N9JIG Computerized Shack

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N9JIG

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I finally finished the majority of the work on the Computerized Shack. I started this project a while back after seeing the shack of Mark, KC0LRU at https://forums.radioreference.com/pictures-your-shack-mobile-setup/350946-my-little-shack.html. His work inspired me to do a similar thing within the limitations in place here.

As I already had a ton of scanners and an idea of how to utilize them I then worked out the details of how to make it work. The first thing I did was convince the wife to let me buy a new computer, monitor and other devices needed to make it all work. I still have a few ideas on how to make it better and some more work on the current edition but the majority of it is done and in place.

The main impetus for this was that I have a batch of scanners dedicated to MilAir monitoring here in the central Arizona area. I live within the boundaries of one of the active ranges here and the nearby Luke AFB hosts various units that train in them. Daily I hear and see dozens of F35’s and F16’s fly over my home and am occasionally rattled by a sonic boom. To the south is the huge Goldwater Range that sees these planes as well as A-10’s from Davis Monthan AFB over in Tucson.

After cajoling the CFO/wife out of some cash I bought the following:
  • An Intel NUC mini-PC, with an i7 3.2 GHz processer, 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD.
  • Asus 32 inch HD monitor
  • 12 USB-1 cables retrofitted with DB-9 connectors
  • 12 mini USB sound cards and cables
  • 3 13-port USB hubs
  • 2 RTL-SDR’s
  • ProScan scanner control software

I reused my existing radios and a rack case, power supply etc.

The radios in the shack include:
  • BCT15 (7)
  • BCT15X (4)
  • BCT996XT
  • BCD536HP
  • TRX-2
  • HP-1
  • HP-2
  • PSR600
  • PRO197
  • Icom R8500
  • Icom IC-746Pro
  • Kenwood TM-D700A
  • Motorola CDM1250
  • RTL-SDR (2)
  • SDR-Play
  • AirNav RadarBox

The BCT15’s, 15X’s and the 996XT were mounted in the rack cabinet reused from my prior shacks. Since this holds 10 radios I set the 996 and a BCT15 on top. Also in the case is 2 of the 13-port USB hubs, a 7-port USB hub, the 2 RTL-SDR’s, a RigRunner power strip and 3 8-port Stridsberg multicouplers.

On the desk are the Icom’s, Kenwood, Motorola and the other scanners as well as the various portables I use regularly.

After getting the radios placed and connected I got the computer set up. After installing Windows 10 and the various radio programs I use regularly I installed ProScan. I then made multiple copies of the installed folder and created desktop shortcuts. For the 12 radios in the case I used colored wire-ties to designate each one. Since I had 6 colors, the radios on the left have 1 tie on each end of each cable (Antenna, USB, Sound) and the ones on the right have 2 each. This way I can track down a bad cable if something doesn’t work.

As I plugged in each of the serial cables I noted the comm port number and labeled the desktop short cut accordingly. I then created a chart for all this so I can see what radio is where and the necessary information for it.

I then programmed each of the 10 BCT15/15X’s that will be used for MilAir identically. Each has 10 ranges for searching the MilAir bands of 15 MHz. each (except the last one that has 20 MHz.) and various scan banks I like, such as civil aviation, identified MilAir, fire, police, railroad and GMRS channels. This allows me to pull one scanner away from searching to use for something else and then assign its normal search range to another scanner.

Operationally the system seems to be working well. I ran ProScan for a couple scanners when I first started to think about this project to test for stability and suitability. I compared it to the Virtual Control feature of ARC-15 or ARC-XT Pro and preferred ProScan for control and ARC for programming. After playing with the demo version for a couple weeks I bought a license for it and decided it was well worth the $50.

The monitor I have is large enough and has sufficient resolution to run 3 instances of ProScan across and 6 down in the “Scanner Only” view. With 13 instances I have the windows set up in the same orientation as the radios are mounted, this leaves me enough room to have 1 or 2 windows for UniTrunker visible at the same time.

I am working on the wife to allow me another of these monitors so I can see the AirNav and Pro96Com applications at the same time. I might see this in another month if I am a good boy until then. I like that monitor so much I might get one or two more for the Mac to replace the 27’s I have there now. The wife likes the idea of monitor arms and if I got one of those 2-monitor arm mounts I can raise them up off the desk enough to allow the radios to go under the monitors and get rid of the shelf.

Next up is the sound cards, as soon as I decide on a mixing solution I will get those going. I have the cards and the cables, I just need a way to select the audio and send it to a recording solution. I have plenty of disk space and can add a few TB’s of recording space if needed with external drives but I don’t have a mixer yet. If I use a hardware based mixer I may not need the sound cards or at least all of them.

