EchoTTS

EchoTTS Plus Conference

Ver 2.2

Windows XP & TTS speech Application No registration need Free to use

EchoTTSPlus Conference is a simple to use Windows XP utility that allows the Sysop/Owner of a Repeater / Link or Conference to send Information to their RF and IP users. The program also incorporates the Conference Controller. The program runs alongside EchoLink and uses the Microsoft Speech engine.

I put together the EchoTTSPlusConference program as I needed a way of letting users know about changing events here. Also a request and Ideas from Ted KE4TTE so it could be used on his conference for the NASSA shuttle audio and announcements Also to have the conference controller part of the program.

Due to several requests for this version of the software I have put it here for all to have.

Initial Setup

Download the EchoTTSPlusConference.zip software into a directory unzip the software (4 files) and Run Setup

I used NeoSpeech voices from http://www.nextup.com. I found Kate16 to be the best.

Check in your Control Panel for the speech Icon and that your Text to Speech is working first before running EchoTTS. I have not tried it on any of the other windows. If you have and it works let me know. Check out the Microsoft web site Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1 for more information.

All Text Boxes

Enter text into the appropriate boxes that you want EchoTTS to say.

You will find that you will need to manipulate some of the words to make them sound right. the use of the (.) Period (,) comma (:) colon (;) semi colon will put delays in the speech. Use the upper case to say call signs like E I 4 J R , E:I:4:J:R or Echo India 4 Juliet Romeo . I'm sure you will have fun getting it to say what you want. (I did)

Voice Ident Callsign

You callsign can be entered in upper case like "EI3CARR" or "E:I:3:C:A:R:R" Useing the ":" puts a delay between the letters of the call when spoken. I prefer my beacon sent phonetically "Echo India 3 Charlie Alpha Romeo Romeo, link : On .". Beacon time is set in minuets. There are 2 buttons to say the callsign with or without PTT.

CW Ident Callsign

Enter your callsign for the CW Ident and PL tone. The QRA locator can also be put here as well Can be entered in like

"EI3CARR A" or "EI3CARR IO65JG A" A is my PL tone. The idents are set in minuets. A tick box is provided to turn them off if required. If the tick box is ticked the CW ident will play if stations are talking or not.

Text From Hard Drive

This section allows you to pull a .TXT file from the hard drive to be used

Text From Hard Drive

This section allows you to pull a .TXT file from a website drive to be used

Time Periods

To the right of the text box is where you can set the time for your text to be spoken. The time is entered in minuets. Under the time period box is the count down in seconds. If the Repeater / Link is RF busy at the time the beacon is due then it is ignored and the counter is reset to the selected beacon time

Speak Text plus PTT

This button will enable you to Transmit the contents of the text box when pressed.

Say Text No PTT

This button will enable you to hear the contents of the text locally. This will not be transmitted

Clear

This button will clear the text box

Information Text Box

This text is sent using the timer setting when selected

Say Into Text

When the appropriate box ticked will say the Information text box Hourly Quarterly or Half Hourly

Say The Time

When the appropriate box ticked will say the time Hourly Quarterly or Half Hourly

Say The Time Button

Says the time

Say Station Con / Disc

When this tick box is ticked announces the station that connects and disconnects

Conference Controller

When pressed activates the Conference Controller. Once logged in with you password for the controller there will be no need to log in unless you disconnect from the conference.

IP - RF - VOX

Select the mode that you wish to use.

RF when ticked this option will only send the TTS speech ro the RF users only.

EchoLink Setup

Sysop Mode

RX Ctrl = Set at Serial CD.( It also works with Manual, Serial CTS & DSR no problem)

“Say + IP TX” Selected on all outputs

Audio Device

(Recording )

Wave Out Mix selected. Slider adjusted not to overdrive the audio

(Playback)

Use = Volume

Use = Wave

All others are Muted.

In the Playback settings you can unmute the mic if you need your Link / Repeater connected to talk into the system.

When using VOX simply set EchoLink RX Ctrl to vox and All the EchoTTSPlusConferenceController to vox. The audio setting will be the same as above.

There are no hard and fast rules here you may need to play with the computer audio setting to get it to do what you want.

When using the IP option you need to be connected to a node before you see any Transmissions. THe test server is the place to be when testing.

Save Your Changes

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

Be aware your text will only be saved to where you have used the carriage return (Enter) key so avoid using it if you want to save your text.

Exit/Save Data

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

Be aware your text will only be saved to where you have used the carriage return (Enter) key so avoid using it if you want to save your text.

Text Box Beacon

Text Box Beacon

This option will enable you to send messages to the text box. Enter the time in minutes that you wish your text beacon to be sent. When the Use box is ticked your message will be sent when the counter reaches 0. There are 3 independent text beacons that can be used. If the send button is pressed the text will be sent immediately.

