Log RSSI in Control Demo

[pro106import]

Does anyone have programming knowledge to be able to set up the Control Demo program or the TRXAndroid server program to log the RSSI along with all the other info. The RSSI shows live on the Control window, but doesn't log it into the log file. I believe there is open source data somewhere for it. Doesn't look like we will get any updates from Whistler anymore. I did request it as an improvement a while back when they were still actively supporting update suggestions.

 

[Swipesy]

I have never seen a scanner log program that reports what your asking for. The Control Demo protocol is on the WhistlerGroup Download site. Maybe you can find a programming guru near you that can modify the ControlDemo exe file for you.

 

[pro106import]

Maybe you can find a programming guru near you that can modify the ControlDemo exe file for you.

That's why I asked here. Everyone on this forum is "near me"
But actually there are programs that do what I am asking. I use Scanner Recorder Pro for Uniden radios. It logs the RSSI live and also shows it when you play back the recordings.
Here is the live recording screenshot. The red arrows show the RSSI live:



Here is the Playback programs screenshot for the same recorded event. The red arrows show the recorded RSSI:

 

[Swipesy]

I hope you don't get overwhelmed by all the responses your are getting!

 

[visegrip72]

Hmmm.... Maybe emailing one of the authors could work.... I don't visit this site too often and happened to view. The RSSI is part of a status packet, where as a call is part of a Call packet from the scanner. I can try to have it log whatever the most recent RSSI value when it logs the call. Is that what you are looking for, or a constant stream of those values? A constant stream would also depend on how frequently the client asks for that status packet. Not 100% sure what you are looking for exactly. As for getting someone to change the ControlDemo.exe - that is a LOT harder than you think, unless you have the source code! (hacking an existing EXE to add functionality is REALLY insane/hard to do). It would be TONS easier to write your own, whistler shares the communication protocol, that is what I used for my app. I commend them for sharing it - I don't think I would have bothered writing my app without it!

 

[pro106import]

I can try to have it log whatever the most recent RSSI value when it logs the call. Is that what you are looking for, or a constant stream of those values?

Yes I did send in the suggestion a few times to the support email back when they were actually reading them and responding. At the time the "Control Demo" program was just that, a demo. Or as the engineer put it, a "work in progress". As we know there hasn't really been any more updates in a while.
Yes the Control Demo programs live screen shows the RSSI as you can see in my original post up top. (Red arrows point to it). It is a constant live changing reading with a continuous sample rate. The actual logging program does log the events, everything except the RSSI:
TYPE COMP_DATE COMP_TIME SCAN_DATE SCAN_TIME ALPHATAG SYSTEM INFO OBJECT_ID TGID1 TGID2 RID1 RID2 SITE TSYS_ID OTHER_TEXT FREQ1 FREQ2 SQ_MODE SQ_VALUE TSYS_TYPE
I attached a sample of a logging.
I do a lot of unattended searching and when I get a catch of an unknown transmission, it is very helpful to have the signal strength reading as well as all of the other info. Yes I know it takes a "snapshot" of the event when the squelch first opens, so that would have to be the one sample RSSI reading that it logs. Which is fine. I am used to that with the Scanner Recorder Pro program. (I included snapshots of that program in a previous post here also up above)
Maybe someday Whistler will start to give us firmware updates and the like. But there hasn't been much from Uniden or Unification lately either. Hey Christmas is coming, you never know
Thank You for the response @visegrip72
Bob

 

[visegrip72]

Bob,
Do you realize Whistler's Control Demo and the TRX Android Suite are two similar but different applications created and supported by two totally separate entities? I can attest (I just searched), I have never received an email requesting RSSI logging be added to my app (TRX Android Suite). Have you even downloaded and tried the TRX Android Suite? Your attached event log is NOT from the TRX Android Suite. Give the TRX Android Suite a try, and if it works and fits your needs other than RSSI logging, let me know. I can try to add when I have time, it should not be that difficult. This app is a hobby/side application for me, so it receives limited time. I may add the RSSI to the log anyway if it is as easy to do as I think.

 

[pro106import]

Bob,
Do you realize Whistler's Control Demo and the TRX Android Suite are two similar but different applications created and supported by two totally separate entities? I can attest (I just searched), I have never received an email requesting RSSI logging be added to my app (TRX Android Suite). Have you even downloaded and tried the TRX Android Suite? Your attached event log is NOT from the TRX Android Suite. Give the TRX Android Suite a try, and if it works and fits your needs other than RSSI logging, let me know. I can try to add when I have time, it should not be that difficult. This app is a hobby/side application for me, so it receives limited time. I may add the RSSI to the log anyway if it is as easy to do as I think.

