8 Feed appliance on track

blantonl · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 08:27 AM

My project to create an 8 feed appliance is on track. This appliance will be deployed in the Washington DC Metro area.

Here are the specifications:

(7) GRE PSR-500's
(1) GRE PSR-300
Stridsberg 8 port multi-coupler
Mini ATX Case with modified power supply for:
- Power for all 8 radios
- 5 USB Hubs for 8 USB Soundcards and 7 USB Serial Cables
Mac Mini Computer
- Running Fedora Core 11 Linux
- 8 instances of darkice for encoding the MP3 audio stream to RadioReference
- USB over IP compiled into the kernel for remote access to the scanners
- OpenVPN for establishing a 2 way VPN connection to a central
server without having to account for firewalls at remote locations

I'll have more pics as it gets tied together.

tonsoffun · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:26 AM

Thats crazy Lindsay, looking great so far!

rdale · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:52 AM

So when are you going to start taking this a bit seriously?

PeterGV · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:35 AM

I hope you're going to stream with tags...

Peter
K1PGV

brandon · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:18 AM

Only 8 radios?

j/k

That is one sweet setup and I look forward to seeing it come online

blantonl · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterGV

I hope you're going to stream with tags...

Peter
K1PGV

If you can build me a linux streaming utility that is command line based, uses a simple text config file, and can run multiple instances... then I'll be able to stream tags.

I would also need the ability to dynamically "turn off" the tag streaming function so I could release the serial port and access the radio (control, programming etc) without having to bring the stream down.

AZScanner · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 12:22 PM

That is so unbelievably cool. I would love to have the extra cash on hand to create something like this for the RWC here in Phoenix.

Question - why the handhelds? Any specific reason? I had initially pictured something using the base versions instead. I'd also worry a bit about having 8 wall warts plugged into a single outlet. I've seen too many of them burn up or just quit for no good reason.

If I were building this, I'd set up some sort of sealed lead-acid battery with a trickle charger that would allow all 8 scanners to run off of one dedicated DC powersource and would keep the whole setup running even if the power went out. Where I'd go portable would be the computer. A small P2 or higher notebook that could also be run from the dedicated DC powersource would be ideal.

Neat project. If I ever got the kind of money it would take to set one up for Phoenix I'd be all over it.

-AZ

EDIT: Nevermind, upon re-reading your post it sounds like the computer's power supply is being modded to power the radios instead of the wall warts. I'd still opt for the battery option myself, but using the computer's power supply is better than using wall warts.

blantonl · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 12:30 PM

The Scanners are actually powered by the PC Power supply... 8 wall warts is just too much space, and as you mentioned problematic. The computer power supply was converted from a switching power supply to a "lab" power supply providing all the voltages I need (5V+ for the USB Hubs, 8.9V for the PSR Radios, and 12V for the multi-coupler). You'll notice on the back of the computer case a high limit 10 Ohm resister which provides the continuous load for the power supply to function properly.

The entire system will run off of a UPS for power protection.

This appliance is probably one of the more expensive ones since there are 7 Digital radios and 1 analog. For some markets that I would like to deploy these (like NYC or Chicago) the cost goes significantly down when you are talking 150/radio vs 500/radio.

If anyone wants me to build one of these for them (you'll own it) let me know and I'll be glad to work something out.

Russell · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:17 PM

Which USB sound "cards" are you using?

Russell

blantonl · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:29 PM

These (See attached photo)

How much do they cost you might ask? $0.99 a piece. So I bought 50 of them.

I'm not kidding, and they work great. See Ebay for them. I remove the case so they'll fit into the hubs... and they work great.

slatescan · #11 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:48 PM

what is going to be used for an antenna?

aharry · #12 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blantonl

If anyone wants me to build one of these for them (you'll own it) let me know and I'll be glad to work something out.

You'll buy the radios and build it and I can own it? I'll take two!

AZScanner · #13 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blantonl

The Scanners are actually powered by the PC Power supply... 8 wall warts is just too much space, and as you mentioned problematic. The computer power supply was converted from a switching power supply to a "lab" power supply providing all the voltages I need (5V+ for the USB Hubs, 8.9V for the PSR Radios, and 12V for the multi-coupler). You'll notice on the back of the computer case a high limit 10 Ohm resister which provides the continuous load for the power supply to function properly.

The entire system will run off of a UPS for power protection.

This appliance is probably one of the more expensive ones since there are 7 Digital radios and 1 analog. For some markets that I would like to deploy these (like NYC or Chicago) the cost goes significantly down when you are talking 150/radio vs 500/radio.

Sounds like you've done your homework. That also answers the use of handhelds versus base - they are smaller and use less juice. Makes perfect sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blantonl

If anyone wants me to build one of these for them (you'll own it) let me know and I'll be glad to work something out.

Dang, you shouldn't tempt me like that, LOL... About how much would a setup like this cost to build? My guesstimation is approx $4500, with all but about $1000 being the cost of the scanners.

An idea for your control software - see if you can write (or have someone write) a control program that will also take the current tag displayed on each scanner and write it to a text file that the icecast encoders can read. That's how I do the tags on my feed and can simultaneously via remote access change channels, scan, hold, even program a new talkgroup or frequency without breaking the connection or taking down the stream. I'd offer to write it for you, but I only know how to code for Windoze, plus those darn GRE's speak gibberish (I love Uniden's control protocol - so simple and straightforward).

Again, great project and well done!

-AZ

mtindor · #14 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blantonl

These (See attached photo)

How much do they cost you might ask? $0.99 a piece. So I bought 50 of them.

I'm not kidding, and they work great. See Ebay for them. I remove the case so they'll fit into the hubs... and they work great.

Beautiful -- on Ebay

I just bought 15 for myself

Thanks for the tip.

Mike

blantonl · #15 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 05:39 PM

Some updates, I've been fighting with darkice all day... so I've decided to instead load windows on the machine and see about auto-running 8 instances of ScannerCast. Let's see what happens. Pics of the completed appliance coming shortly. It looks really cool.

blantonl · #16 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 05:43 PM

Here are some pics of the completed appliance. 5 USB hubs, 9 soundcard interfaces (1 spare), 7 USB Serial cables. That is some serious USB action!

Astrak · #17 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 05:51 PM

If you're going to be using Windows, why not use WIN500 and TCPMux for remote control of the scanners over IP.

blantonl · #18 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:01 PM

It would be easier for me to just use LogMeIn or Teamview to remotely control and program the radios. I went the USB over IP solution because of Linux, but now that isn't an issue any more. I'm hoping the PC I'm using can handle running 8 instances of ScannerCast. We're about to find out

ocn29rsc · #19 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:37 PM

Hey the kids bike under the table....is that like your sleek decoy antenna.....I mean that has to fit into the project somewhere right?

Looks awsome hope it works out the way you want it to.

ocn29rsc

AZScanner · #20 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 07:27 PM

I've seen things that are friggin' awesome and they looked alot like that.

Nice job, Lindsay! Now I REALLY want one. LOL...

-AZ