DSD+ Fastlane - Unlocking Potential?

[rkillins]

I'm still digesting DSD+ Fastlane edition, and very excited to unlock it's potential. It's actually brought back some enthusiasm after traditional scanning has kinda died with the migration to digital concepts. Still lots to learn, and although I have been reading the notes, I find them more revealing as to each release's changes more so that a "how to". Clearly not for beginners to dive into, moderatly complkicated for novice users. I'm finding experimentation and seeking advice from the good folk here to be my best method of picking up on things. I would certainly support abnd encourage a "DSD+ For Dummies" (no offence) so that perhaps questions like these can be avoided.

1. - How can I use FMP24 to monitor single DMR or P25 frequencies? I can do it (I think) using DSD+ in conjunction to SDR# through a virtual cable, but I'd like to unlock the powers of DSD+.
2. - Can I monitor conventional analogue frequencies with DSD+?
3. - I understand that DSD+ does not track P25 trunking systems, and that Unitrunker is needed if one wishes to voice monitor.
4. - With all 4 questions considered, is it possible to monitor a mix of single digital frequencies (1), analogue frequencies (2), P25 Type 1 trunked systems (3) in one sitting? ie to mimick a "tradional scanner receiver"? That would be the cat's ... meow.

 

[cg]

you need to do some more reading. Between the notes and previous questions answered here on RR, all your questions have been answered in detail. Briefly
1- yes you can use DSDPlus and FMP24 to monitor single channel digital traffic
2- yes you can
3- it does, many types of trunking
4- you can create a scanlist which does some of what you want.

chris

 

[BM82557]

1) - you don't need to use SDR# and a virtual cable, use FMP24 and TCP linkage
2) - yes, add -m1 to your DSDPlus start statement
3) - Incorrect, DSDPlus will trunk track P25 Phase I and P25 Phase II systems, you don't need to use Unitrunker
4) - scan using FMP24

I recommend reading the DSDPlus.txt file, the FMP.txt file, the Notes.txt file and the Trunking.txt file that are included when DSDPlus is installed.

 

[rkillins]

Thanks Chris and BM, I appreciate the replies, and yes I am more than happy to read. But I don't know really what to look for. ie search terms for example. I'm not sure how a would phrase a practical query if I don't know the terminology of what it is I want to do.

There are a lot of threads on RR, but with all the changes to DSD+, some of the information is redundant and I may be focused on the wrong concept or outdated functionality, or anothger's question is addressing more advanced concepts than the simple ones I need to understand first.

I'll work on it with of the input you provided.

 

[mtindor]

Do you have an RTL dongle with drivers properly installed and working already?

Post a screenshot of what all you have in your DSDPlus folder (don't make it an obnoxiously large screenshot, but one that is clearly readable).

After we know you have a confirmed working dongle and can see what you have in your DSDPlus directory (meaning, do you have all the necessary files), it's pretty easy to tell ya what to.

Mike

 

[DRL-XM43]

Here is a fast start single batch file example which uses 2 dongles and will trunk track or read clear FM/AM or a single digital frequency.

Just change the target frequency, gain to suite and PPM if it is not zero. Place the single batch file in the main DSD+ folder and launch it.

: FMP-CC batch
Start FMP24 -i1 -o20010 -b12.5 -P0.0 -g29.6 -f422.6375 -_1 -wsl000.00
timeout /t 2
: CC batch
Start DSDPlus -rc -m1 -i20010 -v3 -OM NUL -_3
timeout /t 2
: fmp-vc
Start FMP24 -i2 -o20020 -P0.0 -g29.6 -rv -_1 -wsl250.00
: VC batch
timeout /t 2
Start DSDPlus -rv -i20020 -v3 -OM NUL -_3

This is an example of a single dongle setup which does the same as the other but with one dongle.

Start FMP24 -i1 -o20002 -f452.2625 -b12.5 -P0 -q1 -g37.2 -_1 -wsl000.00
Start "" /AboveNormal DSDPlus -F1 -r1 -e -m1 -i20002 -OM NUL -_3

 

[slicerwizard]

1) Run the FMP24-CC.bat and 1R.bat files. In the FMP24 spectrum window, just type in the frequency of the channel you want to monitor. Set an appropriate channel bandwidth in FMP24.

2) Same as 1, but also use monitoring mode 1 in DSD+.

3) Same as 1, but tune FMP24 to a P25 control channel.

4) Create a scan list in the FMP24.ScanList file to monitor conventional analog/digital voice channels. Press S in FMP24 to start scanning. To monitor conventional channels along with one or more trunking systems, use a scanner...

 

[rkillins]

So, I am trying to trunk voice follow a local P25 Type I system here (FleetNet Ontario) by relying solely on DSD+.
I a using FMP24-CC to control my control channel (142.6500). The spectrum window is showing a strong signal on that frequency.

FMP24 -rc -i1 -o20001 -P0.0 -f142.6500

Then the CC.bat

DSDPlus -rc -i20001 -v3 -ws1400.2 -wss100.200 -we10.01 -wc10.445 -wes400.520 >>CC.log

There is no decoding of the control channel. There is no scrolling and there is no waveform present.

Both my RTL-SDR dongles are functioning as I can actively voice follow other DMR trunk systems no problem.

What does the 1R.bat file do that the CC.bat or VC.bat file not? When would I use the 1R specifically?

 

[LD723]

So, I am trying to trunk voice follow a local P25 Type I system here (FleetNet Ontario) by relying solely on DSD+.
I a using FMP24-CC to control my control channel (142.6500). The spectrum window is showing a strong signal on that frequency.

