cannot load speakup_decext module

[Rudy Vener]

Hi all,

I am trying to use my Dectalk external (old) with my Vinux speakup system.
Hoever, executing
modprobe speakup_decext ser=0
results in:
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'speakup_decext': No such device

At this point speakup stops talking, the /speakup/synth file contains "none"
and the speakup var system does not contain a decext subdirectory,
and changing the synth file to contain decext does not work.

So, at that point, I reboot to resurrect speakup using espeak.

At the moment, my Dectalk is connected to the /dev/ttyS0 port, and it speaks
any text I write to the port. But this is no substitute for it working
with speakup.

Executing modinfo speakup_decext
returns:
filename: /lib/modules/4.4.0-36-generic/kernel/drivers/staging/speakup/speakup_decext.ko
version: 2.14
license: GPL
description: Speakup support for DECtalk External synthesizers
author: David Borowski
author: Kirk Reiser <***@braille.uwo.ca>
srcversion: 46ED8AA54EDEE108A987806
depends: speakup
staging: Y
intree: Y
vermagic: 4.4.0-36-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 686
parm: ser:Set the serial port for the synthesizer (0-based). (int)
parm: start:Start the synthesizer once it is loaded. (short)

Also, executing modprobe speakup_decext ser=0 returns the same no such device error message.

Executing modprobe -n -v speakup_decext returns:
insmod /lib/modules/4.4.0-36-generic/kernel/drivers/staging/speakup/speakup_decext.ko

Executing:
modprobe speakup_decext ser=0 start=1
gives me the same results, silence and I need to reboot.

Any suggestions how to get the decext module to load?
Thanks.
Rudy

[Gregory Nowak]

You will need to upgrade your kernel. I believe the fixed external
synth support became available in 4.14 and higher, but don't quote me
on that.

Greg

Post by Rudy Vener
Hi all,
I am trying to use my Dectalk external (old) with my Vinux speakup system.
Hoever, executing
modprobe speakup_decext ser=0
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'speakup_decext': No such device
At this point speakup stops talking, the /speakup/synth file contains "none"
and the speakup var system does not contain a decext subdirectory,
and changing the synth file to contain decext does not work.
So, at that point, I reboot to resurrect speakup using espeak.
At the moment, my Dectalk is connected to the /dev/ttyS0 port, and it speaks
any text I write to the port. But this is no substitute for it working
with speakup.
Executing modinfo speakup_decext
filename: /lib/modules/4.4.0-36-generic/kernel/drivers/staging/speakup/speakup_decext.ko
version: 2.14
license: GPL
description: Speakup support for DECtalk External synthesizers
author: David Borowski
srcversion: 46ED8AA54EDEE108A987806
depends: speakup
staging: Y
intree: Y
vermagic: 4.4.0-36-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 686
parm: ser:Set the serial port for the synthesizer (0-based). (int)
parm: start:Start the synthesizer once it is loaded. (short)
Also, executing modprobe speakup_decext ser=0 returns the same no such device error message.
insmod /lib/modules/4.4.0-36-generic/kernel/drivers/staging/speakup/speakup_decext.ko
modprobe speakup_decext ser=0 start=1
gives me the same results, silence and I need to reboot.
Any suggestions how to get the decext module to load?
Thanks.
Rudy
--
Rudy Vener
Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

[Rudy Vener]

Hi Greg and all,

My vinux release and Linux kernal version are below.


Vinux 5.1 LTS \n \l

Linux kernal:
4.4.0-36-generic

Does this mean that the kernal is not the culprit?

Rudy

Post by Gregory Nowak
You will need to upgrade your kernel. I believe the fixed external
synth support became available in 4.14 and higher, but don't quote me
on that.
Greg

[Gregory Nowak]

Since 4.4.0 is older than 4.14.x, the kernel likely is the culprit.

Greg

Post by Rudy Vener
Hi Greg and all,
My vinux release and Linux kernal version are below.
Vinux 5.1 LTS \n \l
4.4.0-36-generic
Does this mean that the kernal is not the culprit?
Rudy

[Gregory Nowak]

Hi again.

I've just been looking into this, since someone else asked me about
speakup also. You need at least kernel 4.13 to take advantage of the
new serial synthesizer support, see:

<http://linux-speakup.org/pipermail/speakup/2017-September/061153.html>

Greg

Post by Gregory Nowak
Since 4.4.0 is older than 4.14.x, the kernel likely is the culprit.
Greg

[Rudy Vener]

Greg, all,

Whoops. Miscommunication here. My Dectalk Express External is the old model, using
the old RS-232 serial port with the DB-9 pin connector, not the new USB Dectalk.

Does this mean the speakup_decext module is for the
USB version?

If so, which module do I need for the old Dectalkkkk external?

Sorry for all this confusion, but I am new to speakup.

Thanks,
Rudy

Post by Gregory Nowak
Hi again.
I've just been looking into this, since someone else asked me about
speakup also. You need at least kernel 4.13 to take advantage of the
<http://linux-speakup.org/pipermail/speakup/2017-September/061153.html>
Greg

Post by Gregory Nowak
Since 4.4.0 is older than 4.14.x, the kernel likely is the culprit.
Greg

--

[Zachary Kline]

Rudy,

If your model is, indeed, a DecTalk Express, you need the speakup_dectlk module, not the speakup_decext module. The latter is for the pre-Express original Dectalk, which I’ve never actually seen. Hopefully this goes some way towards solving your problem.
Best,
Zack.

