Sdr help

[wesley2099]

I am completely new to this sdr world. I received and installed a Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 today. It seems to be putting audio out and working. I am wondering if I can download
Sdrtrunk as a plugin module or can this nooelec device run sdrtrunk. My goal is to decode some p25 and dmr stuff in my area. I’m hoping I didn’t order the wrong unit for what I need.

 

[RaleighGuy]

That SDR should be fine, what software are you running now?

 

[wesley2099]

That SDR should be fine, what software are you running now?

Hey thanks for the response, I’m not running anything yet just the main sdr++ program. I still haven’t figured out the plugin module thing yet and how sdrtrunk will get loaded into there.

 

[Enforcer52]

SDRTrunk is its own standalone program. Although there are programs you can use in conjunction with it, it will do P25 and DMR all by itself.

 

[dave3825]

Depending on what exactly you want to scan, that dongle should be fine. But if you exceed the spread of a sites freq, DSDPlus would be a good option. SDRTrunk uses only the bandwidth of the dongle. DSDPlus can follow trunked on systems whose freqs span more than the dongle can provide.

 

[wesley2099]

I really appreciate all the help, I was able to get sdrtrunk Installed and working. I’m having a few issues with audio I seem to hear stuff in the background but the software doesn’t seem to pick it up. I’m just trying dmr frequency’s now. Maybe 8 different frequency’s is to much at once to have going on one dongle not sure.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Dependingo n what your monitoring you may need more than one dongle. Being you never told us what P25 system I'm not sure if one dongle will work. I run 3 dongles on my feed, one for UHF low, one for VHF and one for VHF Low.

 

[wesley2099]

Dependingo n what your monitoring you may need more than one dongle. Being you never told us what P25 system I'm not sure if one dongle will work. I run 3 dongles on my feed, one for UHF low, one for VHF and one for VHF Low.

Good to know, I haven’t tried a p25 frequency yet just trying some random dmr frequency’s, some may be part of a system some just single channel dmr. If they are all close in the frequency zone, how many frequency’s or channels can you scan at once.

 

[Enforcer52]

Maybe 8 different frequency’s is to much at once to have going on one dongle not sure.

Using SDRTrunk, I have 17 frequencies (VHF, 4 are DMR) running on one sdr, one running 11 (VHF 5 are DMR) freqs, one running 9 (VHF 3 are DMR) freqs, one running 2 700 Mhz P25 systems, one running another 2 800 Mhz P252 systems, and three dongles that are 'floaters' for the P25 systems, all on a powered 11 port usb hub, to a Firebat mini pc N150 16gb, pushing out 3 Calls feeds and 1 Broadcastify Legacy feed. With no problems, other than sometimes lag on uploading the files to the streams due to the number of freqs being received at the same time.

 

[wesley2099]

Using SDRTrunk, I have 17 frequencies (VHF, 4 are DMR) running on one sdr, one running 11 (VHF 5 are DMR) freqs, one running 9 (VHF 3 are DMR) freqs, one running 2 700 Mhz P25 systems, one running another 2 800 Mhz P252 systems, and three dongles that are 'floaters' for the P25 systems, all on a powered 11 port usb hub, to a Firebat mini pc N150 16gb, pushing out 3 Calls feeds and 1 Broadcastify Legacy feed. With no problems, other than sometimes lag on uploading the files to the streams due to the number of freqs being received at the same time.

Wow that’s quite the setup. I’m just starting out with this sdr stuff. I was able to get sdrtrunk to decode once but that was it. I’m also wondering about audio recordings I see that it logs the info talkgroup id and time and cc but is there a way to setup audio recordings of a Frequency your monitoring without putting it on broadcastify?

 

[Enforcer52]

I was able to get sdrtrunk to decode once but that was it. I’m also wondering about audio recordings I see that it logs the info talkgroup id and time and cc but is there a way to setup audio recordings of a Frequency your monitoring without putting it on broadcastify?

Absolutely, when you create your alias list for each single freq, or P25 system, there are settings for Listen and for Record for each channel or TGID. You don't have to stream a channel or TGID. SDRTrunk has its own sub-directory 'SDR-recordings' where your recordings are stored. Not everything I listen to is streamed.

I suggest you watch the below video on setting up SDRT, once past the initial setup of the sdr, it explains the Alias lists pretty well and how to import from RR database, and set them up. You need an Alias list for each individual single freq entry, and one for each P25 system so you will see the channel/TGID name instead of just a TO number or TGID number.

Knowing your location and what you want to listen to would help in being more specific with answers to your questions.

 

[wesley2099]

Absolutely, when you create your alias list for each single freq, or P25 system, there are settings for Listen and for Record for each channel or TGID. You don't have to stream a channel or TGID. SDRTrunk has its own sub-directory 'SDR-recordings' where your recordings are stored. Not everything I listen to is streamed.

I suggest you watch the below video on setting up SDRT, once past the initial setup of the sdr, it explains the Alias lists pretty well and how to import from RR database, and set them up. You need an Alias list for each individual single freq entry, and one for each P25 system so you will see the channel/TGID name instead of just a TO number or TGID number.

Knowing your location and what you want to listen to would help in being more specific with answers to your questions.

I definitely will watch the video thanks again for your help.

 

[jeepsandradios]

The biggest item you will find is the Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 is only 3.2mhz of bandwidth. So for me my VHF stuff is all within 3mhz so im good. My trunk system I monitor has stuff over a larger area so need 2 dongles for that. The SDR is great with the tools out there now just know your limitations. I run a airspy mini for work stuff as that gives me almost double the bandwidth.

 

[wesley2099]

The biggest item you will find is the Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 is only 3.2mhz of bandwidth. So for me my VHF stuff is all within 3mhz so im good. My trunk system I monitor has stuff over a larger area so need 2 dongles for that. The SDR is great with the tools out there now just know your limitations. I run a airspy mini for work stuff as that gives me almost double the bandwidth.

Awesome to know, are you able to run other stuff like sdrsharp with the nooelec or do you have to stick with the sdr++ software. I’m really just looking for stuff like sdrtrunk to decode and show talkgroups and color codes is my main goal.

 

[jeepsandradios]

I run SDR Trunk 99% of the time with mine. You can run which ever software you want as long as drivers work. Only one program at a time per dongle.

 

[dave3825]

I’m also wondering about audio recordings I see that it logs the info talkgroup id and time and cc but is there a way to setup audio recordings of a Frequency your monitoring without putting it on broadcastify?

2 programs that ingest your recordings and offer playback.

Trunking recorder or Rdio Scanner