Batboard

Recommend a good data slicer to me, one that's going to work for any type of trunking system I care to monitor.

There are many variations on the data slicer concept and I don't want to get one that, as it turns out,
isn't compatible with a system I want to monitor.

Elroy

Have you looked on the radioreference site? They use to have a good section on data
slicers you can build.

Jim

Elroy Jetson wrote:Recommend a good data slicer to me, one that's going to work for any type of trunking system I care to monitor.

There are many variations on the data slicer concept and I don't want to get one that, as it turns out,
isn't compatible with a system I want to monitor.

Elroy

I'm aware of that. There are several variants I could build or buy. Frankly I'd rather buy a pre-made, pre-tested, pre-aligned one that I can just plug
in and expect it to work with no fiddling with it. I'm not favorably inclined toward scratch building one at this time as I'm simply too busy. A phone
call to order one is much faster.

I'm looking for "been there, done that" advice on which ones work best.

System types to be monitored:

All Motorola types up to and including Astro SmartZone 9600 baud, as well as EDACS ProVoice, and even though
it's not possible to recover the audio as the system is encrypted, the ESK EDACS system used by the State of Florida.

And P25 trunking systems as well.

Elroy

I made a 4-level slicer that fits into a DB-9 shell and I can tell you it's by far the best one I've ever used. You don't have to go all out and make it small enough to go into a DB-9, but I would highly recommend the 4-level as opposed to 2 level. It isn't that much more involved to build and I find it results in much cleaner 2 level decodes than any 2 level slicer I've used in the past.

Which software program are you going to use? If you want P25 9600 trunking you'll be using UniTrunker which only requires a discriminator tap and a cable to connect to your mic/line-in port on your soundcard. The only other 9600 software I can think of needs a PRO-96. If you want DOS-only you are SOL.

If you want to do LTR you'll need to build your own circuit with the info off Radio Reference, as mentioned. If you just want basic 3600 trunking because you MUST use the regular DOS Trunker then just build it. It's not complicated and what's mass produced works but could be done better, especially for what they charge.

Actually there is a DOS version of Trunker that was modded so you could use discriminator audio. See the link below and click on "Trunker Ported to Windows"

http://scancapecod.us/xoops/modules/PDd ... php?cid=19

I definitely don't have any interest in LTR. Just Motorola's various formats up to Astro25, and EDACS in its various forms.

The source receiver has a discriminator output and/or a variable audio output. Presume I'm good there.

Most of my monitoring will be on an EDACS system.


Elroy

GEMOTO wrote:Actually there is a DOS version of Trunker that was modded so you could use discriminator audio. See the link below and click on "Trunker Ported to Windows"

I know there are a few off-brands out there but many have broken features. I think the version you referred to was the r00t version?

Elroy, stick with UniTrunker. It's your best bet for the future of the hobby.

Elroy,

The only thing I know of that's off the shelf these days is Optoelectronics Optolinx.

http://www.optoelectronics.com/optolinx.htm

I have used this as a 2-level data slicer (though it does much more) and it works like a champ.

Texas-2way used to sell a 4-level slicer, but alas...

Vcom

For now I'll be using UniTrunker, with a pristine, like new, museum quality EDACS M-PD System model radio set up to monitor the control channels of the systems of interest. That radio type does have a discriminator output on the accessory connector plus it has a good receiver so it's just right for the job.

It's always better to tap a discriminator output than a speaker output, if possible. But a speaker output will work, usually.

Elroy