SDR# SDR# and DSD+(Fastlane) can't get to play together - help please

[W4UCK]

So, i am new to all this. I have an RTL-SDR dongle. I can get SDR# to work fine by itself. I can get DSD+ (FMP24) to work fine and decode digital audio, by itself. I cannot figure out how to run DSD+ and FMP from inside SDR#. I realize there must be a command line error i am making or SDR# configuration error. Both packages can not access the same dongle at the same time. One or the other must control things, like setting the frequency etc. No matter what settings i make on FMP24 is errors that the RTL is in use. I see that DSD+ must be in passive mode, ok, i can do that. I understand the use of Digital Audio cable is deprecated.

I have searched threads high and low, but am just not finding the help i need.

I am at a loss. One package or the other must tune the radio. Audio received by SDR# has to be passed to DSD+ and then to the speaker.

I think there is some key to making them work together i am just missing.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

73 de w4uck, Jim

 

[slicerwizard]

You run SDR# and send its audio output to a virtual audio cable.

You run DSD+ and set its audio input to that same virtual audio cable. Done via DSD+'s Input menu.

 

[W4UCK]

Thank you! I am now working. I am noticing that the digital volume and the analog volumes are quite unequal, but i am sure i will figure out the finer points and refinements as i go.

Thanks again, Jim

 

[iMONITOR]

I'm relatively new to SDR and it's related software options. Up to now everything I've monitored with my SDR is analog. I've been considering trying to monitor P25 Phase 1 trunked digital public safety with SDR. How well does the software actually perform compared to the various scanners on the market? Does it cope with problematic simulcast systems as well or better?

I've been temped to try it but I confess I'm a little overwhelmed by all the posts I read about all the packages and configurations that are required and the level of difficulty many seem to have getting it all up and running. Is it worth it?

It would be great if someone more capable than myself would write some scripts that would simplify the process of installing the packages and modifications for us old farts!

 

[merlin]

I think all you need is VBcable. Set the output of SDR#(sound output) to the sound input and launch FMP24.
Just one dongle, I just use FMP24-CC.bat to set the control channel frequency. after launching, start 1r.bat.

 

[iMONITOR]

I think all you need is VBcable. Set the output of SDR#(sound output) to the sound input and launch FMP24.
Just one dongle, I just use FMP24-CC.bat to set the control channel frequency. after launching, start 1r.bat.

Thanks for the encouragement Merlin! Maybe if I can get a good nights sleep I'll give it a try. Is there a good step by step document I could follow?

 

[slicerwizard]

I am noticing that the digital volume and the analog volumes are quite unequal, but i am sure i will figure out the finer points and refinements as i go.

Adjust analog volume in SDR# with the volume slider.

Adjust digital volume in DSD+ with the up/down arrow keys or the volume level slider in the DSD+ Output menu.

 

[W4UCK]

Thanks for the encouragement Merlin! Maybe if I can get a good nights sleep I'll give it a try. Is there a good step by step document I could follow?

There are no good guides, but lots to read. Where i was running into trouble is you don't use FMP24 because both it and SDR# want to control the hardware and both can't do that. Run SDR# port the output VBCable. Run DSD+, change to Passive Mode, set input to VBCable and out to speakers.

 

[W4UCK]

Adjust analog volume in SDR# with the volume slider.

Adjust digital volume in DSD+ with the up/down arrow keys or the volume level slider in the DSD+ Output menu.

Thank you. I am 99% there. But i have one more question. When i receive a digital transmission i hear the analog 'sound' of it behind the digital decode. How do i suppress the analog background? Part of my problem is that i see settings and don't really know what they do or mean and am hesitant to just go changing things without that knowledge. I can play with settings, but so many transmissions are so short that i don't really get a chance to see what they did before they are gone.

Jim

 

[merlin]

Thanks for the encouragement Merlin! Maybe if I can get a good nights sleep I'll give it a try. Is there a good step by step document I could follow?

You can just follow the guide for VBcable, just remember to change back to the system sound settings when not using SDR# or you will not have system sound to speakers. You can also change this with control panel sound settings,,not hard.
My first headache was not noticing the system sound reverts to min. with startup and had no sound.
That is the speaker icon on the task bar.

 

[slicerwizard]

When i receive a digital transmission i hear the analog 'sound' of it behind the digital decode. How do i suppress the analog background?

I don't know how you're routing the analog audio from SDR# to your speakers. If you terminate DSD+, do you still hear analog signals?

 

[W4UCK]

I figured it out. In the DSD+ event window there are conditions for "Monitor Source Audio" and i set it to only monitor when there is a signal and no sync. Viola. Now upon receipt of a digital signal the source audio is cutoff and no more BZZZZZZ in the background.

I am actually getting this thing figured out. Not bad for an old man!

Thanks, Jim

 

[oz1jua]

But now I simply do not get this. Yes both SDR# and DSD+ can control the AirSpy. But if you want the SDR# to control the Hardware and wants the DSD+to just recevice and decode the data. Is this only possible with the VBcable.

After a lot of reading and install the new version 1811 of SDR# I believe that I could use TCP Port.
But I can't figure out how to set this up. Have any get this to work. ???

The Remote Net pluging do not work any more with new version 1811. Is this something that is integrated in SDR#. ?
And if it is integrated where do I set this up. Port and IP etc. ??
There is some setup in DSD+Fastlane that I have. Where the Port is setup. Default is Local (127.0.0.1) Port: 20001.
I had imagined that this could be used to connect the audio from SDR#. But I could be wrong. ?

Furhter more why create a DSDPlusUI plugin to SDR# with all this settings if you only can use a VBcable.

 

[AM909]

...
Furhter more why create a DSDPlusUI plugin to SDR# with all this settings if you only can use a VBcable.

It may help if you would explain why you don't want to use VBCable or maybe something like it.

 

[oz1jua]

It may help if you would explain why you don't want to use VBCable or maybe something like it.

Yes why should I use Analog for something there allready is digital. When using TCP it is sendt without loss.

This is statet in the dokumentation of the DSDPlusUI.
You can use DSD+ with Airspys SDR# (another piece of awesome software) but you will need to use a Virtual Audio cable which can get a little bit messy and produce bad decoding of digital streams but I highly recommend using FMPA (via TCP linking FMPA to DSD+) which has been designed specifically for use with Airspy. But no explamation on how to do this. ??

But perhaps this can only be done with the use of FMPA and not SDR#. I do not know.
Then again why make a plugin for SDR# if you only use it for starting the interface. Thats I do not understand..
And if you are using this you must not start the AirSpy in SDR#. Very confusing software.

 

[AM909]

... But perhaps this can only be done with the use of FMPA and not SDR#. I do not know. ...

Right. You need to use FMPx or SDR# or some other software (pick one only) to run the radio/dongle and demodulate a particular frequency. DSD+ is then used to decode the demodulated audio passed to it via whatever means are available.

... Then again why make a plugin for SDR# if you only use it for starting the interface. Thats I do not understand..
And if you are using this you must not start the AirSpy in SDR#. Very confusing software. ...

The plugin is very useful in that you don't have to remember all the DSD+ command-line options – you just use the GUI to generate the command line. Yes, it would be nice if SDR# knew how to talk directly to DSD+, especially because PSK decoding (e.g. in P25 simulcast) works poorly (if at all) with SDR# feeding FM-demodulated audio to DSD+ via VBCable.