HRM live calls configuration

[Jason_wyler]

@west5alpha and I have been in Contact with @NE1C4NSC4N about how he can setup live calls for the HRM area. Unfortunately, he has ran in to some issues with it his configuration can't lock on to the system and therefore can't get the Live calls to work. We would really appreciate if @NE1C4NSC4N can get some assistance.

 

[Deziel0495]

To start it would be helpful to know what equipment/software you're using and what frequencies/sites/talkgroups you're trying to monitor.

@west5alpha and I have been in Contact with @NE1C4NSC4N about how he can setup live calls for the HRM area. Unfortunately, he has ran in to some issues with it his configuration can't lock on to the system and therefore can't get the Live calls to work. We would really appreciate if @NE1C4NSC4N can get some assistance.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

To start it would be helpful to know what equipment/software you're using and what frequencies/sites/talkgroups you're trying to monitor.

Hi Daniel,

I'm trying to get calls going on the APPSN, I'm closest to the Preston site (048), I have downloaded the talk groups file from the RRDB with every TG.

I am trying to get it running using 1 (or 2 if needed) RTL-SDR Blog 3's. Currently I am using Debian 12 without a container as it was easier to setup for testing, but I plan to use a container once I sort out the system settings I need.

Here is my current config.json (minus the full api key, I can send that if needed) :

{
"ver": 2,
"sources": [{
"center": 769093750.0,
"rate": 24000,
"ppm": -3,
"gain": 350,
"softVocoder": true,
"digitalRecorders": 5,
"modulation": "qpsk",
"driver": "osmosdr",
"device": "rtl=01"
}],
"systems": [{
"control_channels": [769093750, 769343750],
"type": "p25",
"talkgroupsFile": "talkgroup.csv",
"shortName": "APPSN",
"broadcastifyApiKey": "aeaf5151-9026-11ef-9e04-xxxxxxxxxxxx",
"broadcastifySystemId": 3956,
"audioArchvie": false,
"hideEncrypted": false
}],
"broadcastifyCallsServer": "https://api.broadcastify.com/call-upload"
}

Don't mind the center frequency I have set above, I was just trying to get it to lock on the main CC, but even that doesn't seem to work. The system does run, but only returns the following :

[2024-10-24 16:40:25.018278] (error) [APPSN] Retuning to Control Channel: 769.093750 MHz
[2024-10-24 16:40:25.018410] (info) - System Source 0 - Min Freq: 769.081750 MHz Max Freq: 769.105750 MHz
[2024-10-24 16:40:25.018469] (error) [APPSN] Control Channel Message Decode Rate: 0/sec, count: 1
[2024-10-24 16:40:25.715997] (error) P25 Parse error, s: Len: 0
[2024-10-24 16:40:26.734596] (error) P25 Parse error, s: Len: 0
[2024-10-24 16:40:27.763477] (error) P25 Parse error, s: Len: 0
[2024-10-24 16:40:28.019421] (error) [APPSN] Retuning to Control Channel: 769.343750 MHz
[2024-10-24 16:40:28.019540] (error) - Unable to retune System control channel, freq not covered by any source.
[2024-10-24 16:40:28.019559] (error) [APPSN] Control Channel Message Decode Rate: 0/sec, count: 1
[2024-10-24 16:40:28.789555] (error) P25 Parse error, s: Len: 0
^X[2024-10-24 16:40:29.813851] (error) P25 Parse error, s: Len: 0

My assumption is I have a setting wrong in the config, I have tried at least 20 different config changes now, but nothing seems to be working.

Thoughts? Am I missing something simple? lol.

Thanks!

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Just found the inline code button :

{ "ver": 2, "sources": [{ "center": 769093750.0, "rate": 24000, "ppm": -3, "gain": 350, "softVocoder": true, "digitalRecorders": 5, "modulation": "qpsk", "driver": "osmosdr", "device": "rtl=01" }], "systems": [{ "control_channels": [769093750, 769343750], "type": "p25", "talkgroupsFile": "talkgroup.csv", "shortName": "APPSN", "broadcastifyApiKey": "aeaf5151-9026-11ef-9e04-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", "broadcastifySystemId": 3956, "audioArchvie": false, "hideEncrypted": false }], "broadcastifyCallsServer": "https://api.broadcastify.com/call-upload" }

Also wanted to add, I do in fact get signal from 048 It works on my scanners with the current antennas I have.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

How does SDRTrunk work on Windows? I was thinking about running it on a Windows box previously but decided to go the TR route since it looked easier with the container option.

 

[Jason_wyler]

Given his options is it possible to setup on OpenMHz.com ?

OpenMHz

openmhz.com

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Give his options is it possible to setup on open MHz.com ?

Once I have the system working I can add OpenMHz. The sharing is the easy part sadly, until I get the base program/system working I have nothing to share.

 

[Jason_wyler]

Once I have the system working I can add OpenMHz. The sharing is the easy part sadly, until I get the base program/system working I have nothing to share.

