ID Tracker II - Version 2.2.2 Released

[brscanning]

This is a minor update.

- Updated audio comments displayed during playback.
- Corrected issue where audio playback dialog resizing was not always handled correctly.

ID Tracker Mirror

[Mike_G_D]

First off I just want to say that I really like this program and use it quite a bit!

Now, having said that, I think I found a bug that I hope can be fixed. I know that this program is primarily intended to be used to find unknown talk groups in trunking systems but I have been using it extensively to log audio from conventional frequencies and have found it very useful for doing so.

One problem I have found is that when I have frequencies entered in two or more times with separate CTCSS or DCS tones the program will record audio from the first user that has a signal and then all subsequent users, regardless of tone, will be recorded to the same file. If I don't have the "Track Squelch" option enabled I don't even see that the audio belongs to a different channel (except by hearing the differences between the users' voices and characteristics, etc.

As an example, suppose I have a single frequency entered into the radio twice but with different CTCSS tones. One is labeled "User A" and the other is labeled "User B". Now, with a fresh start (initialized with fresh log and sys files, etc.) the program is tracking away and User B comes on the air. It will record the audio file under the label "User B XXX.X" (the X's being the tone). Now, the problem is that if User A transmits awhile later it will still be recorded to the User B file with the same name! In the above example if you were to reverse the process the same result will occur - that is that if User A transmits first and User B transmits later the audio of both will be recorded to User A's file and label. If I have "Track Squelch" selected I can see that the tones are different but, again, they are all under the first transmitting user's file and label.

Of course, I would like to be able to have the program differentiate between channels even if the channels have the same frequency but different CTCSS or DCS tones using the label taken from the radio memory.

I am using a Uniden BCT15, BTW.

Again, I know that the primary use of the program is for trunking systems but I do find it very useful for recording conventional systems also and do hope this bug can be fixed in the near future.

Thanks again for a very useful program and thanks in advance for any effort you can put towards this problem!

-Mike

[brscanning]

Mike,

The code was never designed to create separate files for DCS and CTCSS tones. It should however, place comments indicating the DCS or CTCSS for each audio segment. If that is not occurring then there is a problem. I will look into this.

I don't believe there is a way to easily create separate audio files for each tone. Here is why. In order to capture the audio, ID Tracker must open the existing audio file and immediately start appending to the file. Because there is a delay in decoding the tones, ID Tracker has already opened the file and started recording. Since only the frequency is known at the start of the recording, only one file can be created. Otherwise, ID Tracker would have to record the audio and then at the end of the transmission, open the appropriate audio file and append the new audio. I believe this would affect the performance and cause missed audio.

[Mike_G_D]

Hmmm...

Well, as I mentioned, if I have "Track Squelch" selected it does add comments indicating the tone used and this is useful especially if I am looking at all users (tone search enabled on the scanner). In this case, I completely understand why the audio file is one file with all of the users. This is fine, I have no problem with this.

However, I am unclear why the program cannot distinguish between channels programmed in the scanner when they have the same radio frequency but different tone squelch codes. The radio handles this fine and I assumed that the downloaded programmed channel list from the radio which includes frequencies and tones would be used by the program. Unfortunately, the way it is now, if the radio stops on, for example, Channel A using tone X, the recording starts and the listing is created for the correct label ("Channel A" in this example) BUT if, awhile later, something comes up on Channel B using tone Y (but the same radio frequency as Channel A) it gets appended to Channel A's audio rather than starting its own with a Channel B label.

I thought that the radio was doing the tone decoding and not the program plus I thought that the program was using the radio's channel labels to name the channels. So, if the radio stops on a channel and the program is set to record that audio it will either start a new file or append to an existing one if one for that channel is already started and use the label the radio is programmed with for that channel. This seems to work fine for channels wherein the radio frequency is unique but seems to run into problems when the radio frequency is the same for multiple channels but the tone squelch's are different. What happens is, if I do not have "Track Squelch" enabled, I come back after some time and find one audio file listed for, for example Channel A, and nothing for Channel B but, in reality, all of the audio for both channels is mixed together and I can only guess which is which (by the user's voices, etc.). It seems to create an audio file for the first signal it gets for that radio frequency and uses that label forever thereafter regardless of channel (tone).

