SlavedScan Beta Testers Needed

[aaknitt]

Hi all,

I've created a program that I'm looking for some people to test. However, I'm afraid that not a lot of people will have the equipment necessary to test it (I don't even have everything I need to test it, in fact).

This program connects to two Uniden DMA computer-controlled scanners via two separate serial ports. The program continuously queries each scanner to determine if it is stopped on a frequency. If it detects that both scanners are stopped on the same frequency at the same time, it will command the "slave" scanner to continue scanning so that both scanners are never monitoring the same frequency.

Many people use multiple scanners to monitor multiple areas or disciplines. For example, one scanner will be dedicated to fire and the other to law. However, when there is a large incident you'd really like to be able to scan the same set of channels with both scanners. However, if you do this, the scanners may end up on the same channel quite a bit of the time. This program attempts to eliminate that so that.

Beta testers will need two scanners that use the newer Uniden control protocol and a computer with at least two serial ports. If there's enough interest I may be able to support older computer-controlled scanners as well...just give me some suggestions for what you'd like to see supported. This could also be expanded to more than two scanners. What I'm really hoping to spur with this, though, is the usefulness of the idea so that those with full scanner control programs might be able to incorporate this kind of functionality into their programs to allow both full control and "slaved scanning" across multiple scanners.

I've also tossed around the idea of a hardware box that would do the same thing so that this capability would be available while mobile. If there's enough interest after people try the program, I might think about following up on that.

You can download the program from my site:

radioetcetera - Slaved Scan Program

Feedback is appreciated!

Andy

[davidmc36]

But am I correct to assume that if I am monitoring a system with multiple sites and the two scanners stop on the same TG ID (hence the same conversation) on different sites (hence different frequencies) this app would not detect that. If so that could be an idea for expansion.

I will give this a try if I have some spare time before I put my BC-T15 in the car. The only requirement is DMA so it should work with the 15 and a 246?

[aaknitt]

Actually if it's a trunked system it compares the talk group ID, not the frequency, so it should work out ok for that as well. If you have a computer controlled scanner that the program doesn't support, let me know and I can look into adding it.

Andy

[vabiro]

This is a brilliant solution to a problem a lot of people have in urban areas.

I would love to help with the testing, but I don't have two DMA scanners, but I thought I would offer some words of encouragement.

For the mobile version, you may be interested in The GumStix computers:

http://www.gumstix.com/

Their site is down today, but you could also see what I'm talking about at:
Company forming around gumstick-sized Linux SBC

Best of luck, in any case.

Victor

[aaknitt]

What I think would be really cool is if scanner manufacturers implemented something like this in the scanner itself. Each scanner would have a connection for a data bus that you could connect multiple scanners to and they would do this on their own. You could even go so far as having multiple scanners connected to a single control head, etc. I think an industry-standard data bus would be really powerful.

Andy

[rvictor]

FYI

I downloaded and installed the two runtimes and your program and rebooted. My computer has two actual serial ports which are connected to a 246T and a 396XT. I set the program for the appropriate port numbers and baud rates. When I clicked the start button, absolutely nothing happened. I've uninstalled all three software items.

Dick

[ProScan]

I invasion scanner's with Ethernet ports as a standard one day. The technology is here today. Will it be 2 years? 3 years? I don't know but the possibilities are endless. Give the port an IP address and plug the computer Ethernet port directly in to the scanner and tell the browser the IP address of the scanner or plug multiple scanners in to a switch or plug the scanner in to a router and listen miles away with VOIP technology.

Originally Posted by aaknitt

What I think would be really cool is if scanner manufacturers implemented something like this in the scanner itself. Each scanner would have a connection for a data bus that you could connect multiple scanners to and they would do this on their own. You could even go so far as having multiple scanners connected to a single control head, etc. I think an industry-standard data bus would be really powerful.

Andy

[aaknitt]

Originally Posted by rvictor

FYI

I downloaded and installed the two runtimes and your program and rebooted. My computer has two actual serial ports which are connected to a 246T and a 396XT. I set the program for the appropriate port numbers and baud rates. When I clicked the start button, absolutely nothing happened. I've uninstalled all three software items.

