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Fldigi Parrot

Experimental HF Digi-mode message-relay system using Fldigi and Python

Work in progress

Uses xml-rpc in python to communicate with fldigi and read the incoming RX Text.

When a particular text sequence is received (ZCZC CALL CALL) to trigger the “parrot” function, the RX text is then read searching for an end of message string (…end). When this is found the full message is then re-transmitted, with self-identification added to ensure it is clear which station is the source of the message and which is the source of the relay.

Transmitter control via RS232 / NMEA (for an IC-M710 marine HF transceiver) is also included to allow for remote commands to change frequency to be handled. Fldigi does the rig control (via its own hamlib configuration). Fldigi is told what we want the radio to do via xml-rpc rather than have direct control ourselves.

Monitoring

A web-page is provided that shows the Fldigi receive text, in almost real time at:

Fldigi RX Text

and another shows the parrot activity:

Fldigi Parrot

Software

The python scripts to run these functions are run within a tmux session which is set up with the following script:

tmux script

fldigi_xml.sh

#!/bin/sh
 
session="Shack"
 
tmux start-server
 
tmux new-session -d -s $session 
 
tmux rename-window "fldigi"
 
tmux selectp -t 0
tmux send-keys "python2 ./rx_buf.py" C-m
 
 
 
tmux selectp -t 0
tmux splitw -h -p 50
tmux send-keys "python2 ./parrot_flmsg.py" C-m
 
tmux selectp -t 1 
tmux attach-session -t $session

The python scripts

rx_buf.py
parrot_flmsg.py
flfn.py

are as follows:

rx_buf.py

rx_buf.py reads the Fldigi RX Buffer and provides the online web page to allow remote observation of what is being received.

rx_buf.py

import xmlrpclib
import time
import os
 
s = xmlrpclib.ServerProxy("http://192.168.21.107:7362")
rx_text = ""
n = 0
index = 0
count = 0
 
def get_status():
 
    try:
        status = s.main.get_status1()
    except:
        status = "Fldigi Offline"
    return status
 
def get_mode():
 
    try:
        mode = s.modem.get_name()
    except:
        mode = "Fldigi Offline"
    return mode
 
def get_freq():
    try:
        freq = s.main.get_frequency()
        carrier = s.modem.get_carrier()
        centre = (float(freq) + int(carrier))/1000
    except:
        centre = 0.0
    return centre
 
def write_file(text):
    print "in write_file() with ", text
    text_asc = "".join(x for x in text if (ord(x) > 31 and ord(x) < 128) or ord(x) == 13 or ord(x) == 10 or ord(x) == 9)
    filename = r'/var/www/html/pages/gm4slv_fldigi.txt'
    f = open(filename, 'a+')  # a+ is "append to file, create it if it doesn't exist"
    f.write(text_asc)
    f.close()
    return
 
def stamp_file():
    mode = get_mode()
    centre = get_freq()
    status = get_status()
    timenow = time.strftime("*** Time Stamp : %Y-%m-%d %H:%M :  ", time.gmtime(time.time()))
    #print mode
    write_file("\r\n\n%s *** Modem : %s : Centre Freq : %.3f *** SNR : %s \r\n\n" % (timenow, mode, centre, status))
 
def tail(n):
    filename = r'/var/www/html/pages/gm4slv_fldigi.txt'
    tailfile = r'/var/www/html/pages/gm4slv_tail.txt'
    fin = open(filename, 'r')
    list = fin.readlines()
    fin.close()
    tail_list = list[-n:]
    fout = open(tailfile, "w")
    fout.writelines(tail_list)
    fout.close()
 
 
while True:
    '''
    try:
        rx_length = s.text.get_rx_length()
        rx_text = str(s.text.get_rx(index,rx_length - index))
        index = rx_length
    except:
        rx_text = ""
    '''
    rx_length = s.text.get_rx_length()
    print "rxl ", rx_length
    print "index ", index
    print "getting %d, %d" % (index, rx_length - index)
    rx_text = str(s.text.get_rx(index,rx_length - index))
    index = rx_length
    if rx_text == "empty rx buffer!":
        rx_text = ""
    #s.text.clear_rx()
    #os.system('cls' if os.name == 'nt' else 'clear')
    print  rx_text
 
 
 
    write_file(rx_text)
    tail(100)
 
    count += 1
 
    if count == 180:
        # hourly 180 * 20 secs = 3600 secs = 60 mins
        stamp_file()
        count = 0
    time.sleep(20)

parrot_flmsg.py

parrot_flmsg.py handles the message-relay functions.

Recent changes were made to handle the longer formal message formats of flmsg.

