Trunking Software and INfo

[cohenner5377]

Just discovered the software called Trunk (thanks to Mo).. What do I need to be able to see data from units and their mobile data terminals.

Thanks!

David
MAR018

 

[TinEar]

David, I don't know any of the technical details of the system you mention but I remember reading somewhere along the line that intercepting data for police mobile data terminals is against the law.

 

[cohenner5377]

Thanks

It's not police I want... I need EMS units for a study I am doing.

Thanks for the help.

 

[TinEar]

This link may give you some info:

http://www.motorola.com/cgiss/terminals.shtml

 

[mlevin]

He's refering to Trunker.

I was told by one of this sites members (can't remeber who) that he could see the status changes on the AA County system using Trunker. David and I are doing a study and need to be able to see the status changes on the BCFD medic units. We need more info on Trunker and how to set it up.

 

[Spleen]

Good link, TinEar....I love reading the manuals to the old MDC-4800 systems like they use in Baltimore County...sold to the departments back then with "digital" encryption that was no more encryption than it was digital (technically).

 

[n3bxv]

mlevin,
You need to create a custom xxxxMSG.txt file named A43FMSG.txt for AACO.
with custom entries for the status messages like ....
s,1,In Quarters Dependent
s,2,In Quarters Independent
s,3,Responding W/Officer
s,4,Responding W/No Officer

The AACO status messages differ for Fire & EMS apparatus, so you have to pick which one to use.. The Full list of SME Statuses is in a previous post, somewhere....

 

[mlevin]

Okay, thanks for the info. However, I think David was asking for specifics on how to set it up. We gotta set it up first before we can start tracking the unit status.

 

[n3bxv]

The entries above will replace the "Message of type 'S', #" that you are probably seeing appear in the detail log....

 

[laser21012]

I have been looking for the meaning of the status codes that appear in the detail log. Can anybody steer me in the right direction?
Thanks.

 

[cohenner5377]

Clarify

Thanks for everyones help, however, I would like to clarify what I am looking for.

Mo had mentioned to me that there is a way to monitor, using a software called trunker and some other equipment, on how I can monitor status changes that are transmitted to and from Baltimore City fire and EMS apparatus. I was wondering if anyone has more info on the technical side of doing that. We are involved in a study that this info would be very helpful.

Thanks!

 

[n3bxv]

In AACO the "Message of type 'S', #" in Trunker's detail log equate to the following SME messages ---

Fire
Status 1 = In Quarters Dependent
Status 2 = In Quarters Independent
Status 3 = Responding W/Officer
Status 4 = Responding W/No Officer
Status 5 = On Location
Status 6 = Available
Status 7 = Unavailable - Out of Area
Status 8 = OOS


EMS

Status 1 =
Status 2 =
Status 3 = Responding
Status 4 = On Location
Status 5 = Enroute to Hospital
Status 6 = Available
Status 7 =
Status 8 =

I'm not sure about the rest of the EMS messages, perhaps someone else can fill them in, I think they are the same as the Fire messages...

 

[cohenner5377]

Okay...

Thanks.. we're beginning to get somewhere.

However, my main interest right now is Baltimore.

And I need the technical side of it... I.E. the equipment needed to interface with the computer and scanner in order to make it work.

 

[n3bxv]

You can start by reading http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=19

But basically for Trunker you need a "slicer", a computer with a serial port, and a scanner modified with a discriminator tap.

I purchased my data slicer from dataslicers.com, and modified my BC895XLT myself to add the discriminator tap.

 

[laser21012]

Thank you n3bxv, for the "Message of type 'S', codes. That is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[n3bxv]

Did you see my earlier post about creating a custom xxxxMSG.txt file named A43FMSG.txt so that these messages are automatically displayed?

 

[laser21012]

n3bxv,yes, I saw your earlier posting about about creating a custom xxxxMSG.txt file named A43FMSG.txt so that these messages are automatically displayed.
But Iam not sure how to do that. I was tickled to the get the trunker working. I am new to this trunker and I am still on a learning curve. If you can get me on the right track I would appreciate it.

 

[n3bxv]

Ok, using a text editor creat a file named (for AACO) A43FMSG.TXT.

In that file save the following Text

s,1, In Quarters Dependent
s,2, In Quarters Independent
s,3, Responding W/Officer
s,4, Responding W/No Officer
s,5, On Location
s,6, Available
s,7, Unabailable - Out of Area
s,8, Out Of Service

save this file in the Trunker directory, and you should start seeing these messages instead of the "Message of type S" ones..

 

[troymail]

(urgh... proportional fonts!!!!)

As was mentioned - AACo FIRE SME are different for
SUPRESSION (fire) and EMS Transport units.

Status , FIRE , EMS Transport Units
1 , In Quarters, Dependently Staffed , same
2 , In Quarters, Dedicated Crew , same
3 , Responding w/Officer , Responding
4 , Responding no Officer , On Location
5 , On Location , Enroute to Hospital
6 , Available on the Air , same
7 , Unavailable , same
8 , Out of Service , same

Message , FIRE , EMS Transport Units
1 , driver only , Arrived NAH
2 , crew of 2 , Arrived AAGH
3 , crew of 3 , Arrived HHC
4 , crew of 4 , Arrived StAgnes
5 , crew of 5 , Arrived Laurel
6 , crew of 6 , Arrived University
7 , crew of 7 , Arrived Shock Trauma
8 , crew of 8 (or more) , Arrived Other Hosp.


Further - portable radios report status values as shown above. However,
MESSAGE #1 from a portable means "At Patient Side" and MESSAGE #2
from a portable means "Patient Transfered Over (to ER)".

If anyone has similar specifics on the Baltimore CITY and/or County
SME values, I'd love to see them. From what I've seen on TRUNKER,
FIRE and EMS units in the CITY also use the buttons for different
purposes.

 

[mlevin]

As far as I know the County doesn't use their SMEs. Only the career medic units have KDTs, but no one knows how to use them properly, so everything goes out over the air.

If anyone has any info on how to tap a Pro94 let me know.