Trunktracking with SDR

[mapleradio]

Hello,

New to SDR, trying something different.

I am able to track the local Halton Region P25 system, and it decodes the audio but I hear nothing.

I am using Unitrunker+DSD ... basically Unitrunker does the channel tracking / control decode while DSD does the audio decode via a link using VirtualAudio Cable.

- What I am attempting to do now, is get myself setup with something that can TrunkTrack DMR Tier III. Has anyone a link to a tutorial on DSD+? I am so utterly out of my league here.

Thanks!

 

[slicerwizard]

- What I am attempting to do now, is get myself setup with something that can TrunkTrack DMR Tier III.

You get yourself updated to DSD+ Fast Lane. Follow the installation instructions in the Notes.txt file to the letter. Run the FMP24-CC.bat file to fire up your SDR (I assume you have one of the basic ones).
Run the 1R.bat file to fire up DSD+. In the FMP24 spectrum window, just type in the control channel frequency for the TIII site that you want to monitor.
Use the g/G keys in FMP24 to adjust RF gain for a nice healthy / non-overloaded signal. If it's a DFA system (like FastNet is), it'll start trunk tracking. If it's not, you'll have to use Notepad to add channel information to the DSDPlus.frequencies file. That's really all there is to it.

 

[fmoore]

I hope this is not too off topic but I have a question regarding locking out TGID's in DSD+ as a newbie in the RTL-SDR club.

This is my raw data from DSDplus- DSD+ 1.101; radio records: I want to lock out the Greely sand and gravel tag, what do I change and how do I change it? I know its something to do with the "50, Normal, portion."
Con+, 201, 310317, 2079, 50, Normal, 3, 2020/02/07 14:04, "Railway Freight "
Con+, 201, 312132, 3522, 50, Normal, 3, 2020/02/07 13:58, "Greely Sand & Gravel "
Frank

 

[slicerwizard]

Change Normal to L/O.

 

[fmoore]

Thank you.

 

[fmoore]

That didn't actually lock it out. It pops up as L/O but still plays the audio the other item to add I also edited both the the Group files and the radio files and still have the locked out tags showing up as if they are not even locked out.

In reference to another item:

Just noticed there is LRRP data on 464.3 DMR but nothing on the map

What does that data look like? This is probably not related but I am seeing digital information above the spectrum just below the frequency in Airspy that for example "e q - 1B46 - D" the same location where if you put say an FM station in it will put what is playing and what station it is.
Frank

 

[slicerwizard]

What do you mean - "in Airspy" ?

 

[DaveH]

In reference to another item:

What does that data look like? This is probably not related but I am seeing digital information above the spectrum just below the frequency in Airspy that for example "e q - 1B46 - D" the same location where if you put say an FM station in it will put what is playing and what station it is.
Frank

As mentioned earlier, not seeing LRRP on 464.300 (or 452.7125 either). Only frequency I see it on is 150.140 which
is repeater in Cumberland, clear across town from Bayshore area. Here's what activity looks like, can't show a map
at the moment. Not to rain on any parades, it's just not used much around here at the moment.

Dave

The image file does not want to upload..a 60k JPEG.

 

[fmoore]

What do you mean - "in Airspy" ?

It is the program name Airspy SDR# that works with DSD+.

 

[slicerwizard]

You're using SDR# to trunk track a Connect Plus system? Does not compute...

 

[fmoore]

Let me clarify. I might not be truck tracking but when I park on one of the frequencies in the list of any given system I can hear most of the activity. When parked on some multi frequency sites it shows what "channel"-slot 1/2 for channel 1 and 2 and slot 1/2 for 3 and four etc the activity is on. It wasn't what I was expecting because I know that a trunked system uses multiple frequencies so why I can hear most of the conversations and long extended conversations at that. I do have another RTL-SDR on order so I can properly trunk track but until it arrives what I have been using is doing more than I expected it would. Would this be the issue with why the locking out of talk-groups isn't working for me?

 

[slicerwizard]

DMR trunking systems have a control channel or rest channel that's already activating a repeater and using one of its time slots, so why not use the other slot for voice calls? Why fire up a second repeater when you already have one keyed up? Why trunk off that repeater?

And locking out a talkgroup means "don't trunk track / tune to that talkgroup", but you're manually tuning to them...

 

[fmoore]

Thanks for clarifying that. It explains a lot.

 

[fmoore]

I have a question regarding DSD+ Trunk Tracking for P25 specifically the Ottawa system.

Ottawa Trunking System, Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

What am I missing/doing wrong for this system?

This is in my DSDplus frequency file:

P25, 2F, 2, 0, 866.3375, 866.3375, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 866.0875, 866.0875, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 866.2125, 866.2125, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 866.4625, 866.4625, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 866.5875, 866.5875, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 866.7125, 866.7125, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 866.9625, 866.9625, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 867.0875, 867.0875, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 867.2125, 867.2125, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 867.3375, 867.3375, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 867.4625, 867.4625, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 867.5875, 867.5875, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 867.7125, 867.7125, 0
P25, 2F, 2, 0, 867.8375, 867.8375, 0

I can click over to any of the active frequencies in the system and get decoded audio but when I go to the CC, I have no active trunking despite a busy system and a signal.

I have it working with the same settings with OnQ Network Trunking System, Multiple Locations, Ontario - Scanner Frequencies system so its these lines of code that must be my issue.

On that note, is there a generic code list for each of the types of systems where one can fill in the blank using RR?
Frank

 

[DaveH]

System ID is "2E". 866.8375 is missing.

Channel numbers in column 4 are all "0", not sure if it needs the actual system channel numbers to track,
based on the bandplan. Pro96Com displays these.

Column 6 is for RX frequencies which are 45MHz below, would not affect tracking but not correct.

Dave

 

[slicerwizard]

This is in my DSDplus frequency file:

Nothing should be in your .frequencies file for a P25 trunking system (assuming you're running a Fast Lane version of DSD+)

I can click over to any of the active frequencies in the system and get decoded audio but when I go to the CC, I have no active trunking despite a busy system and a signal.

I have it working with the same settings with OnQ Network Trunking System, Multiple Locations, Ontario - Scanner Frequencies system so its these lines of code that must be my issue.

You haven't indicated what version of DSD+ you're using. 1.101 won't trunk track P25 (it doesn't decode P25 control channels)

 

[mmisk]

Hello fmoore

Try a different P25 system such as Quebec Hydro: 142.065.

DSD should begin tracking right away.

I agree with this by slicerwizard:

"Nothing should be in your .frequencies file for a P25 trunking system (assuming you're running a Fast Lane version of DSD+) "

 

[DaveH]

Indeed, 1p101 does not even display framing, NAC etc. from the CC on the Ottawa (Harris) Phase 2 P25
system, though it does with Phase 1 systems.

I'm not using DSD+ for tracking at present. Wherever the VC's are configured , not sure it would
require manual entry of channel numbers as the frequencies should be derived from bandplan (base freq, step etc.)
and channel numbers transmitted on the CC.

Dave

 

[slicerwizard]

Indeed, 1p101 does not even display framing, NAC etc. from the CC on the Ottawa (Harris) Phase 2 P25
system, though it does with Phase 1 systems.

Probably because you're not using PSK mode.

 

[mapleradio]

I have it working well with Charlton, the issue is that I cannot seem to get any digital to decode... and the channel list seems messed up, even after an import.

I have perfect analog talkgroup decode at -4 to -5 window.

I upgraded to a discone at an elevation of 15M above ground with LMR400 between the antenna and SDR that cleared the signal... I think.

Thanks for your help.