Best option for DMR talkgroup/slot discovery

[Cowley639]

Looking for a cheap option for DMR talkgroup/slot discovery.

I have a few new DMR frequencies being used in my area, and I’d like to figure out which talkgroup(s) and slots are being used on each frequency.

I have a BCD260DN that I can decode the color code and hear all traffic on each specific frequency, but I have no idea what talkgroups and slots are being used per frequency. Ultimately I’d like to eventually program these specific talkgroups in to my Kenwood NX3820, but that radio doesn’t have a promiscuous mode. Which is the reason for all of this.

I wasn’t sure if a SDR was the way to go? I have very little experience with those.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I wasn’t sure if a SDR was the way to go? I have very little experience with those.

Your best bet (in my opinion) is an SDR ($35) and DSD+ Fast Lane ($10/yr, $25/Lifetime) which I find easiest of the bunch to set up and use.

 

[Cowley639]

Your best bet (in my opinion) is an SDR ($35) and DSD+ Fast Lane ($10/yr, $25/Lifetime) which I find easiest of the bunch to set up and use.

RTL-SDR the best option there? V3, V4?

 

[RaleighGuy]

RTL-SDR the best option there? V3, V4?

This is the one I use, have used for years, and been very happy with.

Nooelec - Nooelec NESDR SMArt v5 SDR - HF/VHF/UHF (100kHz-1.75GHz) RTL-SDR. RTL2832U & R820T2-Based Software Defined Radio - SDR Receivers - Software Defined Radio

<p>This premium RTL-SDR was designed, developed and fabricated by Nooelec in the USA and Canada. It allows you to turn your computer, phone or tablet into a radio scanner/ham radio receiver that can receive nearly all RF signals! Compatible with Windows,

www.nooelec.com

 

[K9KLC]

The scanner doesn't show the talk group I'm guessing? I don't have one but was contemplating getting one. I think my 536 does show it. I'll have to double check.

 

[Cowley639]

The scanner doesn't show the talk group I'm guessing? I don't have one but was contemplating getting one. I think my 536 does show it. I'll have to double check.

Nope. It’s a great scanner, but it only decodes the color code for DMR or the RAN for NXDN. Nothing else.

 

[K9KLC]

Nope. It’s a great scanner, but it only decodes the color code for DMR or the RAN for NXDN. Nothing else.

Thanks for the info. Kind of a major oversight on Uniden's part I'd say.

 

[K9KLC]

Nope. It’s a great scanner, but it only decodes the color code for DMR or the RAN for NXDN. Nothing else.

I don't want to dr-rail the post but if I could ask one quick question, other than that do you like it? I have one department here that uses NXDN and another that's part analog and part DMR. I am looking for a device to supplement the BCD 536 I try and use for analog and DMR both, and was thinking about picking one up for the NXDN DMR stuff and then use my 536 for the 5 analog and 2 p-25 conventional systems fI monitor. From a "receiver standpoint" would you recommend it for that?
EDIT: I do have simulcast in my area I monitor day in and out but I have unication pagers for that. Just FYI.

 

[Cowley639]

I don't want to dr-rail the post but if I could ask one quick question, other than that do you like it? I have one department here that uses NXDN and another that's part analog and part DMR. I am looking for a device to supplement the BCD 536 I try and use for analog and DMR both, and was thinking about picking one up for the NXDN DMR stuff and then use my 536 for the 5 analog and 2 p-25 conventional systems fI monitor. From a "receiver standpoint" would you recommend it for that?

Absolutely. It’s a great scanner if you just want general scanning and no real control of anything besides the frequencies you’re listening to. Again, it’s all or nothing, you type in a frequency, and it’ll receive anything in Analog, DMR or NXDN on that frequency.

 

[K9KLC]

Absolutely. It’s a great scanner if you just want general scanning and no real control of anything besides the frequencies you’re listening to. Again, it’s all or nothing, you type in a frequency, and it’ll receive anything in Analog, DMR or NXDN on that frequency.

LOL sounds perfect actually. Might even remind me of the "olden days" where that's all we did and things "just received". Thanks. Good luck finding what you need.

 

[N4VKF]

Will it show more info in ID Search vs ID Scan mode?

 

[Cowley639]

Will it show more info in ID Search vs ID Scan mode?

It does show other modes such as P25 or DMR CAP+ but otherwise no. It’s built as a very basic scanner.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Thanks for the info. Kind of a major oversight on Uniden's part I'd say.

Not an oversight at all. Uniden has many other mid & high tier models that further decode & follow DMR systems. The BCD260DN was designed as a low tier option that still allows basic DMR info to be displayed without the user having to pay the mid & high tier scanner cost.

 

[N4VKF]

It does show other modes such as P25 or DMR CAP+ but otherwise no. It’s built as a very basic scanner.

Ok. My 436 was better at displaying time slots.

 

[K9KLC]

Not an oversight at all. Uniden has many other mid & high tier models that further decode & follow DMR systems. The BCD260DN was designed as a low tier option that still allows basic DMR info to be displayed without the user having to pay the mid & high tier scanner cost.

While true, I guess I just thought the actual TG number might not be that big of a deal, but perhaps it is. Yes I know my 536 displays it. I may just end up getting a 2nd 536 for what I'm trying to do, however I do like the price point of the 260. I'm not sure how much I even glance at the ID's on the 536, so maybe it's not that big a deal after all. Thank you.

 

[Cowley639]

Not an oversight at all. Uniden has many other mid & high tier models that further decode & follow DMR systems. The BCD260DN was designed as a low tier option that still allows basic DMR info to be displayed without the user having to pay the mid & high tier scanner cost.

Yeah agreed. I really love the scanner. I initially bought it as a cheap way to listen to a few agencies using DMR in my area, and it does a great job of that. Really quick to program and simple to use as well.

 

[K9KLC]

Yeah agreed. I really love the scanner. I initially bought it as a cheap way to listen to a few agencies using DMR in my area, and it does a great job of that. Really quick to program and simple to use as well.

Same reason I'm looking at one, and we have one that still uses NXDN (for now) although probably a lot of the time it's encrypted anyway, and one that is DMR conventional. Plus can double as analog which I still do here on fairly frequent occasions. Honestly If I need a DMR TG # or other info, I can simply use my 536 to find the info to put in other devices if needed.