MOTOTRBO use?

[kadetklapp]

Are these radios able to be used conventionally, say as a Maxtrac would, or is the user forced be on a digital system? I ask because I have an opporitunity to get an XPR 4550 and it's a very impressive looking unit, and at some point when it becomes more popular I'd be interested in the digital capability, but I would also want to be able to use it on the UHF ham bands as well as local business and public safety bands (Not sure if I can use this for PS as I'm not sure on it's type acceptance). I think I'd like to set this up as a base unit.

 

[N_Jay]

Are these radios able to be used conventionally, say as a Maxtrac would, or is the user forced be on a digital system? I ask because I have an opporitunity to get an XPR 4550 and it's a very impressive looking unit, and at some point when it becomes more popular I'd be interested in the digital capability, but I would also want to be able to use it on the UHF ham bands as well as local business and public safety bands (Not sure if I can use this for PS as I'm not sure on it's type acceptance). I think I'd like to set this up as a base unit.

MotoTrbo is type accepted for Part 90, (business, public safety, etc.)
There Is no separate type acceptance for "public safety". (This seems to be an ongoing point of confusion)
It is NOT P25.
I will not comment on its legality in digital mode on the amateur bands.
The radios will do analog also.
Obviously they would be legal on any part 90 frequency and the amateur bands in analog mode.

 

[kadetklapp]

Thanks for clearing that up.

So it's able to be used in a conventional system setting?

 

[N_Jay]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=XPR+4550&aq=f&oq=

 

[Astro25]

I suppose I will respond with a direct answer to the OP's question (call me old-fashioned)

Yes. MotoTRBO units can be used in a conventional (analog) repeat or simplex mode operation.

 

[N_Jay]

I suppose I will respond with a direct answer to the OP's question (call me old-fashioned)

Yes. MotoTRBO units can be used in a conventional (analog) repeat or simplex mode operation.

Google for a man he gets one answer.
Teach a man to google and he gets all his answers. :wink:

(But, I do think I answered the question in my first post.)

 

[DiGiTaLD]

MotoTRBO

As of now, MotoTRBO is strictly conventional, there is no trunking available for it yet. It can be repeated conventional, in analog mode through an analog repeater or in digital mode through a MotoTRBO digital repeater, or it can be used in simplex (direct) radio-to-radio mode in both analog and digital voice modes.

One of the things that confused me at first with MotoTRBO in repeated digital mode is that all of the radios have to communicate with the MotoTRBO repeater to make sure everybody's radio is synchronized as far as TDMA timeslots go. At first I thought it was affiliating in some way. I now know better having done some reading on it. Timing is everything for two-slot TDMA, and with proper timing through the MotoTRBO repeater in digital mode, you can run two virtual voice (or one voice and one data channel) channels over one physical RF repeater pair. This is not possible in simplex digital mode as there is no timing reference provided by the repeater to organize the two-slot TDMA. Keep in mind, though, this is all still considered conventional radio, meaning that there is no trunking involved, regardless if the mode is analog or MotoTRBO (2-slot TDMA) digital.

MotoTRBO is legal on the amateur bands as it is an open-specification protocol. In fact, there are some amateur MotoTRBO repeaters already on the air in the US. Just do a Google search.

MotoTRBO is not P25 compliant in any way. It is a totally different animal from C4FM or CQPSK P25 digital voice. As stated above, it is a 2-slot TDMA (time-division multiple access) protocol. Also as stated above, effective use of both slots is only available through a MotoTRBO repeater where you have a timing reference for all radios on the frequency pair to synchronize to. There is talk that future P25 Phase II may be 2-slot TDMA, but that is still an open discussion as far as I know. Again there is not yet any trunking available for MotoTRBO, its still conventional whether used in analog or digital modes.

Long story short, a MotoTRBO radio would be a good snatch if you can get one cheap. Keep in mind you still need the Motorola CPS to program it.

 

[kadetklapp]

Thanks for the replies, all. And DiGiTaL, as always, your ability to research and decipher the specifics for the layman radio novice is outstanding. Thank you.

I will admit it, I bow to Mother /\/\ as I really like the gear. It's a witch to program, I'm aware, and I'd likely have rely on an outside source for programming. I'm considering the XPR 4550 in a base application for later this winter.