Texas Two Way 4 level data slicer ( need some help )

[mancow]

A friend bought one of these but he couldn't figure out how to put it together. I offered to help figuring it wouldn't be that bad. It came with no instructions, no real useful drawing showing component placement and no shematic :shock: . I tried contacting the company but they are useless. They wouldn't even reply.

Has anyone built one of these? If so, a good closeup picture of the finished board would be a great help.

Thanks.



mancow

 

[pro92b]

I didn't know they sold kits. Did you get a printed circuit board or just a bag of parts? The thing doesn't work all that well and part of the problem is their circuit board layout. Doing your own layout should produce better results. Run a ground bus through the middle of the circuit from input to output and use short direct connections to it. The parts should be physically placed pretty much as they are shown in the schematic which is attached.

 

[mancow]

Thanks! That's just what I was looking for.

The thing came as a kit and was basically a bag of parts with a very rough description on a small piece of paper. The board was hardly marked too.

Hopefully this will help to get it going.



mancow

 

[mr_hankey]

Texas Two Way used to sell the complete, assembled 4-way slicer.

it was very popular for intercepting certain paging protocols, and they became known worldwide.

then, a 3-letter agency found out and paid a "visit" to them...

now they sell a kit. (and i wouldn't expect them to even continue selling THAT for too much longer)

 

[N_Jay]

Texas Two Way used to sell the complete, assembled 4-way slicer.

it was very popular for intercepting certain paging protocols, and they became known worldwide.

then, a 3-letter agency found out and paid a "visit" to them...

now they sell a kit. (and i wouldn't expect them to even continue selling THAT for too much longer)

Why would a "3-letter agency" care?

Sounds more like rumor than fact.

Maybe they holder of a patent would care, maybe they were not making enough $$ but wanted an "excuse" to tell people. But, I do not see how a data slicer or any other de-mod circuit would be an issue.

 

[mr_hankey]

Why would a "3-letter agency" care?

Sounds more like rumor than fact.
.

the US/Mexico border...is a peculiar place : )

entire TOWNS have been raided for less (anyone remember the Roma, Texas incident? essentially, certain people began wondering why everyone in town was driving these really nice cars...)

 

[N_Jay]

Why would a "3-letter agency" care?

Sounds more like rumor than fact.
.

the US/Mexico border...is a peculiar place : )

entire TOWNS have been raided for less (anyone remember the Roma, Texas incident? essentially, certain people began wondering why everyone in town was driving these really nice cars...)

Hu???? :? :? :?

 

[mr_hankey]

ok, i'll try to clarify.

Texas 2 Way was often compared against Bill Cheek's case (at least when the two came up on USENET); back in the late 90's, people would say, "hey, how come Texas 2 Way can still sell their 4-Level interface when the government is going after Bill Cheek for pretty much the same offense?"

i think this managed to turn up the heat on Texas 2 Way, and the story goes that they were visited (not investigated) about their sales of complete 4-way slicers for pager protocol interception.

for those who do not know, Texas 2 Way is near Mission, TX (the South Texas/Mexico border).

the tie-in to Roma, TX is a way of saying, "it may look harmless, but something's going on underneath." - and this is a typical suspicion of business dealings on the US/Mex border.

Roma made the news back in the early 90's??? when the FBI and DEA essentially raided the entire town for drug running/dealing.

the tipoff was how nearly everyone in this tiny town seemed to be living a life of luxury (nice cars, nice houses, yet no supporting economy???)

 

[N_Jay]

ok, i'll try to clarify.

Texas 2 Way was often compared against Bill Cheek's case (at least when the two came up on USENET); back in the late 90's, people would say, "hey, how come Texas 2 Way can still sell their 4-Level interface when the government is going after Bill Cheek for pretty much the same offense?"

i think this managed to turn up the heat on Texas 2 Way, and the story goes that they were visited (not investigated) about their sales of complete 4-way slicers for pager protocol interception.

for those who do not know, Texas 2 Way is near Mission, TX (the South Texas/Mexico border).
quote]

Can you provide any reference as to why selling a data slicer might be in some way suspicious to any "3 letter agency"?

I guess if it was attached to plans to decode "encrypted" communications, or sold in s State with a non-scanner law, but even that would be a stste offence not a federal one.

 

[mr_hankey]

Can you provide any reference as to why selling a data slicer might be in some way suspicious to any "3 letter agency"?

nope.

but you could try calling Texas 2 Way and asking them:

(956) 702-2481

http://www.texas2way.com/

 

[DaveNF2G]

Can you provide any reference as to why selling a data slicer might be in some way suspicious to any "3 letter agency"?

I don't think we need to go too far into the alphabet. I would guess that, Congress being "interested" in the uses to which such devices might be put (see ECPA and certain parts of the Communications Act), the Federal Communications Commission might have needed to get involved in investigating people who sell them. It is their job to enforce the will of Congress with respect to electronic devices of this nature.

FCC would qualify as a TLA.

eieio

8)

 

[mancow]

I really don't know why my friend even bought one. We don't have anything to decode with it. :? Too bad it can't somehow be used for P25 decoding somehow :evil:


Will it work as a decent 2 level for Trunker programs?


mancow

 

[AZScanner]

I really don't know why my friend even bought one. We don't have anything to decode with it. :? Too bad it can't somehow be used for P25 decoding somehow :evil:

Will it work as a decent 2 level for Trunker programs?

Yes it will. You'll have to change the pin though in TRACKENV.TXT - I believe its DSR but I'm not sure.

As for P25, no one has it figured out yet, but I do know of a few kind souls who are working on it. Patience, young padawan....

-AZ