Are there any windows programs to decode MDC1200 numbers? I downloaded “Radio ID” which is a App on my phone but it runs only via the phones microphone. Id like to be able to use software to decode these from my Audio in line on my PC. Thank you in advanced.
MDC1200 Decoding
- Thread starter Nysff
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I did download that before and I get an Error Message that an Audio Port was not detected and it just shuts down then.
mmckenna
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I don't know about PC's.
I do know there is an iOS app for the iPhone that will do it. I think the guy who wrote it hangs about on this site, too.
I do know there is an iOS app for the iPhone that will do it. I think the guy who wrote it hangs about on this site, too.
Yes as I said, Radio ID
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What operating system is your PC? I am using Windows 7 and it runs fine for me. Do you have something plugged in to the mic input?-that may be necessary on your PC for the operating system to recognize the audio port.
Windows 10. Might be because I run my BCD536HP Via the Wifi and is not near the PC so nothing is plugged in. If this is the true cause, any work around ideas? I do run ProScan on my PC but my scanner is in my bedroom
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I am confused about your configuration--it is a non-typical one. Does the audio from the scanner come out of the PC?
Possible cures:
Routing PC audio output into the mic input. This might be done with an audio cable or in the operating system--I cannot say as I found this to be PC and operating system dependent. So the big question is where is your scanners audio and how to get it into the expected mic input.
Yes the audio does come through the PC however its sent to the PC via the Wifi dongle the 536 has. So I have it set up to receive an audio signal from the wifi (via ProScan Application) to stream through the HDMI cable to the tv (So i can hear it without all the bass and all) and everything else (Music, Videos) are sent through the audio out into a preamp.
All of this is bad advice.
Remotely connecting scanner audio through Wi-Fi and ProScan is definitely a standard configuration for 536 owners. You get very high audio quality (you eliminate a digital/analog/digital conversion), and completely avoid the common issues with ground loops.
Also, running line or speaker level audio into a microphone input is one of the worst things you can do. It's very easy to overload or damage the mic input because the voltage level is 100-1000x higher than the input is designed to accept, and even if you attenuate the input voltage, you are compromising audio quality. And you also have to deal with ground loop issues that can damage the scanner audio amp if not handled correctly.
A much better approach would be to use Virtual Audio Cable or a similar tool to make the audio connection between ProScan and the MDC1200 decoder program.
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It is not bad advice. I agree that that using Virtual Audio Cable (or VBCable which is free and in my experience better) but as far as I can see the older program we are talking about will only look at the mic input (there is no selection of the audio source) and is not able to get to any other audio input. Of course I always attenuate audio going from a speaker output to the microphone input using a resistor network (a large resistor in series (~1 M) then a much smaller one (~100 in parallel)--I mistakenly assumed that was understood but should have stated state that. I checked before giving the advice knowing that the program is an older one to see if it could be used with a virtual audio cable and it appears not. (Google my posting to threads and you will see that I am a very strong advocate of using virtual audio cables when possible.)
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slicerwizard
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If the program offers no audio source control, then it likely uses the default audio input device, so just set the default to VB Cable.
Or use Stereo Mix.
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I have found that only works sometimes on older programs and did not check for Win MDCD but I found there is another solution that I had forgotten SDRTrunk has an MDCD 1200 decoder. That program will allow one to select the input (to VBCable once installed) and is probably the best way to go as it does not involve changing the default audio device (the program can be used with VBCable without an SDR). That programs also allows him to do other things.
I use SDRTrunk to decode Lojack base stations (here a stolen device is rare) on 173.075. The writer of the program put that in when he discover he easily could, Not all that interesting but once identifies where the individual station are, it might be used to check on propagation. In that case, I feed it audio via VBCable though the program is not controlling an SDR.
For those interested, here are some of the Lojack base station locations and identifiers:
011F Bull Run (Haymarket), VA
014E Bethesda, MD
01AE Baltimore, MD
021F Midlothian, VA
022F Philadelphia, PA
02AE Prince Frederick, MD
031F Emporia, VA
03DE Rosenhayn, NJ
802F Wyndmoor, PA
805E Rising Sun, DE
80AE WPLP844 Clarksville, MD
811F WQTM566 Fredericksburg, VA
812F WQKE793 Reading, PA
814E WPED308 Washington, DC
81AE WPLP844 Frederick, MD
82AE WPLP844 Hillsville, MD
831F WQTM566 Suffolk, VA
83DE WNRU940 Atlantic City, NJ
Note that the last two letter of the identifier apparently identify the state (or adjacent location in that state's network).
Unless the program is really old, you can still set the audio input by changing the Windows default audio devices, even if the program doesn't offer an internal option to change the audio input.
Even if you properly attenuate the signal going into a mic input, you are still losing audio quality by attenuating the signal and then re-amplifying it. And you still have the issue of ground loops to deal with.
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VBCable (I prefer and free) and VAC (Virtual Audio Cable) are programs that act like it is an (virtual=not physical wire) audio cable. It has an input and an output. Virtual Line In means the input. these programs allow one to connect the audio output of one program to the input of another without using any physical wiring.
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