bcfy-pi/trunk-recorder Failed parsing Config

[RaleighGuy]

Let me clarify my answer. If the RPi, shuts down and reboots for any reason (i.e. power failure), this option allows the RPi to start up Trunk Recorder without any interaction from you.

On the main screen of the appliance shell where you can start/stop services, press 1. Next screen press the number that has Trunk Recorder. Next screen has the option to enable/disable start on boot. Pick on enable start on boot. Go back to the main screen and pick show status. It should not be enabled if you picked that option earlier.

Thank you, so now it says active (running) and enabled, but it is not online in the calls. What am I missing here?

Looking at the log it has something to do with system type:

[2021-05-01 18:15:45.980720] (info)

System Number: 1
-------------------------------------

[2021-05-01 18:15:45.980775] (info) Short Name: Wake County (Wake County Simulcast)
[2021-05-01 18:15:45.980818] (info) System Type: T-P25
[2021-05-01 18:15:45.980866] (error) System Type in config.json not recognized
[2021-05-01 18:17:17.267277] (info) Using Config file: /home/pi/bcfy/configs/trunk-recorder/config.json

[2021-05-01 18:17:17.269867] (info)
-------------------------------------
Trunk Recorder
-------------------------------------

[2021-05-01 18:17:17.271093] (info)
-------------------------------------
SYSTEMS
-------------------------------------

[2021-05-01 18:17:17.271298] (info)

System Number: 1
-------------------------------------

[2021-05-01 18:17:17.271371] (info) Short Name: Wake County (Wake County Simulcast)
[2021-05-01 18:17:17.271421] (info) System Type: P25
[2021-05-01 18:17:17.271476] (error) System Type in config.json not recognized

 

[RaleighGuy]

REALLY appreciate you taking the time to look at this.

Okay, I think it is working, sort of... Made changes to a number of fields after looking online including system type and modulation, also adjusted the sampling rate to encompass all freqs covered in the system. It shows in the log that it is reading everything, not seeing errors, but also not seeing the system in the calls ingest and says the system has not been seen yet. Big log entry, but do you see anything I'm missing?


[2021-05-01 18:52:03.142830] (info)
-------------------------------------
SYSTEMS
-------------------------------------

[2021-05-01 18:52:03.142972] (info)

System Number: 1
-------------------------------------

[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148269] (info) Short Name: Wake County (Wake County Simulcast)
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148391] (info) System Type: smartnet
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148446] (info) Control Channels:
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148513] (info) 853.537500 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148681] (info) 853.787500 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148742] (info) 853.150000 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148800] (info) 853.762500 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148866] (info) Modulation: fsk4
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148907] (info) Analog Recorder Maximum Deviation: 4000
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148950] (info) Filter Width: 1
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.148998] (info) Squelch: -160
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149047] (info) API Key:
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149091] (info) Broadcastify API Key: d455687f-aa24-11eb-ba68-0ecc8axxxxx
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149153] (info) Broadcastify Calls System ID: 840
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149197] (info) Upload Script:
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149238] (info) Unit Script:
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149328] (info) Call Log: true
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149418] (info) Audio Archive: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149462] (info) Loading Talkgroups...
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149501] (info) Talkgroups File:
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149541] (info) Loading Unit Tags...
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149580] (info) Unit Tags File:
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149620] (info) Record Unknown Talkgroups: true
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149660] (info) Decode MDC: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149700] (info) Decode FSync: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149741] (info) Decode Star: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149781] (info) Decode TPS: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149824] (info) Talkgroup Display Format: Id
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149870] (info) Smartnet bandplan: 800_standard
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149908] (info) Smartnet band: 800
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149950] (info) Hide Encrypted Talkgroups: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.149990] (info) Hide Unknown Talkgroups: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150030] (info) Minimum Call Duration (in seconds): 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150081] (info)
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150132] (info)

-------------------------------------
SOURCES
-------------------------------------

[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150231] (info) Driver: osmosdr
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150273] (info) Center: 852.350000 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150344] (info) Rate: 3000000
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150402] (info) Error: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150446] (info) PPM Error: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150494] (info) Auto gain control: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150534] (info) Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150578] (info) IF Gain: 38.6
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150629] (info) BB Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150673] (info) LNA Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150715] (info) PGA Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150758] (info) TIA Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150800] (info) MIX Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150843] (info) VGA1 Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150885] (info) VGA2 Gain: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150928] (info) Idle Silence: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.150969] (info) Digital Recorders: 4
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.151018] (info) Debug Recorder: false
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.151059] (info) SigMF Recorders: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.151099] (info) Analog Recorders: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.151204] (info) Source Device: rtl=0,buflen=65536
gr-osmosdr 0.1.5 (0.1.5) gnuradio 3.7.13.4
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf rfspace airspy soapy redpitaya
Using device #0 Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR SN: 00000004
Using 15 buffers of size 65536.
Found Rafael Micro R820T tuner
[R82XX] PLL not locked!
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.777333] (info) SOURCE TYPE OSMOSDR (osmosdr)
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.777473] (info) Setting sample rate to: 3000000
Exact sample rate is: 3000000.178814 Hz
[R82XX] PLL not locked!
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.892600] (info) Actual sample rate: 3000000
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.892831] (info) Tuning to 852.350000 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.945775] (info) Gain Stage: LNA supported values: 0 0.9 1.4 2.7 3.7 7.7 8.7 12.5 14.4 15.7 16.6 19.7 20.7 22.9 25.4 28 29.7 32.8 33.8 36.4 37.2 38.6 40.2 42.1 43.4 43.9 44.5 48 49.6
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.946085] (info) Max Frequency: 853.800000 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.946225] (info) Min Frequency: 850.900000 MHz
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.946361] (info) IF Gain set to: 0
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.946480] (info) Auto gain control is OFF
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.946587] (info) Setting antenna to [RX]
Decim: 30 Decim2: 4
[2021-05-01 18:52:03.948555] (info) P25 Recorder two-stage decimator - Initial decimated rate: 100000 Second decimated rate: 25000 FA: 6250 FB: 12500 System Rate: 3000000

