LTR system cost?

[davef3138]

I'm wondering what the ballpark price would be for a typical UHF 2 channel trunked LTR system would be (repeaters/controllers/combiners/etc). We're considering that as an option where I work, and would like a rough idea before we talk to various vendors...

Thanks!

[rbhtxk]

We are looking at a 3 channel UHF LTR system at our facility. Initial feedback from three vendors in the local north Texas area was about $60K; with two base stations and 60 hand held radios (including freq licensure, hardware, and labor). Will be allowing consultants to review our needs early next year and will go out for RFP before the middle of next year.

If anyone else has any other cost infor, that'd be great so we could contrast that against ours?

[n9upc]

Well a couple of questions need to be answered first?

1.) What type of coverage are you looking to have? In bldg? A couple of miles?

2.) How many people or talkgroups do you plan on having and/or using?

3.) Are you planning on doing a system for one business only, for rent, or a mixture of both?

4.) Will you intergrate conventional into trunking slowly? Or leave work on Friday in conventional mode and Monday come to work with trunking.

5.) Freqs? Can your freqs be used or cord. for trunking or are you going to have to get a whole new set.

For some round figures here you go: (Mind you this is for only 1 channel of a trunked system)
1.) LTR Controller Approx $500 - $1500 Depending on make/model/functionality
2.) Repeater (UHF 450-470 Mhz)(35 watt Radio Only) Approx $750 - $1500 Depending on make/model
3.) Antenna Duplexer (UHF 450-470 Mhz)(tunable) Approx $ 1000
4.) Antenna (UHF 450-470 Mhz) Approx $250 - $750 Depending make/model/dB gain
5.) Installation supplies/tech tiime (including lighting arrestors/surge protectors) Approx $500 - $1000

So for one channel you could be looking at anywhere from: $ 3000 - $5750

For additional channels you would need to obtain an antenna combiner which would replace the antenna duplexer. However the cost of that would depending on what freqs you have and could cost the same as the duplexer or kick it up by another $250 - $1000. Also add on the cost of another controller and Repeater at the same pricing.


Now once you have answered these questions you need to plan for migration from your current radio system to the new LTR system. So are you going to be able to just add a board to your current radios or are you going to have to replace the radios (due to age and incompatablility)? A fair amount of Kenwood and Icom business radios on the higher end have LTR trunking as a format already in place (examples: Kenwood TK-880, TK-380, etc...) but some cheaper/inexpensive radios (one of two channel conv) can not be upgraded or have the ability to do LTR.

In addition to the above mentioned how to you plan for migration over to LTR from your current system? Some LTR controllers have the ability to do a crossover/busy feature that allows you to talk in on conv with xxx PL or xxx DPL - which in turn will repeat out the xxx PL or xxx DPL as well as at the same time repeat out on talkgroup x-xx-xxx as well as vice a versa. This is sometimes a method that is more favorable, HOWEVER, this should be done as it ties up the system with 2 channels (one for repeating the conv and one for repeating the talkgroup). Also you must remember that this can only be done IF you are able to use the same freqs over again!

Good luck in whatever you do and once you determine what you want to use the system for, how you want to use it, and how to intergrate it all the questions can be answered with greater ease. Also if you are not familar with RF design or set-up then you really need to get a local radio shop involved with planning and implimentation also! This will also increase over cost to the system!

[radiomanNJ1]

You forgot the biggest on going cost. The repeater site. If you are renting tower space the cost is high and it's just like renting a house. The cost goes on and on.

[davef3138]

Thanks for the responses... I must not have notifications turned on here, as I hadn't realized there were postings!

We ended up putting out an RFB for a two channel LTR system. Both responses were about $17K for the infrastructure and $13K for 30 radios. The biggest cost was in the combining equipment to allow the two LTR repeaters to share the same antenna. The final costs aren't in, but the vendor said the price could be lower, depending on what frequency allocations we receive.

The equipment will be located on our property, on an existing 60 foot tower.

[RADIOGUY2002]

This is a rough idea or concept of the process that need to be completed for an ltr system.

A mobile duplexer will cost you 280.00 and up or you can get a uhf repeater with it in it for 1800.00 bucks about at 33 watts out on uhf, firgure another 2,000.00 to 5000.00 for a ltr logic unit interfaced, not sure exactily what the firgures are off the top of my head right now. Coxical cable run for 60 ft firgure somewhere between $0.69 up to $5.00 per foot for decident cable with a 5ft or 10ft whatever is more practical jumper cable for the lighting arrestor and repeater to be feed off of at 100.00 or so dollars. Grounding kit, 100.00 or more.

Then licensing costs for a yg / yk license if uhf / vhf trunking system. Check on-line with PCIA for actual licensing costs for uhf as opposed to vhf. More then likey you'll want uhf radios if at all possible. They usually play nice in most environments. 60ft at 33 watts with siginal degoration, proabily realstically tpo of 30 watts and you can get decident gain antenna form 100.00 up to 1500.00 dollars, 15 to 25 miles depending on area, etc. Equipment tools and die's etc give off rf which can reduce you ability as well.

Now, radios

30 units, Icom IC-F4061T which support basic LTR 272.15 =$8,164.00 thats whats on sale. I'm sure with quantity you get that price cheaper as well. As most give discount for 10, 25 or more radios. ^ bay gang chargers run 250.00 up to 400.00 a piece.

400.00 X 7 cradle to charge spare batteries which you will need. $2800.00, then spare battery cost (high end) 100.00 X 12 spare batteries= 1200.00. Ideally you should half of the total amount of radios you have in spare batteries.

Kenwood portables are going to run you alot more then that. When you break down 17,000 oes not seem all that bad for all the work behind the infrastructure. Oh, yea I forgot the cost of labor to climb the tower. Theirs lots of ways around this if you have the right circles. The portables seem rather high, but are you get any accessiories an addition to the radios.

Oh yea, and it might be a wise idea to get the software and programming cable as well at this point. Thats about $200.00 or less just to have if you need to make sight modifications on talkgroup assignments or created new ones.

[radioman2001]

First I presume you are looking for all new equipment, otherwise there are excellent used repeater stations around at a considerable savings. LTR panels are available at much lower than 2k ea. Especially if you don't intend to make a wide area network. I just ordered 3 CSI panels for $646.00 ea. If you have conventional repeaters in place you can update them, the CSI allows for conventional repeater operation and LTR in the same box, just not at the same time, they cross busy each other. Also you don't need a combiner for 2 channels, you can do it with 2 antenna's with duplexers, or one TX combiner and one RX coupler. But if you plan to add more channels later, buy the combiner now with the capacity you will need later, or a combiner that allows for adding channels. It's a lot less expensive, then to upgrade a too small combiner network later. As far as subscriber equipment, buy the model that you like and fits your budget. Most radios nowadays are equal in their operation, just some are better in durability.