Conventional Control?

Muxlow · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 01:36 AM

Not sure if this is possible or not.. thats why im going to ask

Is there a way to monitor a conventional channel for a fire/police serivce?
Something like a UT window thing that would show RID's on a conventional channel

To me this dont seem all to possible but who knows.. I know i dont. Yet

DaveNF2G · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 04:27 AM

It would only be possible if RIDs were transmitted on conventional channels. As far as I know, the only way that happens is if they are using some sort of signaling protocol such as GE*Star or MDC-1200 or DTMF to send unit identifications. Another possibility would be single-channel LTR where every unit is assigned a different "talkgroup" identification.

Muxlow · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 04:33 AM

I do hear a squelch sound after every officer hits the PTT. Only time i dont hear it after each transmission is when the dispatcher talks.
So id guess a MDC
Wondering if there is any type of program that could catch that and show some traffic n such

The only active people right now are the police and they only have 1 conventional freq with a standard tone

davidbond21 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 11:41 AM

Actually P-25 conventional can and often does use Radio IDs. I don't know what, if any programs are out there that would let you monitor this, though an actual P-25 radio will readily show you the 7 digit RID of any transmitting unit.

Unitrunker · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 10:52 PM

I think the Icom PC/R-2500 with a UT-122 module (?) will do this as will one of the AOR receivers that accepts and ARD-25 decoding module. I had planned on adding decode of P25 link control for the kNACk decoder but got busy with other things. For MDC1200, I think there's a program called WinMDC. There are a number of ANI signalling formats - would be sweet to get them all into one decoding utility.

wayne_h · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 12:26 AM

The ICOM radios with their applicable software and the P25 module will decode the P25 conventional radio ID and talkgroup (but stupidly no NAC). It would be great to get kNACk to work off the packet port but oh well.

I've had poor results with WinMDC. YMMV.

Muxlow · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 01:47 AM

So it will work for conventional P25 systems. What about non P25. Just a normal un encrypted non digital vhf/uhf frequency that has an MDC signal?

Jay911 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 01:49 AM

If you are looking to decode MDC1200 signals, you want to google for WINMDCD. It works very well and doesn't even require a "tap" on your radio - straight earphone audio is sufficient.

Forts · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 12:04 PM

I tried WinMDC a while back and had 0% success in getting it to work. Operator error, I'm sure... I'll maybe give it another try as well.

Jay911 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 01:13 PM

I had to screw around with volume levels a bit to get it to work, but it did, on both a post transmission PTT-ID and a weird setup the Mounties here in Alberta use called "RTT", where they Request To Transmit on a long string of repeaters all at once.. part of the request is an MDC squawk with the car id.

Tried it on Kenwood's wacky FleetSync too.. unfortunately it seems FS is just unique enough to be incompatible with MDC1200.

Muxlow · #11 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 02:06 PM

I got it to work first shot

Is there a way to edit the field thou? So it dont say post unit id for everything?
Can i edit them field to put dispatch, unit 5 blah blah blah and all that?

Jay911 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 02:07 PM

I never found a way for that, sorry.

Maybe renewed interest in the program would convince the author to upgrade/update it...?

Muxlow · #13 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 02:11 PM

I sent the guy an email.. Would be very nice if he could add something to edit them fields. If i knew anything about programming id give it a try. Buuuut i dont
Guess ill just have to write these things down

Also what does the OP, ARG and ID tags mean?

Hmm.. Would IDTracker do the trick?

Jay911 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 02:37 PM

I haven't used the program in ages, so I don't recall what the headings mean. Sorry.

Forts · #15 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muxlow

I sent the guy an email.. Would be very nice if he could add something to edit them fields. If i knew anything about programming id give it a try. Buuuut i dont
Guess ill just have to write these things down

Also what does the OP, ARG and ID tags mean?

Hmm.. Would IDTracker do the trick?

IDTracker only works with trunked stuff I believe.

Muxlow · #16 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 06:07 PM

So then it seems just this program is the only one that can do MDC decoding?