Actions

Difference between revisions of "Trunked Radio Systems"

From The RadioReference Wiki

 
(71 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
== Overview ==
+
A '''trunked radio system''' is a specialized repeater system with one or more towers, and multiple frequencies, which allows channelized, semi-private conversations between many more groups of users than it actually has allocated RF channels; this is an example of statistical multiplexing.  There are many different implementations of trunked business and public-safety radio, using different trunking protocols (like P25 CAI, LTR and Smartzone) and different audio modulations (like FM, NFM, and P25), but they all function in similar ways, and current generation scanners can receive most of them.
  
Please read this [[Trunking Basics]] overview first.
 
  
== Motorola Trunked Radio Systems ==
+
== Overview ==
 
 
=== Types ===
 
 
 
* [[Type I]]
 
* [[Type II]]
 
* [[Type IIi]]
 
* [[Hybrid]]
 
* [[Type IIi Hybrid]]
 
 
 
=== Flavors ===
 
 
 
* [[Type I Privacy Plus]]
 
* [[Type II Smartnet]]
 
* [[Type II SmartZone]]
 
* [[Type II SmartZone OmniLink]]
 
* [[ASTRO]]
 
* [[ASTRO-25]]
 
 
 
=== Miscellaneous Information on Motorola Trunked Radio Systems ===
 
 
 
* [[Motorola Trunked Infrastructure Versions]]
 
* [[Motorola Talkgroups]] (Conversions, Formats, etc)
 
 
 
<br>
 
 
 
== M/A-COM EDACS Trunked Radio Systems ==
 
 
 
=== Overview ===
 
 
 
[[EDACS]] was created by General Electric and then further engineered by Ericsson. The [[EDACS]] technology has changed numerous owners and now is currently owned by M/A Com (a Tyco Subsidiary)
 
 
 
[[EDACS]] is a lot similar to Motorola trunking. It provides for the same features yet has different names for them. Simulcast networks work the same yet EDACS networks, which are similar to AMSS networks, are all independent of each other but still interconnected. A radio is programmed with each system independently and selects each system based on control channel quality. Rather than have a site number a system is basically assigned a simple number to differentiate it.
 
 
 
Motorola uses a specific bandplan or a complicated frequency defined system to assign frequencies. [[EDACS]] uses what are called Logical Channel Numbers [[LCN]]. Rather than assign a frequency with a specific identifier, each frequency at a site is assigned a number between 1 through 26. When a channel announcement occurs it contains only the [[LCN]]. With this in mind each radio must be programmed with which frequency corresponds to which [[LCN]].
 
 
 
Digital communications is also available for EDACS systems and exists in two different formats, [[AEGIS]] and [[ProVoice]]. [[AEGIS]] was the first format introduced and ProVoice was the last and current format. Neither one is APCO-25 compliant unlike Motorola’s [[ASTRO]], which is. Also, neither [[AEGIS]] nor [[ProVoice]] can communicate with each other.
 
  
There are three different types of [[EDACS]] Control channels. The most common is the Wideband EDACS control channel, which operates at 9600 baud. There is also a narrowband EDACS control channel which operates at 4800 baud and primarly is used for wide-area EDACS systems in the 900 MHz band. Finally, there is the wideband EDACS "encrypted" control channel which is basically a variation on the standard 9600 baud wideband control channel. MA/COM's trademark name for this feature is called [[ESK]] (EDACS System Key).
+
Please read the [[Trunking Basics]] overview first. [[Media:Trunking description.pdf|Here]] is UPMan's excellent description on trunking. If you still have questions, feel free to post on the [https://forums.radioreference.com/forums/general-scanning-discussion.28/ General Scanning Discussion] forum at Radioreference.
  