The 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 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. If you do not have admin rights on one of the conferences you will still be able to use the Text box and associated Text Filters. All other functions will not be available until you have logged into your conference with your Admin password.

Conference
Enter your conference name example *IRELAND* or *ENGLAND*. There are 3 conferences that can be held in the system these are selected by clicking the button 1,2 or 3. Conference By clicking on one of the buttons (1,2 or 3) this will select the conference, disconnect all connected and connect the selected conference. The conference status will be shown.

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

Type Message or Dot Command
Here you can send messages to the users and all messages will be time stamped so as on their 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 problem sorted disconnect and reconnect to remove the Mute. <<Admin>>

Unmute All
Unmutes all muted stations connected to the conference.

You may need to click on the text box tab to see some of the replies from 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

Auto Con/Disc station to/From Conference
This option enables the sysop of a conference when logged on to connect or disconnect up to 2 selected stations to or from their conference on the selected days and times entered.If any of the times are not required simply enter "99" in the required fields

Text Box

Text Filter

The filter will stop any messages that have any of the 12 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.

Text Box

All Text messages are time stamped that you send and receive in your text box.

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

Pre set Messages
Opens the pre set message screen

Utils; This section has been added to enable you to see an updated list of stations connected to the conference; Refresh Conference Listing; The listing refresh updates every so many set seconds when ticked. Setting the amount of seconds is achieved when the option is un-ticked. The minimum time that can be set is 35 seconds so any number lower than this setting will revert to 35 seconds; List Users; List users is only available when the when the "Use Refresh" is un-ticked. You will not be able to repeatedly press this button as the bridge will not allow this. Normally there must be a gap of 35 seconds before a re-list can be achieved.. There is a tick option when ticked will 1st send the selected admin password then send for the list of connected users; Admin Button; The admin button Sends the Admin Password when the conference is connected and is only available while the "Auto Enter Admin Password" box is un-ticked; Time Stamp All Messages; This option when ticked will time stamp all messages that you send or receive through the text box; Stop dot commends showing; When ticked if another station connects to your node they will not see the Dot commands that you send. This is especially useful when the ".list" command is sent every 35 seconds ro refresh the list of connected stations to the Conference.; Auto Mute; This option when ticked will automatically mute a station or stations exceeding a set key down mute time. A 1 minute warning in the text box is given before the mute is put in place. When the station s muted another warning is sent saying that a mute has been put in place. If stations do not leave enough gap between over's this has the same effect as key down and the station talking at the end of the set time in minutes will be muted. The mute can be removed by the stations muted simply by disconnecting and reconnecting to the Conference server. Information is put in the text box what the muted station has to do.; Mute Talking Station; This BIG 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.; Who Is Muted; When clicked shows all stations who are muted.; Unmute All; Unmutes all muted stations connected to the conference.

DTMF Mute / Un Mute
This option enables the Admin / Sysop to remotely Mute or Un-Mute selected nodes. Enter the Node call sign, Mute / Un mute DTMF code. When a station is muted or un muted in this manor there is a warning sent to the text box informing the muted node also a message transmitted by RF on the link where the command was sent.

DTMF Un Mute ALL
This option enables the Admin / Sysop to remotely Un-Mute all muted nodes in the conference. Enter the Un mute DTMF code. When a station is un muted in this manor a message transmitted by RF on the link where the command was sent saying that all stations have been un muted.
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DTMF Disconnect / Connect
This option enables the Admin / Sysop to remotely Disconnect or Connect a selected node. Enter the Node call sign, Connect / Disconnect DTMF code. When a station is Connected or Disconnected in this manor there is a warning message transmitted by RF on the link where the command was sent

Extra Commands Side Panel

The Show Extra button is used to display or hide the extra commands ( Button changes from Show Extra to Hide Extra)

I have had requests for an extra panel that shows when requested to enable easy access to the most used commands Mute, Un Mute and Disconnect.

RESET Disconnect and Re Connect
I have added a panel that will display the connected stations and information. This is not all that successful at the moment as it will not display correct when a station connects to you and then disconnects so I have introduced the RESET button which disconnects ALL and reconnects to your selected conference which gives you the listing of all connected to the conference. If you have your node set not to accept any connections this works great and is very useful.

Connect station
Enables you to connect a station to the conference.

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 problem sorted disconnect and reconnect to remove the Mute. <<Admin>>

Disconnect Station
Disconnects the selected station from the conference.
Mute Station with Message
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 Station with NO Message
As above but without a message.

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.

Unmute All
Un mutes all muted stations connected to the conference.

Unmute 1 Station with Message
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>>”.

Unmute 1 Station with NO Message
As above with no Message

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Text Box Messages

Text Box Messages

This option enables you to send up to 10 pre set messages messages via the text box. Simply enter the data into the required fields. Click the send button to send your pre set message. Please note that the messages will only be sent to the text box when you have a station connected to you.

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 07/04/2008