SDR experiments with Rdio-scanner, Trunk Recorder, Airspy Mini & Panasonic Toughbook on P25 LSM

This long weekend I wanted to experiment with my Airspy Mini SDR and some software called rdio-scanner.
rdio-scanner creates a customizable web interface from which to control your software defined radio. Using it, you can turn a computer, phone or tablet into something that closely resembles a hardware scanner!
Trunk Recorder is the software that decodes the unencrypted P25 signals and records them to disk. Here is it demonstrated working on a large Simulcast (LSM) site.
rdio-scanner reads the audio files. Through the rdio-scanner interface, you are basically choosing which audio files to play.
Have a look at the video, and comment below if you use Trunk Recorder or rdio-scanner with your SDR. Or tell me about your solution!
**You don't need an Airspy product, all this software will also work with the infamous RTL-SDR v3 and NooElec SMART dongles as well :-) **
-- If you find this video helpful, feel free to buy me a coffee --
frugalradio.co...
Links :
DragonOS Focal - sourceforge.ne...
Trunk Recorder - github.com/rob...
rdio-scanner - github.com/chu...
Airspy Mini - airspy.com/air...

[@EverydayJ1786]

Rob, Jordon here . Very cool insight to a new piece of software that I'll have to try . I'm currently in the process of moving back into Edmonton. Can't wait to get setup and start monitoring AFRRCS again with DSDPLUS .... I also acquired a brand new 100 ft. spool of 14 gauge wire . I Plan on making some kind of HF recieve antenna to connect to my noolec balun one nine . Lots of fun stuff in the works ! . Take care

[@FrugalRadio]

Great to hear from you again Jordan! Sounds like you've got good plans for getting the new place set up. Best of luck with the move!

[@nsr_rat3100]

Really enjoy your videos! Would you be able to do a step by step video on how you are able to listen to the P25 AFRRCS in the Edmonton area? I am also located in Edmonton and would like to listen to the area with a RTL-SDR dongle?

[@colonelangus75]

I use SDR# with the simple APCO plugin and the Frequency Scanner plugin so that I can listen to both P25 and analog transmissions. It's not the most ideal setup, but it's the easiest way I've found so far to listen to both analog and digital transmissions.

[@FrugalRadio]

Great, thanks for filling us in. That sounds like a fast way to get up and running. Would work well for P25 conventional I imagine!

[@colonelangus75]

@@FrugalRadio It should work with conventional P25 as well. One of the main drawbacks with doing it this way though is you can't lockout an unwanted talk group or encrypted transmissions.

[@FrugalRadio]

Yes, I can imagine that could get frustrating. Especially if it was a busy system.

[@briantooze3415]

Hi, I am just getting into this hobby and I enjoy watching your videos. Please could you consider doing a video on upconverters. Are they worth purchasing for an existing SDR system or is it best to go for the HF+ Discovery? My current setup is on a Raspberry Pi so any "frugal" tips for the Pi would also be appreciated.

[@FrugalRadio]

I'll give that some thought Brian, certainly. Thanks for following along with the videos.

[@TedFreitas]

Would you mind sharing your config? I'm trying to monitor a bunch of conventional channels but everything is being recorded as TG 1... :/ Thanks in advance Rob!

[@thewind-ne8rh]

welcome back my friend ,Tim

[@FrugalRadio]

Thanks!

[@asaffeig4343]

I've been using Rdio-Scanner with SDR-Trunk for a couple of months now, also using Rdio-Scanner app on my Android phone so i basicly turned my phone into a scanner, great app.

[@FrugalRadio]

Great to hear. I had considered using SDR Trunk instead of Trunk Recorder. I may switch over to it instead for my next experiment. Glad to hear it works well for you, thanks for letting us know!

[@OfficialChrisBreezy]

How do i setup it up?

[@FrugalRadio]

With a bit of trial and error, and a good read through the documentation! I'm certainly no expert, but managed to get it going. I am going to try setting it up with SDRTrunk next time. I used the Docker container available at rdio-scanner, on top of the Dragon OS Focal Linux distro designed for SDR enthusiasts.

[@yourdonefor4454]

Hey I have a question for you. How did you program the Motorola p25 radio without having a system key?

