Can an analog-only scanner be modded to decode digital traffic?

[Pr999]

As the title suggests, can you mod an analog scanner with the ability to decode any digital signals (DMR, NXDN, P25, etc?) in house (not talking a discriminator tap).

First, I need to determine what these scanners use to decode digital traffic. Is decoding hardware-based, firmware-based, or both?
Second, can these mods actually work, or will modding cause damage to the unit?
And third, has anyone tried doing this? And if so successively or with minor issues, what is your/their experience?

If anyone has asked this before, could I be redirected?

 

[RaleighGuy]

NOPE can't be done

 

[Pr999]

NOPE can't be done

Could you please explain why?

 

[jtwalker]

Could you please explain why?

Because it’s impossible…. Different hardware and different software.

 

[hazrat8990]

Could you please explain why?

Probably the same reason you can't use a toaster to play a movie. The hardware simply isn't there!

 

[Pr999]

Could someone create custom hardware for it like with an Ardunio or raspberry pi?

 

[KevinC]

DSD+ and a discriminator tap.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Could someone create custom hardware for it like with an Ardunio or raspberry pi?

Then it wouldn't be an analog scanner it would be a SDR.

Is this another of your threads where an answer is given and you beat it to death trying to get a different answer not there?

 

[GTR8000]

Is this another of your threads where an answer is given and you beat it to death trying to get a different answer not there?

That's certainly been his M.O. thus far. 🤦‍♂️

 

[ScannerSK]

Is decoding hardware-based, firmware-based, or both?

Decoding digital signals is both firmware and hardware based. Adding digital chips would force a redesign of nearly the entire scanner. Of course, a separate computer could be used in conjunction with the analog scanner, which is already being done with the discriminator tap. A digital scanner is basically an analog scanner with a computer overlay which allows it to decode digital signals.

 

[KevinC]

“Not everyone coming to you with a problem wants a solution. They are attached to the attention it brings them.”

— Zig Ziglar

 

[lenk911]

Could someone create custom hardware for it like with an Ardunio or raspberry pi?

Not a 100% sure and without being too technical but if the digital signal is C4FM (P-25 Phase 1); a FM scanner receiver with a high impedance tap from the limiter stage into a properly programmed Raspberry Pi feeding an audio amplifier should work. You may need a couple of IC stages between the scanner and the PI for interfacing. The Arduino doesn't have enough horsepower.

A real trick that will earn you an honorary degree from old Murphy himself (the patron of battered and bruised engineers and technicians) would be to bypass the discriminator stage in the old scanner and route the signal from the limiter through the programmed PI and back into the old scanner's audio amplifier. Just trying will get you a B+ from old Murphy for technical skill and fortitude and an A- in Python programming because you have lot of work ahead of you. Even with failure you will learn a lot. Hope you have the summer free and your wife is understanding?

Not sure it will work with other forms of digital though. I believe the limiter stage(s) will mess up CQPSK (P-25 Phase II and DMR). Otherwise, repurpose the old scanner for NOAA weather and go the RTL thumb drive/laptop route with software from this web page. Good Luck!

 

[KB4MSZ]

It would be far easier to just buy a SDS200, provided you can put up with all that humming.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Not a 100% sure and without being too technical but if the digital signal is C4FM (P-25 Phase 1); a FM scanner receiver with a high impedance tap from the limiter stage into a properly programmed Raspberry Pi feeding an audio amplifier should work.

While you are correct, also works with DSD+FL, but OP said in post 1 he wanted to do it without a tap.

 

[hazrat8990]

It would be far easier to just buy a SDS200, provided you can put up with all that humming.

Change the audio off time to 100ms in Sentinel, problem solved.

 

[buddrousa]

Answer given in post 2 time to close

 

[buddrousa]

@KB4MSZ the hum was fixed after the 1st year

 

[jaymatt1978]

In kind of a similar question, is there anyway t o skip over a frequency the scanner can't decode? That w ould bve amazing!!~

 

[buddrousa]

Are you talking about a FAVORITE LIST, FULL DATABASE or CUSTOM SEARCH?

 

[rf_patriot200]

It would be far easier to just buy a SDS200, provided you can put up with all that humming.

Hmm... Mine doesn't hum ??