iDEN "trunker" program possible?

[Radioman96p71]

Before i get flamed for tryin to monitor the Nextel network or something, I just want to say that we have a few independent iDEN networks statewide that id like to at least try to decode the control channel.

Has there been any headway on decoding the CC or even figuring out HOW its encoded? Even to get a screen like eTrunker or something to show activity and GIDs/LIDs would be a plus.

Not that we can monitor the voice channels anyway, but itd be neat to be able to see the status messages and inner workings of this mysterious system.

Just a random idea really, thought i would see if anyone knows of something like that besides a $16K service monitor to decode the iDEN CC...

KCØGIK

[N_Jay]

First you need to get a receiver capable of receiving the M16QAM signal. This would be am AM/QAM demodulator feeding a data modem capable of decoding a 4 pilot 16 level 64 KBPS symbole stream.

Then you dump the recovered bits into a decoding program and start parsing things.

I would bet that most of the information is available in some of the detailed iDEN classes that Motorola used to offer (for big bucks).

So in the end, you will have spent a good deal of money, and even more time to get next to nothing in return.

No wonder there is not a rush to do this.

And away you go, getting the data from the CC of the particular site you are on (and oblivious to any messages on other sites).

[Radioman96p71]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

First you need to get a receiver capable of receiving the M16QAM signal. This would be am AM/QAM demodulator feeding a data modem capable of decoding a 4 pilot 16 level 64 KBPS symbole stream.

Then you dump the recovered bits into a decoding program and start parsing things.

I would bet that most of the information is available in some of the detailed iDEN classes that Motorola used to offer (for big bucks).

So in the end, you will have spent a good deal of money, and even more time to get next to nothing in return.

No wonder there is not a rush to do this.

And away you go, getting the data from the CC of the particular site you are on (and oblivious to any messages on other sites).

LOL, that simple huh? Guess that does explain why noone has done it... Oh well it was worth toying with the idea! In that respect, it would be a lot less headache and probably cheaper to go the $16K service monitor route!!!!

Thanks for the input, guess i'll focus my attention on other (easier) things haha!

KCØGIK

[wayne_h]

I used to use an iDEN phone, data cable and a clunky Motorola made software program. It wasn't like Trunker, et al but was more event reporting. Seems liked it didn't report everything either. It did show a lot though.

Most people think an iDEN control channel is just CC data but the protocol allows the CC to be used for voice and data traffic via TDMA. It would seem to be a difficult protocol to engineer a decoder app for if doing it in your spare time.

[N_Jay]

A "channel" in iDEN is a time slot, and an RF channel is called a carrier.

A control channel (CCH) is one slot on the first carrier on a site. There are also Temporary Control Channels (TCCH) if the site needs more control bandwidth than one slot can provide. Yes, the rest of the slots are used for voice and data bearer service (calls).