POCSAG

[MoiInAust]

Experimenting with POCSAG. Using PDW. I know the sound level is critical so
I don't need to read that generalisation, but can anyone who has actually
succeeded with this software please respond?

[Chubba Chub]

respond to what ???

[Kev]

Post by MoiInAust
Experimenting with POCSAG. Using PDW. I know the sound level is critical so
I don't need to read that generalisation, but can anyone who has actually
succeeded with this software please respond?

Been using it since PDW came out and POC32 before that
it's a simple program to get going


Kev

[MoiInAust]

Post by Kev

Post by MoiInAust
Experimenting with POCSAG. Using PDW. I know the sound level is critical
so I don't need to read that generalisation, but can anyone who has
actually succeeded with this software please respond?

Been using it since PDW came out and POC32 before that
it's a simple program to get going
Kev

Thanks Kev. I've now got it (PDW) going well. I had the volume of the
scanner way out! Followed the documentation and started with scanner at
about quarter volume (soundcard interface). The 396 is at level 4 in fact --
was trying it at 9!. Much appreciate your feedback. Amazing how well things
go if you read the documentation!

[Peter Hunt]

Post by MoiInAust
Thanks Kev. I've now got it (PDW) going well. I had the volume of the
scanner way out! Followed the documentation and started with scanner at
about quarter volume (soundcard interface).

If you really want to have good results (you never know if you really receive all messages)
you will need to build a discriminator tap. Then you'll never have to bother the volume level,
or the squelch.

Peter Hunt.

[Kev]

Post by Peter Hunt

Post by MoiInAust
Thanks Kev. I've now got it (PDW) going well. I had the volume of the
scanner way out! Followed the documentation and started with scanner at
about quarter volume (soundcard interface).

If you really want to have good results (you never know if you really receive all messages)
you will need to build a discriminator tap. Then you'll never have to bother the volume level,
or the squelch.
Peter Hunt.

Even better with the data slicer interface
100% all the time every time


Kev

[Peter Hunt]

Post by Kev
Even better with the data slicer interface
100% all the time every time

The discriminator-tap is far more important than the slicer.
I get 100% results with FLEX-1600, several POCSAG
networks and 99% on Mobitex just with my soundcard :-)

Bye, Peter.

[B!]

On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 03:01:26 +0100, "Peter Hunt"

Post by Peter Hunt

Post by Kev
Even better with the data slicer interface
100% all the time every time

The discriminator-tap is far more important than the slicer.
I get 100% results with FLEX-1600, several POCSAG
networks and 99% on Mobitex just with my soundcard :-)

That depends heavily on the soundcard quality. And you still have to tweak
the mixer input level and PDW settings.

[MoiInAust]

Post by Kev

Post by Peter Hunt

Post by MoiInAust
Thanks Kev. I've now got it (PDW) going well. I had the volume of the
scanner way out! Followed the documentation and started with scanner at
about quarter volume (soundcard interface).

If you really want to have good results (you never know if you really
receive all messages)
you will need to build a discriminator tap. Then you'll never have to
bother the volume level,
or the squelch.
Peter Hunt.

Even better with the data slicer interface
100% all the time every time
Kev

Actually I found that with the discrimator output already fitted to the
Yaesu FT8100 results were no good at *any* volume level. But I am now
succeeding with the audio (earpiece) output of the Uniden 396T, straight
into the laptop sound card. I say succeeding meaning the POCSAG 512. 1200
just gives a garble but then that may not be a near site.

[MoiInAust]

Post by MoiInAust

Post by Kev

Post by Peter Hunt

Post by MoiInAust
Thanks Kev. I've now got it (PDW) going well. I had the volume of the
scanner way out! Followed the documentation and started with scanner at
about quarter volume (soundcard interface).

If you really want to have good results (you never know if you really
receive all messages)
you will need to build a discriminator tap. Then you'll never have to
bother the volume level,
or the squelch.
Peter Hunt.

Even better with the data slicer interface
100% all the time every time
Kev

Actually I found that with the discrimator output already fitted to the
Yaesu FT8100 results were no good at *any* volume level. But I am now
succeeding with the audio (earpiece) output of the Uniden 396T, straight
into the laptop sound card. I say succeeding meaning the POCSAG 512. 1200
just gives a garble but then that may not be a near site.

Further to that Kev, does the data slicer interface work from the audio?
And does it require a serial adaptor (to which I will have to add a serial
to PS2 adaptor!

[B!]

Post by MoiInAust
Further to that Kev, does the data slicer interface work from the audio?

http://www.discriminator.nl/faq/index-en.html -

Q: Can I connect the modem to my scanner's earphone output?

A: For error free monitoring of paging signals, you need a discriminator
output in combination with an interface. Using a Hamcom-modem in
combination with an earphone output is a waste of the investment. In that
case, you're probably better off using the earphone output in combination
with your PC's soundcard.