[@FrugalRadio]

That would be a better question for Google.

[@yourdonefor4454]

@@FrugalRadio did u use non affiliate scanning?

[@FrugalRadio]

Yes.

[@Josh_FSD]

Some more in depth with dragon would be great

[@BrianHall]

I'd love for you to share more info about that Motorola hardware radio that you use for the P25 system

[@FrugalRadio]

Good. I'm glad there's some interest. I was planning on doing an episode on commercial radios down the road.

[@airplaneian]

seconded!

[@FrugalRadio]

Noted Ian

[@briangutierrez7404]

Is there any way to add new frequencies to Rdio Scanner? Just got it for my county but they don't have most towns. Any tips?

[@FrugalRadio]

Rdio-scanner only plays what you have already recorded from somewhere else. To add frequencies you would need to use your SDR & recording software.

[@briangutierrez7404]

What antenna are you using?@@FrugalRadio

[@FrugalRadio]

I use different antennas based on the band in listening to. This was probably done on a 700 MHz dipole, but could have been a Larson 150/450/ 758 tri band mobile antenna as I have a couple of those as well.

[@Mariko_Switch]

I use trunk recorder as and kinda do the same thing that you are showing but instead I have a calls platform on broadcastify not the regular broadcast and gives me a web interface that I can access anywhere I have internet and the calls platform will document all takgrups and also gives you access to all your calls

[@FrugalRadio]

Good to hear about another way of accomplishing the same goal. Have you got a web address that gives details of the calls platform?

[@unhinged17]

I own a 3 year old Airspy HF+ Dual Port SDR that I am having a devil of a time getting up and running well. All the tech support and attention has gone to the newer HF+ Discovery, hardly any support information is available anymore for the once "lauded" HF+ Dual Port. Do you have any advice? I have a Youloop antenna I'd like to use with it but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to do the R3 surface mount mod inside the bloody thing without the risk of breaking/bricking it. Do you ever do one-on-one sessions that can help me figure this out please? I have a Nooelec NESDR Smart and an RTL-SDR dongle that far outperforms my Airspy, so what gives?

[@FrugalRadio]

Hi Jason. Sorry to hear about the problems you've been experiencing. I wouldn't be keen on removing a surface mount component myself either. I've never owned that version, so I would recommend joining the AirSpy group.io page. Some of the users in the group have that version and I'm sure would be very happy to assist.

[@antalperge1007]

RSP1A 👍

[@OfficialChrisBreezy]

Are you going to make a setup of Rdio-scanner videos?

[@FrugalRadio]

I'm not planning to at the moment. This project was a proof of concept test, but I don't have time to implement it just yet. If I decide to pursue it for a set up, then I might make it into a video.

[@OfficialChrisBreezy]

@@FrugalRadio Ok. I have a question, do you know any antenna that can I use for SDR and radio/scanner altogether, like a wide band I think?

[@FrugalRadio]

There are 2 routes you can go. 1 - use a wideband discone for general coverage such as amzn.to/3jNPHx0 2 - make or buy an antenna for the band you listen to most, and accept the lower performance on other bands.

[@OfficialChrisBreezy]

@@FrugalRadio How do I use SDR Trunking /Trunking Recorder with Rdio Scanner?

[@FrugalRadio]

You set up a folder for trunk recorder to drop the audio files. Then you tell rdio-scanner what folder to monitor.

[@jameswhitaker1324]

I use two rtl-sdr radios, dsp plus and unitrunker to monitor the local p25 Motorola smartzone system locally., not mobile, just at home.

[@FrugalRadio]

Thanks for your comment James. Are you using both Unitrunker and Dsdplus for audio? Monitoring different agencies on the same system, or different systems?

[@jameswhitaker1324]

@@FrugalRadio Pretty sure the DSP+ is just there for the control channel. The P25 system has a few thousand talkgroups, but I mostly just monitor my local PD. Sometimes I'll listen to other talkgroups, too, depending on what's going on.

[@FrugalRadio]

Yeah, some of these systems have a lot of talkgroups! It's really important to be able to pick & choose which we listen to. Things get far too crazy if you end up hearing everything!