Now for the pictures:

Monitor.jpg


First is the monitor with the ProScan and UniTrunker applications running. Not shown is the application for the AirNav RadarBox, I can click on the taskbar icon to pop it up as needed. Same for Pro96Com which I can run on the GRE’s or the 996.

Overall.jpg


Here is the overall shot. To the far right is the computer monitor for the radio stuff running off the NUC (which is behind the TM-D700A). The HP-1 and HP-2 are in front of the monitor and to the left is the shelf with the rest of the radios.

Beneath the desk is the rack with the 12 Uniden scanners. The rack is on casters so I can pull it out or rotate it for access to the rear. I plan on doing some wire management at some point to make it easier to roll out so I might need some longer cabling. Coming out of the rack are 4 antenna coaxes (3 Multicouplers and the Kenwood radio unit), a USB cable, an AC power cable and a couple DC cords.

On the shelf unit are the Icoms, the head for the Kenwood, the other scanners and the Motorola as well as the various handhelds.

To the left of the back radio desk is my office desk with the iMac and its 2 27 inch monitors. The left screen is usually used for Windows, I use Parallels on the Mac so I can run the phone application for work and do my radio programming. The right side display is used for the POS system at work and the main display is used for email, web work and my various writing projects. To the left of the Mac on the desk pad is an iPad Pro that I use to listen to feeds on Broadcastify or for music. Directly behind where I was standing for this picture is a wall-mounted TV.

Rack.jpg



Next we see the rack with the Uniden radios. One of the radios on the top of the case is hidden by the desk. If you look real careful you will see that the radios are all on, I just turned off the display lights. This cuts down the heat in the room a little and keeps the wife from noticing that I leave them on all the time. The black box behind the rack is the UPS for the computer.

Shelf.jpg


Finally here is the shelf with the rest of the radios. On the bottom row is the power supply for the scanners, Motorola and Kenwood. The R8500 and the mic for the 746 are also on the bottom row.

On the center row are the PRO197/PSR600’s, the head for the Kenwood and the 746. The computer (Intel NUC) and the RadarBox are behind the Kenwood head. This hides the bright and annoying flashing LED’s on the radar box.

On the top row are the BCD536, TRX-1 and CDM-1250 as well as part of the portable collection. I left the BCD436 and the BCD396XT out in the truck and I have a bunch of other portables in a drawer I rarely use and should probably sell off. The portables displayed include KW and Motorola UHF portables for GMRS, TRX-1, BCD325P2, KW TH-F6A, BC125AT, PRO106 and a Unication G5.

I suspect I will modify things down the road a bit, clean up wiring, rearrange things etc. as I operate the shack and find better ways to do things. I am already thinking of things and will consider them as time and money allows.
 

03msc

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Awesome, Rich - glad to see the results after following the other thread in the Radio Installation subforum. I hope those who come across this thread but who haven't seen your other versions will check the threads for those out, too, to see the progression of things over the years.

Again, awesome job - it turned out great! I really like the idea.
 

JSTARS03

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Awesome

It really looks awesome Rich, I like the rack and I love that new monitor.
I currently have a 50" TV mounted to the wall above the desk, but at 1080P
I cannot see all the radios at once. Probably time to go to a 4K TV.
Prices have really dropped.

Great work as always
JSTARS03
 

N1SQB

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Here we go again......

Every single time you post something new from your shack, I start to drool...It's getting embarrassing Rich!
Man that is one nice way to set up your gear for virtual remote control monitoring! I don't currently have the room to do that in my shack but it is giving me a lot of ideas. Great job again Rich!

Manny
 

N9JIG

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Looks nice I am looking to upgrade my PROSCAN PC as it runs 8 scanners now. It is a Dell 755 with a Xeon 3363 cpu and 8GB ram and win 7 pro.

I was not a fan of Windows 10 when it first came out but recently have come to like it. I hate to say it but it is almost Mac-like in setting up hardware. I just plugged in the various USB-serial cables while watching the device manager to see the port numbers.

The little NUC I got was suggested to me by my stepson who owns an IT service company. He uses them as servers at his home and office. They even come with a VESA bracket so you can mount the computer on the back of a monitor.

I am a die-hard Mac guy and this is the first time in almost 30 years that I have ever considered using a Windows computer as a main workstation instead of a Mac. I am not quite there but it is under consideration anyway for my next computer. I have 2 more years on my current 5K iMac before it is due for replacement (I am on a 3-year plan) and if I had to do it today I just might.

I just hope the Creator Edition I am getting notices on doesn't break things.
 

Ubbe

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How are you managing the audio if there are a couple of scanners with chit-chat and you get an important transmission on another scanner?