Ok and from what I have seen OpenMHz seem to be a good website

If there anything I can help with searching, I can do that as well. I don't mind helping as I have some time today

 

[rhughes6]

Not familiar with Trunk Recorder as I use SDRTrunk as well, but it looks to me like your sample rate might be set too low. Trunk Recorder is looking for the value in Hz according to the documentation, so 2.4 MHz should be 2400000 (5 zeros) and not 24000 like you have in your config above. I'd start there, and if you still have trouble gain or ppm have been the culprits for me in the past.

 

[Deziel0495]

The 2 public safety feeds pictured are live audio feeds, not Broadcastify Calls. Separate systems with separate setup instructions. Broadcastify Calls require an SDR.

Dang, ok. Thanks anyways!

How does SDRTrunk work for you on Windows? I was thinking about running it on a Windows box previously but decided to go the TR route since it looked easier with the container option.

I really like it. Easy to use, and you can send to multiple destinations including Broadcastify live feed, Broadcastify Calls, OpenMHz, Rdio-Scanner, to name and few. It also has RadioReference database importing.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

The 2 public safety feeds pictured are live audio feeds, not Broadcastify Calls. Separate systems with separate setup instructions. Broadcastify Calls require an SDR.

I really like it. Easy to use, and you can send to multiple destinations including Broadcastify live feed, Broadcastify Calls, OpenMHz, Rdio-Scanner, to name and few. It also has radioreference database importing.

@Deziel0495 So I set up SDRTrunk in a Windows VM I already had configured for something else. Why does it show my tuner being locked on a different frequency than what I saved in the Playlist? It says its on one of the 2 control channels in the "now playing" tab, but locked on some random frequency in the "tuners" tab? Is that normal? I set it to the primary CC and it changed to that when I hit play? How about the sync loss message?:

 

[Deziel0495]

That's normal for it to change frequencies. Depending what type of antenna you're using and how far away the site is, you may need to increase the master gain control. Sync loss messages mean it's not locking on to the site to get the required data to follow calls. When it's receiving properly, in the now playing window it should say "Control" instead of "IDLE".

 

[west5alpha]

It's not on the OpenMhz website yet

 

[Jason_wyler]

It's not on the openmhz website

I’m sure he is working on it but I have been listing to the fire and public works this morning I’m just waiting for the Transit to arrive

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Hey gents, so I got it working somewhat at least, thanks everyone for your suggestions etc, but I think what Daniel mentioned about my overall signal received is the issue. I only get half of a transmission it seems when replaying from the Calls page. I spent what time I had last night removing some splitters etc from my feed line and that got it at least receiving some data, but there is large periods of sync errors so its not getting a steady signal.

SDRTrunk reports lots of errors when I am receiving anything :



Funny thing, it always seems to catch HRP encrypted channels lol..



So I think its the wide band antenna I'm using, I remembered last night as I was working on the feed line that it is tuned/cut to somewhere in the 300-400 MHz range, so I'm thinking that is the main issue. It was in storage for the last 10 years and I forgot it was cut for UHF, plus it always worked from the HP area where I used to live so I didn't think much of it (I was pretty close to the tower out there). So, I either need to cut it to something closer to 800 MHz, or get another antenna, and likely get it up higher. So, guess who gets to go play on the roof this weekend.. yay!

Thanks again everyone for the help (or offers to help) and suggestions! Standby for an update.

It's not on the OpenMhz website yet

I did send them the request email, so once they send me the api key I can add it.

 

[Jason_wyler]

Hey gents, so I got it working somewhat at least, thanks everyone for your suggestions etc, but I think what Daniel mentioned about my overall signal received is the issue. I only get half of a transmission it seems when replaying from the Calls page. I spent what time I had last night removing some splitters etc from my feed line and that got it at least receiving some data, but there is large periods of sync errors so its not getting a steady signal.

SDRTrunk reports lots of errors when I am receiving anything :

View attachment 171508

Funny thing, it always seems to catch HRP encrypted channels lol..

View attachment 171509

So I think its the wide band antenna I'm using, I remembered last night as I was working on the feed line that it is tuned/cut to somewhere in the 300-400 Mhz range so I'm thinking that is the main issue. It was in storage for the last 10 years and I forgot it was cut for UHF, plus it always worked from the HP area where I used to live so I didn't think much of it (I was pretty close to the tower out there). So, I either need to cut it to something closer to 800 mhz, or get another antenna, and likely get it up higher. So, guess who gets to go play on the roof this weekend.. yay!

Thanks again everyone for the help (or offers to help) and suggestions! Standby for an update.

We will standby for your update is that the reason why it hasn’t been able to pick up Transit yet ?

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

We will standby for your update is that the reason why it hasn’t been able to pick up Transit yet ?

I have to assume yes, since transit is in the HRM playlist/talk group list I have loaded.

 

[Jason_wyler]

I have to assume yes, since transit is in the HRM playlist/talk group list I have loaded.

Okay yeah, that's what I think too. Once that is fixed it should be okay. Awesome!

 

[Deziel0495]

I have to assume yes, since transit is in the HRM playlist/talk group list I have loaded.

One good thing about Broadcastify Calls and SDRTrunk is you can just enter a wildcard/talkgroup range and it will feed everything you receive on the system, even new talkgroups not in the database. I do this method rather than importing a large list of talkgroups.

 

[west5alpha]

It is easier to listen when you get things running on the OpenMHz web site