The Linux Air Combat online community uses the free, well-known, open-source "Mumble" VOIP application extensively for interplayer communication. You can learn a lot more about Mumble from our "Mumble and LAC" forum.
You can easily get Mumble for use in your Steam Deck's "Desktop" mode because it's readily available as a "flatpack" from the prominent "Discover" repository.
Furthermore, because you won't have access to a keyboard in flight, you can't configure Mumble with a "Push-To-Talk" key, so you will need to configure it for automated "Voice Activation". The Mumble community has published lots of instruction that you can consult for help with that.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-12-11
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I have a new prototype version for the Steam Deck that automatically manages Steam Deck's FlatPak version of Mumble. LAC automatically switches the player into the appropriate Mumble channel for the designated Realm, Mission, and Team at mission startup, and within missions the player can switch between his Team channel and the Mission Channel using new items in the "Tap Menu".
Because the SteamDeck offers no keyboard during flight, it's necessary to configure Mumble for "Voice Activation", and you are unable to broadcast your voice on multiple channels: You can only speak on the current channel. Accordingly, although you can HEAR traffic on the opposition channel if THEY use "MissionCast" instead of "TeamCast" when they speak, you cannot MissionCast so the opposition cannot hear you unless you all agree to switch to the Mission channel so everybody always hears everything.
The improved Tap Menu also offers a new option to transmit a Morse Code message to everybody that urges them all to tune to the Mission Channel so they can hear your voice.
Here's a link to our "Experimental Downloads" page where you can access this new version, which I have designated as version 8.95 .
Be sure to get the AppImage for the Steam Deck version. Although non-SteamDeck versions will also work on the Steam Deck, their default control mappings will not match up with your SteamDeck hardware.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-12-11
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
We just promoted the Steam Deck AppImage Version 8.95 (described above) to "Production" status. You can always get the latest production version of LAC's precompiled, executable Steam Deck AppImage from here:
We just solved all of the Mumble/SteamDeck complications (described in prior messages of this thread) with a clever new hack!
Now you can transmit Mumble voice on ANY channel, easily and conveniently! You get "Push-To-Talk" convenience (even on a SteamDeck lacking a keyboard), and you can let LAC automate the channel on which you are LISTENING with Mumble, while you transmit on ANY channel (the same on which you are listening or some OTHER channel like the channel used by your opposition).
We used a non-conventional approach for this magic. It's described in THIS posting from our "Mumble and LAC" forum:
The Linux Air Combat online community uses the free, well-known, open-source "Mumble" VOIP application extensively for interplayer communication. You can learn a lot more about Mumble from our "Mumble and LAC" forum.
You can easily get Mumble for use in your Steam Deck's "Desktop" mode because it's readily available as a "flatpack" from the prominent "Discover" repository.
Furthermore, because you won't have access to a keyboard in flight, you can't configure Mumble with a "Push-To-Talk" key, so you will need to configure it for automated "Voice Activation". The Mumble community has published lots of instruction that you can consult for help with that.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-12-11
I have a new prototype version for the Steam Deck that automatically manages Steam Deck's FlatPak version of Mumble. LAC automatically switches the player into the appropriate Mumble channel for the designated Realm, Mission, and Team at mission startup, and within missions the player can switch between his Team channel and the Mission Channel using new items in the "Tap Menu".
Because the SteamDeck offers no keyboard during flight, it's necessary to configure Mumble for "Voice Activation", and you are unable to broadcast your voice on multiple channels: You can only speak on the current channel. Accordingly, although you can HEAR traffic on the opposition channel if THEY use "MissionCast" instead of "TeamCast" when they speak, you cannot MissionCast so the opposition cannot hear you unless you all agree to switch to the Mission channel so everybody always hears everything.
The improved Tap Menu also offers a new option to transmit a Morse Code message to everybody that urges them all to tune to the Mission Channel so they can hear your voice.
Here's a link to our "Experimental Downloads" page where you can access this new version, which I have designated as version 8.95 .
https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/Installers/index.htm
Be sure to get the AppImage for the Steam Deck version. Although non-SteamDeck versions will also work on the Steam Deck, their default control mappings will not match up with your SteamDeck hardware.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-12-11
We just promoted the Steam Deck AppImage Version 8.95 (described above) to "Production" status. You can always get the latest production version of LAC's precompiled, executable Steam Deck AppImage from here:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxaircombat/files/Choose%20Your%20Platform/Steam%20Deck/
And you can always learn details about every published version of Linux Air Combat from our online ChangeLog page here:
https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/LinuxAirCombatChangeLog.htm
Last edit: bbosen 2022-11-08
We just solved all of the Mumble/SteamDeck complications (described in prior messages of this thread) with a clever new hack!
Now you can transmit Mumble voice on ANY channel, easily and conveniently! You get "Push-To-Talk" convenience (even on a SteamDeck lacking a keyboard), and you can let LAC automate the channel on which you are LISTENING with Mumble, while you transmit on ANY channel (the same on which you are listening or some OTHER channel like the channel used by your opposition).
We used a non-conventional approach for this magic. It's described in THIS posting from our "Mumble and LAC" forum:
https://sourceforge.net/p/linuxaircombat/discussion/mumbleandlac/thread/20b64fa389/
Enjoy!
Last edit: bbosen 2024-08-17
Another approach to solving this SteamDeck problem has been made available with the upgrade to LAC version 9.75. It's described HERE:
https://sourceforge.net/p/linuxaircombat/discussion/lacandsteamdeck/thread/c35fb7ea0d/
Last edit: bbosen 2025-05-05