If you get a mixer for about $300 they'll have a single or solo button on each channel that mutes all other channels. You can also pan a channels audio between left and right stereo speakers and place each scanners audio to its own position in the stereo field which will make it easier to focus on one audio source.

/Ubbe
 

ProScan

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Rich,
Looks sweet. Now I'm getting ideals to redo my home office.

Regarding the Creator Edition, I upgraded to the Creator Edition a few days ago. I don't see any problems with ProScan yet but it's always that one function. I will be releasing the next version of ProScan very soon so we'll see if any reports of something not working.
.
 

N9JIG

Sheriff
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How are you managing the audio if there are a couple of scanners with chit-chat and you get an important transmission on another scanner?

If you get a mixer for about $300 they'll have a single or solo button on each channel that mutes all other channels. You can also pan a channels audio between left and right stereo speakers and place each scanners audio to its own position in the stereo field which will make it easier to focus on one audio source.

/Ubbe

That is still undecided. I need a solution for the audio of course and am looking at a couple options. I would love to get a 16-channel mixer that would allow individual recording and channel selecting, kind of a "Select" / "Unselect" setup, perhaps with priority selection and digital archiving.

I have the sound cards, I just have to pick and set up a solution.
 

k0grt

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That is still undecided. I need a solution for the audio of course and am looking at a couple options. I would love to get a 16-channel mixer that would allow individual recording and channel selecting, kind of a "Select" / "Unselect" setup, perhaps with priority selection and digital archiving.

I have the sound cards, I just have to pick and set up a solution.
Kind of an expensive solution, but you could put in a 'Behringer x32 Rack' with a 'Cymatic uTrack X32' card. Itll record all the inputs to individual tracks on a usb harddrive, and has an automixer that should work for priority outputs/listening as well

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 

JSTARS03

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Behringer

The Behringer looks very interesting for the audio.
I bought a Tascam US16x08 but it only seems to give you
16 inputs in Windows if the software is compatible with ASIO.
I have not really had the time to play with it much.
Maybe I need to try and sell it and upgrade.
 

sfd119

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The RadioLog app would have done what you wanted. It allows you to do a Select / Unselect and records all traffic. I have four Motorola XTL radios tied into one computer using USB Soundcards and it runs in that program. Unfortunately, the program is now defunct but there is a guy trying to revive it.
 

N1SQB

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Motu Ultralite-MK4

Since I am running only 7 base scanners, this is the way I am planning on routing my audio:MOTU.com - Overview. This little guy packs a big punch. Since I run individual external speakers to all my scanners, this allows me to pipe the audio into the PC and right back out to the speakers individually, still leaving me the option of using the main outs for another set of speakers or something. Notice the 48 channel digital mixer that comes with it. The web app is a nice touch too. Just another suggestion for anyone that wants to run their audio through a PC. We have Behringer X32 boards in a few of our churches, real nice board but way too many features and too high a price for just scanner use in my opinion. To each his own.

Manny
 
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N9JIG

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Of course I can't leave well enough alone!

I really liked the Asus 32in. monitors so I bought 2 more. I might yet get one more, I want to see how things work out first.

I have a woodworking buddy who is going to make a shelf for me to go over the Icoms and other desktop radios and will put two of the 32 In. monitors on that shelf. This shelf will be the width of the desk and about 12-14 inches deep with a center support.

This will leave me with one 32 in. monitor to go with the iMac, I might get an additional one since I have grown used to having 3 monitors on this computer for my part-time gig. I might also just reuse one of my 27's.

As far as the cabinet is concerned I removed the Kenwood and the SDR's from it and replaced a flaky USB hub. I then installed a 25-Amp Astron in the cabinet to power the 12 scanners. This keeps the wiring to the cabinet down to a power lead, a USB cable and 2 antennas for the two 8-port Stridsberg multicouplers.

I then installed the third 8-port Stridsberg multicoupler and a RigRunner under the desk to cover the radios that remain there. On the desk I added a 996P2 that I occasionally use in the truck. When I go on a trip I will take it or the 536 with me, I left the wiring in place for in there. In the mean time I have added it to the ProScan list, so now I am running 14 instances of ProScan, 2 Pro96Com and the AirNav RadarBox all the time and occasionally UniTrunker as needed, all on the NUC PC.

I have a USB hub on the desktop for the 996P2 and the GRE's as well as for one or 2 of the SDR's as needed.

I am also considering a back panel for the radio desk so I can let the cables and wires drop instead of having to tie them off underneath. This will eliminate a lot of floor crawling that I am getting too old and creaky for.

Once I get the shelf built, painted and installed I will post some more pictures.
 
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