Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] DV Dongle - AMBE USB Device

[Gregory Maxwell]

On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 11:24 AM, Jeff Brower <address@hidden> wrote:
[snip]
>  > Using a AMBE or other codec chip is part of the hardware versus software
>  > decision.  We want to do everything in software but there are
>  > limitations.
[snip]
>  Agree.  In the open source voice community, many times I see people try to 
> cram something into software, even though
>  they know it's would barely fit or likely would not.  In some of the more 
> flagrant cases I've seen, after spending
>  great time and effort, the end result is poor voice quality (usually due to 
> increased latency), unstable system that
>  crashes or hangs easily, and code that is dependent on server 
> characteristics.  They're so determined to avoid a
>  hardware solution they end up with no solution.

You guys do realize that the 'hardware' AMBE solutions are just
software running on a TI DSP, don't you?

Unlike filters or RF mixers wisely implemented in the analog domain
for reasons of physics, dynamic range, and component availability AMBE
is available only on chips in order to protect the ability of some to
profit at the expense of freedom and flexibility for users of the
technology.  (I'm making no argument here about the ethics of limiting
people's freedom in order to maximize profit, only pointing out the
irrefutable fact it is being done. Being that this is *GNU*Radio
perhaps I should be, however).