This is a beta release of three different Radio Signal Processing programs: Trunker 3.x, MDT.EXE, and EDACS.EXE. All three of these programs have been build on top of a common set of C/C++ routines which represent a "Platform" or "Environment". Once one correctly codes a set of environment variables (via AUTOEXEC.BAT), all three programs will adapt to the user's configuration of scanner, serial port(s) and slicer characteristics. In addition to the common environment variables, each of the components may also respond to component-specific environment variables.
The following table is the author's current knowledge of the demands of each program. Please feel free to advise the author (see "reporting beta issues" below) of updates:
Program |
486 |
Pentium |
Pentium |
Pentium-Pro |
| Trunker | ? | Win95 & DOS | Win95 & DOS | Win95 & DOS |
| MDT | ? | ? | ? | Win95 & DOS |
| EDACS | ? | DOS only | DOS only | DOS, works but is degraded under Win95 |
Individual program objectives are listed in subsequent sections. As a whole, this beta release is aimed at validating the functioning of all three programs in the new "platform" environment.
Please use the normal Trunker 3.x mailbox: trunkerv3x@mailexcite.com. Be sure to include Trunker Beta in the Subject field so the mail will be properly routed.
| Variable Name | Use | Allowed Values |
| TRACKSCANPORT | The port to which the second, tracking Voice Scanner is connected | COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, NONE |
| TRACKSCANBAUD | The baud rate at which commands are to be sent to the second, tracking scanner for jumping between audio channels. The scanner must accept the same setting. | 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 |
| TRACKSCAN | The type of scanner used for audio tracking. | PCR1000, R10, R8500, R7000, R7100, AR2700, AR3000, AR3000A, AR8000(cr mode), KENWOOD, KENWOOD9600, BC895, NONE |
| TRACKSLICERPIN | pin for input from the Data Slicer | CTS, DSR, DCD |
| TRACKSLICERPORT | The com port to which the data slicer is connected (via the signal input lead specified.) | COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4 |
| TRACKSLICERMODE | Indicates whether the input should be inverted or not. Usually INVERT for inverting data slicer circuits. Trial and error may be necessary to determine the proper setting. Those who use /invert for Trunker 3.4 should start with this set to NORMAL and vice versa. | NORMAL, INVERT |
The most common cause of failure to get these programs running is problems with the environmental variable memory allocation. Sometimes in Win95 DOS windows, a DOS BAT program will be unable to change environment variables. By placing the initial settings in the AUTOEXEC.BAT and updating them in the .BAT files, this problem seems to be eliminated. The following is a starting point for updating AUTOEXEC.BAT:
Sample AUTOEXEC.BAT entries
set TRACKSLICERPIN=CTS set TRACKSLICERPORT=COM2 set TRACKSLICERMODE=INVERT set TRACKSCAN=AR8000 set TRACKSCANPORT=COM2 set MDTWIDESCREEN=y set MDTWIDEFILE=n
Step-By-Step Instructions:
This software is common to the following three packages. Please read and follow the instructions in the section "Setting Up" above before attempting to use any of these packages.
Trunker understands the protocols and messages of Motorola Trunked Radio Systems. It displays information about a trunked system being monitored and can (when provided with two scanners as described in the documentation) provide trunk-tracking monitoring capabilities.
The primary features to be tested in this Beta include:
Please refer to the recently rewritten Trunker 3.x Documentation.
This ZIP file includes Trunker.exe and the motgo.bat file mentioned above.
MDT understands the MDC4800 protocol used by some Mobile Dispatch Terminals. This implementation has not evolved as much as Trunker, but still can provide some useful information. One must be cautious about what one does with the disk files created by MDT, since sending them or showing them to a third party could be construed as 'disclosing' what you 'heard' on your scanner.
This version is the first release built on the Trunker Platform. Full documentation is not yet available. Two environment variables specific to MDT are:
Variable |
Values |
Meaning |
MDTWIDESCREEN |
y |
print nearly-readable output to the
screen |
MDTWIDEFILE |
y |
save nearly-readable output to the
file |
This ZIP file includes MDT.EXE and the mdtgo.bat file mentioned above.
The author is open to suggestion regarding future features. One already in the works is the interpretation of the ANSI X3.64 escape sequences in 'wide' mode.
This program is in its toddler stages. It was only posted (anonymously) last December to netnews. This version is useful for further identifying the characteristics of the EDACS trunked system. In its present form, source code modifications are required to get it to 'Trunk Track'. (The full source code for all three programs and the platform will be made publicly available at the end of the beta test.) It is expected that the next version of EDACS.EXE will have the look, feel, and functions of the Motorola Trunker.EXE, and will be able to trunk-track with any of the supported scanners.
This ZIP file includes EDACS.EXE and the edsgo.bat file mentioned above.