Cheapest Trunking systems?

[Pr999]

On the topic of trunking; what would be the cheapest form of trunking? Let's say you want a 3-channel system. Which ideal would be cheaper than the other, DMR or LTR? Or even a networked DMR repeater system.

Let's set this up: we will put DMR trunked (insert any of the available options), DMR conventional network (or Just a DMR repeater with any slot), and LTR.

Does anybody know which option would be cheapest to set up? I would like to have digital, but the cheapest way, also I'm curious about LTR pricing. I plan to set up some sort of system on my property without too much difficulty.

 

[mmckenna]

All the forms of trunking vary quite a bit, so picking one only based on price probably isn't a great idea.

Unless you just want to experiment/learn.

LTR wouldn't be an investment I'd make for any sort of commercial application right now. It's slowly disappearing. But it's an inexpensive solution and you can probably find controllers, radios, etc, fairly inexpensive on the used market.

Single DMR repeater does a very simplistic form of trunking and might be fun to play with, but won't teach you as much as a true trunked system with multiple repeaters.

Getting into true trunking, DMR or NXDN, is going to get costly as the features get licensed by the manufacturers, and they won't make it a simple/inexpensive task for a hobbyist.

 

[Pr999]

Ok. But I'm mainly asking for a price range for each, along with setup costs.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Ok. But I'm mainly asking for a price range for each, along with setup costs.

Thousands of dollars to purchase and setup, hundreds yearly to maintain, to get accurate price ranges you should contact your local radio vendor, they'll be happy to explain the differences to you.

The answers you got in your post below gave you a good idea

Trunking systems ins and outs

Can anybody educate me on these systems more than the wikis show? Like the process of building these systems, managing, the required amount of frequencies to function (input and output), control channels, modes, and systems that could work with it, pseudo trunking, and more? The reason I ask is...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[mmckenna]

Ok. But I'm mainly asking for a price range for each, along with setup costs.

None of us can accurately give you that information. These are not 'plug and play' systems like you'd buy off Amazon.

I'd agree wtih RaleighGuy, thousands of dollars to purchase, even used.
Set up would take guidance of an experienced tech, no you are not going to get suitable tech support from a hobby website.
Ongoing upkeep will be costly. You don't turn these things on and walk away.

My NXDN system was about $300K, but I already had the site, tower, antenna, coax, combiners, power, etc.
I spend about $30K a year on maintenance, upkeep, my time, etc.

 

[KevinC]

Thousands of dollars to purchase and setup, hundreds yearly to maintain, to get accurate price ranges you should contact your local radio vendor, they'll be happy to explain the differences to you.

The answers you got in your post below gave you a good idea

Trunking systems ins and outs

Can anybody educate me on these systems more than the wikis show? Like the process of building these systems, managing, the required amount of frequencies to function (input and output), control channels, modes, and systems that could work with it, pseudo trunking, and more? The reason I ask is...

forums.radioreference.com

I agree. Closing.