DMR, Public Safety, and trunking

[human8472]

The county I work in is “rumored“ to be leaning to DMR for their upgrade to a digital radio system. Does this mean that the network would be MotoTRBO DMR? Is there another variant? Do any Motorola DMR radios support trunking as well?

 

[clbsquared]

Yes, some DMR radios will support trunking. Not all of them. MotoTRBO is Motorola’s proprietary DMR. Kenwood has NXDN. The two are not compatible that I know of. Public safety really should be P25. However, I understand that some county’s cannot afford that type of system. So they go with a less expensive route.

 

[Mr_Boh]

There is a universal "Teir III" DMR standard for trunking most manufacturers can support, they just can't overlay their proprietary features if the subscribers aren't theirs. Likely though, a manufacturer responding to a DMR RFP will respond with their proprietary version since it will meet the requirements but provide the opportunity to lock the customer to their subscribers too.

 

[mmckenna]

Yes, some DMR radios will support trunking. Not all of them. MotoTRBO is Motorola’s proprietary DMR. Kenwood has NXDN. The two are not compatible that I know of. Public safety really should be P25. However, I understand that some county’s cannot afford that type of system. So they go with a less expensive route.

NXDN and DMR are two different things and completely NOT compatible.
DMR is TDMA
NXDN is FDMA

 

[clbsquared]

NXDN and DMR are two different things and completely NOT compatible.
DMR is TDMA
NXDN is FDMA

Thanks for clearing that up. I always thought NXDN was Kenwoods proprietary DMR. But yes, I knew DMR was TDMA

 

[alcahuete]

Kenwood has NXDN.

Several Kenwood radios are also DMR. DMR is not unique to Motorola.

 

[mmckenna]

Thanks for clearing that up. I always thought NXDN was Kenwoods proprietary DMR. But yes, I knew DMR was TDMA

Right, two different things.
Kenwood makes several DMR capable radios. In fact, most of the newer ones will do DMR or NXDN. Some of the higher tier models, like the NX-5000 line will do Analog, DMR, NXDN and/or P25 in one radio.

 

[GTR8000]

Some of the higher tier models, like the NX-5000 line will do Analog, DMR, NXDN and/or P25 in one radio.

Last I checked, they only allow two digital protocols at the same time, so one of them is odd man out.

 

[mmckenna]

Last I checked, they only allow two digital protocols at the same time, so one of them is odd man out.

Correct, it'll only do 2 digital modes at a time, plus Analog is always there.

But for some agencies, that's all that is needed. Save money by putting the agency on NXDN or DMR, still have P25 and analog interoperability.

 

[P25andstuff]

I know if a Mototrbo radio has the proper features installed it can do Tier 3 DMR trunking.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I know if a Mototrbo radio has the proper features installed it can do Tier 3 DMR trunking.

It hast to be a high tier second generation radio (i.e. XPR5x50(e), XPR7x50(e)). Last time I had to deal with it was a major PITA though because you could only program Motorola radios for Tier III via Radio Manager (I heard that was changing with CPS2.0 but the day CPS2.0 dropped was the last day I touched a MotoTRBO radio).

 

[CopperWhopper67]

It hast to be a high tier second generation radio (i.e. XPR5x50(e), XPR7x50(e)). Last time I had to deal with it was a major PITA though because you could only program Motorola radios for Tier III via Radio Manager (I heard that was changing with CPS2.0 but the day CPS2.0 dropped was the last day I touched a MotoTRBO radio).

I had no idea you could get a MotoTRBO radio to affiliate with a Tier III system. I always thought the industry left that standard in the hands of HYT and Tait. Can Kenwood DMR radios also do Tier III?

 

[mmckenna]

Can Kenwood DMR radios also do Tier III?

Yes. Never done it myself, but they do sell a DMR Tier 3 option key for the newer radios.