The parrot also provides some simple remote control of the HF transceiver's frequency and power level via QSY? and PWR? commands.

parrot_flmsg.py

#
#######
##  test file
#
 
import xmlrpclib
import time
import os
#import subprocess
 
import flfn
 
s = xmlrpclib.ServerProxy("http://shack:7362")
 
 
rx_text = []
zc_flag = 0
nn_flag = 0
message_time = 0
 
qsy_flag = 0
qsy_time = 0
 
mycall = "GM4SLV"
 
info = "GM4SLV INFO\nTest Relay\nIC-M710 50W\nInverted-L\n"
help_text = "Usage : \nZCZC\nRELAY_CALL FROM_CALL [ INFO? | HELP? | TO_CALL ]\nNNNN"
 
### remove old crud
#
s.text.clear_rx()
 
flfn.do_qsy(5366.5)
 
def write_file(text):
    filename = r'/var/www/html/pages/parrot_log.txt'
    f = open(filename, 'a+')
    f.write(text)
    f.close()
 
def parse_message(text):
    global qsy_flag
    global qsy_time
    #print "Parsing : ", text
    header_line=text.split('\n')[0]
    message_text = "\n".join(text.split('\n')[1:])
    print "Header Line :\n", header_line
    print "Message Text : \n", message_text
 
    calls_list = header_line.split()
 
    if len(calls_list) > 1:
        if len(calls_list) < 5:
 
            qsy_time = time.time()
 
            print "Calls List ", calls_list
 
            relay_call = calls_list[0].upper()
 
            print "Relay call ", relay_call
 
            from_call = calls_list[1].upper()
 
            if len(calls_list) > 2:
                to_call = calls_list[2].upper()
            else:
                to_call = "ECHO"
 
            print "From ",from_call
 
            print "To ",to_call
 
            user = call_asc(from_call)
 
            target = call_asc(to_call)
 
            if len(calls_list) == 4:
                command = calls_list[3]
 
            message = "\n".join(text.split('\n')[1:])
 
            if target == "INFO?":
                target = user
                user = "ECHO"
                message = info
 
            if target == "PWR?":
                pwr = flfn.do_pwr(command)
                target = "BOGUS"
                user = "BOGUS"
                message = "New Power preset %s" % (command)
 
            if target == "QSY?":
                qsy = flfn.do_qsy(command)
                target = "BOGUS"
                user = "BOGUS"
                message = "New Freq %s" % (command)
                #print "command was ", command
                if command != "HOME":
                    qsy_flag = 1
                    print "set qsy_flag ", qsy_flag
                    #print qsy_time
                else:
 
                    qsy_flag = 0
                    print "reset qsy_flag ", qsy_flag    
 
            if from_call == "HELP?" or target == "HELP?":
                target = user
                user = "ECHO"
                message = help_text
 
            if relay_call == mycall:
                return(user,target,message)
 
            else:
                print "Wrong Relay Call"
                return("BOGUS","BOGUS","Not for Me")
 
        else:
            print "Header too long"
            return("BOGUS", "BOGUS", "Too Long")
    else:
        print "Header too short"
        return("BOGUS", "BOGUS","Too Short")
 
def call_asc(call):
    call_asc = "".join(x for x in call if (ord(x) > 46 and ord(x) < 58) or (ord(x) > 62 and ord(x) < 91))
    return(call_asc)
 
 
 
def qsp(text, snr):
    print "\nQSP triggered"
 
    timenow = time.strftime("*** Time Stamp : %Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S :  ", time.gmtime(time.time()))
 
    user,target,message=parse_message(text)
    print "Message : \n",message    
    if user == "BOGUS":
        print "Ignoring"
        write_file("\n%s\nNOT RELAYED\n%s" % (timenow, text))
        #subprocess.call("./log.sh")
        s.text.clear_rx()
 
        return
 
    time.sleep(10)
    s.text.clear_rx()
 
    print "PTT ON"
 
    timemsg = time.strftime("%H:%M:%S ", time.gmtime(time.time()))
    s.main.tx()
    s.text.add_tx("\n"+timemsg+"\nTo "+target+" from "+user+" via GM4SLV ("+snr+")\n\n"+message+"\n\n\n"+target+" de "+user+" via GM4SLV kn \n  ^r")
 
    timenow = time.strftime("*** Time Stamp : %Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S :  ", time.gmtime(time.time()))
    timemsg = time.strftime("%H:%M:%S ", time.gmtime(time.time()))
 
    modem = s.modem.get_name()
    car = s.modem.get_carrier()
    f = s.main.get_frequency()
    rfc = (f + car) / 1000
 
    write_file("\n%s\n%s (%s)  Message Relayed on %0.1f for : %s\n%s\n====================\n" % (timenow, modem, snr, rfc, user, text))
    #subprocess.call("./log.sh")
 
    return
 
 
def watchdog():
    #print "In Watchdog ", qsy_flag
    if qsy_flag == 1:
        print "We were QSY'd"
        delta_t = time.time() - qsy_time
        print delta_t
        if delta_t > 300:
            print "Timeout"
            qsy_end = "GM4SLV GM4SLV QSY? HOME"
            parse_message(qsy_end)
            timenow = time.strftime("*** Timeout : %Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S :  ", time.gmtime(time.time()))
            write_file("\n%s : Returning to HOME channel\n" % (timenow))
    else:
        return
 
 
while True:
    try:
        rx_length = s.text.get_rx_length()
   #     print "rx_length ",rx_length
        for l in range(rx_length-2000, rx_length):
            rx = str(s.text.get_rx(l,1))
            rx_text.append(rx)
            for i in range(len(rx_text)):
                if rx_text[i] == "C" and rx_text[i-1] == "Z" and rx_text[i-2] == "C" and rx_text[i-3] == "Z":
 
                    if not zc_flag:
                        print "Found ZCZC...."
 
