README_fdmdv.txt David Rowe Created March 2012 Introduction ------------ A 1400 bit/s Frequency Division Multiplexed Digital Voice (FDMDV) modem based on [1]. Used for digital audio over HF SSB. The FDMDV modem was first implemented in GNU Octave, then ported to C. Algorithm development is generally easier in Octave, but for real time work we need the C version. Automated units tests ensure the operation of the Octave and C versions are identical. Quickstart ---------- $ cd codec2-dev $ ./configure && make $ cd src 1. Generate some test bits and modulate them: $ ./fdmdv_get_test_bits test.c2 1400 $ ./fdmdv_mod test.c2 test.raw $ play -r 8000 -s -2 test.raw 2. Two seconds of test frame data modulated and sent out of sound device: $ ./fdmdv_get_test_bits - 2800 | ./fdmdv_mod - - | play -t raw -r 8000 -s -2 - 3. Send 14000 modulated bits (10 seconds) to the demod and count errors: $ ./fdmdv_get_test_bits - 14000 | ./fdmdv_mod - - | ./fdmdv_demod - - demod_dump.txt | ./fdmdv_put_test_bits - Use Octave to look at plots of 1 second (1400 bits) of modem operation: $ cd ../octave $ octave octave:1> fdmdv_demod_c("../src/demod_dump.txt",1400) 4. Run Octave simulation of entire modem and AWGN channel: $ cd ../octave $ octave octave:1> fdmdv_ut 5. NOTE: If you would like to play modem samples over the air please convert the 8 kHz samples to 48 kHz. Many PC sound cards have wildly inaccurate sample clock rates when set to 8 kHz, but seem to perform OK when set for 48 kHz. If playing and recording files you can use the sox utility: $ sox -r 8000 -s -2 modem_sample_8kHz.raw -r 48000 modem_sample_48kHz.wav For real time applications, the fdmdv.[ch] library includes functions to convert between 48 and 8 kHz sample rates. References ---------- [1] http://n1su.com/fdmdv/FDMDV_Docs_Rel_1_4b.pdf [2] http://n1su.com/fdmdv/ [3] http://www.rowetel.com/blog/?p=2433 "Testing a FDMDV Modem" [4] http://www.rowetel.com/blog/?p=2458 "FDMDV Modem Page" on David's web site C Code ------ src/fdmdv_mod.c - C version of modulator that takes a file of bits and converts it to a raw file of modulated samples. src/fdmdv_demod.c - C version of demodulator that takes a raw file of modulated samples and outputs a file of bits. Optionally dumps demod states to a text file which can be plotted using the Octave script fdmdv_demod_c.m src/fdmdv.h - Header file that exposes FDMDV C API functions. Include this file in your application program. src/fdmdv.c - C functions that implement the FDMDV modem. src/fdmdv-internal.h - internal states and constants for FDMDV modem, shouldn't be exposed to application program. unittest/tfdmdv.c - Used to conjunction with unittest/tfdmdv.m to automatically test C FDMDV functions against Octave versions. Octave Scripts -------------- (Note these require some Octave packages to be installed, see octave/README.txt). fdmdv.m - Functions and variables that implement the Octave version of the FDMDV modem. fdmdv_ut.m - Unit test for fdmdv Octave code, useful while developing algorithm. Includes tx/rx plus basic channel simulation. Typical run: octave:6> fdmdv_ut Eb/No (meas): 7.30 (8.29) dB bits........: 2464 errors......: 20 BER.........: 0.0081 PAPR........: 13.54 dB SNR.........: 4.0 dB It also outputs lots of nice plots that show the operation of the modem. For a 1400 bit/s DQPSK modem we expect about 1% BER for Eb/No = 7.3dB, which corresponds to SNR = 4dB (3kHz noise BW). The extra dB of measured power is due to the DBPSK pilot. Currently the noise generation code doesn't take the pilot power into account, so in this example the real SNR is actually 5dB. fdmdv_mod.m - Octave version of modulator that outputs a raw file. The modulator is driven by a test frame of bits. This can then be played over a real channel or through a channel simulator like PathSim. The sample rate can be changed using "sox" to simulate differences in tx/rx sample clocks. To generate 10 seconds of modulated signal: octave:8> fdmdv_mod("test.raw",1400*10); fdmdv_demod.m - Demodulator program that takes a raw file as input, and works out the bit error rate using the known test frame. Can be used to test the demod performs with off-air signals, or signals that have been passed through a channel simulator. To demodulate 2 seconds of the test.raw file generated above: octave:9> fdmdv_demod("test.raw",1400*2); 2464 bits 0 errors BER: 0.0000 It also produces several plots showing the internal states of the demod. Useful for debugging and observing what happens with various channels. fdmdv_demod_c.m - Takes an output text file from the C demod fdmdv_demod.c and produces plots and measures BER. Useful for evaluating fdmdv_demod.c performance. The plots produced are identical to the Octave version fdmdv_demod.m, allowing direct comparison of the C and Octave versions. tfdmdv.m - Automatic tests that compare the Octave and C versions of the FDMDV modem functions. First run unittest/tfdmdv, this will generate a text file with test vectors from the C version. Then run the Octave script tfdmdv and it will generate Octave versions of the test vectors and compare each vector with the C equivalent. Its plots the vectors and and errors (green). Its also produces an automatic check list based on test results. If the Octave or C modem code is changed, this script should be used to ensure the C and Octave versions remain identical. Modelling sample clock errors using sox --------------------------------------- This introduces a simulated 1000ppm error: sox -r 8000 -s -2 mod_dqpsk.raw -s -2 mod_dqpsk_8008hz.raw rate -h 8008 TODO ---- [ ] implement ppm measurements in fdmdv_get_demod_stats() [ ] try interfering sine wave + maybe swept + does modem fall over? [ ] try non-flat channel, e.g. 3dB difference between hi and low tones + make sure all estimators keep working [ ] test rx level sensitivity, i.e. 0 to 20dB attenuation [ ] make fine freq indep of amplitude + use angle rather than imag coord [ ] document use of fdmdv_ut and fdmdv_demod + PathSim [ ] more positive form of sync reqd for DV frames? + like using coarse_fine==1 to decode valid DV frame bit? + when should we start decoding? [ ] more robust track/acquite state machine? + e.g. hang on thru the fades? [ ] PAPR idea + automatically tweak phases to reduce PAPR, e.g. slow variations in freq... [ ] why is pilot noise_est twice as big as other carriers