Ver 2.2

Windows XP Active X Application No registration need Free to use

EchoNewsMP3Plus is a simple to use Windows XP Active X utility that allows the Sysop/Owner of a Repeater or Link to send News Information to their RF users and if connected to the IP users Using sound files (MP3 - Wav and others). News is supplied on some club web sites. The news can be read to the RF or IP users any day of the week and any time. Incorporating CW Indent, Node Busy, Allow break in transmission for transmitters with hardware time out. Disconnect All before file played, Reconnect selected stations at the end of transmissions. A warning to IP users if the Disconnect All option that they will be disconnected during the news play. DTMF start and end of transmissions. Attach 2nd Audio file (Play one after the other). File can be played 2 times in one day. The program runs alongside EchoLink

Initial Setup

Download the EchoNewsMP3.zip software into a directory unzip the software (1 file) and run. There is no installing the software simply put the file anywhere and run it ( Mine is on the desktop )

Progress Bar

This indicates how far the audio file has played

Node Status

When this is ticked your node will show its self as busy when the audio file is playing. This will stop stations connecting to you for this period and calling through your node as they would not know that the audio file was playing.

Disconnect All

When this is ticked the node will disconnect all who are connected when the audio file is transmitted

Day & Time Periods

Simply tick the day or days that you want the sound file transmitted. There are 3 panels with time periods that can be entered for the audio to be transmitted at the times set. The transmitted audio will only be heard by your RF users and not played over IP

File

Each of the 3 panels has a file button is used to select the audio file on your hard disc

Play

Each of the 3 panels has a Play button which is used to play the audio file in the selected panel. When playing the PTT will also be activated.

Use Set Volume

Each of the panels has a "Use Set Volume" tick box. When ticked the volume of the selected file can be set using the volume slider. Not all downloaded audio files are the same volume level. These settings will not effect your normal node volume settings. The volume setting are saved when you click on the save button.

DTMF

Set the DTMF that you want the users to use to play the audio file. Leave blank if not required.

Start TX DTMF and End TX DTMF

When this option is ticked will send DTMF tones. Could be used to send commands to a remote repeater maybe to turn Off or On the time out timers as some of the file that you play may be long and you wouldn't want to time out the repeater part way through the news would you.

Audio File Beacon

This option when selected enables the beacon timer and will play the selected MP3 file at the set interval time.

Warning of Disconnection Before News

When selected a warning is sent using the normal EchoLink text box to the IP users at the selected time period that you have set that they will be disconnected while the news is played to the local RF users. This option will operate only when the "Disconnect All" option is selected.

User Group

This option gives you the option to connect up to 3 stations automatically after the news has been transmitted. You may wish to reconnect your regular conference.

Allow Breaks in Transmissions For Radios With Built in Time out

Some PMR radios have a built in time out and will only allow transmissions for a few minuets. This option will will drop the PTT at your selected times and start transmitting again after the entered milliseconds. The audio file will not stop playing during this operation.

CW Ident

Enter the callsign of your node and time period that you want the callsign sent. Ticking the Use box will enable or disable this function. The ident will send with the audio file being transmitted

If the Only when File TXing box is ticked the ident will only ID during the transmission of the audio file.

IP Mode

This option is a little experimental. With the audio setting set below seems to transmit over to connected IP users I'm sure you have fun playing with this option.

MY TEST AUDIO SETTINGS
During the testing my Sound Settings were as follows.

Recording Controls ( Ticked)
“Wave Out Mix “ was selected

Play Back Controls (Not Muted)
Volume Control
Wave
Microphone. If no link or repeater connected to computer you will not need this.

All other settings were muted

If you have the right selection you will see the speech indicator on EchoLink move with the voice.
You need to experiment to get the best audio out. Use the test server it’s a good indication.

Save Changes

This button will save all your changes

Exit/Save Data

This button will save all your changes to any of the fields then Exit the program.

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Timed Downloads

EchoNeswMP3Downloader

URL

Select the URL where the file is to be found to be downloaded

Use

When ticked the URL will be available for download

Scheduled Day and Time for URL Download

You may only want to down load a news MP3 once or twice a week so the scheduled option by ticking the day and entering the time in 24 hour format that you want to selected URL's.

Download URL Data

This option when ticked enables the minuet timer and will collect ALL the selected URL MP3s at the same time.

ALL the selected URL MP3s will be downloaded at the same time.

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Conference Controller

The Conference Controller is a simple to use utility that allows the Sysop/Owner of a conference or their admin controllers to send some of the commands with a click of a button. The program runs alongside EchoLink.

The bridge software that is used for the conferences accepts commands normally via the text input on EchoLink. This utility is not to replace this function but to assist and make some of the more used commands easier to enter.

The Conference Controller.EXE program can be run from any directory as there is no install required.

Initial Setup

Conference

Enter your conference name example *IRELAND* or *N2BR*

Password

Enter your password. You can log on as ether as an Admin or Sysop by selecting the appropriate button.

Stay Connected

When ticked the conference will stay connect and automatically re connect if disconnected. Note if you have been disconnected you will need to click the appropriate log on button to log you back into the conference.

Type Message or Dot Command

Here you can send messages to the users and all messages will be time stamped so as on there system they will see your local time that the message was sent. Use it as you would use the text message window in the EchoLink program.

Any of the Conference dot commands and be sent from here. Example “.mute call”

Connect Station to Conference

These fields enable you to put 2 stations that you may wish to connect with a simple click of the appropriate button.

Save you settings

When you have completed your input click on the Save Conference, Password and Stations Settings Button. Your setting will load in next time you start the program.

There are a lot of commands with the bridge conference program and I have only put my most commonly used commands. I’m sure that your needs could be different to mine.

Alt key plus the underscored letter on the buttons will give you quick access to those functions.

Mute Station

When pressed asks for the call of the station to be muted. When entered and OK is clicked the station is muted and a message sent to the text screen telling the offending station that they have been muted.

Mute Talking Station

This button enables you to mute the station that is causing a problem while they are transmitting. This is very useful as once they are muted other action can be taken.

Mute Message

When clicked asks for a call sign and when entered and OK is clicked a message is sent to the text screen telling the offending station that they have been muted. Normally you would use this if you have used the Mute Talking Station button as that button only mutes the talking station.

The mute message sent

**** CALL **** You have been Muted from the server due to your link or a link connected to you causing a problem. When you have addressed the problem simply disconnect and reconnect to remove the Mute. <<Admin>>"

Unmute All

Unmutes all muted stations connected to the conference.

Unmute 1 Station

When call sign is entered and the muted station will be unmuted and a message sent via the text box “**** CALL **** You have been UnMuted. <<Admin>>”.

Who Is Muted

When clicked shows all stations who are muted.

Connect station

Enables you to connect a station to the conference.

Disconnect Station

Disconnects the selected station from the conference.

Ban Station

Offending stations are banned from the conference

Remove Ban

Station removed from the ban list.

Who Is Banned

See who is on the banned list.

List Users

Show stations who are logged on to the Conference

Text Filter

The filter will stop any messages that have any of the 8 filter words anywhere in the message that has been sent. There are a lot of programs now that use the text box for information and this helps your text box filling up with rubbish.

Long Text Box

Requests for a longer text box prompted me to add this box. You can always hide the box if you don't want to see it with the hide button.

The other less used commands can be sent using the “Type message or Dot Command”

I hope you find the program useful

Donations are always welcome to help with the upkeep and advancement of the Repeaters & Software

Peter EI4JR

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Page Updated on 30/09/2007