Feb 03, 1999 SCANMODS.FAQ 02/03/99 This article/file is for the benefit of all. Copyrighted (c) 1995-99 (All Rights Reserved) by: Bill Cheek and -COMMtronics Engineering This file is for personal use only and may NOT be placed on a CD-ROM nor any other media that conveys, stores, or transports for any monetary cost including shipping & handling, without expressed permission of the author. This file can only be given away, absolutely free of charge, no strings attached. If given away, it MUST be conveyed intact, word-for-word with no editing, additions or deletions, except as may be authorized in writing by the author. -Bill Cheek- Author NOTE: This Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) file or article is one of a series of FAQs that I regularly publish. The complete list of FAQs is given below. If this one doesn't answer your questions, try one or more of the following additional FAQs: 1. Scanner Modification FAQ: SCANMODS.FAQ <--- This FAQ 2. Scanner Data Decoder FAQ: SCANDATA.FAQ 3. Scanner Performance FAQ: SCANPERF.FAQ 4. Scanner S-Meter FAQ: SCANSMTR.FAQ 5. Scanner Radios FAQ: SCANRADS.FAQ 6. 4-Level FSK Decoder FAQ: 4LFSK.FAQ 7. Administrative FAQ: ADMIN.FAQ You can download the latest of any of my FAQs directly from my Web site as follows: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek/faqs.htm ============================================= Bill Cheek's Scanner Modifications Frequently Asked Questions File ============================================= Contents ========= 01: How do I restore cellular in my scanner ? 02: What about cellular restoration ads scanners after 3/94? 03: Are any mods available for my scanner 04: What mods do you have for my scanners? 05: Can you send me "the mod" for my scanner? 06: Where can I find mods for my scanner ? 07: So you mean there are no mods for my scanner ? 08: So how can I do some of these mods? 09: Memory mods? How can I increase the channels? 10: How do I tell a SRAM chip from an EEPROM from CPU RAM? 11: My scanner has an SRAM; how do I do the mod? 12: Do you do scanner modifications like memory mods? 13: I'm not interested in all your mods - just one. Will you photocopy the information for me? 14: So how do I restore cellular in the PRO-2006? 15: How can I install the military aero band in my scanner? 16: How can I modify my scanner to follow trunked systems? 17: Can my scanner be interfaced to a computer for remote and automated control, as well as for programming of the memory channels by the computer? Can the interface acquire data from the scanner and send it to the computer? 18: What's a 'discriminator output' and a 'data slicer' 19: How can I build a 'data slicer'? 20: What if I don't want to build a 'data slicer'? 21: What books have you written, generally what topics do they cover, are they still in print, what do they cost, and are they available to order at a web site? ======================== QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ======================== 01: How do I restore cellular in my scanner ? Forget it, pal. It ain't going to happen. The TDDRA of 1994 (an Act of Congress) expressly forbids the manufacture or importing into the USA of "easily modified for cellular" scanners after April, 1994. Manufacturers were required to remove cellular capability from the scanners' CPUs altogether. Sorry, cellular coverage is not possible if your scanner was made or imported after March, 1994. But here is a list of all those pre-1994 scanners of which I am aware that ARE capable of cellular restoration: PRO-2004 BC-855XLT *3 Regency 4030 PRO-2005 BC-200XLT Regency 1600 PRO-2006 BC-205XLT PRO-2022 BC-760XLT *4 PRO-2026 *2 BC-700XLTA *4 PRO-2027 BC-890XLT *4 PRO-2030 BC-950XLT PRO-2032 BC-2500XLT *3 PRO-34 PRO-37 PRO-39 PRO-43 *1 PRO-46 *2 *5 PRO-51 *2 PRO-23 *2 Note 1: Date of Mfg code 1A4, 2A4, xA3, xA2 (label in battery compment), or no "A" in the serial no. Note 2: Date of mfg code 1A4, 2A4, -A3, -A2 (label on back). Note 3: Date of mfg code must not end in the letter "D", except for OAID. Note 4: Date of mfg code must not end in the letter "D". Note 5: Units with date code of 5A4 can tune cellular in 30 kHz Steps using a keyboard entry sequence. For instance, PRO-43's imported before March, 1994, are modifiable, while some brought in during March and all thereafter are impossible to modify. Date codes of any -A2 or -A3 and only 1A4 and 2A4 are assured of being modifiable. 