RTLSDR Scanning Software

[ratfink11]

Hi All,

I wish to setup a Radio Scanner to monitor all fire, police, etc... in my area.

Unfortuneately, I am having extreme issues even determining which software then attempting to locate it.

Issues are as follows:

Unitrunker:

---Extremely ancient outdated broken link FrontPage Website with the latest download version being somewhere back in ancient times of 2017.
---Apparently there is a newer version floating around on a 5 1/4 inch floppy disc that gets mailed around through USPS instead of being available on the actual website? Makes perfect sense?

DSD, Fast/Slow Lane Head on Collision:

---Word Press website created during the KrustyKlown Era with latest update ten years ago.
---Download links go to a blank page.
---I hear there is an update however from what I understand you have to hike to Mt Everest, build a fire, then send smoke signals, then wait for a ups package so you can pay with thieving scam paypal which most people DONT use any longer... so even if going through all this trouble you cant pay anyways.

SDRTrunk:

--- Seems to be a GITHUB Site with some useful info and regular updates.
--- No Website.

I Just want to setup a simple scanner(s) I can monitor with a dozen or so Dongles, log and record.

So my question is will SDRTrunk do this if I throw/waste enough money at it so as not have my time wasted from other endevours from listed above?

My sincerest appologies for my direct candor. Websites cost 5 dollars a month to host with free payment processing. Literally takes 10 minutes to setup a website. Im not really understanding the above listed issues.... any help or guidance I would be greatful for.

Best regards

 

[DaveNF2G]

Welcome to the world of SDR. It's not plug-and-play.

 

[ChrisABQ]

SDRTrunk is the closest to Plug N Play. Updated regularly, adding new types of radio systems. Active forum and downloads can be found at sdrtrunk - Google Groups. It has the most visually pleasing interface and is very functional. I've used this for over 2 years now, great software.

 

[ratfink11]

Perfect, thankyou, SDRTrunk it is!

Out of all the hobbies, Amateur radio group seems to go out of thier way to intentionally push away new to the hobby. I have never seen anything like it.

 

[maus92]

It would be helpful if you list the exact systems that you want to monitor - it will define what SDR hardware and software you will need. The current version of Unitrunker is available on the Unitrunker Google group. The full version of DSD is payware - you will need to email the dev and pay for it using Paypal. SDRTrunk is geared to decoding P25 trunking systems, but can do DMR and NBFM. These programs are developed and maintained mostly by individuals who devote their spare time to improve their product, not building fancy websites.

 

[Jphila20]

I use Unitrunker 2.0. 90% of the systems I monitor are Phase 1. This is the latest download.

http://www.unitrunker.com/v2/download/UniTrunker-2.1.0.105.msi

 

[Reconrider]

Welcome to the world of SDR. It's not plug-and-play.

Have you used the Airspy dongles?
It's actually plug-and-play

As for software, SDRTrunk is easy as you'll ever get as long as you can follow directions to import a system, or set one up.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

SDRTrunk:

--- Seems to be a GITHUB Site with some useful info and regular updates.
--- No Website.

Uhh,,,what? Actual domain names (www) cost $$$ to operate & maintain. SDRTrunk is free. Just be happy it is where it is

 

[DaveNF2G]

Have you used the Airspy dongles?
It's actually plug-and-play

As for software, SDRTrunk is easy as you'll ever get as long as you can follow directions to import a system, or set one up.

Until you decide you need plugins.

 

[Reconrider]

Until you decide you need plugins.

Plugins for what? I didn't know SDRTrunk had plugins lol

 

[rdmcvicar]

Hi All,

I wish to setup a Radio Scanner to monitor all fire, police, etc... in my area.

Unfortuneately, I am having extreme issues even determining which software then attempting to locate it.

Issues are as follows:

Unitrunker:

---Extremely ancient outdated broken link FrontPage Website with the latest download version being somewhere back in ancient times of 2017.
---Apparently there is a newer version floating around on a 5 1/4 inch floppy disc that gets mailed around through USPS instead of being available on the actual website? Makes perfect sense?

DSD, Fast/Slow Lane Head on Collision:

---Word Press website created during the KrustyKlown Era with latest update ten years ago.
---Download links go to a blank page.
---I hear there is an update however from what I understand you have to hike to Mt Everest, build a fire, then send smoke signals, then wait for a ups package so you can pay with thieving scam paypal which most people DONT use any longer... so even if going through all this trouble you cant pay anyways.

SDRTrunk:

--- Seems to be a GITHUB Site with some useful info and regular updates.
--- No Website.

I Just want to setup a simple scanner(s) I can monitor with a dozen or so Dongles, log and record.

So my question is will SDRTrunk do this if I throw/waste enough money at it so as not have my time wasted from other endevours from listed above?

My sincerest appologies for my direct candor. Websites cost 5 dollars a month to host with free payment processing. Literally takes 10 minutes to setup a website. Im not really understanding the above listed issues.... any help or guidance I would be greatful for.

