DSD Plus Fastlane setup help?

[lviper]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. What site and related info are you referring to?

The site and related info needed can be found in the radio reference database. Here are some steps to find it.

At the top of this page look for RadioReference on the menu.
Click on the down arrow and select Database.
Select your State from the map.
On the next page select your County.
From there post the agency and/or system you want to listen to.
Then someone can help you better.

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

I have to apologize for the earlier misinformation. The FMPP documentation says RSP2 only, so that is what I have used. I tested FMPP with the RSP1, RSP1A, RSPduo (single tuner mode), and RSPdx today and they all work. I may try the various command line options to see what works on what device.

Looking at the Notes.txt, FMPP 1.9 was updated to use SDRPlay API Version 3.06, so DSDPlus 2.228 and later should support the RSPdx.

The spectrum display shows two traces. The white trace is the full spectrum and the green trace is an expanded spectrum near the tuned frequency. The program always places the positions so the tuned frequency on the green trace is centered and about 3/16 of the window width from the left on the white trace. There are two light lines that represent the receive bandwidth for both the white and green traces. The red cursor represents the frequency along the white trace. Moving the red cursor on top of a signal on the white trace and left-clicking will tune the RSP to the frequency. The frequency displayed by the red cursor is the nearest frequency for the step size. The left and right brackets change the step size.

Running the stock FMPP-VC.bat and FMPP-CC.bat batch files will fail if you do not have a serial number in the first line of the FMPP.cfg file. You enter the serial number on the bottom of the RSPDx.

It might be better to start simply and run FMPP.exe directly as a test. When you run it there will be two windows, a spectrum window and a console window. The default frequency is 99.9 MHz. If you type in the number 162.55 then the numbers will appear on the title bar of the spectrum window in brackets. Hit the enter key and the RSPdx should tune to 162.550 with the frequency display on the left side of the title bar changing to 162.550. You should hear NOAA weather if you have one on that frequency. You might have to click on a nearby signal to get the local NOAA weather.

73 Eric

 

[DRL-XM43]

The site and related info needed can be found in the radio reference database. Here are some steps to find it.

At the top of this page look for RadioReference on the menu.
Click on the down arrow and select Database.
Select your State from the map.
On the next page select your County.
From there post the agency and/or system you want to listen to.
Then someone can help you better.

If you cannot manage this... just tell us your country, state and county, we will post a link to that page. That page will show you all the documented frequencies within your county, many of which you may be able to receive and decode.

 

[sdr_sailor]

The DSDPlus FastLane release works with an SDRPlay 1A just fine. Here is my basic setup:

1. Referencing the 'Notes.txt' file that comes with DSDPlus, acquire the 'USA.csv' file and put in the same directory as the DSDPlus.exe and FMPP.exe executables.
2. Within the FMPP.cfg file, the following (leave the default comments at the end of each line in place that start with ';')

---- 1st line = Serial # of the SDRPlay​

---- lines 2,3,4,5,6,7 and 9 default values​

---- 8th line, Primary frequency list CSV path\filename = .\USA.csv​

---- 10th line, Miles or kilometers = miles and bearing​

---- 11th line, Search Distance = {What fits your needs, I have mine set to 99.9}​

---- 12th line, Search Origin = {Do a Google Search for the town/city, state you live in. Use the LAT LONG values}​

​

3. A single batch file named WhatEverYouWant.bat (keep .bat extension) with the following two (2) lines:​

start DSDPlus -r1 -fa -e -T -E -Pwav -i20001 >>1R-log.txt​

start FMPP -rc -i1 -b12.5 -o20001 -f853.7875​

[The -f[VALUE] is the Primary Control Channel listed in the RadioReference database for the Portland Maine P25 system]​

Launching the '.bat' file gets me up and running. There are other files, the 'DSDPlus.[Descriptor]' files, which can be edited to have information such as talkgroups be displayed when a channel is hit. For example, as DSDPlus is running, the DSDPlus.groups will populate with lines for the different talk groups seen. While the file says it can be edited what it is running, I find it best to only edit it when DSDPlus isnt running. In this file, the 3rd column shows the talkgroup # seen. Using the RadioReference database (or other sources) one can find out what the talkgroup is and type the text value at the end of the corresponding line between the double-quotes. When DSDPlus is next run, the talkgroup names will be displayed.

