Stream scanner audio over a LAN

[pfdradio]

I'm looking to stream scanner audio locally into a network, in a fire station. I would like to receive the audio at different locations in the station.
What equipment would I need to get something like this done?
The audio receivers could be wired into the network or over our WIFI (even better). When I say receivers I mean a device that could decode the scanner's audio stream and an amplified speaker to hear the audio.

Mods if there is a more appropriate forum for this post please let me know. Thanks

 

[xicarusx]

What are you currently using to get the audio?

I think something like an icecast2 server would work to supply the audio. Then to play the audio, you could use a Raspberry PI connected to an amplified speaker. Or any computer really. Ill show you mine for example.

My icecast server, and my stream URL You would just have the url autoplay on the raspberry pi which can be wired or on WIFI.

 

[DC31]

What are you currently using to get the audio?

I think something like an icecast2 server would work to supply the audio. Then to play the audio, you could use a Raspberry PI connected to an amplified speaker. Or any computer really. Ill show you mine for example.

My icecast server, and my stream URL You would just have the url autoplay on the raspberry pi which can be wired or on WIFI.

what kind of latency (delay) are you seeing streaming through icecast this way? To be useful in a fire station, I think he would want little to no delay

 

[ProScan]

I'm looking to stream scanner audio locally into a network, in a fire station. I would like to receive the audio at different locations in the station.
What equipment would I need to get something like this done?
The audio receivers could be wired into the network or over our WIFI (even better). When I say receivers I mean a device that could decode the scanner's audio stream and an amplified speaker to hear the audio.

Mods if there is a more appropriate forum for this post please let me know. Thanks

What type of scanner? If using the BCD536HP WiFi or the SDS200 LAN (for the audio) then it should just be a matter of connecting the scanner to the Intranet then use VLC or my free RadioFeed program to decode and playback the audio from the scanner.

 

[xicarusx]

The way I am doing it as above with an 3.5mm audio jack. Then to darkice, which broadcasts to the icecast server. It is a 30 second delay.

 

[DC31]

There are probably 10 ways to skin this cat. Each is going to have its advantages/disadvantages. Using wifi means that you are going to have a computer streaming the signal into the wifi and a computer at each point decoding that signal to create the sound to play from speakers. That can end up being a bunch of computers. How many do you want to buy? You could use a smart TV to stream but then what if you want to watch TV? Can you play network sound from a Google Mini? Do you want Google listening to everything going on in your station? Are all your rooms within range of a bluetooth transmitter?

A couple ideas (my experience and knowledge is primarily on the Raspberry Pi platform so those are the kind of ideas that I get):

1. Set up a pi as the audio source device. The pi comes with pulseaudio. Pulseaudio is capable of streaming across a network (it is a little challenging to figure out). Set up Pi Zero W units in the various rooms. Capture the pulseaudio stream and play it out via bluetooth. Get some bluetooth speakers (they are cheap) and set them wherever you want them in the room. You are probably going to need a separate Pi Zero for each room. The are $10 apiece but after you get case and power supply you are up to around $30. They come with wifi and BT. There are also other single board computers that can do this similarly, maybe even something Windows-based. Or set up each room with one of the other Pi models with an audio jack connected to speakers.

2. Set up a Zello feed using a Pi as the audio source. then set up a computer of some sort in each of your rooms playing the Zello feed. The latency will be 1-2 seconds, much better than streaming through darkice. And anyone with a smart phone can tune in to the Zello feed regardless of where they are in the world as long as they have internet access. You can also use the Zello feed as a station intercom system.

Ok, so there are 2 of the 10 ways...

 

[ProScan]

Another way that may work is by using an audio over Ethernet adapter that supports RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol).
That way, the VLC app or another app (my Free RadioFeed) that supports RTP can decode and playback the audio. No computer is needed on the scanner side.

 

[pfdradio]

The audio is supplied via a BCT15X. I guess we could upgrade to a 536HP and use the WiFi dongle to get the audio into the network. I was wondering if there were any off the shelf devices to play the audio. If there was a PI audio receiver that would be great. Latency (long) was an issue I didn't even consider. I have a Logitech squeezebox radio that streams from my music collection, so I guess I was thinking something like an internet radio type device.

 

[ProScan]

This may work. I didn't check but perhaps an audio only encoder is out there somewhere.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CBMZ24P/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

Search the customer questions & answers for "VLC". Many hits comes up and it appears that VLC media player will work at the other side. VLC is made for mobile devices too so a smart phone should work to pick up the audio then decode it then playback.

 

[pfdradio]

After some searching, there appears to be a whole industry that is IP speakers or network audio. A little pricey, but it seems that this is probably what I was looking for. I appreciate all the ideas. Apparently there are many ways to skin this cat. Thanks for your help.