Unitrunker and Optocom

[Groons]

We have a pressing need to decode some Motorola control channel data to ID an interferring system. The Unitrunker looks like a great tool to do this with. We have an Optocom receiver and was wondering if there is anyone who has used the Optocom with Unitrunker and could give us a hand with some setup help.

Thanks much.

 

[Groons]

I got the Optocom hooked up, it seems to interact with Unitrunker as I can see the data light change when I start Unitrunker but still no joy. I have a control channel programmed into the Optocom and can hear it but nothing on the Unitrunker display.

Possibly the audio does not come down the serial cable from the Opto? I'm flailing around.

 

[Comint]

Possibly the audio does not come down the serial cable from the Opto?

Correct.

--
Comint

 

[DaveIN]

When using it with older versions of trunker, I had to select DTR as the com input. CTS is the default. You may want to check that.

 

[Groons]

Dave, thanks. I'm not sure where to configure the choice on the com port. I have tried using just the serial cable from the Optocom to com1, then ran the tape out from the Optocom to the line in on the sound card. Still can't seem to get any interaction with either 1005 or 1008.

 

[SCPD]

Dave, thanks. I'm not sure where to configure the choice on the com port. I have tried using just the serial cable from the Optocom to com1, then ran the tape out from the Optocom to the line in on the sound card. Still can't seem to get any interaction with either 1005 or 1008.

You can use the Optocom as a voice following radio. To use the radio as a signal source, you will need a discriminator tap. I haven't had the opportunity to get the "bit banger" feature to work with Unitrunker. These radios were revolutionary for their time. They are somewhat rare these days so it is nice to see them still in use.

 

[Comint]

Originally Posted by Groons
Dave, thanks. I'm not sure where to configure the choice on the com port. I have tried using just the serial cable from the Optocom to com1, then ran the tape out from the Optocom to the line in on the sound card. Still can't seem to get any interaction with either 1005 or 1008.

According to the Manual, the Audio Input/Output socket, in the top row on the back panel, is Discriminator output.

--
Comint

 

[Groons]

Comint, thanks. I haven't seen the manual for the radio in years. It's got to be around here somewhere.

UT, we've used the Optocom to monitor an LTR system we have for a long time, it decodes the codes nicely and we can keep track of things. The Trakkstar software is a bit limited but very useful.

I keep looking for another one but they seem rare. And since tech has moved forward greatly there are probably plenty of scanners that are more useful.

I appreciate the help. It would sure be a steep learning curve without it.

 

[Groons]

Success, after a fashion. Got the disc out of the Opto to the line in on the sound card, kept changing settings, flailing around, and it started decoding. I am quite impressed with the amount of information, especially on the P25 systems, that the program is generating. Now I have to figure out what it all means. It decodes very quickly when it sees a new channel. It does give me the Sys ID which is what I really needed on the Type II systems. It doesn't give channel frequency like the P25, though. I'll have to figure that out.

 

[DaveIN]

Then you may be set in the stand alone mode. You need the Opto.exe software to set it in manual mode. Keep in mind you need to run it in a DOS window. If you join the Optocom Yahoo group you can find the software in the files section. Look for Optocom.zip (2.4 version).

 

[Groons]

I am steering the Opto with the Trakstar program. I have it programmed with the suspect channels and lock each one out as I verify the Sys ID. I haven't hooked the Unitrunker back up to the Opto com port yet for control. I assume that I would need to set the Unitrunker to "both" to control the Opto.

Thanks for the Optocom Yahoo information.

 

[Groons]

Success!

I resolved the Optocom control problem and the Unitrunk decode problem by using 2 laptops. The Trakkstar software will not run on anything newer than Win98 (and only on something with an Intel processor), not even in XP with the compatability set to Win98. We could not get the Unitrunk to run on the Win98 computer. So, we fed the audio in/out from the Optocom to the Unitrunk on the newer laptop and the serial control for the Optocom to the Win98 laptop running the Trakkstar software.

We were decoding trunked channel information nicely using this method. I would prefer using only one computer but the needs required using whatever method worked, and this one did.

Finally, we were able to capture and decode the interferring control channel signal we have been plagued with for several years. I felt like the sheriff in "Oh brother where art thou?" "Signal, you have eluded me for the last time......." It was one that occurs during a band opening but is no less a problem because of that.

So, my sincere thanks to Rick for a program that is obviously a lot of work by a smart and talented guy. It has helped us solve an interference issue that has caused a lot of problems.

Groons.

 

[SCPD]

Two laptops - ouch. Glad you got something that worked. Some day I'll get around to using the bitbanger feature on that model.