3A4 and up probably aren't. The above list does not include those scanners that were naturally capable of receiving the full 800 MHz band, without modification. The below list of radios had relatively continuous coverage that includes cellular: J.I.L. SX-400 Yaesu FRG-9600 AOR-8000 * Regency MX-4000 AOR-950 Icom R-7100 * Regency MX-5000 AOR-1000 Icom R-1 Regency MX-7000 AOR-1500 Icom R-100 Yaesu FRG-9600 AOR-2500 Icom R-9000 Kenwood RZ-1 AOR-3000 * Icom R-7000 Uniden BC-800XLT * pre-1994 only Some of these radios, if still current, had the cellular removed by the factory after March, 1994. There may be possibilities of restoring cellular in later models of the AR-8000, AR-3000, and ICOM radios by replacing an EEPROM or reprogramming one, but that is beyond the scope of this FAQ, and in general, should not be considered feasible. ============================================================= 02: What about cellular restoration ads for post 3/94 scanners? Yes, I used to see magazine ads to "restore" cellular or to "unlock 800 MHz" in newer scanners. Gasp! This is almost a deception. See, these ads were for the "VD" mod. Virtual Downconversion - better than a venereal disease, but not by much. To my way of thinking, it is an inferior method of "unlocking" the cellular bands because: A. They're not really unlocked. VD is a trick of turning off one oscillator and turning on another. Typically, they set the scanner to the 400 MHz band, and then turn off the normal 400 MHz Local Oscillator and turn on the one for 800 MHz to make cellular receivable on the 400 MHz display. B. There is no logical correlation between the actual cellular frequency and the displayed frequency. It varies from one radio to the next, but suppose 880.000 MHz comes in. It might be received/ displayed on 432.6775 MHz. Duh....?? C. The full cellular bands of 823.950-849.000 and 868.950-894.000 are not available by this method. In fact, only a small part of one or the other (often not both) is available, like maybe 10-20 MHz of the total. D. There is no 30 kHz stepping. You're limited to the default CPU "rules" for the band in which the cellular appears, typically 5 kHz or 12.5 kHz. E. The exact results of the VD mod, generally described above, depend on the scanner. Results vary from one to the next. None are what I'd call "good" or even acceptable. The good thing that can be said for the VD mod is that it is the ONLY way to get any cellular at all from post March-1994 scanners. So, the advertisements that you may have seen are not exactly "fraud".....but you sure don't get much. ============================================================= 03: Are any mods available for my scanner ? You may have the wrong impression about scanner modifications and hacking. Mods are not "available" in the sense that they can be found on a store shelf, or laying on the top of someone's mind who can tell you in so many words or less how to turn that a Snakebite X101 scanner into a fire-breathing, rip-snorting behemoth of a TurboWhopper. All scanners can be modified for something; generally a dozen or more things. But only a few scanners have anything written about them in detail. And you have to know where to LOOK. You can't just up and ask for "mods". Well, you *can*, but you won't get a substantive reply. It takes me several days to several weeks and sometimes MONTHS to work up and write about a hotshot mod for a decent scanner, and after THAT level of effort, it's not possible to make it "available" off my fingertips. Continue reading below. There are answers to your question. ============================================================= 04: What mods do you have for my scanners? I wish I knew what people mean by: "what mods do you have..." I don't "have" mods, exactly..... I wrote three books and eight years worth of the monthly WORLD SCANNER REPORT that feature mods for a variety of scanners. With over 900 scanners ever marketed, I don't pretend to cover them all.....just, a fraction. Many of "my mods" can work with most any scanner.... but there is no way I can write explicit instructions for more than the bench models on which I develop mods. I can and do offer hints on how to apply these mods to other scanners but again, not having the scanner in front of me and not having the Service Manual, there is little I can do other than hint. I have to leave it to the user to study the published materials and then ask specific questions to which I am happy to provide specific answers...if I can. That's about as good as it gets. You are strongly encouraged to thumb through my books and through the back and current issues of the WORLD SCANNER REPORT to see what interests you and to pick topical material from which you can phrase specific questions that have possibilities of reply. As it is, all I can say at this point is that DOZENS of mods are possible for your scanners, but I have to leave it to you to do the legwork and research. And when you have specific questions, then I can answer them. ================================================================== 05: Can you send me "the mod" for my scanner? Well, what is "the" mod? There are dozens of possible mods for your scanner. Regardless, the answer in general is no, I don't "send" mods. I have published hundreds of mods for various scanners and other radios in my books; in the monthly World Scanner Report, and some as text files on my Web and FTP sites. You can exhaust these resources to your heart's content. Due to the overwhelming flood of requests for this kind of information, I