UniTrunker Talkgroup Question

[Pschmidt56]

I tapped my 796D a few days ago thanks to the expertise found here...you people are AWESOME! I installed Unitrunker and it shows 99-100% decoding on a local P25 system. I have found 4 talkgroups that are not in the RR database that I would like to submit. However, where does one get the information listed such as Display, Description and Group? I have the new talkgroup ID's, I'm just not clear on where to get the rest of the data to submit it to RR.

Thanks in advance!

 

[SCPD]

New frequencies and/or talkgroups submitted as "Unidentified" are not very useful. You'll need to listen long enough to determine the type of audience or purpose served by the talkgroup.

 

[loumaag]

New frequencies and/or talkgroups submitted as "Unidentified" are not very useful. You'll need to listen long enough to determine the type of audience or purpose served by the talkgroup.

Rick is correct here. In fact we normally just ignore unidentified submissions.

 

[Dewey]

You can watch the radio ids that are appearing on that (unidentified) talkgroup, and then look for them on other talkgroups. This will generally give you at least what part of the agency is using that talkgroup, but don't take it as the gospel. A lot of systems have talkgroups that are shared by two or more entities within the agency. However, the longer you follow this type of activity, the more assured you will get at identifying the talkgroup.

Dewey

 

[mikeATtleccdotnet]

I take the RID files that UniTrunker saves every 30 seconds, look at them in comparison to what has already been logged and save the differences. It’s working great.

 

[Pschmidt56]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I saw all the screen shots of Unitrunker and just "assumed" all the talkgroup ID data was in the data stream of the control channel. Nothing more humbling that finding out how much one doesn't know I had no idea the learning curve was so steep. Now that I know that "I" have to identify these groups...I'm going to have to buy a second scanner!

 

[loumaag]

...I'm going to have to buy a second scanner!

Now you know why we all have several. :lol:

 

[Dewey]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I saw all the screen shots of Unitrunker and just "assumed" all the talkgroup ID data was in the data stream of the control channel. Nothing more humbling that finding out how much one doesn't know I had no idea the learning curve was so steep. Now that I know that "I" have to identify these groups...I'm going to have to buy a second scanner!

Here's something so simple, we often overlook it when faced with your desired situation. Remember, just about any scanner can be tapped for a discriminator. So before you start thinking about that expensive 396, 996, or new GRE as a "second" radio, remember you can probably find something for under $100 as the discriminator radio. Once you find something you like for the price you like, just come back here and do a search or two to see how easy/hard tapping it will be.

Of course, if you're like me and have to have your second radio approved by a mate (not like Lou who buy everything that hits the market ) and are just looking for a reason to buy that shinny new 396, 996, or GRE, I'll deny this post to help you out.

Dewey

 

[loumaag]

... (not like Lou who buy everything that hits the market ) ...

Ha, I wish.
As a matter of fact, my wife is the one who has bought me 3 of my last 5 scanners.
Yes, she has a sister but she is also happily married. :lol:

 

[N5AMS]

ok i am having trouble getting it to decode edacs need some help please

thanks

 

[SCPD]

Hi Aaron;

Are you monitoring Montgomery county? It should work fine. Some obvious things to check when starting out ...

1. Does your radio provide discriminator audio?

Speaker audio won't work.

2. Can you confirm that the signal is reaching the computer?

Run the UniScope program and check the waveform on the Oscilloscope display (set the symbol type of "Oscilloscope"). You should see a well defined waveform - not a flat line or random noise. You may need to adjust the sound level - not too weak or too strong. This is a good time to compare line input vs. microphone input.

3. Waveform shape - is it distorted?

Set UniScope to a symbol rate of 9600 and a symbol type of Pulse. You should see an eye pattern. The more clear and open the center of the eye - the better the signal.

-rick

 

[Pschmidt56]

Here's something so simple, we often overlook it when faced with your desired situation. Remember, just about any scanner can be tapped for a discriminator. So before you start thinking about that expensive 396, 996, or new GRE as a "second" radio, remember you can probably find something for under $100 as the discriminator radio. Once you find something you like for the price you like, just come back here and do a search or two to see how easy/hard tapping it will be.

Of course, if you're like me and have to have your second radio approved by a mate (not like Lou who buy everything that hits the market ) and are just looking for a reason to buy that shinny new 396, 996, or GRE, I'll deny this post to help you out.

Dewey

Dewey - Please go on with your thought here.... Are you telling me that ANY 800Mhz scanner will work for a discriminator tap/radio? That I don't need a digital scanner like a 796 or a 996 even if I'm monitoring a P25 system? I'm a newbie...but I'm learning!

 

[Deeke]

As long as it will receive the cc freq, thats all you need. You are only receiving the control channel on it and not the conversation. I use a Pro 24 handheld i found on ebay for $10.
Just make sure the one you get will receive the freg of the cc.

 

[Dewey]

Dewey - Please go on with your thought here.... Are you telling me that ANY 800Mhz scanner will work for a discriminator tap/radio? That I don't need a digital scanner like a 796 or a 996 even if I'm monitoring a P25 system? I'm a newbie...but I'm learning!

We were all newbies at one time or another, so don't worry. As already mentioned, to run UniTrunker, all you need is a radio with a discriminator tap. I remember when 800 Mhz was a new thing for scannists, but since that was in the 80's, I don't know of any newer scanners that don't receive 800 Mhz. So the other question is "how easy will it be to tap this radio"? An important question, because if you can't tap the radio, you're back at square one. Also as already mentioned just before this post, receiving the control channel is a MUST... no control channel, NO DECODING. So as migration to 700 MHz becomes a big thing, and also with some of the Feds going to the 380's and 390's, you may get left behind. However, with all that said, $10 (also as previously mentioned) for a radio that will give you dedicated UniTrunker operation at least until the end of the year is not a bad choice to me.

Dewey