FMP24 -rc -i1 -o20001 -P0.0 -f142.6500

Then the CC.bat

DSDPlus -rc -i20001 -v3 -ws1400.2 -wss100.200 -we10.01 -wc10.445 -wes400.520 >>CC.log

There is no decoding of the control channel. There is no scrolling and there is no waveform present.

Both my RTL-SDR dongles are functioning as I can actively voice follow other DMR trunk systems no problem.

What does the 1R.bat file do that the CC.bat or VC.bat file not? When would I use the 1R specifically?

Dsdplus does not decode fleetnet control channels so you would need to use unitrunker in conjunction with dsdplus through a virtual audio cable to fully track that system. If the system had a p25 control channel it would work just fine

 

[rkillins]

Ahhh. I get it. Its a P25 system (for voice), but the control channel isn't encoded as a P25 signal. Makes sense now.
Thanks!

 

[BM82557]

This the system? -





Oops ! LD beat me to it.

 

[DRL-XM43]

Dsdplus does not decode fleetnet control channels so you would need to use unitrunker in conjunction with dsdplus through a virtual audio cable to fully track that system. If the system had a p25 control channel it would work just fine

Each of the frequencies of that system support mixed formats - analog (EMS) and digital (OPP). If you make a scanlist of the frequencies then DSD+/FMP24 will decode both the analog and digital if you include the -m1 switch to allow clear FM to go through to the speakers. Don't include the control channel.

If not then use V2 Unitrunker or Trunk88 with DSD+ for Bell Fleetnet Moto type II

 

[rkillins]

I am giving DRL-XM43's suggestion a whirl with his all in one .bat solution. Is it possible to integrate a scanlist into this?

Anyway, my primary question is in relation to a DMR conventional frequency I am monitoring (via the all-in-one .bat shared in post #6).

There is no voice decoding (yet ... although I swear I've monitored voice on it before),but the DSD+ CC Event log is displaying information like this everytime there is a digital chirp:

ARS; Tgt=999 Src=902
ARS; Tgt = 16448250 Src=12

Curious as to what this might be?

EDIT: Figured it out.

 

[rkillins]

Each of the frequencies of that system support mixed formats - analog (EMS) and digital (OPP). If you make a scanlist of the frequencies then DSD+/FMP24 will decode both the analog and digital if you include the -m1 switch to allow clear FM to go through to the speakers. Don't include the control channel.

But of course this wouldn't provide the option to "trunk track" voice correct?

You have kinda answered one of my questions from post 13. Where does the -s1 flag go to reference a scanlist?

 

[DRL-XM43]

But of course this wouldn't provide the option to "trunk track" voice correct?

You have kinda answered one of my questions from post 13. Where does the -s1 flag go to reference a scanlist?

You substitute -s1 for the frequency -fxxx.xxxx. Make a scanlist and have it in the same directory as DSD+/FMP24. No it won't trunk track it will cycle through the freqs and stop on active ones.

A single dongle batch file example for scanlist.

Start FMP24 -i1 -o20055 -b12.5 -s1 -P0 -g29.6 -q1 -a1 -wsl000.00
Start DSDPlus -fa -m1 -rc -i20055 -e -OM NUL

Your scanlist example

141.3900 FM DELAY=4 Name 1
142.0500 FM DELAY=4 Name 2
142.2900 FM DELAY=4 Name 3
142.3350 FM DELAY=4 Name 4
142.4250 FM DELAY=4 Name 5
142.8300 FM DELAY=4 Name 6

To trunk follow you need something like Unitrunker for the moto system.

Look at the FMP24 CFG file and put in your coordinates, download Canada.csv from the FL notes, put it in the directory and point FMP24 CFG to it for best results.

 

[rkillins]

Awesome! I'll look forward to getting home to play with these features.

 

[Forts]

If you are trying to follow Fleetnet you could use Unitrunker to do the trunk tracking and have it pipe the audio out thru DSD+. I can't recall if this is an option in Trunk88 or not....

 

[DRL-XM43]

Awesome! I'll look forward to getting home to play with these features.

To see most of the significant trunking systems in your vicinity go here Ontario Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference and select your county, then scroll to the bottom of the page where the trunking systems are listed.

You can try them out simply by typing the control frequency into the top bar of the running FMP24 display, select it then put your mouse on the top bar then type in the frequency of interest then hit enter.

Run this one to try frequencies.

Start FMP24 -i1 -o20002 -f452.2625 -b12.5 -P0 -q1 -g37.2 -_1 -wsl000.00
Start "" /AboveNormal DSDPlus -F1 -r1 -e -m1 -i20002 -OM NUL -_3

It will work for digital channels, control channels or clear AM and FM

 

[DRL-XM43]

Trunk88 can pipe to DSD+ (I use two dongles and it works fantastic for the Fleetnet ) UT V1 and the early version of V2 also pipe to DSD+ but I personally love Trunk88 for Fleetnet

 

[jacky1mcc]

I have read all of this thread and used the 1 RTL-SDR batch file that DRL-XM43 shows in his comments. Everything launches but doesn't work correctly for me. My control frequency is 851.125 and it shows up on that freq on the FMP24 display but as soon as the TCP connection is made the frequency jumps to 851.150 and looses sync and the TCP connection and if I read through the data generated I see a lot of CRC errors. If I enter one of the systems voice channels when the channel is active the software syncs up and the TCP connection is made and I hear distorted audio, On the DSDPlus audio display the audio show to be clipping badly. I am new to this and don't totally understand how it all works. In Radio Reference the control channel for the system that I want to monitor shows to be 851.150 but the FMP24 spectrum display doesn't show an carrier there. The closest Control Channel that see is the 851.125. I look forward to any help that y'all can provide. Thanks in advance.