If it is really to problematic to distinguish between channels with the same radio frequency but different tones then I would suggest making a special error warning about that when the program detects multiple channels with the same frequency but different tones after it loads the list from the radio. Also, it might be best in that instance to automatically select the "Track Squelch" feature for all channels with identical radio frequencies and different tones so that at least the tones will be listed for an unknowing user.

Of course I'll work around it if I have to. I'll use the "Track Squelch" option if I have multiple channels with the same radio frequency but different tones or lock out any channels with that characteristic except for one. The program is still very useful and I applaud your efforts and thank you for it!!

-Mike

[brscanning]

Mike,

I now believe I understand the issue. You are right in that the radio does the decoding and not the software. ID Tracker II currently reads the squelch code from the display. It could, however, get squelch code from the "object" information.

In order to do what you are asking I would have to come up with a way to create audio files based on the frequency and squelch. This should not be hard to do.

Since I mostly listen to trunked systems I have never really worried to much about squelch codes but I will look into the possibility of doing this. If the squelch code is available on initial detection of the signal, I can then record the audio to a specific audio file and not just the generic frequency file.

[Mike_G_D]

Excellent! Well, that's all I can ask for! I appreciate it!

One tip - you can test this using a couple of cheap FRS radios. Just program a channel in each with a different CTCSS or DCS tone. Then run your software and have the recording enabled. Key up one radio, say with tone A, and make a test recording. Then wait a minute or so and key up the second radio with tone B on the same frequency. Then just check to make sure that the audio files are made correctly.

This is pretty much how I verified what was going on with your software after I noticed the problem.

And I hate to add more work for you but I have a couple more "issues" I've noticed.

Firstly, I notice that the radio's volume keeps getting raised even when I have it lowered all the way. I use the Record Out jack in the back so it's level is fixed and independent from the volume control. The problem is that I leave the scanner on all night and I don't want the volume up. For now, I have been plugging a dummy cable into the headphone or speaker jack to mute the radio but I don't want to keep doing that due to the many reported problems with the BCT15's headphone jack wearing out quickly (I don't know about the external speaker jack but I would rather not take chances). I am guessing that you made the program do this to make sure that the volume was of sufficient level for recording from the external speaker or headphone jacks. But, since I use the constant level Record Out jack this is not necessary. I have checked and I do not have the Set Record Level option enabled in your software so that is not the cause; as I said, I assume there must be a default mid level setting that you software is making the radio go to even if the Set Record Level option is not checked. Maybe create an option to turn this off and allow user control of the volume for those of us using the line level Record Out jack?

And one more somewhat minor issue - I notice that if I make any changes to the radio's programming, such as channel label changes, etc., even when the program is stopped, shut down, and restarted which supposedly reloads the scanner's programming it does not seem to take the changes from the radio. So if I changed a label in the radio, for example, and restart the program (after a complete shutdown) it will start tracking and still use the old label from, I guess, one of the files in the main folder. I can get around this by starting a new folder after I make radio programming changes and/or deleting the old system .dat and .sys files but then I have to go back over the settings and set them all over again. Also, it can make keeping track of all of the recorded audio files messy - I have to be careful to keep the old .dat and .sys files if I want the audio playback to work properly (including CTCSS tags, etc.). It's not extremely major but I just wanted to point it out; as I said, I have learned to work around it. Again, the radio is a Uniden BCT15. I realize that the GRE's need to have their programming reloaded manually if any changes are made and I do this for my GRE radios but that option is grayed out for the Unidens as they are supposed to do this automatically when the program is started. BTW, I think this problem is apparent primarily when I make changes to existing channels - they don't seem to get picked up by the program after a full restart but are in the radio. I did notice that it did pick up on new frequencies added, however, if that is any help.

Sorry to give you more work but thanks again for a great program and for your efforts and responsiveness!

-Mike

[zzdiesel]

I'm having a problem with ID Tracker 2.2.2. Each time I start it; there will be two or three channels at random that won't record. The bar will be red instead of green as the audio is coming in. I can shut down the program and restart it a time or two till I get the main ones working that I want to record.

It is a great program and I donated.