Post by Rudy Vener
Greg, all,
Whoops. Miscommunication here. My Dectalk Express External is the old model, using
the old RS-232 serial port with the DB-9 pin connector, not the new USB Dectalk.
Does this mean the speakup_decext module is for the
USB version?
If so, which module do I need for the old Dectalkkkk external?
Sorry for all this confusion, but I am new to speakup.
Thanks,
Rudy

Post by Gregory Nowak
Hi again.
I've just been looking into this, since someone else asked me about
speakup also. You need at least kernel 4.13 to take advantage of the
<http://linux-speakup.org/pipermail/speakup/2017-September/061153.html>
Greg

Post by Gregory Nowak
Since 4.4.0 is older than 4.14.x, the kernel likely is the culprit.
Greg

--

--
Rudy Vener
Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

[Rudy Vener]

My synthesizer says Digital DecTalk Express on its case.
It is a flat, rectangular box about eight inches by four inches by
one inch high. It has a cable with a DB-9F connector that plugs
into an external RS-232 Serial port.
It has a volume control, a built in speaker, and a headphone
jack.

I thought this was an external Dectalk Express because it sat
outside the PC and does not plug into an expansion slot.

I thought the speakup_dectlk module was for the Dectalk Express
cards that did plug into PC expansion slots.

But now I am just confused. It does not take much to confuse me.

If there is someone out there who is using a Dectalk like the
one I just described with speakup, please contact
me, and tell me how you did it.

Thank you.

Rudy

Rudy,
If your model is, indeed, a DecTalk Express, you need the speakup_dectlk module, not the speakup_decext module. The latter is for the pre-Express original Dectalk, which I???ve never actually seen. Hopefully this goes some way towards solving your problem.
Best,
Zack.
***************************************

[Chime Hart]

Well Rudy: Yes it seems we are both useing the same DecTalk, but for now you
must flip the switch to rs232 mode. In Ubuntu text mode it came up talking, but
we had trouble in Debian9. Sorry I know little about these drivers. For many
years since I got this unit in 2004 or so, the pitch, rate, and volume drop
suddenly while I am arrowing around while reviewing the screen. I must then go
through the controll-pannel and ajust these 3 setting up-and-down by 1 click,
they are normal again, but its really easy sometimes twice in 30seconds to have
these values drop. But when I examine what each value is set to, they are
correct, even though changes have happened. Anyway, hope that helps some
Chime

[Paul Loba]

Hi,
This link helped me to setup successfully my Apollo II synth:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bytefire/speakup-decext/master/decext-instructions.txt
Best,
Pawel

Post by Rudy Vener
My synthesizer says Digital DecTalk Express on its case.
It is a flat, rectangular box about eight inches by four inches by
one inch high. It has a cable with a DB-9F connector that plugs
into an external RS-232 Serial port.
It has a volume control, a built in speaker, and a headphone
jack.
I thought this was an external Dectalk Express because it sat
outside the PC and does not plug into an expansion slot.
I thought the speakup_dectlk module was for the Dectalk Express
cards that did plug into PC expansion slots.
But now I am just confused. It does not take much to confuse me.
If there is someone out there who is using a Dectalk like the
one I just described with speakup, please contact
me, and tell me how you did it.
Thank you.
Rudy

Post by Zachary Kline
Rudy,
If your model is, indeed, a DecTalk Express, you need the speakup_dectlk
module, not the speakup_decext module. The latter is for the pre-Express
original Dectalk, which I???ve never actually seen. Hopefully this goes
some way towards solving your problem.
Best,
Zack.
***************************************

--
Rudy Vener
Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

[Zachary Kline]

Rudy,

As I said, you need the speakup_dectlk module. The Dectalk Express is an exclusively serial device. The internal board you’re thinking of was called the Dectalk PC, and uses an entirely unrelated Speakup driver.
You might also want to look into upgrading your kernel, as there was apparently some problem with serial polling which was resolved in the later builds.

Best,
Zack.

Post by Rudy Vener
My synthesizer says Digital DecTalk Express on its case.
It is a flat, rectangular box about eight inches by four inches by
one inch high. It has a cable with a DB-9F connector that plugs
into an external RS-232 Serial port.
It has a volume control, a built in speaker, and a headphone
jack.
I thought this was an external Dectalk Express because it sat
outside the PC and does not plug into an expansion slot.
I thought the speakup_dectlk module was for the Dectalk Express
cards that did plug into PC expansion slots.
But now I am just confused. It does not take much to confuse me.
If there is someone out there who is using a Dectalk like the
one I just described with speakup, please contact
me, and tell me how you did it.
Thank you.
Rudy

Rudy,
If your model is, indeed, a DecTalk Express, you need the speakup_dectlk module, not the speakup_decext module. The latter is for the pre-Express original Dectalk, which I???ve never actually seen. Hopefully this goes some way towards solving your problem.
Best,
Zack.
***************************************

--
Rudy Vener
Website: http://www.rudyvener.com
_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup