dsdplus with analog scanner

[Telyron]

Hello to everyone, this is my first post, so pardon me if I am writing in the wrong section.
I have a receiver (Icom r6) and I have been wanting to use it to listen to DMR transmission with DSD+ as a vocoder. I had some trouble making the receiver appear on my computer but after some trials I have it listed as input 1 (microphone). I followed several tutorials but I can't decode any trasmission whatsoever.

I am using DSDPlus v1.101 free, and the error I get in the window is the following:
"Initiating TCP connection to 127.0.0.1:20002...
TCP connect error = 10061
[No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it]"

I am the perfect example of a nubie, so if you can help me i'd be very grateful, please be verbose with your replies.
Thank you all in advance!

 

[enosjones]

If you are trying to decode using the microphone jack on the scanner it won't work , the microphone jack filters some of the decoding. U need a discriminatory tap put in the scanner to bypass the filter...

 

[hamradionl]

DSD still look for TCP connection
Try this if work using Virtual Audio Cable?
Your scanner discriminator tap into mic or line input
connect mic or line input to VAC input
VAC output connect to DSD input

 

[RaleighGuy]

I am using DSDPlus v1.101 free

I believe it gives you the "Initiating TCP connection to 127.0.0.1:20002" message because you are attempting to use a FMPXX connection rather than microphone connection, which connects to the discriminatory tap as @enosjones said above, though it's been years since I used the free version.

 

[R0am3r]

Just to help you with terms, if you have the free version of DSD v1.101 it is only called DSD, only the paid version is called DSD Plus since it includes additional features and frequent updates. Using the proper terms helps you get better responses.

This is incorrect. The free version is named DSDPlus. Note the picture below showing a snippet of the webpage. The paid version is named Fast Lane.

 

[RaleighGuy]

This is incorrect. Please note the picture of the webpage for DSDPlus (version 1.101). The paid version is named Fast Lane.

View attachment 132135

I stand corrected, thank you

 

[racingfan360]

Welcome @Telyron As above you will need to fit a discriminator tap to the R6 to use it with DSD+ (which involves opening the case, soldering, likely drilling a hole in the side of the case to run the cable out etc: ie it's not for their faint-hearted). More info here: Ic-R6 discriminator

If that does sound a bit much, then getting a separate SDR dongle might be better: It's cheap and easy to install/run, won't risk your R6.

 

[Telyron]

Okay thank you to everyone, so if I were to put the second mini jack female socket from the quad band contact on the Icom r6 with a 10kOhm resistor in series (therefore making a discriminator tap if I understood it correctly) DSDPlus would work? Or are there other problems regarding my setup?
Because if its just that it would cost me virtually nothing, while getting a sdr dongle shipped where I live would cost me 80$...
Also I forgot to mention that I am using a Macbook Pro with a disk partitioner to run Windows 10.

 

[racingfan360]

If it' similar to the Icom R2 and R5, then I think you need to tap the R6 from the internal circuitry: I dont think there is a simple discriminator tap form the audio socket

 

[Ubbe]

You probably have to go into the DSD config and switch to analog audio input instead of networked.
I tried a Icom R2 and if I remember correctly it did not work to use the earphone jack but a portable Uniden scanner did work.
They say that R6 has improved audio but to test you'll need to run dsdtune.exe to get the proper setting for DSD to work.

For the R2 there where a big testpoint with discriminator audio that you could easily solder a capacitor to. Don't know about the R6.
R2 had a stereo eaphone jack where one terminal where used with a 10k resistor to start service mode. That could be trace cut and used for disc out.

/Ubbe

 

[Telyron]

yes i know

If it' similar to the Icom R2 and R5, then I think you need to tap the R6 from the internal circuitry: I don't think there is a simple discriminator tap form the audio socket

yes I know it, I meant to solder the resistor to the quad band pin on the board of the r6 and attaching a jack dongle to it (i just can't figure out where to put the ground of the jack dongle) that is the configuration that was used here IC-R2

You probably have to go into the DSD config and switch to analog audio input instead of networked.
I tried a Icom R2 and if I remember correctly it did not work to use the earphone jack but a portable Uniden scanner did work.
They say that R6 has improved audio but to test you'll need to run dsdtune.exe to get the proper setting for DSD to work.

