5 MDC 1200 TX
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MDC-1200 TX transmits MDC-1200 signaling packets, used in some two-way radio systems for unit identification, emergency signaling, selective calling, and remote control operations. The protocol is AFSK at 1200 baud transmitted as FM subaudible data.

Warning

Transmitting MDC-1200 commands on operational radio systems without authorisation is illegal and may interfere with radio communications. Use only on equipment you own or have explicit permission to test.

Transmission Parameters

Parameter Value
Default frequency 462.562500 MHz
AFSK Mark 1800 Hz
AFSK Space 1200 Hz
Baud rate 1200
FM deviation 2500 Hz
Bandwidth 1,750,000 Hz
Default TX gain 30
Encoding NRZI + convolutional + bit interleaving
CRC CRC-16 with bit reversal, XOR 0xFFFF

Controls

  • Op: Operation type to transmit. Selecting an operation automatically sets the default Arg value where applicable (see table below).

  • ID (two fields, 0255 each): The 16-bit target unit ID, entered as two separate decimal bytes (high byte and low byte). For example, ID 256 is entered as 001 000.

  • Arg (0255): The argument byte for the operation. Automatically set when the Op is changed. Can be overridden manually.

  • Src (two fields, 0255 each): The 16-bit source unit ID, used only for double-packet operations (Call Alert, Sel Call 1, Sel Call 2). Entered the same way as the target ID.

  • Status bar: Shows Ready, TX..., or Done! depending on transmission state.

  • Frequency / Gain / AMP: Standard TX controls in the bottom bar.

  • Start / Stop: Transmit the current frame. Single transmit only — no loop mode.

Operations

Operation Op code Default Arg Packet type
PTT ID 0x01 0x00 Single
Emergency 0x00 0x00 Single
Radio Check 0x63 0x85 Single
Stun 0x2B 0x00 Single
Unstun 0x2B 0x0C Single
Status Req 0x22 0x00 Single
Status Resp 0x06 0x00 Single
Rem Monitor 0x11 0x8A Single
Message 0x07 0x00 Single
Sel Call 1 0x80 Double (uses Src)
Call Alert 0x81 Double (uses Src)
Sel Call 2 0x82 Double (uses Src)

Double-packet operations send two codewords. The first codeword contains the target ID; the second contains the source ID from the Src field.

Frame Structure

Each transmission consists of: 3 × 7-byte preamble (0xAA) + 5-byte sync word + one or two 14-byte codewords.

Each codeword carries: Op, Arg, ID high byte, ID low byte, CRC (2 bytes), padding (1 byte), plus 7 bytes of convolutional-encoded and bit-interleaved data.

Settings Persistence

Settings are saved to tx_mdc_tx.ini.