0README
1
2ACfax - amateur FAX receiving software for Linux / X11
3 Andreas Czechanowski, DL4SDC
4 andreas.czechanowski@ins.uni-stuttgart.de
5
6!!! THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY !!!
7USE AT YOUR OWN RISK ! IT IS STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT !
8
9Five steps to success....:
10
11* Edit the Imakefile, and look for the DEFINES after the description.
12 You normally should not have to edit much here.
13 If you do not have libXaw3d, remove -DUSE_XAW3D from the DEFINES
14 and change -lXaw3d to -lXaw in the LOCAL_LIBRARIES line.
15 If you have only a normal SoundBlaster/Pro (without software
16 controllable mixer), remove -DSBL_16 also from the DEFINES line.
17
18* type "xmkmf"
19
20* type "make"
21 (if this fails, and you don't get it fixed, you may mail me the
22 output of the make command - but don't expect a 24-minute instant
23 hotline service !)
24
25* Be sure to have /dev/dsp (and /dev/mixer for SoundBlaster 16)
26 readable and writable for the user that wants to execute acfax !
27
28* now, type "./acfax" and don't be surprised about weird messages
29 appearing on your terminal screen from which acfax was started
30 - it may be only useful for me while debugging. Just ignore it.
31
32NOTES / BUGS / BEFORE YOU ASK:
33
34- The "Signal" scrollbar in the Modem-part of the ACFax-control-window
35 indicates the audio signal level. With the SoundBlaster 16, the
36 LINE IN is selected as audio input. For the "FM" Modem type,
37 levels of 25% can even be okay, optimum would be 50% to 80%,
38 and if it is at maximum then the signal is probably too loud !
39 When using the AM modem, the audio level is directly proportional
40 to the image contrast. You probably have to experimentally
41 find out how to set the audio volume.
42 You may change the input sensitivity (SoundBlaster 16 only) by
43 setting "linevol = nn;" on line 64 of the file sblaster.c ,
44 whereas nn=99 is the maximum.
45
46- When receiving on longwave/shortwave, set the Modem to "FM" mode,
47 the receiver/transceiver to USB or LSB, and the AGC to fast (this
48 compensates best for signal fading).
49 If you want to receive Meteosat, you have to use an FM receiver
50 with not too narrow IF filters and the "AM" Modem type.
51 If this seems confusing or unlogical to you, be aware that
52 AM/FM means the operation of the Modem, so either varying
53 tone-pitch or varying loudness determines the luminosity of
54 the beam writing the image lines.
55
56- You may switch reception manually on and off using the "STOP" and
57 "RUN" buttons in the operation control. If you want the image
58 to be written from the beginning, switch to "SYN" once,
59 and then back to "RUN". This will reset the internal writing
60 pointer to the beginning.
61
62