can't do personal and custom research. There just isn't time in the day for that workload. If it's free info you want, try looking up scanner Web and FTP sites. If you don't mind paying for better quality info, then try books and magazines. You can also try the Usenet REC.RADIO.SCANNER newsgroup where modification information is sometimes published. It's free if you have a connection to the Internet and a Usenet reader/editor program. ================================================================== 06: Where can I find mods for my Brand-X scanner ? Mostly you can't. There are only a handful of scanners ever made that were worth focused research and development. Those scanners include: PRO-2004 PRO-2005 PRO-2006 PRO-2035 PRO-2042 PRO-2022 PRO-43 PRO-34 PRO-37 BC-200XLT PRO-26 PRO-39 BC-3000 PRO-64 PRO-2041 You can find occasional articles and files on "mods" for other scanners not mentioned above, but they are the exception to the rule. Start by looking up scanner Web and FTP sites, and peruse their quick-links to other sitestes: Many scanner Web Sites have quicklinks to dozens of other sites that may contain a file or two on generic "Snakebite" scanners. But don't get your hopes up. Now here is the problem: I am one of the few, (if not the ONLY) engineers seriously committed to scanner mods. Yet, there are around 1000 scanners on the historical list now. It is physically impossible for people like me develop hacks for any but a few. We have to choose among the more popular scanners, you see....certainly the ones that interest us. Now what scanners do you suppose engineers and technicians will find "interesting"? Not many, pal.... not many. The above list of scanners reaches out to tens or hundreds of thousands of owners. There is no time left to work on generic "SnakeBite" scanners that have little to offer, even after hours of hard work! But take cheer and read on....... ============================================================= 07: So you mean there are no mods for my scanner ? More or less I mean that, but, that's not to say yours can't be modified. It can! It's just that there is nothing published for it; nothing in the way of step-by step instructions with graphics, photos, and details. No one would go to the time and trouble, you see? The preponderance of published hacking information is for those scanners listed in Question 05 above. Other scanners just aren't interesting enough for professional investigation. An engineer who is capable of designing super-hacks for that "SnakeBite" scanner isn't going to own one! Instead, he will own one in the Question 05 list, one that is eminently capable of some very powerful modifications in the first place. Now I said your "SnakeBite" can be hacked. It can. But you are more or less on your own in the sense that you can't be directed to a "shopping list" of mods from which you can pick and choose. There is no such list. Any hope for you is to first figure out what you want to do, and ask specific questions. I can give you a few answers in advance: No. No, your scanner is likely not capable of cellular; scanners made or imported after March, 1994, are not cellular-capable. Most scanners are not likely to be capable of extra memory; additional frequency coverage; and things of that nature that pretty much require factory design in the first place. (See ahead for Memory Modifications) Yes. Yes, your "SnakeBite" may be capable of certain mods, a few of which include the following: (You wanted a list?) 1. Tape Recorder Jack 2. Automatic Tape Recorder Switch (beats VOX!) 3. Extended Delay 4. Tone Decoder-Rejector Countermeasure 5. CTCSS mod 6. S-Meter 7. Scanner-to-Shortwave Interface 8. Carrier-On-Indicator 9. Audio Improvements 10. Beep volume or disable 11. Squelch Improvements 12. Remote Controller 13. Discriminator output for data decoding See Question 18 - this can be done to all scanners 14. Event or "hit" Counter 15. Shielding of plastic cases 16. External DC power 17. Improved Adjacent Channel Rejection 18. Speed up of SCAN & SEARCH modes 19. Back light modifications Then, maybe...depending....on the scanner.... the following digital and/or esoteric enhancements.........??? 20. Interfacing to a computer 21. Subsidiary Carrier (SCA) 22. Extended Memory to 25,600-channels & up 23. 54-88 MHz restoration 24. Data/Tone/Noise Rejection 25. Trunk "Tracking" - maybe. 26. Cellular restoration (See Question 01) ============================================================= 08: So how can I do some of these mods? That's a problem. No one has written them up for any but a few scanners. About the only way I can think of is to get one or more of my three books and a subscription to the WORLD SCANNER REPORT. Research and study up on the mods we've developed for other scanners, and then compare the procedures for that specific scanner to yours. Often, when I write up a mod, I give hints on how to apply it to other scanners. Also, if you ask me *specific* questions, I can give specific answers. If you ask "how to do a memory mod", I'll have to refer you to something already in print or published somewhere. If you are doing a memory mod and run into trouble, then I can help you with that trouble. ============================================================= 09: Memory mods? How can I increase the programmable channels? That depends on what kind of memory storage is used by your scanner. There are three kinds: 1. On-board CPU RAM (Random Access Memory) 2. Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) 3. EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. The first kind is most prevalent and there is no way to expand that kind of memory. It is, however, usually limited to scanners with 50 channels or less of programmable memory. 100-channels and up are usually done by methods 2 or 3. So your first step is to determine what kind of memory is used by your scanner. EEPROM memory is expandable, but very difficult under most circumstances. SRAM is the easiest and offers the largest expansion capabilities. For example, the PRO-2004, PRO-2005, and PRO-2006 can be expanded to 25,600 programmable channels (and more)! The PRO-32, PRO-34, PRO-37, PRO-39 & PRO-2022 can go to 12,800- channels and beyond. The BC-760XLT, BC-560XLT, and a few others can be taken to 6,400 channels and more. The PRO-2035 and PRO-2042 can be taken to 16,000 channels and beyond. The PRO-2041 and PRO-64 are good for upwards of 25,600 channels..... My Extended Memory Modifications are amply documented in excruciating detail in my books and in the WORLD SCANNER REPORT, complete with diagrams, photos, and many pages of instructions such that most casual hobbyists who know a soldering iron from a tire iron can do the work. This kind of mod is not suited to being given out in an e-mail or a forum message in so many words or less. You will need to acquire the instructions before doing the work. ============================================================= 10: How do I tell a SRAM chip from an EEPROM from CPU RAM? If you can't do this on your own or after the below explanation, you are probably not a candidate for such a wild adventure at this stage of your hacking career. Most CPUs hold a small amount of RAM (random-access- memory), sufficient to store anywhere from 10 to 50, maybe a hundred channels or so. This is the case for most scanners, so there is no way to increase that memory. Fortunately, there are two other methods of RAM used by a few scanners that offer possibilities for expansion. EEPROM: The least common and least expansive is EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only-memory). The PRO-43, PRO-26, BC-2500XLT, BC-200XLT, BC-100XLT and BC-3000XLT, for example, use EEPROM programmable memory. It is possible to expand EEPROM-types of memory, though not by such huge proportions as the SRAM type. EEPROMs are usually tiny little chips with 8-pins. SRAM: A handful of scanners use a separate SRAM (static random-access-memory) chip for storage of frequencies and custom channel settings. It is this type of memory that can be easily and economically expanded by factors of 2, 4, 8, 16 and even 64 times the original volume! Scanners known to employ SRAM memory include the following: PRO-2004 PRO-2021 PRO-32 BC-760XLT PRO-2005 PRO-2022 PRO-34 BC-950XLT PRO-2006 PRO-2032 PRO-37 BC-590XLT PRO-2035 PRO-2041 PRO-39 BC-600XLT PRO-2042 PRO-64 There may well be other scanners that use SRAM memory, but either I forgot about them or don't know. If you're curious about your scanner's potential for memory expansion, you can just about forget it for those with fewer than 100-channels. The CPU's RAM easily handles 10 to 100 channels or so. If your scanner is not on the above list, but has 50 or more channels, then look over its schematic diagram and parts list or scrutinize its Logic/CPU Board for any of the following types of SRAM chips: uPD446G-15 TC-5517CF-20 LC-3517BM-15 CXK5864BP MB-8416-20LPF BR6265BF HY6264 or something similar, disregarding the last few digits and letters. An SRAM chip is generally characterized by a rectangular shape with 24 to 32 pins, each of the longest sides holding half the pins. An SRAM chip in a schematic diagram will be characterized by eighteen or more of its pins going straight to the CPU chip. Any chip with less than 24-pins is not likely to be an SRAM; neither is any chip in a square format. SRAMs are rectangular (DIP or SMT) with 24 to 32 pins. Pinout notations of SRAM chips will include mystic codes such as: A0, A1...A9, R/W, CE, I01, I02...I08, OE, etc. ============================================================= 11: My scanner has an SRAM; how do I do the mod? Get the published instructions for Extended Memory Mods. These instructions are much too detailed to include as basic text files, and in most cases, the articles are copyrighted anyway. Start by reviewing my free Table of Contents and Index to the World Scanner Report where you will find articles on memory mods. Get at least one of my