SDR Beginner

[p3nt4g0n]

Wanted to give SDR a try. Was wondering what would be the best dongle(s) and also what software for logging and recording radio traffic for playback. Trunked P25 is the type of system I will be monitoring.

 

[moonbounce]

Start here.

Windows Software [rtlsdr.org wiki]

Then go here:

http://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr.html

 

[p3nt4g0n]

I was under the assumption I would need Unitrunker, I didn't see that listed anywhere on that site.

 

[reconrider8]

For logging hits on viper as far as tgids and users and such yes you can use unitrunker the newest version will have the input as the RTL dongle and then just set your frequency then get your ppm set right and it will start running just as if you have unitrunker running from your scanner output. Then you can go further with a second dongle and get an audio setup with the use if DSD

 

[p3nt4g0n]

Ok, so I got my two dongles and installed the correct firmware for both with zadig. I got the latest version of Unitrunker and tried to set up everything correctly for the signal and voice. It seems I'm doing something or alot of things wrong. When I have Unitrunker running, I hear static in my speakers go in and out. Also when I run DSD+ i get nothing, doesn't even scroll. Also downloaded Virtual Audio Cable. I attached a picture of my Unitrunker settings.

 

[DK327]

When you unmute the Signal receiver, do you hear the trunking sound thru speakers at that parked frequency? If not, you might need to adjust your PPM until you're dead on, at which point, another window should pop up with control and other channels for the P25 system.

Also, the correction for the Voice is same as Signal and might not be right... Set the park frequency of the Voice to also 853.8625 and see if you hear the trunking sound... Even if it's 5ppm off, DSD won't decode at all...

 

[p3nt4g0n]

When you unmute the Signal receiver, do you hear the trunking sound thru speakers at that parked frequency? If not, you might need to adjust your PPM until you're dead on, at which point, another window should pop up with control and other channels for the P25 system.

Also, the correction for the Voice is same as Signal and might not be right... Set the park frequency of the Voice to also 853.8625 and see if you hear the trunking sound... Even if it's 5ppm off, DSD won't decode at all...

Yes, I am getting the screen with the talkgroup and user activity, just doesn't seem dsd is picking anything up.

 

[p3nt4g0n]

After I tuned each dongle through SDR and changed the Correction values in Unitrunker, DSD started working. How do I cut out the static in between decodes? I attached pictures of current Unitrunker settings.

 

[altonj]

Try adjusting the squelch on the voice receiver.

 

[p3nt4g0n]

Try adjusting the squelch on the voice receiver.

Tried values 1-20, still get static between decodes. Also, noticed when trying to find a recording program that logs activity and records the voice for playback, its looking for a file called "sdrsharptrunking.log". Can't find where this file might be or if I even need it.

 

[altonj]

My squelch setting is set to 65. Based on something I read here I kept going up in steps of 10 until the squelch kicked in, then fine tuned.

 

[p3nt4g0n]

My audio output under Voice was set on speakers, I changed that to unspecified and that fixed the problem. Still trying to figure out a recording program, or why I'm not seeing sdrsharptrunking.log

 

[rosecitytransit]

DSD+ itself should record the audio it decodes. I believe by default it will overwrite DSDPlus.wav, but you can use the -I switch (that's not an L) to record in time blocks.

For sdrsharptrunking.log, you will need to create a "Debug" receiver in UniTrunker and copy the Remote.dll file from SDRSharp to the UniTrunker data folder (click on the folder icon in the UniTrunker). You may also have to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Runtime.