SDRSharp FLEX Plugin (Paging)

[Unitrunker2]

FLEX Plugin

This is a somewhat crude first draft at a multi-channel FLEX decoder plugin for SDRSharp version 1830 and later.

It supports a total of eight channels. There are seven pre-programmed channels for the 930 MHz band. The eighth channel follows whatever you click in the waterfall. To get the benefit of covering all pager signals in one band, you need an SDR with adequate usable bandwidth. An Airspy Mini at 6 msps does a perfect job.

12.5 khz spacing is recommended.

There's an Enable checkbox. When checked - a grid window appears. All decoded content appears there.

Limitations

• Lacks a fine-tuning feature. It works best on an SDR that is well calibrated.
• The seven pre-programmed channels are not (yet) editable.
• FLEX only. No POCSAG, ERMES or Mobitex and definitely no RD-LAP.
• Consult the laws in your area before using.

Download

SDRsharp.Flex.Plugins.zip

Inside are three DLL files and an example plugins.xml file. If you copy the files into your "Plugins" folder, you don't need to touch your plugins.xml file.

 

[WX4JCW]

Installed pretty good, not a bad decode rate will definitely take some tuning but it works, good job, im thinking the garbled messages are encrypted (jibberish) as I'm getting pretty good decodes,

 

[WX4JCW]

needs a capcode filter and mode filter

 

[Spleen]

Up and running in less than two minutes. Outstanding effort. Juggling the fine line between manual and auto gain, but I'll live with it.

 

[jimmid]

is there any way to modify the pre-configured 7, 900mhz channels as here in Australia we use the 148mhz band? Because if I tune in to a 148mhz pager channel as soon as I click on enable it switches to the 900mhz channel and I have to re-tune.

 

[Spleen]

What's the scheme down there? I figured that range would be using POCSAG, not FLEX...

is there any way to modify the pre-configured 7, 900mhz channels as here in Australia we use the 148mhz band? Because if I tune in to a 148mhz pager channel as soon as I click on enable it switches to the 900mhz channel and I have to re-tune.

 

[jimmid]

The South Australian Government Radio network that covers the whole state of South Australia for all government entities is on 148.8125 mhz using Flex 1600
Apparently most pagers in Australia use 148 mhz and a lot are Flex

 

[jimmid]

here is a screenshot of the Flex decoder running on the SAGRN

 

[Spleen]

Understood. I couldn't find a doc that explained protocols in use down there, just the fact that it's a pager segment. Around these parts you find POCSAG on 152MHz, a few on 153 (power companies, etc.)...apparently they're phasing out or have phased out 158MHz usage for same here. There's some oddballs in the 462MHz area, but then you jump up to 900MHz and it's all FLEX.

here is a screenshot of the Flex decoder running on the SAGRN

 

[jimmid]

Haven't got around to selling that segment off here yet 😂

 

[Unitrunker2]

Hi Jimmid;

is there any way to modify the pre-configured 7, 900mhz channels as here in Australia we use the 148mhz band?

Thank you for your interest. From the original post:

The seven pre-programmed channels are not (yet) editable.

This was a toy project but since you've asked I'll look at making the seven channels editable - likely from a file.

If there's a well known set of nationwide channels - please share.

 

[Patricia101]

The South Australian Government Radio network that covers the whole state of South Australia for all government entities is on 148.8125 mhz using Flex 1600
Apparently most pagers in Australia use 148 mhz and a lot are Flex

I used to occasionally Rx the Australian 148MHz Pagers here in New Zealand during enhanced Spring/Summer propagation conditions.

 

[jimmid]

Hi Jimmid;



Thank you for your interest. From the original post:



This was a toy project but since you've asked I'll look at making the seven channels editable - likely from a file.

If there's a well known set of nationwide channels - please share.

Thank you for that.
I'll see what I can find out about paging frequencies in Australia for you.

 

[hamradionl]

Hi thank you,
when change freq to VHF, flex keep locking to 930,000 MHz both SDR# and in the logging screen

 

[MrBungle]

Logged in after like 10 years after finding this post.

I fully support this build. If it had the features (like email notifications etc) of PDW it would be such a strong plugin.

 

[MrBungle]

I did get something out of it recently.

 

[MrBungle]

Actually I got way more. Looks like itès running on par with my PDW- just needs a filter list. Frequency in the pager window isnt correct tho.

 

[megamind994]

Download link broken?
Leads to a 404 page.

 

[Unitrunker2]

It did not survive the cut over to newer server early this year. I'll dig that up.

 

[Unitrunker2]

SDRSharp.Flex.Plugins.zip

Please make note of the https:// prefix. The old link was http:// (without the 's').