Actions

MOTOTRBO

From The RadioReference Wiki

General Information

MOTOTRBO is a Motorola digital radio product marketed primarily to business/industrial users. The format is based on, and compatible with the European 2-slot DMR standard and uses Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) to effectively accommodate two simultaneous users. A single 12.5 kHz channel is able to carry two simultaneous and independent conversations, or simultaneous and independent voice and data paths each with 6.25 kHz equivalency, however the bandwidth of DMR exceedes the maximum required for UHF 6.25 kHz channel centers. Operation of different talkgroups and talkpaths similar to trunking is possible, as is wide-area operation through IP connectivity. MOTOTRBO transceivers and repeater stations may be retrocompatible with analog FM using CTCSS or CDCSS.

Emission designators for MOTOTRBO: 7K60FXE (voice), 7K60FXD (data).

MOTOTRBO is based on the following ETSI standards:

Additional information on DMR is available through the Digital Mobile Radio Association.

Monitoring TRBO

You can use the following to monitor a MOTOTRBO transmission.

  • NOTE: GRE / RS / Whistler scanners will not trunk track this mode; they will decode the mode, show TG and slot information
GRE Scanners
Radio Shack Scanners
  1. Using the Whistler Official Upgrade (WOU)
Uniden Scanners
  • BCD436HP with version 1.11.15 firmware or better.
  • BCD536HP with version 1.11.15 firmware or better.
    • The instructions for the upgrade can be found here (Note: covers both the 436 and 536)
  • BCD325P2 with version 1.07.06 firmware or better
  • BCD996P2 with version 1.07.06 firmware or better
    • The instructions for the upgrade can be found here (note: for both the 325P2 and 996P2)
  • SDS100 (paid upgrade required)
  • SDS200 (paid upgrade required)
Whistler Scanners
  • Updates are available via the PC app for the following scanners; Note that Whistler scanners cannot trunktrack MOTOTRBO systems. Whistler never bought the licenses, which is why the upgrades are free. The best these scanners can do is to decode the audio. This may be sufficient on systems that aren't too busy, but for busier systems, this is a serious limitation.
Widebanded Receivers (no trunking)
Other Receivers

Software Solutions

  • Using DSD or DSDPlus, along with a discrimintor tapped scanner. DMRDecode may be used to view system information
  • Using DSD or DSDPlus with many SDRs. DMRDecode may be used to view system information
  • Monitoring using DMRDecode, along with other utilities, is discussed here
  • Using an RTL-SDR with SDRTrunk


Some abbreviations you might see while decoding with utilities like DMRDecode
  • CACH is Common Announcement Channel
  • TACT is TDMA Access Channel Type
  • LC is Link Control
  • EMB is Embedded signalling field
  • CSBK is Control Signalling Block

MOTOTRBO Features

  • IP Site Connect
    • Connects multiple conventional TRBO repeaters in a wider-area network
  • Privacy
    • Basic: 255 pre-selected 16 bit keys
    • Enhanced: 40-bit (1,099,511,627,776 combinations)
  • Emergency call, voice to follow
  • Emergency search tone
  • Extended text messaging
  • Telemetry
  • Over-the-air programming
  • Over-the-air battery management
  • Enhanced roaming
  • User-selectable audio profiles
  • Voice announcement
  • Text to speech
  • IMPRES energy
  • IMPRES audio
  • Acoustic feedback
  • Supressor
  • Trill enhancement
  • Bluetooth audio and data
  • Man down
  • Lone worker

MOTOTRBO Trunking

The standard includes provisions for trunking:

Motorola has developed three trunking systems for MOTOTRBO: Connect Plus, Capacity Plus, and Capacity Max.

  • MOTOTRBO Connect Plus
    • Multi-site trunking network
    • Maximum of 770 traffic slots
    • Up to 250 sites and up to 15 repeaters per site
    • Number of repeaters per site varies depending on number of traffic slots and sites (for example, 70 sites and 6 repeaters each, 250 sites and two repeaters each, etc)
    • Each site has a fixed control channel
    • XRT 9000 Gateway
    • XRC 9000 Controller
  • MOTOTRBO Capacity Plus
    • Single Site Capacity Plus allows voice and data communication at a single site.
    • Linked Capacity Plus (multi-site) allows voice and data communication at up to 15 sites.
    • Up to 12 digital voice talk paths (six repeaters) with three sites or less.
    • Up to 6 digital voice talk paths (three repeaters) with 15 sites.
    • Allows up to 24 additional dedicated data paths
    • No fixed control channel, instead has a "Rest Channel" (the next available slot, sounds like a control channel) which can hop around. In a standard installation, the rest channel starts at Channel 1 and works up to the highest channel, then returns to Channel 1 and begins the rotation again.
  • MOTOTRBO Capacity Max
    • Capacity Max allows voice and data communication up to 15 sites.
    • A system can support up to 250 sites and up to 15 repeaters per site, with up to 3,000 users per site and up to 100 voice talk paths.
    • Capacity Max supports the DMR Tier III mode of operation, and can also make use of Motorola proprietary extensions to DMR trunking.
    • Control channel repeater redundancy
      • You can provision a second control channel per site for increased system availability.
    • Critical site assignment
    • Site restriction
    • Subscriber access control
    • All start
    • Call queue priority (via SAC)
    • Discreet listening
    • Enhanced channel access
    • Remote repeater programming
    • Wireline application interface
    • Enhanced channel access
    • Subscriber authentication
    • Site and channel extensibility
    • Site trunking
    • Enhanced registration
    • Advanced late enrty
    • Call alert
    • High efficiency GPS
    • Indoor location tracking
    • Data revert