I suspect there is still more for me to learn and tweak, and more complicated systems to monitor will require more attention, but hopefully this will help others out in getting DSDPlus Fastlane release up and running to monitor a P25 system

I tried downloading the USA file, as well as the state file...both links are not working anymore. Is there a new one available? Also, when I try starting the FMPP I am getting an error that -i 1 is invalid. Any idea what information I need to have in there?

 

[sdr_sailor]

The DSDPlus FastLane release works with an SDRPlay 1A just fine. Here is my basic setup:

1. Referencing the 'Notes.txt' file that comes with DSDPlus, acquire the 'USA.csv' file and put in the same directory as the DSDPlus.exe and FMPP.exe executables.
2. Within the FMPP.cfg file, the following (leave the default comments at the end of each line in place that start with ';')

---- 1st line = Serial # of the SDRPlay​

---- lines 2,3,4,5,6,7 and 9 default values​

---- 8th line, Primary frequency list CSV path\filename = .\USA.csv​

---- 10th line, Miles or kilometers = miles and bearing​

---- 11th line, Search Distance = {What fits your needs, I have mine set to 99.9}​

---- 12th line, Search Origin = {Do a Google Search for the town/city, state you live in. Use the LAT LONG values}​

​

3. A single batch file named WhatEverYouWant.bat (keep .bat extension) with the following two (2) lines:​

start DSDPlus -r1 -fa -e -T -E -Pwav -i20001 >>1R-log.txt​

start FMPP -rc -i1 -b12.5 -o20001 -f853.7875​

[The -f[VALUE] is the Primary Control Channel listed in the RadioReference database for the Portland Maine P25 system]​

Launching the '.bat' file gets me up and running. There are other files, the 'DSDPlus.[Descriptor]' files, which can be edited to have information such as talkgroups be displayed when a channel is hit. For example, as DSDPlus is running, the DSDPlus.groups will populate with lines for the different talk groups seen. While the file says it can be edited what it is running, I find it best to only edit it when DSDPlus isnt running. In this file, the 3rd column shows the talkgroup # seen. Using the RadioReference database (or other sources) one can find out what the talkgroup is and type the text value at the end of the corresponding line between the double-quotes. When DSDPlus is next run, the talkgroup names will be displayed.

I suspect there is still more for me to learn and tweak, and more complicated systems to monitor will require more attention, but hopefully this will help others out in getting DSDPlus Fastlane release up and running to monitor a P25 system

My mistake, I found the statewide file. Thank you.

 

[sdr_sailor]

You can select the spectrum box and type in a frequency and hit enter. You can click on the left or right end of the spectrum and it will shift, you can include a frequency in the startup batch file.

OK! It looks like I have everything working now... except the volume... I cannot hear anything... the computer's volume is turned up... What else is there?

 

[EricCottrell]

I tried downloading the USA file, as well as the state file...both links are not working anymore. Is there a new one available? Also, when I try starting the FMPP I am getting an error that -i 1 is invalid. Any idea what information I need to have in there?

Hello,

You need to type the serial number located on the bottom of the RSPdx in the first line of the FMPP.cfg file.

I did some more testing and you can only use the Antenna A input of the RSPdx. The -A command line option does not work. Pressing an uppercase A while in the FMPP program will not change the Antenna input and seems to totally disconnect the antenna. The notch filters seem to work.

The situation is worse for the RSPduo. Only use the tuner 1 input. The -A command line option does not work. Pressing an uppercase A or uppercase O while in the FMPP program will cause the program to stop and restart.

So the antenna switching only works on the RSP2.

73 Eric

 

[sdr_sailor]

Hello,

You need to type the serial number located on the bottom of the RSPdx in the first line of the FMPP.cfg file.