Post by MoiInAust
And does it require a serial adaptor (to which I will have to add a serial
to PS2 adaptor!

Q: Can I use a USB to serial converter?

A: Unfortunately not. You need a 'real' serial port.

PDW doesn't use the normal RS-232 TXD/RXD lines, but uses the status lines
(CTS, DSR, DTR). The 'abuse' of these lines for PDW purposes does not
comply with the RS-232 protocol. If you have direct control over the serial
port (i.e. through a physical port) you can sample these lines without a
problem.

If you use a USB to RS-232 converter, all serial communications goes
through the converter's driver. So, to be able to control these lines using
a USB to RS-232 converter, you would have to rewrite the driver software of
the converter.

[Kev]

Post by MoiInAust

Post by MoiInAust

Post by Kev

Post by Peter Hunt

Post by MoiInAust
Thanks Kev. I've now got it (PDW) going well. I had the volume of the
scanner way out! Followed the documentation and started with scanner at
about quarter volume (soundcard interface).

If you really want to have good results (you never know if you really
receive all messages)
you will need to build a discriminator tap. Then you'll never have to
bother the volume level,
or the squelch.
Peter Hunt.

Even better with the data slicer interface
100% all the time every time
Kev

Actually I found that with the discrimator output already fitted to the
Yaesu FT8100 results were no good at *any* volume level. But I am now
succeeding with the audio (earpiece) output of the Uniden 396T, straight
into the laptop sound card. I say succeeding meaning the POCSAG 512. 1200
just gives a garble but then that may not be a near site.

Further to that Kev, does the data slicer interface work from the audio?
And does it require a serial adaptor (to which I will have to add a serial
to PS2 adaptor!

you NEED the discriminator output from the radio to run the data
interface, the unfiltered audion comes from the radio and into the interface
you need a real serial port
but to monitor POCSAG 24/7 you would use and old laptop or desktop
anyway(I prefer laptop due to less space needed and less power required)

Kev

[Jeßus]

Post by MoiInAust
Experimenting with POCSAG. Using PDW. I know the sound level is critical
so I don't need to read that generalisation, but can anyone who has
actually succeeded with this software please respond?

Software is a little OT for a scanner group perhaps?
Merely a rhetorical question...
MoiInAust will understand, I'm sure:
Message-ID: 4905f7b0$***@dnews.tpgi.com.au
Message-ID: <49090b05$***@dnews.tpgi.com.au

[MoiInAust]

Post by Jeßus

Post by MoiInAust
Experimenting with POCSAG. Using PDW. I know the sound level is critical
so I don't need to read that generalisation, but can anyone who has
actually succeeded with this software please respond?

Software is a little OT for a scanner group perhaps?
Merely a rhetorical question...

In this case the PDW is a means to an end -- scanning... (for the benefit of
others, this poster was niggling at my very mild protest on another group
that a thread nothing to do with (not just slightly off) the group topic,
was being perpetuated in depth -- being itself about a fascinating topic
deserving of (and has) its own newsgroup. I am not aware of a newsgroup
devoted to paging software. If there is one, please point me at it, J. In
the absence of that, this seems to be best ng.)

Got the scanner going well now with the PDW. The audio level sure is
critical. When I'd read the help file (which of course I should done to
start with!) I set my scanner to roughly 1/4 volume and then tweaked the
Windows sound card volume. Before I'd had it much too high. Thanks to all
the helpful replies, especially Kev.

Happy scanning!

[Jeßus]

Post by MoiInAust

Post by MoiInAust
Experimenting with POCSAG. Using PDW. I know the sound level is
critical so I don't need to read that generalisation, but can anyone
who has actually succeeded with this software please respond?

Software is a little OT for a scanner group perhaps? Merely a
rhetorical question...

In this case the PDW is a means to an end -- scanning... (for the
benefit of others, this poster was niggling at my very mild protest on
another group that a thread nothing to do with (not just slightly off)
the group topic, was being perpetuated in depth -- being itself about a
fascinating topic deserving of (and has) its own newsgroup. I am not
aware of a newsgroup devoted to paging software. If there is one, please
point me at it, J. In the absence of that, this seems to be best ng.)

This one is as good as any, I was merely ribbing you... but I think you
realise that.

Post by MoiInAust
Got the scanner going well now with the PDW. The audio level sure is
critical. When I'd read the help file (which of course I should done to
start with!) I set my scanner to roughly 1/4 volume and then tweaked the
Windows sound card volume. Before I'd had it much too high. Thanks to
all the helpful replies, especially Kev.

Good to hear.

[Adam Thompson]

I have installed discriminators in several different types of scanners now,
& some
quite old.

Results are great & you then only have to worry about the line/mic recording
input
level.

Around the 2nd mark from the bottom on slide is a good place to
start....tweak from there.

cheers

adam