 

[Kingscup]

I don’t have experience with digital trunk systems. I just learned a little bit while trying to research my own problems with trunk recorder.
Is this a Smartnet system? I saw it in the log. If so, “type” should be smartnet. If not, it should be p25. I have never seen T-P25. (Edit Just reread your message and it looks like you changed it to smartnet).

Your rate is too high. The RTL-SDR cannot “see” for than 2.4MHz of spectrum. I don’t know what happens when you have frequencies outside of that spectrum. Does trunk recorder not work or you just won’t receive those transmissions. I don’t have an answer for that. You may need a second dongle.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I don’t have experience with digital trunk systems.

Thanks for the time

 

[HarryWilly]

Where your log is at is where it needs to start picking up control channel and you should receive a message about the decode rate. So my thought is the dongle has the wrong tuning or the signal is too weak, etc.

If I have my error rate way off or gain settings wrong, my trunk recorder instance will pause where yours is.

 

[rn1nduk1]

Who has a clue. Made headway setting this up I think, but no clue what error is. I DO NOT have a calls setup yet.
{
"ver": 2,
"sources": [{
"center": 857262500,
"rate": 2048000,
"ppm": 3.0,
"lnaGain": 15,
"mixGain": 15,
"ifGain": 15,
"digitalLevels": 4,
"digitalRecorders": 10,
"driver": "osmosdr",
"device": "RTL2838UHIDIR=00000001"
}],
"systems": [{
"control_channels": [855.462500], [856.262500], [856.462500], [856.712500], [857.262500], [857.462500], [857.712500], [858.262500], [858.462500], [858.712500], [859.462500],
"type": "p25",
"shortName": "MIDLAND",
"modulation": "qpsk",
"broadcastifyApiKey": "abcdef-abcde-abcdef-abcde",
"broadcastifySystemId": "###"
}],
"broadcastifyCallsServer": "https://api.broadcastify.com/call-upload",
"frequencyFormat": "mhz",
"captureDir": "/home/pi/bcfy/audio",
"controlWarnRate": "10",
"callTimeout": "1"
}


2021-09-04 18:40:28.327456] (info) Capture Directory: /home/pi/bcfy/audio
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327513] (info) Upload Server:
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327569] (info) Broadcastify Calls Server: https://api.broadcastify.com/call-upload
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327621] (info) Status Server:
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327671] (info) Instance Key:
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327721] (info) Instance Id:
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327774] (info) Broadcast Signals: false
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327827] (info) Default Mode: digital
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327886] (info) Call Timeout (seconds): 1
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.327938] (info) Log to File: false
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.328013] (info) Control channel warning rate: 10
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.328067] (info) Control channel retune limit: 0
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.328117] (info) Frequency format: 1
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.328167] (info) Status as String: true
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.328217] (info) Log Level: info
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.328362] (info) [MIDLAND] Started with Control Channel: 0.000857 MHz
[2021-09-04 18:40:28.328476] (error) Unable to setup a System to record, exiting...

[2021-09-04 18:58:33.074376] (info) Using Config file: /home/pi/bcfy/configs/trunk-recorder/config.json

[2021-09-04 18:58:33.078033] (error) Failed parsing Config: /home/pi/bcfy/configs/trunk-recorder/config.json(16): expected key string
[2021-09-04 18:59:03.443079] (info) Using Config file: /home/pi/bcfy/configs/trunk-recorder/config.json

 

[kslager]

Who has a clue. Made headway setting this up I think, but no clue what error is. I DO NOT have a calls setup yet.

I am no where near an expert, but I think the first thing I would try would be only putting on one control channel for now.

 

[rn1nduk1]

I am no where near an expert, but I think the first thing I would try would be only putting on one control channel for now.

yea i got that far after posting this. now it shows a control that is not what is in config.json for trunk recorder.

 

[Kingscup]

Who has a clue. Made headway setting this up I think, but no clue what error is. I DO NOT have a calls setup yet.

The SDR can only “see” about 2.4MHz of spectrum and some of your control channels are outside of that range. You will need to buy a second SDR to cover those frequencies. I am not very familiar with digital trunk systems on trunk recorder but you may need enough SDRs to cover all frequencies within that system and not just the control channels.

 

[rn1nduk1]

The SDR can only “see” about 2.4MHz of spectrum and some of your control channels are outside of that range. You will need to buy a second SDR to cover those frequencies. I am not very familiar with digital trunk systems on trunk recorder but you may need enough SDRs to cover all frequencies within that system and not just the control channels.

I hear you on that. Fortunately except for maybe how this pi image is working, not an issue. Run this way on OP25 all day and don't miss a beat with one, going over two systems.