I did some more testing and you can only use the Antenna A input of the RSPdx. The -A command line option does not work. Pressing an uppercase A while in the FMPP program will not change the Antenna input and seems to totally disconnect the antenna. The notch filters seem to work.

The situation is worse for the RSPduo. Only use the tuner 1 input. The -A command line option does not work. Pressing an uppercase A or uppercase O while in the FMPP program will cause the program to stop and restart.

So the antenna switching only works on the RSP2.

73 Eric

Ok, thanks. I, luckily, have my quarter wave ground plane on the antenna A port. The serial number is loaded in the -i position. Everything is started up and seems to be working and tuning ok. The only issue is that I cannot hear anything. Any idea, besides the obvious...I have the volume on the PC turned up... X))

 

[sdr_sailor]

OK! It looks like I have everything working now... except the volume... I cannot hear anything... the computer's volume is turned up... What else is there?

Ok, I found how to unmute the program, but I can't figure out how to set the squelch...

 

[sdr_sailor]

Hello,

I have to apologize for the earlier misinformation. The FMPP documentation says RSP2 only, so that is what I have used. I tested FMPP with the RSP1, RSP1A, RSPduo (single tuner mode), and RSPdx today and they all work. I may try the various command line options to see what works on what device.

Looking at the Notes.txt, FMPP 1.9 was updated to use SDRPlay API Version 3.06, so DSDPlus 2.228 and later should support the RSPdx.

The spectrum display shows two traces. The white trace is the full spectrum and the green trace is an expanded spectrum near the tuned frequency. The program always places the positions so the tuned frequency on the green trace is centered and about 3/16 of the window width from the left on the white trace. There are two light lines that represent the receive bandwidth for both the white and green traces. The red cursor represents the frequency along the white trace. Moving the red cursor on top of a signal on the white trace and left-clicking will tune the RSP to the frequency. The frequency displayed by the red cursor is the nearest frequency for the step size. The left and right brackets change the step size.

Running the stock FMPP-VC.bat and FMPP-CC.bat batch files will fail if you do not have a serial number in the first line of the FMPP.cfg file. You enter the serial number on the bottom of the RSPDx.

It might be better to start simply and run FMPP.exe directly as a test. When you run it there will be two windows, a spectrum window and a console window. The default frequency is 99.9 MHz. If you type in the number 162.55 then the numbers will appear on the title bar of the spectrum window in brackets. Hit the enter key and the RSPdx should tune to 162.550 with the frequency display on the left side of the title bar changing to 162.550. You should hear NOAA weather if you have one on that frequency. You might have to click on a nearby signal to get the local NOAA weather.

73 Eric

I got it to work, however I cannot get the squelch figured out...

 

[sdr_sailor]

The DSDPlus FastLane release works with an SDRPlay 1A just fine. Here is my basic setup:

1. Referencing the 'Notes.txt' file that comes with DSDPlus, acquire the 'USA.csv' file and put in the same directory as the DSDPlus.exe and FMPP.exe executables.
2. Within the FMPP.cfg file, the following (leave the default comments at the end of each line in place that start with ';')

---- 1st line = Serial # of the SDRPlay​

---- lines 2,3,4,5,6,7 and 9 default values​

---- 8th line, Primary frequency list CSV path\filename = .\USA.csv​

---- 10th line, Miles or kilometers = miles and bearing​

---- 11th line, Search Distance = {What fits your needs, I have mine set to 99.9}​

---- 12th line, Search Origin = {Do a Google Search for the town/city, state you live in. Use the LAT LONG values}​

​

3. A single batch file named WhatEverYouWant.bat (keep .bat extension) with the following two (2) lines:​

start DSDPlus -r1 -fa -e -T -E -Pwav -i20001 >>1R-log.txt​

start FMPP -rc -i1 -b12.5 -o20001 -f853.7875​

[The -f[VALUE] is the Primary Control Channel listed in the RadioReference database for the Portland Maine P25 system]​

Launching the '.bat' file gets me up and running. There are other files, the 'DSDPlus.[Descriptor]' files, which can be edited to have information such as talkgroups be displayed when a channel is hit. For example, as DSDPlus is running, the DSDPlus.groups will populate with lines for the different talk groups seen. While the file says it can be edited what it is running, I find it best to only edit it when DSDPlus isnt running. In this file, the 3rd column shows the talkgroup # seen. Using the RadioReference database (or other sources) one can find out what the talkgroup is and type the text value at the end of the corresponding line between the double-quotes. When DSDPlus is next run, the talkgroup names will be displayed.

