Quick Call decoding software- DTMF too

[trooperdude]

I just started a project to map all of the (primarily fire) quick call and
dtmf ring-down tones for my area of operation, so I can submit them
to the RR database.

(I encourage other's here to do the same for their areas)

DTMF is no problem, I use a pcr1000 to log them and a vox recorder
to record the audio to hard drive.

Simple matter to match them up later.

Quick Call is a PITA however. I'm using a commercial studio program to
look at the tone frequency as it's broadcast, then map the station/resource
in excel.

Time consuming.

I'd like to find something that would (UNATTENDED) log quick call tones and the
first 30 seconds of audio after, so I could map them together later.

Any suggestions ?

What programs are people using out in scanner-land ?

 

[loumaag]

I would suggest IDTracker (or IDTrackerII) if you are using a Uniden scanner, you can't limit the audio to 30 seconds but it will record & log by frequency while you are elsewhere. When you get back, you can use the recorded audio to figure out the tones.

 

[trooperdude]

I Googled and found a good writeup here:
http://www.wpascanner.com/wiki/index.php?title=Hardware:Tone_Out

This should be part of the RR wiki.

Looks like my record and decode manually method is the only thing out there.

 

[trooperdude]

I would suggest IDTracker (or IDTrackerII) if you are using a Uniden scanner, you can't limit the audio to 30 seconds but it will record & log by frequency while you are elsewhere. When you get back, you can use the recorded audio to figure out the tones.

Thanks.

I don't need to track multiple frequencies and log them.

I usually park on one frequency to do the recording and analysis.

What I wish for is a program similar to the one you mention that will
record and log Quick Call, DTMF, Knox and hex tones.

 

[ka3jjz]

I Googled and found a good writeup here:
http://www.wpascanner.com/wiki/index.php?title=Hardware:Tone_Out

This should be part of the RR wiki.

Looks like my record and decode manually method is the only thing out there.

Already linked and cross referenced under the explanation for Fire Tone Out . Thanks for thinking about it tho

73s Mike

 

[blantonl]

These folks have a tone out decoding software package.

http://comtekk.us/two-tone-decoder.htm

 

[N9JIG]

I just started a project to map all of the (primarily fire) quick call and
dtmf ring-down tones for my area of operation, so I can submit them
to the RR database.

(I encourage other's here to do the same for their areas)

DTMF is no problem, I use a pcr1000 to log them and a vox recorder
to record the audio to hard drive.

Simple matter to match them up later.

Quick Call is a PITA however. I'm using a commercial studio program to
look at the tone frequency as it's broadcast, then map the station/resource
in excel.

Time consuming.

I'd like to find something that would (UNATTENDED) log quick call tones and the
first 30 seconds of audio after, so I could map them together later.

Any suggestions ?

What programs are people using out in scanner-land ?

While I don't have a solution to your Unattended issue, I have had very good results using ScannerRecorder to record all the activity on a channel for a period of time. It creates a single WAV file for the period used. I then view/listen to the file in Adobe Audition. This allows me to visually find tone outs as they show a very regular pattern in the visual window. I can then just plop the cursor in the "A" tone, view the measured frequency and then check the "B" tone. I usually save the tone and message so I can later figure out what the tone is used for.

On a local fire freq shared by a half dozen departments, I just recorded the channel for a couple days and spent an half hour or so parsing out the tone outs, and then another hour measuring the tones and listening to the messages to figure out what tones went with what type of call. One agency near me tests every tone at 7 PM Sunday nights, I was able to figure out each tone they use that way.

By running the recorder during the day on a different freq I was able to figure out hundreds of different fire tones on various channels heard from home within a week. Adobe has a 30 free trial of Audition that might fit your needs.

If you subscribe to Monitoring Times I wrote an article detailing the processes and listing the various tones used by most agencies across the country in the August 2006 issue. It might help!

 

[trooperdude]

These folks have a tone out decoding software package.

http://comtekk.us/two-tone-decoder.htm

This one looks pretty good, but I didn't see a logging feature.

 

[ka3jjz]

twhitson's review says that a log file is in the works....

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75508

73s Mike

 

[trooperdude]

twhitson's review says that a log file is in the works....

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75508

73s Mike

Excellent.

I will wait for the upgrade before I buy it.

Thanks

 

[twhitson]

Trooperdude:

I use Scanning Recorder to make recordings (it's vox, so you only get transmissions, not "dead air" and you have the dispatch to match them up), then I loop them back into the ComTekk recorder to decode them. Works like a charm!

One thing I've noticed...regardless of your setup, the decoding will be 1-3hz off.....the solution is to match them to the closest tone from the Motorola QuickCall II reference chart. Anyway, before I did this I plugged the tone in as decoded and it still worked in my BCD396