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Digital protocol decoding (POCSAG/FLEX) and saving decoded messages with CC1101 in Bruce firmware #2845

Description

@UsbUser2026

Digital protocol decoding (POCSAG/FLEX) and saving decoded messages with CC1101 in Bruce firmware

Hello,

I would like to know whether the current Bruce firmware for LilyGO T-Embed CC1101 can do more than simply detect, scan, or record RF signals.

Specifically, I am interested in whether it can receive and decode digital protocols that contain text messages.

Protocols of interest

My main interest is POCSAG, but I would also like to know about other common digital paging protocols, such as:

  • POCSAG
  • FLEX
  • Other similar digital paging or data protocols that can potentially be received by the CC1101

Desired functionality

Ideally, I would like to be able to:

  1. Set the required RF frequency
  2. Select the appropriate modulation/protocol or reception mode
  3. Receive the digital transmission through the CC1101
  4. Decode the transmitted message
  5. Display the decoded text directly on the device
  6. Automatically save the decoded messages to a text file on the SD card

Ideally, the saved log could contain information such as:

  • Date/time
  • Frequency
  • Pager/address/ID
  • Message text

Bruce firmware support

Does Bruce currently have built-in support for POCSAG or any other digital paging/text-message protocols?

If POCSAG is not currently supported, does Bruce provide access to sufficiently low-level data from the CC1101 (for example, a demodulated bitstream) that would allow a POCSAG decoder to be implemented separately?

I would also like to understand the difference between what the CC1101 hardware is technically capable of receiving and which protocols are actually implemented and decoded by Bruce.

HackRF / PortaPack comparison

Would HackRF + PortaPack/Mayhem be a significantly better solution for this particular use case?

As I understand it, PortaPack/Mayhem already provides dedicated decoders for protocols such as POCSAG and can save decoded messages to a log file.

So, in short, I am trying to determine whether the complete workflow:

RF reception → digital demodulation → protocol decoding → displaying the text → saving decoded messages to a text file

can be implemented directly with LilyGO + CC1101 + Bruce, or whether HackRF + PortaPack would be a more appropriate solution.

Thank you!

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