icom pcr 1k....how powerful is it?

[Radiorick]

Hello gents,

While surfing the net or even the forms for that matter all the talk about
digital trunk interception or scanning makes me want to run out and buy a
trunk track IV rig. But is it nessary? So far I've gather that the pcr1k can
monitor trunked comms yet is it limited to EDACS systems? Just how
much can this black box do? What are its limits in the area of trunking.
So far the pcr 1000 has done me well....yet software title after software
title is showing me that I may have under estimated this devices abilites.

 

[BANDIT]

Don't know why it would be limited to Edacs only. You can feed the 9600 packet out data on the 1000 to a data slicer or your sound card depending on software. With Trunker or Etrunker or T4Win or others, you can monitor a motorola or edacs control channel with the PCR1000 and track the systems. With another receiver (does not have to be a trunk tracker) you can track the system with audio. The software will control the second receiver and tell it what frequency to go to. You could even use two
PCR1000's. The packet out data on the PCR1000 is the same as a
scanner tap for baseband audio.

 

[ka3jjz]

With the right software, it'll even trunktrack Motorola Analog trunks, too.

But notice I said 'Analog' - more and more areas are moving to a digital trunk platform, and at least so far, no one has put out software for the PCR1K to handle that format.

73s Mike

 

[Dubbin]

Don't know why it would be limited to Edacs only. You can feed the 9600 packet out data on the 1000 to a data slicer or your sound card depending on software. With Trunker or Etrunker or T4Win or others, you can monitor a motorola or edacs control channel with the PCR1000 and track the systems. With another receiver (does not have to be a trunk tracker) you can track the system with audio. The software will control the second receiver and tell it what frequency to go to. You could even use two
PCR1000's. The packet out data on the PCR1000 is the same as a
scanner tap for baseband audio.

Sounds like alot of work when you can get a TT pretty cheap now a days.

 

[Radiorick]

Alot of work also means alot learned.....I can use as much education as possible

 

[Radiorick]

Its sounding like I should also get another rig....

 

[BANDIT]

Yes trunk trackers are not that all expensive. It just depends on what you want to do with your pcr1000. Also a lot and I mean a lot of people like to run trunker and etrunker on the various systems. It will show you any frequency changes, new talk groups right away without having to do an ID search. You can also see live all the current voice channels active at the
time on the screen. You can also set piroritys on the talk groups. If you see a talk group active on the screen on a different channel you can change to it right away to see whats going on. A lot of the above can not be done with a trunk tracking scanner.

 

[BANDIT]

With the right software, it'll even trunktrack Motorola Analog trunks, too.

But notice I said 'Analog' - more and more areas are moving to a digital trunk platform, and at least so far, no one has put out software for the PCR1K to handle that format.

73s Mike

Its on the way. Very soon I hope. Uni-Trunker 9600bps.

 

[Radiorick]

Thats an idea......I'm gonna have to look into when I get back home.
As for the tt units being cheap...five hundred and something bucks is
up there man.

 

[BANDIT]

Thats an idea......I'm gonna have to look into when I get back home.
As for the tt units being cheap...five hundred and something bucks is
up there man.

Actually you dont need a trunk tracking scanner to follow Edacs or Motorola
systems, other than digital. With your pcr1000 and any 800mhz capable receiver that is computer controllable will work. The software does the tracking and controls the voice receiver. Except for ProVoice or Motorola digital comms you can trunk track with two pcr1000's.

 

[ka3jjz]

With the right software, it'll even trunktrack Motorola Analog trunks, too.

But notice I said 'Analog' - more and more areas are moving to a digital trunk platform, and at least so far, no one has put out software for the PCR1K to handle that format.

73s Mike

Its on the way. Very soon I hope. Uni-Trunker 9600bps.

Fascinating. Do you have a URL for this?

73s Mike

 

[BANDIT]

Check out the Trunker/Etrunker/T4Win Decoders forum here on this site.
Search for Uni-Trunker.

 

[Radiorick]

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=17572

 

[Tweekerbob]

motorola trunking

Try this program...allows for listening to motorola trunked systems using only 1 pcr. Uses soundcard to decode CC, no data slicer required.

EDACS support supposedly coming soon.

http://104452.home.icq.com/trunkpcr/TrunkPcr.html

 

[stevpiz]

PCR-1000

the PCR-1000 is an amazing box for $350

trunkPCR1k works great and his other PCR programs are great too although I have some problems that could be HP or ME related

talkPCR is still best for scanning

in case you didnt know there are several excellent shortware and utility database programs that will also tune the PCR

 

[Radiorick]

Hands down the "little black box" is an amazing rcvr

 

[K7TKR]

Just a note-

The PCR-1000 is still a great general coverage radio with the right software. If one is into HF monitoring, from short-wave to digital signalling of all types, it can handle the task and without the need for tapping discriminators, second radios, or a hodgepog of software.

I know, have had one for years. And still use it when I'm out of the truck and want my HF capabilites.

I think for trunking, one's best bet is to get a trunk capable scanner.

Just my thought on the subject.

 

[Mr44]

The problem is that compared to ICOM receivers or actual Motorola radios, the run-of-the-mill Uniden/RS trunktracking scanners are like little (actually big, clunky) plastic toys... I hate them and will not spend $1000 on a Uniden product digital, trunk-tracking or otherwise.

Please ICOM, make a handheld in the R20 case that does analog and digital trunking and I will buy two after selling all four radios I now own. (Except for my R5, that is... cold dead hand.)

PM