[ScanIndiana] Re: Ind Safe-T Franklin Site Question

Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:34:36 -0400

Terry,

The laptop is used to run Trunker, which is a program that analyzes the
control channel data stream of a trunked radio system and provides tons of
information such as valid frequencies, system details, active talk groups,
which radio units are affiliated with which talk group, individual I-calls,
patches between multiple talk groups, and pages between individual radios,
and more.

Not for the faint-hearted, Trunker requires a radio modified with a
connection from the discriminator tap on the radio circuit board to an
external data slicer that converts the discriminator tap audio signal to an
RS232 signal that can be read by the PC. While that radio continually
monitors the data stream, a second radio (optional) connected to the PC can
be used to monitor the audio of the selected talkgroup.

The modified radio is not a trunktracker, since that function is performed
in the PC. Like David does, I use the venerable Realistic Pro-2006 scanner,
although out of production for close to two decades its sensitivity beats
all trunktrackers on the market today.

Beyond the talk group level, priorities can be set to selectively monitor a
specific group or down to an individual radio unit.  One of the systems I
monitor here in Michigan is the Oakland County Sheriff system, I have set my
Trunker so that the highest priority unit is the Sheriff's Air-1 helicopter.
When he keys his radio I hear that unit only, regardless of what talkgroup
he is using.

In spite of having 4 trunk tracker radios, I still use the Trunker program
to search out new systems or watch for new trunk groups on existing systems.
I can let it run for days and then check for new groups. The screen shows
all frequencies in use, with the specific talk groups in use at that time.
When something big happens you can tell at a glace which agencies are
involved and which talk groups are being used.

For more information on Trunker go to
http://www.trunkedradio.net/digital/m383/trunker.pdf

The Pro-96 is Radio Shack's answer to the Uniden 250/785 digital trunk
trackers, it is due out in November. It is manufactured by GRE and will
track Motorola 9600 baud control channels, which the Uniden units cannot do.
A  number of scannists in Michigan have been waiting for this unit, since
our digital MPSCS (Michigan's even larger version of Indiana's Safe-T) uses
Motorola 9600 baud.

For more information on the Pro-96 go to
http://strongsignals.net/access/content/rr_pro-96.html

Gary
N8HMP
S. E. Michigan Scanner Page
http://www.bouwkamp.net/miscanner

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of
[email protected]
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 5:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ScanIndiana] Re: Ind Safe-T Franklin Site Question

Gary,
I'm kind of green when it comes to scanning but how does a laptop tie in to
trunk tracking?

Whats a PRO 96
Thanks
Terry