Dick

I'm not sure what the problem might be. If you have both the LabView and VISA runtimes installed you should be good to go. The only other thing I can think of that you might need is the .NET framework, although I wouldn't think that would be required for this particular application. If you want to try it, you can get .NET at .NET Framework: Download

What operating system are you running?

Andy

[rvictor]

The .NET framework 3.5 SP1 is already installed. I'm running Vista Ultimate 32bit SP1.

Dick

[aaknitt]

Alright I've made my first attempt at writing this program using "conventional" code, so it shouldn't require all of the LabView junk. It only requires .NET 3.5. I don't have a link to it on my site yet, but here's a direct link if anyone wants to give it a shot:

http://radioetcetera.googlepages.com/SlavedScan.zip

Andy

[rvictor]

Tried the new version. Works fine on Com 1 talking to the 396XT, but the 246T on Com 2 shows "No Data". I assume that the program determines the baud rate automatically since I don't see a setting for it.

Dick

[aaknitt]

I still need to add a control for that. It's hard coded to 115200 right now. I'll have it selectable sometime this weekend.

Andy

[aaknitt]

Also, I just took a quick look at the 246 control protocol and it doesn't appear to support the command that I'm using to query the 396, so I'll probably need to do some additional work to support the 246.

Andy

[mrkelso]

Does this program work using USB ports?

[blantonl]

Andy, if I were you - I'd find a IP attorney quickly, and patent your idea and process.

[aaknitt]

Originally Posted by mrkelso

Does this program work using USB ports?

If the USB device is emulating a COM port, then yes. It should show up as an additional COM port (COM5, for example) if the correct drivers are installed.

Andy

[aaknitt]

I just added a baud rate control for each port. It should also be .NET 2.0 compatible. Same file download as before...still haven't gotten around to adding it to my site. I don't think it will work with the 246 yet, but you can give it a shot if you want...let me know what you find.

Andy

[aaknitt]

After looking into it a bit more, I don't think it's going to be very easy to support the 246 and older scanners. The command that I'm using is the "GLG" (get reception status) command. This command returns the frequency or TGID that the scanner is stopped on. I know that the following scanners support this command (although there may be others):

BCD396T
BCD396XT
BCD996T
BCT15

I believe these scanners would also support it:
BC346XT
BR330T

Some scanners that don't support the GLG command (such as the 246) support the STS command, which returns whatever is on the LCD display. However, using this command would require that the alpha labels of the two scanners are identical for a given frequency or talkgroup, and the fact that the display scrolls would make it difficult and possibly unreliable. Older scanners such as the BC898 don't support any of these newer commands that are intended for real-time control. They only support commands that allow PC programming, but not control.

Andy

[rvictor]

Originally Posted by aaknitt

After looking into it a bit more, I don't think it's going to be very easy to support the 246 and older scanners. The command that I'm using is the "GLG" (get reception status) command. This command returns the frequency or TGID that the scanner is stopped on. I know that the following scanners support this command (although there may be others):

BCD396T
BCD396XT
BCD996T
BCT15

I believe these scanners would also support it:
BC346XT
BR330T

Some scanners that don't support the GLG command (such as the 246) support the STS command, which returns whatever is on the LCD display. However, using this command would require that the alpha labels of the two scanners are identical for a given frequency or talkgroup, and the fact that the display scrolls would make it difficult and possibly unreliable. Older scanners such as the BC898 don't support any of these newer commands that are intended for real-time control. They only support commands that allow PC programming, but not control.

Andy

Okay. It looks like it won't work for me with my 246T then. Best of luck with your program in any event.

73
Dick

[aaknitt]

I've updated my site to link to the new version of the program that's written in C# instead of LabView:

radioetcetera - Slaved Scan Program

Has anyone been able to try it out? If so, let me know if/how it works. I only have one 396 here, so I can't really fully test it myself.

Andy