MotoTRBO Privacy/encryption and limitations

Many end-users move to "digital radio" thinking they can't be eavesdropped. Motorola Trunking (Capacity Max) offers "Enhanced Privacy" with some limitations. The Motorola Capacity Max System Planner makes these clear.

- Control messages cannot be encrypted (including radio and talkgroup IDs, Radio Disable, Remote Monitor, Radio Check, Call Alert, Status Message and some other digital signalling). Only the voice and any non-high-efficiency data payload can be encrypted.

- Voice quality is reduced, and Packet Data throughput is reduced by approximately 10% when encrypted. This is because crypto paramaters replace some of the payload, as they need to be transmitted.

- High Efficiency Data does not support privacy/encryption.

- Encryption of DMR radio transmissions does not provide resistance against “replay attack” (when an unauthorised person intercepts the data and retransmits it) or “traffic analysis” (disclosure of information that can be inferred from observing the traffic patterns). With a level of skill, decryption is possible from these methods, using received transmissions off the air.

- MotoTRBO radios do not use any hardware-based cryptographic engine or a hardware-protected memory for storage of keys.

MOTOTRBO Portable/Mobile Radios and Repeaters

(Models sold in the United States.)

Portables

  • XPR 6100 Non-Display
  • XPR 6300 Non-Display, UHF and VHF
  • XPR 6500 Display Radio, Full keypad, UHF and VHF
  • XPR 6350 Non-Display, GPS, UHF and VHF
  • XPR 6380 Non-Display, GPS, 800/900
  • XPR 6550 Display Radio, Full keypad, UHF and VHF
  • XPR 6580 Display Radio,Full keypad, 800/900
  • SL 300 Non-Display Radio, two channel, UHF aad VHF
  • SL 300 Non-Display Radio, 99 channel, theater marquee display, UHF and VHF
  • SL 7550: Color display, Full keypad, UHF
  • SL 7580: Color display, Full keypad, 800
  • SL 7590: Color display, Full keypad, 900
  • SL 7550e: Color display, Full keypad, Wi-Fi, UHF
  • SL 7580e: Color display, Full keypad, Wi-Fi, 800
  • SL 7590e: Color display, Full keypad, Wi-Fi, 900
  • XPR 7550: Color display, Full keypad, UHF and VHF
  • XPR 7350: No display or keypad, UHF and VHF
  • XPR 7580: Color display, Full keypad, 800/900
  • XPR 7380: No display or keypad, 800/900
  • XPR 7550e: Color display, Full keypad, Wi-Fi,VHF and UHF
  • XPR 7580e: Color display, Full keypad, Wi-Fi, 800/900
  • XPR 7350e: No display, No keypad, Wi-Fi, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 7380e: No display, No keypad, Wi-Fi, 800/900
  • XPR 3300 Non-Display Radio
  • XPR 3500 Monochrome display, limited keypad
  • XPR 3300e: No display or keypad, Wi-Fi
  • XPR 3500e: Monochrome display, limited keypad, Wi-Fi

Mobiles

  • XPR 4300: Numeric Display Radio, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 4500: Alpha-numeric Display, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 4350: Numeric Display Radio, GPS, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 4380: Numeric Display Radio,GPS, 800/900
  • XPR 4550: Alpha-numeric Display, GPS, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 4580: Alpha-numeric Display, GPS, 800/900
  • XPR 5350: Numeric Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 5380: Numeric Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, 800/900
  • XPR 5550: Full-Color, 4-Line Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 5580: Full-Color, 4-Line Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, 800/900
  • XPR 5350e: Numeric Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 5380e: Numeric Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 800/900
  • XPR 5550e: Full-Color, 4-Line Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VHF and UHF
  • XPR 5580e: Full-Color, 4-Line Display Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 800/900
  • XPR 2500: Alpha-numeric, VHF and UHF

Repeaters

  • XPR 8300
  • XPR 8380
  • XPR 8400
  • MTR 3000
  • SLR 5700
  • SLR 8000

Amateur Radio Equipment

MOTOTRBO Systems in Use

Amateur Radio Use of MOTOTRBO

Related Links


RadioReference Articles


RadioReference Forums


RadioReference Threads

MOTOTRBO Equipment for Sale

Retrieved from "https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php?title=MOTOTRBO&oldid=324999"