I suspect there is still more for me to learn and tweak, and more complicated systems to monitor will require more attention, but hopefully this will help others out in getting DSDPlus Fastlane release up and running to monitor a P25 system

Is there an auto mute option? Squelch? I can't seem to hear the voices over the encryption noise at times, and in between transmissions the static is so loud...

 

[sdr_sailor]

Hello,

I have to apologize for the earlier misinformation. The FMPP documentation says RSP2 only, so that is what I have used. I tested FMPP with the RSP1, RSP1A, RSPduo (single tuner mode), and RSPdx today and they all work. I may try the various command line options to see what works on what device.

Looking at the Notes.txt, FMPP 1.9 was updated to use SDRPlay API Version 3.06, so DSDPlus 2.228 and later should support the RSPdx.

The spectrum display shows two traces. The white trace is the full spectrum and the green trace is an expanded spectrum near the tuned frequency. The program always places the positions so the tuned frequency on the green trace is centered and about 3/16 of the window width from the left on the white trace. There are two light lines that represent the receive bandwidth for both the white and green traces. The red cursor represents the frequency along the white trace. Moving the red cursor on top of a signal on the white trace and left-clicking will tune the RSP to the frequency. The frequency displayed by the red cursor is the nearest frequency for the step size. The left and right brackets change the step size.

Running the stock FMPP-VC.bat and FMPP-CC.bat batch files will fail if you do not have a serial number in the first line of the FMPP.cfg file. You enter the serial number on the bottom of the RSPDx.

It might be better to start simply and run FMPP.exe directly as a test. When you run it there will be two windows, a spectrum window and a console window. The default frequency is 99.9 MHz. If you type in the number 162.55 then the numbers will appear on the title bar of the spectrum window in brackets. Hit the enter key and the RSPdx should tune to 162.550 with the frequency display on the left side of the title bar changing to 162.550. You should hear NOAA weather if you have one on that frequency. You might have to click on a nearby signal to get the local NOAA weather.

73 Eric

It appears that I have the volume/mute issue figured out, however I cannot find a way to squelch the static between transmissions as well as sometimes it seems that the encryption sounds are so loud under the voices that I cannot hear what is being said. Is there a way to configure this?

 

[kmcfarland99]

I'm not sure - perhaps if you post the .bat file(s) contents and the FMPP.cfg file contents you are using to start things up, maybe someone here can help. If you do this, please remove the SDRPlay serial # before posting.

I know with my setup I have so squelch/static issues; all is quiet until there is activity. I am using the latest version of the FastLane edition (DSD+ 2.242).

 

[slicerwizard]

It appears that I have the volume/mute issue figured out, however I cannot find a way to squelch the static between transmissions as well as sometimes it seems that the encryption sounds are so loud under the voices that I cannot hear what is being said. Is there a way to configure this?

If you're monitoring analog voice signals, in DSD+ select Monitor Source Audio if No Sync and Signal Present

If you're only monitoring digital voice signals, select No Source Audio Monitoring

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

From the documentation and actually trying it, only FMP24 has a squelch control. It is either off or on. There is no user-adjustable squelch level, but the level depends on scan being on or off.

FMPP does have a scan mode using a FMPP.scanlist file. It is mostly useless because it does not stop on a signal. FMP24 will stop on a signal in scan mode without turning on squelch.

73 Eric

 

[slicerwizard]

Squelch logic is in DSD+. Select Monitor Source Audio if No Sync and Signal Present for analog scanning. Digital voice scanning just requires DSD+ running. Scan list entries should indicate if analog or digital traffic is expected.