Best regards

Someone since provided current information on UniTrunker, of which I'm a fan for data mining.

For audio, here are my three favorites (at the risk of confusing things more, as none are mentioned so far in this thread):

(bringing in P25 trunked/conventional)

GitHub - TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder: Records calls from a Trunked Radio System (P25 & SmartNet)

Records calls from a Trunked Radio System (P25 & SmartNet) - TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder

github.com

(bringing in analog, conventional AM/FM)

GitHub - rtl-airband/RTLSDR-Airband: Multichannel AM/NFM demodulator

Multichannel AM/NFM demodulator. Contribute to rtl-airband/RTLSDR-Airband development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

(streaming/searching/playback of what's collected)

GitHub - chuot/rdio-scanner: Rdio Scanner is an open source software that ingest and distribute audio files generated by various software-defined radio recorders. Its interface tries to reproduce the user experience of a real police scanner, while ad

Rdio Scanner is an open source software that ingest and distribute audio files generated by various software-defined radio recorders. Its interface tries to reproduce the user experience of a real ...

github.com

Regarding "text" (your August, 2019 post) -- I wasn't sure if you were referring to collecting mobile data traffic (big no) or transcribing voice traffic collected by one of the above methods (big yes).

Your mention of a dozen or so dongles (and my assumption you have the computing power) and website hosting bodes well for having lots of fun with what I assume is a lot to monitor in Seattle. Beyond that, if you're in the RF footprint of whatever you're after, and have the power and bandwidth, that's a good collection of parts. As generally noted here, there's a bit of a curve to get going (maybe more if running it all in Linux)...but once off and running, it's pretty cool (and perhaps addicting, coming from someone running a few dozen ingests into a single cloud server).

Rich M.

 

[dave3825]

Until you decide you need plugins.

I only use this with my sdr. Many pleasurable scents and with the New Smart Light Technology, I can adjust my PPM at night with ease.

 

[DaveNF2G]

Plugins for what? I didn't know SDRTrunk had plugins lol

Oh, sorry, you mentioned Airspy so I read the next bit as SDRSharp.

 

[Jphila20]

I run both Unitrunker and SDRTrunk on the same computer at the same time with no issues. You need VB-Audio or Virtual Audio Cables for Unitrunker, where you don't for SDRTrunk.

Unitrunker is easier to add and remove talk groups, where SDRTrunk you have to basically down load all talk groups and then mute the ones you don't want.

 

[dave3825]

Unitrunker is easier to add and remove talk groups, where SDRTrunk you have to basically down load all talk groups and then mute the ones you don't want.

You have to download all tg's in either program but SDRT actually lets you choose what departments you want to download.

You need VB-Audio or Virtual Audio Cables for Unitrunker, where you don't for SDRTrunk.

Pretty sure you only "need" cables if your recording with Rdio Scanner or Trunking Recorder. If your just wanting to listen live to a few tg's you do not need cables.

 

[Jphila20]

You have to download all tg's in either program but SDRT actually lets you choose what departments you want to download.




Pretty sure you only "need" cables if your recording with Rdio Scanner or Trunking Recorder. If your just wanting to listen live to a few tg's you do not need cables.

When I first set up SDRT I download the departments I wanted, but it played every talk group in the system. I still had to download and mute the ones I didn't want to hear. GCRCN (Greater Cleveland Radio Communications Network) Trunking System, Cleveland, Ohio The system has 821 talk groups.

 

[dave3825]

When I first set up SDRT I download the departments I wanted, but it played every talk group in the system. I still had to download and mute the ones I didn't want to hear.

You did not have to do that. You could have created a tg with a range from 1 to 65535 and set that to mute and record off. That will block any tg's that were not in your alias list.





I have mine set to record because I am interested in new tg's that are not in my alias list. So when using Trunking Recorder, I select All Unknown Talkgroups, and the system of interest, and it will display any unknown tg activity that took place and play the recorded audio.

 

[Jphila20]

When you set up a new software for the first time, you don't always know all the tricks. There isn't much of a users manual that I've found.

Like always - trial and error and users groups.

 

[dave3825]

There isn't much of a users manual that I've found.

Not sure if you have seen this one,

User Manual

A cross-platform java application for decoding, monitoring, recording and streaming trunked mobile and related radio protocols using Software Defined Radios (SDR). Website: - DSheirer/sdrtrunk

github.com

 

[seagravebuff60]

You did not have to do that. You could have created a tg with a range from 1 to 65535 and set that to mute and record off. That will block any tg's that were not in your alias list.

View attachment 152486



I have mine set to record because I am interested in new tg's that are not in my alias list. So when using Trunking Recorder, I select All Unknown Talkgroups, and the system of interest, and it will display any unknown tg activity that took place and play the recorded audio.


View attachment 152485

Yes, but that only works for unknown talkgroups, that haven't been identified yet. You would still have to mute the ones that have an alias