Motobro, Narrowbanding and TDMA

Status
Not open for further replies.

radio

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Mar 6, 2002
Messages
463
Location
Fredericksburg VA
Any updates from Uniden for any new scanners or firmware to any current models, so we can hear the Motobro and TDMA systems?

Also, what is going on with this "narrowbanding" that is supposed to become effective in 2013? What is that going to do for all the current radios?
 

nd5y

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
11,228
Location
Wichita Falls, TX
Any updates from Uniden for any new scanners or firmware to any current models, so we can hear the Motobro and TDMA systems?

Also, what is going on with this "narrowbanding" that is supposed to become effective in 2013? What is that going to do for all the current radios?
I'm sure if Uniden comes out with any updates they would be posted in the Uniden forum http://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-scanners and Uniden's web site http://info.uniden.com/twiki

All you ever wanted to know about narrowbanding can be found on this page and the links at the bottom... Narrowbanding - The RadioReference Wiki
 
Last edited:

W2NJS

Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2006
Messages
1,938
Location
Washington DC
At the present time there is no way to monitor DMR transmissions (a/k/a TRBO) except by using a properly configured DMR radio.

The GRE 800 series scanners are currently the only scanner that will monitor the TDMA P25 systems.

Most of the current radios only require that their codeplugs be set to 12.5 kHz bandwidth which automatically sets the radio to narrowband operation. Some older radios can't do narrowband except by doing major internal component changes, and even then they require a kind of recertification to remain legal narrowband units. The consensus is that a lot of non-convertible radios will be put on the used market because they will essentially become obsolete for Part 90 use.
 

DaveIN

Founders Curmudgen
Database Admin
Joined
Jan 5, 2003
Messages
6,515
Location
West Michigan
As mentioned before, the current Uniden TrunkTracker IV capable scanners (P25 decoding) have hardware that will not allow for a firmware update for X2-TDMA or Phase II decoding. DMR is proprietary and would require licensing from a willing company. Don't count on DMR any time soon.
A new model will be needed for Phase II and X2-TDMA.
 

DonS

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2003
Messages
4,102
Location
Franktown, CO
The GRE 800 series scanners are currently the only scanner that will monitor the TDMA P25 systems.

Currently limited, of course, to "Motorola X2 TDMA". It's not yet known if the GRE PSR-800 will handle "real" Phase II TDMA.
 

DaveIN

Founders Curmudgen
Database Admin
Joined
Jan 5, 2003
Messages
6,515
Location
West Michigan
The GRE 800 series scanners are currently the only scanner that will monitor the TDMA P25 systems
I realize this is unrelated to Uniden, but just to be sure, the GRE PSR-800 will currently decode a variation of Phase II called X2-TDMA only, not true P25 Phase II, correct? You appear to be in a X2-TDMA area.

Right now there is just the one PSR-800 model correct?

Edit: Never mind, I see Don has chimed in.
 
Last edited:

GTR8000

NY/NJ Database Guy
Database Admin
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
15,417
Location
BEE00
No currently available Uniden model is able to decode TDMA in any form (X2-TDMA or Phase II TDMA), nor can it be made to do so. It lacks the proper hardware, so the firmware is irrelevant. Paul stated as much very clearly.

http://forums.radioreference.com/1593347-post55.html

Currently the GRE PSR-800 can decode X2-TDMA, which is Motorola's proprietary flavor of TDMA that they adopted prior to the official Phase II TDMA standard being finalized. Current reports indicate that it does not decode Phase II TDMA, and it is not yet known whether it can be made capable of decoding Phase II TDMA via a firmware update.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the Radio Shack PRO-18 also decodes X2-TDMA.
 

DonS

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2003
Messages
4,102
Location
Franktown, CO
Current reports indicate that it [GRE PSR-800] does not decode Phase II TDMA, and it is not yet known whether it can be made capable of decoding Phase II TDMA via a firmware update.
I think that's what I said above.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the Radio Shack PRO-18 also decodes X2-TDMA.
It does not. (Now it's confirmed.)
 

JASII

Memory Capacity
Joined
Apr 29, 2006
Messages
2,997
MOTO TRBO, Narrowbanding And TDMA

By any chance, does anybody happen to know what percentage of the non public safety market MOTO TRBO has in the United States? And to further clarify this, I am referring to the average run of the mill hospital, college security,etc. type of operations. Does MOTO TRBO have the lions's share of those users as they go to comply with the narrow band mandate? For example, is it 70 % MOTO TRBO, 20 % Icom/Kenwood NXDN, and all others?
 

woodpecker

Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2005
Messages
729
Currently the GRE PSR-800 can decode X2-TDMA, which is Motorola's proprietary flavor of TDMA that they adopted prior to the official Phase II TDMA standard being finalized. Current reports indicate that it does not decode Phase II TDMA, and it is not yet known whether it can be made capable of decoding Phase II TDMA via a firmware update.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the Radio Shack PRO-18 also decodes X2-TDMA.

If X2-TDMA is proprietary why did GRE implement this before DMR which is an open standard?
 

JRayfield

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
797
Location
Springfield, MO
DMR is not proprietary. It is a standard. Yes, licensing may be required, but licensing is also required for anyone to use P25, too.

John Rayfield, Jr. CETma

As mentioned before, the current Uniden TrunkTracker IV capable scanners (P25 decoding) have hardware that will not allow for a firmware update for X2-TDMA or Phase II decoding. DMR is proprietary and would require licensing from a willing company. Don't count on DMR any time soon.
A new model will be needed for Phase II and X2-TDMA.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top