[@n1ti]

Hi Rob...are you still running this? I'm cobbling parts together to give it a try. 73, N1TI

[@FrugalRadio]

No, I had just set it up as a demo. I haven't had time to get back to it, although I would like to.

[@heia633]

Hi, I would like to know if it is easy to get your contact information? I have some questions to ask you.

[@FrugalRadio]

Hello. I don't publish any contact information, I just check messages here.

[@heia633]

@@FrugalRadio I would like to invite you to review the TV antenna project, are you interested?

[@FrugalRadio]

I haven't heard of it. Feel free to post a link here. If it relates to an antenna for receiving TV signals specifically, then probably not. If it is an antenna for receiving utility signals in VHF / UHF / Satellite bands, then I might be interested based on how it might benefit viewers of the channel.

[@heia633]

@@FrugalRadio Okay, I have understood your wishes. Unfortunately we only sell TV antennas. Thank you for your reply.

[@kishor_VU2MZT]

hello ,,, i search for your email but didnt get ,,,,, any ways can we integrate rtlsdr v3 with kiwi sdr web , for adding local laction signal reception online like red palta sdr

[@FrugalRadio]

I haven't heard of anyone doing this.

[@Kristinapedia]

I just discovered rdio scanner for my county on long island. I have a pro651 so once suffolk pd fully switches to p25 I would have been w/o a scanner so sadly this will have to be my scanner. (they are currently simulcast). I would love to set up my own scanner for local fire departments (non trunked.. and in the 400's) because any time anyone puts them on broadcastify they're down within a week or two. (someone doesn't want them online and I think I know who). Anywho... I"m at a loss when it comes to programming and I would have no idea where to even begin to get this set up. if anyone has or knows of an online dumbed down tutorial I would be greatly appreciative. I cannot pay someone to do it for me as I don't have the money. Thank you!

[@windvane_npk5844]

Why do you need a data card, you can’t use this set up “off grid”?

[@FrugalRadio]

If you are just running it on a PC, like the Toughbook in Tablet mode, then you can run it all on the one computer. This would allow you to do it off grid. It would necessitate using other software though, such as SDRTrunk as the recording platform. This would need a more powerful PC.

[@windvane_npk5844]

@@FrugalRadio ohhh I see either you use the infrastructure of the internet OR just a powerful pc with multiple programs.

[@FrugalRadio]

Yep, that's right.

[@thewind-ne8rh]

hey rob where you been

[@FrugalRadio]

Busy working, my friend

[@thewind-ne8rh]

@@FrugalRadio ok just missed you making video. so happy victory day to and yours

[@thewind-ne8rh]

i got the rite day rite?

[@FrugalRadio]

Thanks man. Hoping to get some external antennas up in the next 2 weeks, so might get a video on that or the better reception it provides!

[@414RadioTech]

I HIGHLY RECOMMENED NOT TRYING TO USE THAT MOTOROLA ON THE SYSTEM AS IT WILL GET YOU INVESTIGATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LAND YOUR ASS IN PRISION SO GET RID OF IT ASAP BEFORE ITS TO LATE‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@FrugalRadio]

It's set up for Non Affiliated Scan. It doesn't register on the system, and doesn't transmit on any of the trunked system frequencies. No need to worry.

[@414RadioTech]

@@FrugalRadio well neither did mine but it got confiscated anyway by local law-enforcement so yeah I kind of have to lay low and not tell anybody that you are using Motorola and all that shit that's what my mistake was carrying it around everywhere so unfortunately I don't recommend people do this just because it doesn't transmit doesn't mean anything they're getting more paranoid all the time with the cops and they're getting more corrupt that's how my radio ended up getting taken from the cops because somebody had a stupid hard on and decided to take matters into their own hands went to the police and they took care of it from there which means they took my stuff and without a warrant confiscated it never saw it again almost had to go to jail for it but lucked out when they said don't ever do that shit again and I won't I'll end up just getting something else I don't know what to get I'm on a very fixed budget and don't have a shit ton of money to spend nor do I even have a computer to run this kind of software anyways I'm very computer illiterate

[@CAMSV_CHILE]

Hola estimados alguno a podido descifrar ADP