For the R2 there where a big testpoint with discriminator audio that you could easily solder a capacitor to. Don't know about the R6.
R2 had a stereo eaphone jack where one terminal where used with a 10k resistor to start service mode. That could be trace cut and used for disc out.

/Ubbe

The Icom R6 seems to be board-wise quite like the R2 and R5 so it should be the same procedure, any suggestion of what I should do to the circuitry to get the discriminator output working with DSDPlus? Did you manage to make your R2 work?

 

[Ubbe]

The Icom R6 seems to be board-wise quite like the R2 and R5 so it should be the same procedure, any suggestion of what I should do to the circuitry to get the discriminator output working with DSDPlus? Did you manage to make your R2 work?

On that nl site he soldered the braid to the metal can next to the test point. I never modified the R2 as I had other options, the Whistler TRX-2 are the best as it has a discriminator signal out the earphone jack. But with each audio device used with DSDplus it needs to be calibrated to that signal using dsdtune.exe or it will perform poorly. I use one shortcut icon for each device with the unique start settings for that device.

/Ubbe

 

[DeaconHarry16]

(i just can't figure out where to put the ground of the jack dongle) that is the configuration that was used here IC-R2

As stated in the instructions... The shield can be connected to the metal housing of coil L21.

 

[Telyron]

okay this is the interior of the R6 I can’t find the quad pin that was listed in the discriminator output page, maybe I have to remove the top board? The fact is that it is soldered to tue bottom one…

 

[Telyron]

This is what there is under the aluminum shielding

 

[slicerwizard]

I meant to solder the resistor to the quad band pin on the board of the r6 and attaching a jack dongle to it

I see you're planning to go with a single resistor based discriminator tap and use it for 4 level data decoding (DMR, etc.)

You'll get far better results if you do it properly:

Discriminator Tap Plans/Diagram Question

hey all! im getting ready to tap my 106, so im dotting my I's and crossing my T's.. just freshining up on the job and ive had a question now for a while.. ive seen 4 diff styles of taps made, 1 comprised of 2 resistors,1 tant capacitor, another, 1 resistor,1 tant capacitor and another...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[Ubbe]

It looks like the discriminator testpoint at the corner of that 8 pin IC.
It will probably be fine using that 10k resistor as they use that at the discriminator.nl webpage. You can check the waveform using DSDplus in the oscilloscope window so you don't have too much signal and starts to clip, 75% of the graph are something to aim for.

/Ubbe

 

[Telyron]

It looks like the discriminator testpoint at the corner of that 8 pin IC.
It will probably be fine using that 10k resistor as they use that at the discriminator.nl webpage. You can check the waveform using DSDplus in the oscilloscope window so you don't have too much signal and starts to clip, 75% of the graph are something to aim for.

/Ubbe

oh I see, are you sure that is the test point? If that's the case I will procede today with the soldering, I don't know if the circuit @slicewizard suggested would work significantly better... there's not much space to solder more components inside the R6... (that resistor under the RF shield will be enough of a nightmare)

 

[Ubbe]

oh I see, are you sure that is the test point?

That big copper area looks the same in the R2 and are at the same spot as the R2, but I'm not 100% sure.

If you first hold the cable from the computers input and touch it you should get a hum signal on the DSDPlus oscilloscope or a hum in your PC speaker if you have set the audio config to listen. Then solder a resistor to the testpoint, don't use the metal shield, and bend that resistor out between the plastic halves and the braid to the nearest metal shield and test if you have a signal in DSDplus window, or listen to the audio in the computer speaker.

If it works then cut the resistor leg shorter and solder a wire to it and put a shrink tube over it and try to bend it so you can get the shield back on, and solder the braid to the ground.

My computer audio input can be configure for both mic level and line level so no need to reduce the signal and isolate the DC voltage in my case by using additional components.

/Ubbe

 

[Telyron]

okay I will do the test as soon as I have time, thank you so much.
I don't know if it would be a problem but I am using a MacBook Pro with windows on it, and I am pretty sure it has only a mic input and not a line one... and I noticed that if the volume on the receiver is set too high when I try to record the audio on the computer the volume goes flat... (I suppose it saturates the recorder by generating too much current).