Yes sir I have that program installed and have used it. It is pretty much identical to the Control Demo as far as what it logs, less the RSSI. If you can add the logging of the RSSI that would be fantastic!

 

[visegrip72]

" Yes I know it takes a "snapshot" of the event when the squelch first opens, so that would have to be the one sample RSSI reading that it logs "
Actually, the "snapshot" of an event does NOT include RSSI, as I mentioned before. RSSI is in the STATUS packet which is a DIFFERENT packet than an EVENT packet. TRX Android Suite does have an option to log everything, which repeats the EVENT packet logging for each event. I can use that to keep a log of the RSSI as the transmission is coming in possibly, but will not be 100% accurate because the packets sent from the scanner are two different packets.

 

[pro106import]

" Yes I know it takes a "snapshot" of the event when the squelch first opens, so that would have to be the one sample RSSI reading that it logs "
Actually, the "snapshot" of an event does NOT include RSSI, as I mentioned before. RSSI is in the STATUS packet which is a DIFFERENT packet than an EVENT packet. TRX Android Suite does have an option to log everything, which repeats the EVENT packet logging for each event. I can use that to keep a log of the RSSI as the transmission is coming in possibly, but will not be 100% accurate because the packets sent from the scanner are two different packets.

Yes 100% accurate isn't important to me. Just a ballpark reading that it gives would be good! Better than nothing for sure. That is the way Scanner Recorder Pro works for the Unidens. The first reading it get s is what it logs.

 

[visegrip72]

Great, you got me at a lucky time for my past-time activities. Your screenshot looks like it is from an older version of my software. Don't bother upgrading yet. I'll post here when a new version is ready.

 

[pro106import]

Great, you got me at a lucky time for my past-time activities. Your screenshot looks like it is from an older version of my software. Don't bother upgrading yet. I'll post here when a new version is ready.

Wow sounds great! Thank You!

 

[Ubbe]

I looked in the exe file and though it would be a quick hack to change an adress to fetch the RSSI value instead of another one that are stored in the logfile. But as Visegrip mention the logfile use the info resulting from one mode and the upper right values in the demo display comes from another command mode. So there's a reason to why the demo doesn't include the RSSI in the logfile, it's a bit more complicated to do. Hopefully Visegrip can solve it as it would be a welcomed addition.

Uniden has everything included in the response to their status command so it will be much easier to include a RSSI value in a logfile.

/Ubbe

 

[pro106import]

I looked in the exe file and though it would be a quick hack to change an adress to fetch the RSSI value instead of another one that are stored in the logfile. But as Visegrip mention the logfile use the info resulting from one mode and the upper right values in the demo display comes from another command mode. So there's a reason to why the demo doesn't include the RSSI in the logfile, it's a bit more complicated to do. Hopefully Visegrip can solve it as it would be a welcomed addition.

Uniden has everything included in the response to their status command so it will be much easier to include a RSSI value in a logfile.

/Ubbe

Wow you guys are good. I took Basic and Fortran in High School but that was a looooong time ago lol. It really would be a welcomed addition. It is a very important piece of the puzzle so to speak when you are searching for new signals.

 

[visegrip72]

A Private Message with a link to an updated version was sent to you.
If it works well, I will announce it. I also added feature where you can use keyboard to hit the buttons instead of only via mouse, sooo much easier to hit digits now.

 

[visegrip72]

New Version on the site, link in my signature.

 

[pro106import]

New Version on the site, link in my signature.

Wow I didn't realize until now that you are the original creator of this app! Great job. Now that's what I call customer support!

 

[visegrip72]

Yep. That was why I made my first comment "Hmmm.... Maybe emailing one of the authors could work...." As much as I don't really have too much time for this app, I do answer emails as best I can. Glad timing worked out and the updates are useful.

 

[pro106import]

Yep. That was why I made my first comment "Hmmm.... Maybe emailing one of the authors could work...." As much as I don't really have too much time for this app, I do answer emails as best I can. Glad timing worked out and the updates are useful.

Yeah I guess I got so used to the lack of support from some of the major scanner and pager manufacturers I just gave up on sending suggestions for improvements. But boy that was a fast fix! @JoeBearcat probably wishes he had a support group on his side like this.

 

[judyfinkle]

Does anyone have programming knowledge to be able to set up the Control Demo program or the TRXAndroid server program to log the RSSI along with all the other info. The RSSI shows live on the Control window, but doesn't log it into the log file. I believe there is open source data somewhere for it. Doesn't look like we will get any updates from Whistler anymore. I did request it as an improvement a while back when they were still actively supporting update suggestions.
View attachment 111199

How did you get it to show the sqMode and sqTone Thanks