channelScanner is derived from the dab-cmdline scanner program. The channelScanner is used to scan some channels, channels specified in the command line.
The output is (can be) twofold:
a. a description of the content of the DAB data found in the scannel;
b. a dump of a specified number of seconds of the raw input data in xml format.
For a continuous scan over the (selected) channels in a given band, one is advised to use the dab-scanner.
channelscanner is a command line device, compiled for a single input device (one may choose among RTLSDR sticks, Pluto and SDRplay devices). Settings are done through parameters, e.g.
sdrplay-channelScanner -C 12C -C 11C -C 5B -C 5C -C 8A -Q -F /tmp/datafile.txt -R
will scan the channels 12C, 11C, 5B, 5C and 8A, with the autogain set and
a. the combined scandata will be written to the file /tmp/datafile.txt. The file is a text file, but can be read in with e.g. LibreOfficeCalc or similar programs
b. in case the channel contains detectable DAB data, raw data of the channel will be written to a file for "duration" SECONDS. The filename is a combination of the device, the channel, the EID and the date, e.g. "pluto12C 8001 2020-10-11 16:21:04.uff"
The basic parameters are
a. -C XX for the channel selection
b. -G XX for selecting the gain (or gain reduction)
c. -Q for setting the autogain
d. -d xx and -D XX for setting the delay (see later on)
e. -F filename for selecting an output file, default stdout
f. -R, when used, the per channel input is dumped into a file
g. -T xx, duration (in seconds), default 10
h. -O pathname, path to store the uff files. default the homedirectory
The -d xx flag sets the maximum waiting time in seconds for deciding whether or not time syncing can be achieved; The -D xx flag sets the maximum waiting time in seconds for the identification of an ensemble;
Use the -C XX flag for each channel that needs to be investigated, i.e. -C 12C -C 11C tells the software that both channels "12C and "11C" are to be inspected.
The -R flag, when used, instructs the software to dump the "per channel" data - provided some DAB data is found in that channel - into a file. The filename will be generated, and consists of the following elements
channelName EnsembleIdentification Data. sdr
Example
'12C 8001 2020-09-18 10:16:49.sdr'
indicates that a file with raw data (in ".sdr" format) is written on the date as specified, where the input was from channel "12C", with the Ensemble Identification 0x8001.
The "dump" file is written as xml file, i.e. the format defined by Clemens Schmidt and myself in 2019. The idea is that the data is written the way it is received from the input device. The xml format adds a precise description of the input format. The file extension chosen for the format here is ".uff" (uniserval file format).
Both Qt-DAB and QiRX are perfectly able to handle this kind of files
channel-scanner supports
a. the RTLSDR devices
b. PLUTO devices
c. SDRplay devices (2.13 library only)
d. AIRSPY devices
e. HACKRF devices
f. Lime devices
Assuming the required libraries are installed, building an executable is using the cmake/make combination
mkdir build
cd build
cmake .. -DXXX=ON
make
where XXX is ONE of RTLSDR, SDRPLAY_V2, PLUTO, HACKRF, AIRSPY or LIMESDR
So, one generates an executable for a SINGLE device.