                        modem = s.modem.get_name()
                        if modem != "RTTY":
                            stat1 = s.main.get_status1()
                        else:
                            stat1 = s.main.get_status2()
 
                    zc_flag = 1
                    zc_index = i+2
 
                if rx_text[i] == "d" and rx_text[i-1] == "n" and rx_text[i-2] == "e" and rx_text[i-3] == " " and rx_text[i-4] == "." and rx_text[i-5] == "." and rx_text[i-6] == ".":
                    if not nn_flag and zc_flag:
                        print "Found end"
                    nn_flag = 1
                    nn_index = i-3
            text =  ''.join(rx_text)
 
        if zc_flag == 1:
 
            print "found start... waiting for end  ", message_time
            if message_time < 300:
                message_time += 1
            else:
                print "Timeout waiting"
                s.text.clear_rx()
                message_time = 0
                rx_text= []
                zc_flag = 0
                nn_flag = 0
 
        else:
            rx_text=[]
 
 
        if zc_flag == 1 and nn_flag == 1 : # message complete
            print "Message complete"
            #print "zc_index %d, nn_index %d" % (zc_index, nn_index)
            #print "Text  %s " % (rx_text[zc_index:nn_index])
            if zc_index < nn_index:
                message_time = 0
                print "Index correct"
                message = ''.join(rx_text[zc_index:nn_index+8])
                print "Raw Message ", message
                zc_flag = 0
                nn_flag = 0
 
                message_asc = "".join(x for x in message if (ord(x) > 31 and ord(x) < 128) or ord(x) == 13 or ord(x) == 10 or ord(x) == 9)
                rx_text = []
 
                qsp(message_asc, stat1)
 
 
            else:
                rx_text = []
                zc_flag = 0
                nn_flag = 0
 
    except:
        rx_text = []
 
 
    watchdog()
    time.sleep(2)

flfn.py

flfn.py is a helper module of functions to communicate with fldigi using xml-rpc.

flfn.py

import xmlrpclib
import time
 
s = xmlrpclib.ServerProxy("http://shack:7362")
 
 
def do_qsy_tune(ttime):
    while s.main.get_trx_status() != "rx":
        trx = s.main.get_trx_status()
        print "starting while ",trx
        #s.main.rx()
        time.sleep(1)
 
    s.main.tune()
    time.sleep(ttime)
    trx = s.main.get_trx_status()
    print "tune? ",trx
    while s.main.get_trx_status() != "rx":
        trx = s.main.get_trx_status()
        print "ending while ",trx
        s.main.rx()
        time.sleep(1)
    trx = s.main.get_trx_status()
    print "final status ",trx
    return
 
def fld_qsy():
    cur_modem_carrier = s.modem.get_carrier()
    cur_dial_freq = s.main.get_frequency()
    new_dial_freq = (cur_dial_freq + cur_modem_carrier - 1500)
    s.modem.set_carrier(1500)
    s.main.set_frequency(new_dial_freq)
    return
 
def do_qsy(freq):
    if freq == "HOME":
        print "in do_qsy with HOME"
        do_home()
        time.sleep(2)
        do_qsy_tune(3)
        do_home()
        return freq
    else:
        print "in do_qsy with ", freq
        s.main.set_frequency(float(freq)*1000)
        s.modem.set_carrier(1500)
 
        do_qsy_tune(3)
        return freq
 
def do_reverse():
    s.main.toggle_reverse()
    return
 
def do_rxid():
    s.main.toggle_rsid()
    return
 
def do_txid():
    s.main.toggle_txid()
    return
 
def do_home():
    s.main.run_macro(14)
    return
 
def do_pwr(pwr):
    if pwr == "1":
 
        s.main.run_macro(20)
    elif pwr == "2":
        s.main.run_macro(21)
    elif pwr == "3":
        s.main.run_macro(22)
    elif pwr == "4":
        s.main.run_macro(23)
    else:
        pass
    return

Parrot Operation

Basic overview

To trigger a message relay you need to send the following format of text:

ZCZC GM4SLV <YOURCALL> (replacing <YOURCALL> with your actual callsign)

This is the start of message trigger.

Then type/paste/otherwise send your message-to-be-relayed.

To end the message send:

… end

If you are using flmsg to to create and send the message it will send the correct end of message string … end itself, otherwise you need to add it manually.

After a short delay, if successful, you should hear/see your message being relayed.

Further examples of operation

add screenshots of relaying in operation

A simple “ECHO” relay

Page Updated: 06/03/25 06:49 GMT

radio, fldigi, python

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Table of Contents

Fldigi Parrot

Experimental HF Digi-mode message-relay system using Fldigi and Python

Work in progress

Monitoring

Software

tmux script

rx_buf.py

parrot_flmsg.py

flfn.py

Parrot Operation

Basic overview

Further examples of operation