[brscanning]

Originally Posted by zzdiesel

I'm having a problem with ID Tracker 2.2.2. Each time I start it; there will be two or three channels at random that won't record. The bar will be red instead of green as the audio is coming in. I can shut down the program and restart it a time or two till I get the main ones working that I want to record.

It is a great program and I donated.

Which scanner are you using with ID Tracker? The PRO-197 or the BCT-15? If it is the PRO-197, have you tried reloading the scanner image?

Have you tried both scanners and if so, does it do the same with both?

If you wish, you can email me {my callsign}@bellsouth.net

[zzdiesel]

I am using the program with the Pro-197. I have not tried the BC-15 on this program. I have reloaded the image a few times on the 197.

[mandlair]

Hi all and Dave I cannot for the life of me fiqure out what I am doing wrong.I'll try to explain if I go to set screen and say I want idtracker to read a file different from the one it is set to.It will not read from file that I want I wish I knew what I was doing.I useally get it going but after alot of hours.I must be doing something wrong?

[brscanning]

Originally Posted by mandlair

Hi all and Dave I cannot for the life of me fiqure out what I am doing wrong.I'll try to explain if I go to set screen and say I want idtracker to read a file different from the one it is set to.It will not read from file that I want I wish I knew what I was doing.I useally get it going but after alot of hours.I must be doing something wrong?

I am assuming you are talking about the "Data Path" in the "Systems" frame. Try setting the path, exiting ID Tracker and then re-starting.

[brscanning]

Originally Posted by zzdiesel

I am using the program with the Pro-197. I have not tried the BC-15 on this program. I have reloaded the image a few times on the 197.

I have not had any previous complaints about this problem although it does not mean anyone has experienced them.

Are these trunk IDs or conventional frequencies? Also, what type of computer and operating system are you running?

I had one user who was able to send me a video of what was happening on the screen. This was very useful in resolving the problem.

[mandlair]

Hi,Dave I set the path and still it shows what on the scanner and not the file?And when I turn off tracker it goes back to another file on the setting screen I guess from the scanner again?Is there a way to save a file that I already have I see it on the import screen,And the way I want it,But dont know where it is?Or how to get to it.I whould just start over and download a new idtracker and redo my file but worried I wont be able to get it the way I want it and have the same trouble again.So do you have any step by step recommandation I could use and maybe this way I will know from the ground up.Thanks in advance Mike

[mandlair]

Well I have it going again after hours but I get this every few minutes.Save Data Error - Step: Open System File
File: C:\Program Files\ID Tracker II\Data\Sussex.sys ? Thanks Mike

[brscanning]

Originally Posted by mandlair

Well I have it going again after hours but I get this every few minutes.Save Data Error - Step: Open System File
File: C:\Program Files\ID Tracker II\Data\Sussex.sys ? Thanks Mike

MIke,

I see that you have multiple scanners capable of running ID Tracker. Are you trying run more than one scanner using the same set of files? If so, this could be the problem. When running multiple scanners, the files for each scanner need to be in separate folders.

[mandlair]

No,David just one on this pc.At least I have it working ,just have to save manually every 5 minutes.Mike

[brscanning]

Originally Posted by mandlair

No,David just one on this pc.At least I have it working ,just have to save manually every 5 minutes.Mike

Mike,

There should be more details to the error message. Could you post the complete error?

[brscanning]

Originally Posted by Mike_G_D

I notice that the radio's volume keeps getting raised even when I have it lowered all the way.-Mike

I figured out the problem. It will be fixed in the next release. As a work around, set the Record Level setting to 0 as well as unchecking the box.

Could you please contact me via email? I would like you to do some testing of the squelch code enhancements when I finish the code.

{my callsign}@bellsouth.net

[mandlair]

Is this what you mean David? ID Tracker II Version: 2.2.2
Module: modIDTracker Routine: SaveSystemFile

Error (75): Path/File access error Thanks Mike

[brscanning]

Originally Posted by mandlair

Is this what you mean David? ID Tracker II Version: 2.2.2
Module: modIDTracker Routine: SaveSystemFile

Error (75): Path/File access error Thanks Mike

Mike,

Yes, that is what I wanted. Could you email your "IDTrack2.ini" file?