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Scandata faq q7

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Revision as of 09:10, 22 July 2007 by Mikeag (talk | contribs) (added external WinRadio links)
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Q7: How can I decode CTCSS, DPL, and DTMF from the airwaves?

    That is strictly up to specialized hardware and/or
    software that kind of goes beyond the scope of this FAQ.
    Lots of software is out and about that will do it, and
    there are even possibilities for "roll your own"
    hardware decoders.

    But the first thing you'll need is the "baseband audio"
    output that is described in Questions/Answers #1-3
    above. The Data Decoder Interface described in Q/A #4 is
    good ONLY for trunking and pager types of data; not
    CTCSS, DPL, and DTMF, unfortunately.

    In fact, it takes specialized hardware and/or software
    to decode each of CTCSS, DPL, and DTMF; and each is as
    different as night and day.

    Some scanners come equipped for CTCSS decoding, but most
    do not. And none come equipped for DPL or DTMF that I
    know of.

    For more information about retrofitting CTCSS and DPL
    decoders to your scanner, contact:

       Communications , Inc.
       426 West Taft Avenue
       Orange, CA 92865-4296
       (800) 854-0547  Fax (800) 850-0547
       (714) 998-3021  Fax (714) 974-3420
       WEB:  http://www.com-spec.com/

    For a low-cost "roll-your-own" DTMF Decoder (hardware)
    there is a nice project done up in great detail in one
    of the back issues of the monthly WORLD SCANNER REPORT
    newsletter, V3N10. Backissues are always available at a
    nominal cost.  See:

    ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek/products/prodinfo.zip

    There are other hardware and software solutions for
    decoding DTMF that I may include here later as I get the
    information verified and added.

    The WiNRADiO Digital Suite is awesomely capable of
    decoding CTCSS and DTMF.  See:  http://www.winradio.com

    For scanners in general, though, it all starts with a
    tap to the "baseband audio" point, so read over Q&A 1-3
    above for the details.

The WinRadio program Bill mentions can be found below.

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