New to SDR

[CrazyRach82]

I have just purchased an RTL-SDR. I have managed to set it up and receive analog transmissions fine using SDR Sharp, but I have run into all sorts of problems trying to hear DMR transmissions.
I downloaded DSD Plus, Virtual Cable, but either lose the sound when selecting the virtual cable or the program crashes when starting the audio in SDR Sharp.
Is this still the best way to listen to Digital audio on the RTL-SDR? Or is there a way to do it without the virtual cable?
I am mostly looking to track information from mototrbo and trunked systems like Manchester Airport. But overall I’ll listen to anything that is possible. I just can’t seem to get to work. Ive spent all day trying to sort it and have search google high and low, but a lot of the stuff seems to be quite old.
I am going to give up for now and keep reading, hoping to find something.
But any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[saioke]

I have just purchased an RTL-SDR. I have managed to set it up and receive analog transmissions fine using SDR Sharp, but I have run into all sorts of problems trying to hear DMR transmissions.
I downloaded DSD Plus, Virtual Cable, but either lose the sound when selecting the virtual cable or the program crashes when starting the audio in SDR Sharp.
Is this still the best way to listen to Digital audio on the RTL-SDR? Or is there a way to do it without the virtual cable?
I am mostly looking to track information from mototrbo and trunked systems like Manchester Airport. But overall I’ll listen to anything that is possible. I just can’t seem to get to work. Ive spent all day trying to sort it and have search google high and low, but a lot of the stuff seems to be quite old.
I am going to give up for now and keep reading, hoping to find something.
But any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

You don't need the virtual audio cable if you buy the Fast Lane version of DSD+. But if you aren't willing to do that, SDRTrunk can decode DMR as well without virtual cables, and might be easier for you to set up.

If you want to use regular DSD+, someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you need two SDRs to use it. But I guess you could try it and see if it works for yourself. I'm honestly not too familiar with the older version of DSD+. But regardless, you need to set your output in DSD+ to use your VB Cable input. Then what I like to do is open sound properties and click the recording tab, find your virtual cable OUTPUT, click properties, then in the listen tab, check "listen to this device" and select whatever device you'd like to hear it from.




You can't use other SDR software if you dedicate your device to another program which is why it crashes if you start the audio in SDR# when DSD is running. This is one of the reasons why people buy multiple SDRs. Just so you know, you'll also need an extra SDR if you want to monitor a trunked system with voice channels that span past 2.4mhz from your control channel. Unless of course, you use the fast lane version of DSD+, which can support using a single SDR for monitoring one system. But in doing that, if you're monitoring something that has a lot of traffic, you may miss a lot of calls.

 

[dave3825]

receive analog transmissions fine using SDR Sharp, but I have run into all sorts of problems trying to hear DMR transmissions.

I downloaded DSD Plus, Virtual Cable,

Is this still the best way to listen to Digital audio on the RTL-SDR? Or is there a way to do it without the virtual cable?

It was at one time the only way. Without the use of cables, these programs will work. What you want to listen to will determine what you should use. If trunked systems, you may need additional dongles depending on the spread of freqs used on the site. (DSDPlus FastLane can follow trunked systems with just one dongle)

DSDPlus FastLane

• Fusion
• D-STAR
• NXDN4800
• NXDN9600
• dPMR
• DMR/MotoTRBO
• P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2
• X2-TDMA

SDRTrunk

• AM - AM demodulator
• APCO-25 Phase 1 (C4FM/Simulcast) - P25 message decoder and automatic trunked channel following.
• APCO-25 Phase 2 - Phase 1 control channels with automatic Phase 2 trunked channel following.
• DCS - Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) decoder for NBFM channels
• Fleetsync II - FM demodulator and decoder for ANI, Acknowledge, Status, Paging and GPS bursts
• FM/NBFM - narrow-band FM demodulator with squelch control.
• LJ1200 - FM demodulator and decoder for LoJack data bursts on 173.075 MHz in US.
• LTR-Net - FM demodulator and LTR-Net trunked radio signaling decoder
• LTR-Standard - FM demodulator and Logic Trunked Radio (LTR) trunked radio signaling decoder
• MDC-1200 - FM demodulator and decoder for MDC-1200 ANI bursts.
• MPT-1327 - FM demodulator and MPT-1327 trunked radio signaling decoder and automatic trunked channel following.
• Passport - FM demodulator and Passport trunked radio signaling decoder.
• Tait 1200 - FM demodulator and decoder for Tait CCDI protocol GPS location bursts.

Unitrunker

• APCO P25 Phase 1
• EDACS 4800
• EDACS 9600
• Motorola
• MPT1327

Sdr#

• Conv Dmr with plugin
• Conv P25 with plugin
• Conv dPMR with plugin

 

[morfis]

By far the easiest way to monitor the trunked DMR at Ringway is to use DSD+ Fastlane and two receivers.
Alternatively, program your bearcrap with the individual frequencies (as a local advised you on a UK bulletin board) and you'll hear all of the traffic but without the extra information you can leverage with FL.

 

[spongella]

Not being able to hear the audio when it's piped into decoding software via Virtual Cable is normal. Why the cause of the crash I'm not sure.

 

[moonbounce]

Just a thought, but did you go into SDRSharp and change the Audio from speakers to Windows direct sound. You won't hear anything digital until you change the audio. and then change it back if you want analog.

Also I run one dongle with SDRsharp and decode anything on DSDPlus menu.

 

[dave3825]

It would help if OP lists the version of SDR# he is using (some versions had issues) and also advise if he is using the DSDPlus plug in or just setting SDR# audio output to virtual cable. Also need filter audio to be unchecked.