Posted on by k6aq

RADE Preview (FreeDV 2.0.0-20241018) Released

This is the first preview release of FreeDV containing the new RADE mode. For more information about RADE’s development, check out the blog posts on the FreeDV website:

As this is the first preview release, there are some limitations:

  • As RADE currently doesn’t return the signal’s signal to noise ratio (SNR), it’s not currently possible to receive it and the other FreeDV modes at the same time (as in, if you choose RADE and push Start, that’s the only mode you can work; you’ll need to stop, choose another mode and start again to work FreeDV with the existing modes).
  • Squelch cannot currently be disabled with RADE. It’s unknown at this time whether disabling squelch is possible.
  • Due to compilation problems, 2020/2020B modes are disabled.
  • There is currently no Windows ARM build; this will hopefully be included in a future preview build. You may be able to use the 64-bit Intel/AMD Windows build in the meantime.
  • Minimum hardware requirements haven’t been fully outlined, so your system currently may not be able to use RADE. Future planned optimizations may improve this.
  • FreeDV Reporter does not currently report receiving RADE signals, but will report that you are using it and when you’re transmitting.

Other notes:

  • These preview builds are significantly bigger than previous releases. This is due to needing to include Python and the modules that RADE requires. Planned porting to C/C++ will eventually negate the need for Python.
  • The Windows build includes Python but not the modules that RADE requires. As part of the install process, the version of Python built into FreeDV will go out to the internet to download the needed modules.
  • As development is expected to happen quickly, these preview builds have a six month expiry date (currently April 18, 2025).
  • 32-bit Windows is no longer supported due to its likely inability to work with RADE.

More information and download links can be found at https://github.com/drowe67/freedv-gui/releases/tag/v2.0.0-20241018.

5 Replies to “RADE Preview (FreeDV 2.0.0-20241018) Released”

  1. Fantastic work.
    Can I ask a question:
    Is there any “meta-data” in the data stream such as callsign and/or
    destination that an intelligent receiving system can make use of?

  2. Again great work.
    On my question, on reading the protocol description, 25 bits
    per seconds are used for sync. Could a different sync character
    differentiate a transmission such that an intelligent receiving
    system could make a decision on that? I’m looking at operational
    usefulness in handing messages to, such as HQ.
    (I’ve fixed my name)

    1. As mentioned in the Radio Autoencoder page, we’re definitely looking into a mechanism to at least allow received callsigns to be reported, but that’s currently pretty low priority. I can’t comment right now on whether some of the sync bits would be used or some other mechanism since we don’t know that much yet.

  3. Just tried 2.0 today for the first time. After a little adjusting, it works and I was very impressed over previous FreeDV versions.

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