 

[gregkaderli]

Thank you EricCotrell and kmcfarland99 for the tips in setting up RSPdx - and to EricCotrell, slicerwizard and also DRL-XM43 in the little details in using it. I am running DSDPlus Fast Lane and the RSPdx radio with the SDRuno software. FMPP for CC does work well with the RSPdx. All of you have pulled it all together and my RSPdx is up and following trunking systems real well.

I am following a Motorola P-25 Phase 1 system in the 700 mHz band and sometimes I switch to a P-25 Phase 1 system in the 150 mHz band. Kmcfarland99, I did follow your instructions on the FMPP.cfg exactly.

I have a question though about the necessity of the 8th line in FMPP.cfg and the csv file. I only want to follow the above mentioned systems though so I did not import the USA.csv file. I created a csv file and placed those two control channel frequencies in the freqlist.csv file. Does not the original FMPP.cfg file call it freqlist.csv? I am questioning why the FMPP.cfg refers to the csv and why it is needed since the control channel frequency is entered as a parameter of the FMPP-CC.bat file. As far as I can tell, FMPP.cfg is only used to determine the serial number of the SDRPlay RSPdx.

Thanks for the information on writing the batch file and I was also using the command line parameters to place the windows at a certain location on my computer screen and to minimize the unwanted windows.

I have observed ( I think) on Fastlane 2.246 that the parameters when DSDPlus.exe is called - to position the event log and the channel display - are no longer needed as DSDPlus retains the last position closed at and positions these two screens at the last closed position.

Is it correct, that DSDPlus Fastlane can not be refined or tweeked to get a better decode? I believe one of the earlier DSDPlus releases could be tweeked using a rawaudio.wav file and using certain parameters to open DSDPlus.exe. I seem to recall I read that on another blog about the absence of tweeking on the recent releases.

 

[slicerwizard]

I have a question though about the necessity of the 8th line in FMPP.cfg and the csv file. I only want to follow the above mentioned systems though so I did not import the USA.csv file. I created a csv file and placed those two control channel frequencies in the freqlist.csv file. Does not the original FMPP.cfg file call it freqlist.csv? I am questioning why the FMPP.cfg refers to the csv and why it is needed since the control channel frequency is entered as a parameter of the FMPP-CC.bat file. As far as I can tell, FMPP.cfg is only used to determine the serial number of the SDRPlay RSPdx.

You don't need any FMPP .csv files. Their job is to help you identify unknown signals. They have no effect on trunk tracking.

Thanks for the information on writing the batch file and I was also using the command line parameters to place the windows at a certain location on my computer screen and to minimize the unwanted windows.

I have observed ( I think) on Fastlane 2.246 that the parameters when DSDPlus.exe is called - to position the event log and the channel display - are no longer needed as DSDPlus retains the last position closed at and positions these two screens at the last closed position.

Yes, it's generally pointless to use the DSD+ window positioning command line options. Just move/resize the various windows and they stay there - unless you're in the habit of deleting your DSDPlus.bin file, which some posters actually are...

Is it correct, that DSDPlus Fastlane can not be refined or tweeked to get a better decode? I believe one of the earlier DSDPlus releases could be tweeked using a rawaudio.wav file and using certain parameters to open DSDPlus.exe. I seem to recall I read that on another blog about the absence of tweeking on the recent releases.

Last I heard, the DSDtune program still works. It should be noted that it only applies to FM demodulated digital signals. It won't do anything for PSK modulated P25 signals.

 

[gregkaderli]

Thank you.

Regarding the DSDPlus "Advance Decoder Options" in the DSDPlus.txt file that came with Fastlane it indicates you can use the parameters of
-dr# -dh# and -ds# and -dd# (where # is an integer value of 1,2,3 or 4)

I have attempted to do the suggested test on the rawAudio.wav that I created but i receive a pop-up window that states -dr1, (and the other options) are unknown commands.

I see the directions that state "...use ....dsdtune..." I have not tried it.

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

Unfortunately you have to go through all the changes to see any additions and modifications.

The -dr and -dh command line options were removed after version 2.18.

The advanced decoder options have no effect during PSK decoding when TCP linking is used.

73 Eric