SDRTrunk and Toronto P25 Phase II

[HiVolt]

The Windows version I tried was SDRTrunk for Windows, but even with the RadioReference login and importing the frequencies, I just cannot figure out how to make it work. I have made some aliases, some channel configuration that has the TFS talkgroups in it, and when I hit Play, the tuner seems locked but nothing shows on the now playing tab.

Is there a good guide how to set up a system on the Windows version?

 

[foxtail]

There is a read me file in the setup of SDRTrunk. Not sure when you tried it, but it's come along way. Check YouTube for videos. Very easy to get running. Start with NOAA freq. and figure the rest out.

 

[mciupa]

I have used this guy's videos for set up. Ryan Owens

I paused at each major step, did the task and continued the video. I find SDRTRunk excellent on Peel Region Simulcast, better than using attenuated BCD 536HP. I'm running sdrtrunk v0.6.0-alpha6

 

[HiVolt]

I just downloaded the latest version. It's the channel creation that is stumping me. I have gotten something to play, but i'm not seeing anything that identifies it...

I wish there was a simple way to just set up a system and talkgroups like on the old FreeScan software for unidens.

BTW, should I be using two tuners or one?

 

[mciupa]

I just downloaded the latest version. It's the channel creation that is stumping me. I have gotten something to play, but i'm not seeing anything that identifies it...

I wish there was a simple way to just set up a system and talkgroups like on the old FreeScan software for unidens.

BTW, should I be using two tuners or one?

For Toronto, you will definitely need two tuners as the spectrum spread is 2.4MHz for each tuner. Toronto uses 769 to 774.

The way I see Aliases is to highlight the yellow CONTROL on the Now Playing page. Then, click Events and that page will show you the activity which would be the Alpha tags from the RadioReference database.

 

[HiVolt]

Ok, I think I have it working with two dongles. Lots of traffic coming in, but that's the problem now. How do I lock out the stuff I don't want to listen to? So much EMS chatter that I don't care for, I'm only interested in Toronto Fire.

Edit: I think i figured it out. i just had to import all the talk groups and set the EMS stuff to mute. I *think* its working now, however I still would like to figure out how to "hold" a talk group like you can on a scanner.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I still would like to figure out how to "hold" a talkgroup like you can on a scanner.

No way to do it as of date of this posting. Several active feature requests on the Github page for this...

 

[GTR8000]

however I still would like to figure out how to "hold" a talkgroup like you can on a scanner.

Download and install Trunking Recorder (not Trunk-Recorder) and listen to the audio through the web interface. It's not 100% real time playback (it grabs the mp3 files from SDRTrunk), but it gives you a lot of functionality when paired with SDRTrunk.

Trunking Recorder - Recording audio from trunked radio systems monitored by Unitrunker, SDRTrunk, ProScan, and DSDPlus

Recording audio from trunked radio systems monitored by Unitrunker, SDRTrunk, ProScan, and DSDPlus

www.scannerbox.us

 

[HiVolt]

No way to do it as of date of this posting. Several active feature requests on the Github page for this...

Wow, talk about old requests. I guess fat chance that's coming.

Download and install Trunking Recorder (not Trunk-Recorder) and listen to the audio through the web interface. It's not 100% real time playback (it grabs the mp3 files from SDRTrunk), but it gives you a lot of functionality when paired with SDRTrunk.

Thanks, I will give it a try.

Just listening for about half hour now my scanners are pretty much useless now, I think maybe 5% of stuff was actually heard on the old 996XT.

I guess it's time to sell all of them, maybe get enough to be able to get one portable which I still would like to have.

 

[HiVolt]

Trunk Recorder seems to work pretty good, at least you can filter a talk group if there is a call I want to listen to.

Sound quality seems to be pretty good so far with the SDRTrunk decoding.

 

[HiVolt]

For Toronto, you will definitely need two tuners as the spectrum spread is 2.4MHz for each tuner. Toronto uses 769 to 774.

Another question regarding this. I can only pick up the East tower from here, north and south are too far. Do I still need two tuners if I'm just picking up the east tower?

I have two in there now but just curious if one will do.

 

[mciupa]

Another question regarding this. I can only pick up the East tower from here, north and south are too far. Do I still need two tuners if I'm just picking up the east tower?

I have two in there now but just curious if one will do.

Looking at the East site, you should be good for the most part, except those two 773 frequencies. When voice hits those, it will display
TUNER UNAVAILABLE, if you can live with that.

 

[polkaroo]

Ok, I think I have it working with two dongles. Lots of traffic coming in, but that's the problem now. How do I lock out the stuff I don't want to listen to? So much EMS chatter that I don't care for, I'm only interested in Toronto Fire.

Edit: I think i figured it out. i just had to import all the talk groups and set the EMS stuff to mute. I *think* its working now, however I still would like to figure out how to "hold" a talk group like you can on a scanner.

Think of the system as a two-parter. You have a backend app that tunes to and records the audio (SDRtrunk or Trunk Recorder), and then a frontend app that you use to listen to (Trunking Recorder or Rdio Scanner).

Yes, SDRtrunk's audio is great. Too bad SDRtrunk and DSDPlus don't collaborate because it would be really good to have SDRtrunk stream a system while DSDPlus logs the same as that's what they're excellent at doing.

 

[HiVolt]

Looking at the East site, you should be good for the most part, except those two 773 frequencies. When voice hits those, it will display
TUNER UNAVAILABLE, if you can live with that.

Thanks, I'll just keep it with two tuners. I'm not using them for anything else.

 

[HiVolt]

I have checked out Rdio Scanner as well. I think I like it better than Trunking Recorder. It behaves more like a traditional scanner which is what I'm used to.
Also I like that it's a more touch friendly interface, I have repurposed an old iPad to be my new scanner, lol. The mobile app for it also works well, albeit their $50 yearly subscription to remove ads is ridiculous. Charge a reasonable one time fee. I'd buy it. But I will not sub.

 

[Forts]

Rdio Scanner is very slick, but I find the app is very buggy (it won't run in the background). The author has stated he's working on a re-write but it's taking some time.

 

[HiVolt]

Rdio Scanner is very slick, but I find the app is very buggy (it won't run in the background). The author has stated he's working on a re-write but it's taking some time.

Interesting, the iPhone app seems to work correctly in the background. I went for a 3 hour bike ride yesterday and heard the TFS sirens, so I opened it up to listen, then brought back my ride logging app and the audio was coming in for a couple hours until I turned it off when I got home.

 

[Forts]

Oh that's good.. perhaps it's been updated/fixed. I'll have to give it another look.

 

[Forts]

So you are correct, it looks like it's been fixed. Just installed the latest version of the Rdio app and it's working great. Thanks for that heads up.

 

[Forts]

Ok I lied. It's still not working in the background for me (although it did for a few minutes). I'll take this to a more appropriate forum.