books to supplement the WORLD SCANNER REPORT. The ULTIMATE SCANNER book is a good choice. The Table of Contents and Index to the World Scanner Report can be found on my Web and FTP sites. They're also contained in my product information file: PRODINFO.ZIP I can send these files by e-mail upon request, or they can be downloaded from my Web and FTP sites. Since all SRAM chips are much alike, my instructions for one scanner generally apply to all, and are not too difficult to follow, provided you can find the SRAM chip in the first place. ============================================================= 12: Do you do scanner modifications like memory mods? Sure. Contact me privately and we can go from there. One note, though: I don't do cellular mods anymore. The FCC has gotten persnickety about that sort of thing. In general, I don't do speedup mods anymore because they cause more problems than the speed increase is worth. ============================================================= 13: I'm not interested in all your mods - just one. Will you photocopy the information for me? Not if it's in a copyrighted publication. My publishers own the copyrights to my books and my company owns the copyrights to material published in the World Scanner Report. It would be unethical, illegal, or both, for me to make copies. If your budget is tight, you can in many cases get basic information for free from Web and FTP sites. The real good stuff generally comes only in books, magazines, newsletters, and such, like Popular Communications, Monitoring Times and the World Scanner Report. It is not always necessary to buy information in order to do mods. On the other hand, the published mods are NOT the low degree sort of thing you find on BBS's and Internet sites with a few sentences or paragraphs and maybe an ASCII drawing if you're lucky. My mods are detailed and well documented with graphics, including schematic diagrams, photos, and illustrations. This kind of work can't come for free, though. On the other hand, there may be no cost if all you want are the simple mods like the cellular mod to the PRO-2006. ============================================================= 14: So how do I restore cellular in the PRO-2006? 1. Remove the top cover of the scanner. 2. Look down inside the front panel behind the #3 key of the keyboard, and clip the exposed leads of the two coppery colored diodes standing on end. One restores cellular and the other gives a FREE 25% speedup of the SCAN function. 3. Replace top cover. See, that's the kind of stuff that comes for free. ============================================================= 15: How can I install the military aero band in my scanner? You can't, and that's that. If your scanner didn't come with the military aero band (220-400 MHz), then there is no way under the sun of "restoring" it. You can't restore what ain't there. ============================================================= 16: How can I modify my scanner to follow trunked systems? That depends on your scanner. So far, the only scanners that can be "modified" to follow trunked conversations are the PRO-2004, PRO-2005, and PRO-2006. And then, it's a bit more than just a "mod". It's also a process, a method, and a bit more. If you're interested, see: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek/trunk.htm Otherwise, you can't, not exactly. Each trunked system is as different as night and day with respect to other trunked systems, even from the same vendor. It is possible for the hobbyist to gain some skill and fortitude in following trunked system conversations. These techniques are scattered around in various written works, from books, magazine articles, and prefaces in frequency directories...to text files on various BBS's and Internet archives. These techniques, hints, tips, and kinks cannot be recited here in so many words or less. One good starting point might be the preface material in any recent edition of Radio Shack's POLICE CALL books. But in a word, you cannot alter "a scanner" to follow trunked signals. Uniden's and Radio Shack's TrunkTracker series of scanners are specifically designed to follow Motorola trunking systems. There is some interesting software appearing around the Internet these days....that may be useful in trunk following. Check out these web sites for interesting possibilities if you don't want to cough up for a Uniden or Radio Shack TrunkTracker: http://web2.airmail.net/lblant1/dfw/digital.htm http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/1060/beta.htm See Question 18 for more info on this possibility. ============================================================= 17: Can my scanner be interfaced to a computer for remote and automated control, as well as for programming of the memory channels by the computer? Can the interface acquire data from the scanner and send it to the computer? In a word, yes. Many scanners "can" be interfaced to a computer for one-way control and automated programming of the memory