Just curious as to why I see many business radio systems that have, for example, 3 analogue conventional repeated frequencies (security, maint, ops), then convert those 3 frequencies into a 3-channel DMR trunking system with only 3 talkgroups for those same services. Is this just a sales thing where they are pushing this on the customer? Even if they wanted more capacity, they could just convert to conventional DMR and double the number of concurrent talk-paths, why choose a trunking system?
-
To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:
Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.
If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.
To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.
The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.
For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).
This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.
DMR Trunking
- Thread starter jrothwell
- Start date
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Some of it is sales.
12+ years ago I was looking at replacing my old analog trunked system. 5 analog channels (4 traffic + 1 control channel) and that was plenty for 99.99% of our traffic.
Looked at both MotoTrbo and NXDN.
Motorola kept pushing the DMR because I could "double my capacity". Called it a "no brainer".
Problem was I didn't need double the capacity and the DMR at the time sounded like dog doo compared to NXDN.
Went with NXDN, still have plenty of system capacity and the audio is much better.
Every now and then someone brings up the "you could have doubled your capacity with DMR" comment.
Small users are impressed by things like this, but as you've pointed out, they often don't need it. A good salesman never lets that stand in their way.
Now, true, they could have more talkgroups than you are seeing, may be running some data, etc. But generally, it's sales that drives a lot of this stuff.
12+ years ago I was looking at replacing my old analog trunked system. 5 analog channels (4 traffic + 1 control channel) and that was plenty for 99.99% of our traffic.
Looked at both MotoTrbo and NXDN.
Motorola kept pushing the DMR because I could "double my capacity". Called it a "no brainer".
Problem was I didn't need double the capacity and the DMR at the time sounded like dog doo compared to NXDN.
Went with NXDN, still have plenty of system capacity and the audio is much better.
Every now and then someone brings up the "you could have doubled your capacity with DMR" comment.
Small users are impressed by things like this, but as you've pointed out, they often don't need it. A good salesman never lets that stand in their way.
Now, true, they could have more talkgroups than you are seeing, may be running some data, etc. But generally, it's sales that drives a lot of this stuff.
I was just thinking about this...I guess one reason would be reliability and fault tolerance. If one of the repeaters went offline and took one of the frequencies out, the system would still work with 2 frequencies and the 3 talkgroups would still be able to communicate like nothing happened. If it was conventional DMR, an entire group of users would not be able to. I doubt most small businesses would need this type of fault tolerance though.
kayn1n32008
ØÆSØ Say it, say 'ENCRYPTION'
another advantage of trunking, especially with DMR, is you are dynamically assigning voice paths, rather than having static voice paths with conventional.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Right,
And the other big benefit to trunking is access control.
Having positive control over who can access the radio system has a lot of benefits. For some businesses/small agencies that run their own systems, that means keeping radios off the system that don't belong there (Baofeng/hammy/e-bay/UUtoobs raydeo teknishun blocker).
For radio shops that run the radio systems, it means being able to properly recover costs/billing for users.
For my small system, I run it on a cost recovery basis. The system pays for itself by charging users for system access. A small monthly charge for radio service offsets the costs of running the system, as well as about 10% of one of my FTE's, plus tossing money in an budget bucket for future system replacement/major upgrades.
With a conventional system with no access control, the system owner would lose control over the system and have a hard time recovering costs.
And the other big benefit to trunking is access control.
Having positive control over who can access the radio system has a lot of benefits. For some businesses/small agencies that run their own systems, that means keeping radios off the system that don't belong there (Baofeng/hammy/e-bay/UUtoobs raydeo teknishun blocker).
For radio shops that run the radio systems, it means being able to properly recover costs/billing for users.
For my small system, I run it on a cost recovery basis. The system pays for itself by charging users for system access. A small monthly charge for radio service offsets the costs of running the system, as well as about 10% of one of my FTE's, plus tossing money in an budget bucket for future system replacement/major upgrades.
With a conventional system with no access control, the system owner would lose control over the system and have a hard time recovering costs.
