Scanner: Difference between revisions

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(updated with new information on scanners)
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In April 2015 we revieved a Uniden 996T Digital Scanner on long-term loan by a very generous member of the public. This is a top end scanner that can receive the P25 digital mode used by our local emergency services and elsewhere across our state. We have an Icecast server to stream a feed from this radio so members can listen in remotely.
The Bloominglabs radio desk has two radio scanners running: a Uniden BCD996T digital P25 scanner and a Uniden BCT15X analog scanner. The digital scanner monitors the Indiana SAFE-T P25 Bloomington site while the analog scanner monitors local conventional VHF channels. We have an Icecast server to stream a feed from these scanners so members can listen in remotely:
http://bloominglabs.no-ip.org:8000
http://radio.bloominglabs.org:8000/policescanner


== Troubleshooting ==
== Listening Hints ==
⚫
If for some reason the scanner icecast feed goes down this is how to toubleshoot it.


* The feed is stereo
⚫
* First, verify the scanner is turned on. It should start scanning immediately after it's powered on, if not then make that happen.
** Left channel: Indiana SAFE-T P25 Bloomington site
⚫
* Once it's scanning it should periodically output some audio.
** Right channel: Conventional VHF
⚫
** If there's no audio, make sure the volume knob hasen't been turned down.
* The feed can be played multiple ways
** If there's audio coming directly out of the scanner then the audio output cable may have been unplugged, verify the audio cable on the back of the scanner is plugged into the audio line output.
** using a web browser
⚫
* The recording output on the scanner feeds into an AG150 for the stream (attached to the bottom of the shelf above the scanner)
** using a media player
⚫
** The IP of the AG150 is labled on it for easy access.
** using a scanner app as a "custom" feed (you will need to add the URL; it won't be pre-populated in the app's feed directory)
** If the mic input level gets messed up on the AG150 use alsamixer to set the mic input level back to about 20%.


== Troubleshooting ==
* Additionally, there is another component that updates the stream name. The scanner has a serial output which is connected the the AG150. There is a script on the host that reads this and updates the icecast server.


⚫
If for some reason the scanner Icecast feed goes down this is how to troubleshoot it.
* The last leg is a port forward from the Linksys router from TCP port 8000 to port 8000 on the AG150.

⚫
* First, verify the scanner is turned on. It should start scanning immediately after it's powered on, if not then make that happen.
⚫
* Once it's scanning it should periodically output some audio out the speaker.
⚫
** If there's no audio, make sure the volume knob hasn't been turned down.
** The feed volume in independent from the scanner's volume control.
⚫
* The recording output on the scanner feeds into an Intel NUC running darkice that in turn feeds to the Icecast server.
⚫
** The IP of the NUC is labeled on it for easy access.
** Services on the NUC are set to start automatically upon boot.
* Contact kevinr or dosman if you need further assistance.

Revision as of 14:54, 1 September 2019

The Bloominglabs radio desk has two radio scanners running: a Uniden BCD996T digital P25 scanner and a Uniden BCT15X analog scanner. The digital scanner monitors the Indiana SAFE-T P25 Bloomington site while the analog scanner monitors local conventional VHF channels. We have an Icecast server to stream a feed from these scanners so members can listen in remotely: http://radio.bloominglabs.org:8000/policescanner

Listening Hints

  • The feed is stereo
    • Left channel: Indiana SAFE-T P25 Bloomington site
    • Right channel: Conventional VHF
  • The feed can be played multiple ways
    • using a web browser
    • using a media player
    • using a scanner app as a "custom" feed (you will need to add the URL; it won't be pre-populated in the app's feed directory)

Troubleshooting

If for some reason the scanner Icecast feed goes down this is how to troubleshoot it.

  • First, verify the scanner is turned on. It should start scanning immediately after it's powered on, if not then make that happen.
  • Once it's scanning it should periodically output some audio out the speaker.
    • If there's no audio, make sure the volume knob hasn't been turned down.
    • The feed volume in independent from the scanner's volume control.
  • The recording output on the scanner feeds into an Intel NUC running darkice that in turn feeds to the Icecast server.
    • The IP of the NUC is labeled on it for easy access.
    • Services on the NUC are set to start automatically upon boot.
  • Contact kevinr or dosman if you need further assistance.
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