channels. These scanners include: PRO-2004 PRO-2005 PRO-2006 PRO-2035 PRO-2042 PRO-2041 PRO-2022 PRO-34 PRO-37 PRO-39 PRO-43 PRO-26 PRO-64 Probably quite a few others are possible - most, really. There are three scanners that are capable not only of the one- way mode of remote control and automated programming, but also of a "data acquisition" mode where the scanner sends its display (channel, freq, bank, mode, delay, lockout) and other data to the computer for automated logging and data processing. These scanners are the PRO-2004, PRO-2005, and PRO-2006. Several companies make scanner/computer interfaces, including Optoelectronics and COMMtronics Engineering. Each interface has its own unique characteristics, advantages, and limitations, but all are "good" in the sense of freeing the operator from much of the labor and drudgery of scanning. The Optoelectronics interfaces are generally limited to the PRO-2005/6 & PRO-2035/2042. A "roll your own" computer interface was published in the World Scanner Report, V2N1-V2N6. Another more powerful one was published in my 3rd book, THE ULTIMATE SCANNER (Cheek3). COMMtronics Engineering's CE-232 Scanner/Computer Interface is in its fifth year and continues to be a front-runner and state of the art. For more info: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek/ ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek/ce-232 John Montalbano KA2PYJ, seems to have designed a nice one-way interface and control software. I can't vouch for it, but go to the following URL and see for yourself. http://www.qsl.net/ka2pyj/ ============================================================== 18: What's a 'discriminator output' and a 'data slicer' Ahhh, I'm glad you asked. This one is hotter'n a $2 pistol these days. For gory details, including detailed instructions on how to take advantage of this hot, new interest, see my file or regularly posted newsgroup article with the SUBJECT: "Scanner Data Decoder FAQ" SCANDATA.FAQ DISCRIMINATOR OUTPUT ==================== But to answer your question in so many words or less, every scanner has a Discriminator, a circuit usually little more than a chip, the purpose of which is to detect narrow band FM (NFM) signals. NFM is the mode most commonly used above 30 MHz, whether for voice or data transmissions. Regardless, if it's an NFM signal of any type, the Discriminator converts that signal into audio. It's low-level audio, but nevertheless audio. If it's a voice signal, you'll hear and understand it as this signal out of the Discriminator gets filtered and amplified up to speaker volume levels. If it's a data signal, well you'll hear that, too, but you won't understand it. Data signals are raucous, nasty sounds that'll send you scrambling to hit the SCAN or arrow keys mighty quick. BASEBAND AUDIO ============== Unless, of course, decoding that data is among your interests. If it is, then there are a couple more things you need to know. First, this Discriminator Output signal is also known as the "baseband audio". The chief characteristics of the baseband audio are (1) low level, typically .2-.8 volts, AC), and (2) unfiltered. Unfiltered? Well, yes. See, the human voice band is considered to be 300 Hz - 3000 Hz. Signals above and below that range are not considered essential to the successful transmission of voice, so to simplify the design of the audio preamplifier and power amplifier in the receiver, and to cut down on noise and hash, cheap and simple filters are used to eliminate signals below and above that band. And for voice, it's no big deal. All communications receivers, including scanners have some kind of voice band filtering between the output of the detector/discriminator and the headphones or speaker. DECODING DIGITAL DATA ===================== Trouble is....data signals, especially high speed data above 2400-bits/sec (bps), have a bandwidth somewhat wider than the voice band. This simply means that you cannot successfully decode high speed data by tapping the signal off the speaker or headphone jacks. You have to take the signal for decoding right off the output of the Discriminator. Therefore, since decoding data is getting to be interesting and of wide appeal these days, you'll hear a lot of talk about "discriminator outputs" and "baseband audio taps"; one and the same thing. DATA SLICERS or DECODER INTERFACES ================================== Last, but not least, in order to decode data signals, you need a bit of extra hardware and some software. The software is more fully discussed in my regular article titled SCANNER DISCRIMINATOR DATA. The extra bit of hardware that's needed is referred to as a "data slicer" or, as I call it, a "Data Decoder Interface". The Input of this decoder interface or data slicer is fed from the scanner's Discriminator Output. The Output of the decoder interface goes straight to one of the computer's COM or serial ports. Fire up the computer and the software; turn on the scanner and tune in a data channel, and you're in business. For a circuit diagram and construction details, as well as how to identify and locate the Discriminator in your scanner, see my regular newsgroup article titled SCANNER DATA DECODER FAQ. That'll get you started on the cool, neat, fun world of decoding digital data off the airwaves. You can also get the file from my FTP site: ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek/faqs/scandata.faq ========================================================== 19: How can I build a 'data slicer'? Detailed instructions for that are in my FAQ file called SCANDATA.FAQ that's regularly posted on the scanner newsgroups and available for download at my FTP site: ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek/faqs/scandata.faq ========================================================== 20: What if I don't want to build a 'data slicer'? There isn't much of a technical obstacle to "rolling your own Data Decoder Interface, but if lack of time, tools, or access to the parts is an obstacle, then you can acquire one in either of two ways: 8-pg Instruction Set (only) $5 ppd, $7 foreign 1. Kit of essential parts (you build it): $15 + $8 S&H Includes: 3 ea Capacitor; tantalum; 10-uF/16v: 1 ea D-sub Plastic Hood/shell; DB25 1 ea DB25 connector; female; solder pin 2 ea Resistor; 100-k; 1/4-watt 1 ea Resistor; 3.3-k; 1/4-watt 4 ea Diode; silicon; 1N4148 1 ea Op-amp; LM741CN; 8-pin DIP 1 ea Perfboard; pre-cut, notched, trimmed to size 1 ea Shielded cable; 3-ft; w/RCA plug 1 ea Detailed printed instruction set, complete with graphics, photos, tables, and "what if's"... 1 ea 3.5" floppy disk w/shareware & freeware decoder programs and utilities. Optional upgrade or add-on items: * A. Shielded cable; 6-ft; w/RCA plug + $2.00 * B. Shielded cable; 12-ft; w/RCA plug + $4.00 C. Port Adapter; DB25 male-to-DB9 female + $7.50 (adapts 25-pin Interface to 9-pin comport) * Instead of the standard 3-ft cable w/RCA plug -=OR=- 2. Assembled/tested Decoder Interface $40 + $8 S&H Includes: 1 ea Data Decoder Interface built into a DB25 shell with standard 3-ft shielded cable w/RCA plug. 1 ea Detailed printed instruction set, complete with graphics, photos, tables, and "what if's"... 1 ea 3.5" floppy disk w/shareware & freeware decoder programs and utilities. Optional upgrade or add-on items: A. Built with 6-ft shielded cable and RCA plug + $2.00 B. Built with 12-ft shielded cable and RCA plug + $4.00 C. Port Adapter; DB25 male-to-DB9 female + $7.50 (adapts 25-pin Interface to 9-pin comport) D. Custom enhancements/designs per your specs +$10/up TO ORDER: Use e-mail, fax, or postal mail per the information in my signature box below. MC/VISA or M.O. preferred. Personal and company checks okay, but shipment delayed until bank clearance. No COD's and no shipments to PO Boxes or mail drops. Alaska, Hawaii and foreign shipping extra. TERMS: All sales are final; no returns-no refunds. 30-day Performance Warranty on the Assembled/ Tested Decoder Interface is strictly limited to Motorola SmartNet trunked data signals using TRUNKER.EXE Repair or replacement at our option during that 30-day period. No warranty on Kits. ============================================================== 21: What books have you written, generally what topics do they cover, are they still in print, what do they cost, and are they available to order at any web site? BOOKS ===== Scanner Modification Handbook, Vol-1, ISBN 0-939780-11-9 Scanner Modification Handbook, Vol-2, ISBN 0-939780-14-3 The Ultimate Scanner (Cheek3) ISBN 1-56866-058-8 Available from leading mail order radio dealers everywhere as well as many radio shops and electronic supply houses. Cost depends on the seller and I can't speak for them. MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ======================================= "The World Scanner Report" Published 10x/yr since January 1991 (Subscriptions & all back issues available) Table of Contents; Keyword Index; and Information at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek/wsr.htm ============================================================= That's it for now. I will keep this FAQ updated. If you see things that need to be added to it, by all means, let me know. If this FAQ fails to address your question(s), then hit me with 'em again, but be specific. And be detailed with symptoms and observations if you need tech support on mods or troubleshooting and diagnosis. Use e-mail. Copyrighted (c) 1999 (All rights reserved) Revised 02/03/99 ------------------------------------------------ -- Bill Cheek - President/CEO/Publisher \ / COMMtronics Engineering/World Scanner Report \ / Box 262478 ~ San Diego ~ CA ~ 92196-2478 \ / Voice: 619-578-9247 (1:30-5:30pm, PST, weekdays \/ Fax: 619-578-9247 (any time) /\ E-mail: bcheek@cts.com / \ ftp://ftp.cts.com/pub/bcheek / \ http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bcheek / \ ------------------------------------------------ -- ========================END OF FILE===========================