=== Flavors ===
+
== Trunking FAQs ==
 +
* [http://www.bensware.com/scandfw/tttipsfaqs.htm Ben Saladino's Trunktracking Tips]
 +
** This site is a bit dated, but still contains some useful basic information
 +
* [[Uniden Multi-Site Trunking]]
 +
* Articles written by Dan Veeneman, MT Scanning Report columnist
 +
** [http://www.signalharbor.com/ttt/00jan/index.html Trunking Theory 101]
 +
** [http://www.signalharbor.com/sr/05apr/index.html Understanding Trunking]
 +
* [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Rebanding Rebanding Wiki Article]
 +
* [http://gtrac.ztn.net/ GTRAC EDACS info]
 +
* [http://www.thebriarpatch.org/trunking/ Motorola Trunking theory/concepts]
 +
* [http://www.police-scanner.info/scanning/trunked-radio-systems.htm Police Scanner info Trunked Radio Systems page]
 +
* The [http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/trunkcom Trunkcom] mailing list at QTH.net is another great resource for questions and answers
 +
* [http://www.winradio.com/home/trunking_theory.htm WinRadio's Trunking Theory page]
 +
<br/>
 +
* For more technical topics regarding trunktracking, please see articles listed in the [[:Category:Trunktracking Topics]].
 +
* For additional FAQs, please see articles listed in the [[:Category:Trunktracking FAQ]]
  
* [[EDACS Standard]]
+
== Trunked Radio System Types ==
* [[EDACS Standard with ESK]]
+
All forum links go to RadioReference
* [[EDACS Narrowband]]
+
* M/A-COM, Inc.
* [[EDACS Narrowband Networked]]
+
** [[EDACS Provoice]]
* [[EDACS Networked]]
+
** [[EDACS]]
* [[EDACS Networked with ESK]]
+
** [[OpenSky]]
* [[SCAT]]
+
* EF Johnson
 +
** [[LTR]]
 +
* [[Motorola]]
 +
** [[iDEN]]
 +
** Motorola Harmony (see [[iDEN]])
 +
** [[Motorola Type I|Type I]]
 +
** [[Motorola Type II|Type II]]
 +
*** [[Motorola Type IIi Hybrid|Type IIi Hybrid]]
 +
*** [[Motorola Type II Smartnet|Type II Smartnet]]
 +
*** [[Motorola Type II SmartZone|Type II SmartZone]]
 +
*** [[Motorola Type II SmartZone OmniLink|Type II SmartZone OmniLink]]
 +
*** [[Motorola Type II VOC|Type II VOC]]
 +
* [[SmarTrunk]]
 +
* [[TETRA]]
 +
* [[TETRAPOL]]
  
=== Links and Information ===
 
  
* [[ProVoice]] - MA/COM's [[IMBE]] Digital Voice Solution
+
Sadly some systems are encrypted - and no scanner will ever copy them. A brief listing of these agencies can be found in the [[Encrypted Agencies]] article.
* [[AEGIS]] - MA/COM's older Digital Voice Solution
 
* [[ESK]] - EDACS System Key
 
* [[EDACS Talkgroup Conversions]]
 
* [[EDACS Fleetmap]] Information
 
  
* [http://www.macom-wireless.com/ MA/COM Wireless Corp Homepage] - The homepage for the MA/Com Wireless Corp, which designs, develops, and implements EDACS systems and technologies.
+
The current 800MHz Public Safety band plan change is discussed under [[Rebanding]]. You may also find references to what scanners may be supported by following links from the [[Main Page]].
* [http://www.racom.net/Products.htm Racom Inc] - Distributors of Ericsson EDACS equipment. See this link to their products and services page which has detailed information on Ericsson EDACS mobile and portable radios.
 
* [http://hallelectronics.com/getech/ Hall Electronics GETECH Page] - Lots of detailed information on progamming Com-Net Ericsson Radio equipment here. Cable pin-outs, connections, software versions etc can be found at this page for most of MA/COM's radio equipment.
 
  
== LTR Trunked Radio Systems ==
+
== Trunked Radio Terms ==
  
=== Overview ===
+
* [[Failsoft]]
 +
* [[Control Channel Only]]
 +
* [[Site trunking]]
 +
* [[Simulcast]]
 +
<br/>
 +
*For additional terms, please see articles listed in the [[:Category:Trunktracking Glossary]]
 +
 +
== Additional Trunking Topics==
 +
* [[Common Trunking Programming Questions]]
 +
* [[Determining Base/Step/Offset for VHF/UHF Motorola Systems]]
 +
* [[Determining Motorola Type I Fleetmaps]]
 +
* [[Locating additional LTR frequencies]]
 +
* [[Mapping an LTR System]]
 +
* [[Trunked Radio Decoders]]
  
LTR stands for "Logical Trunked Radio."  LTR systems do not have a dedicated control channel like Motorola and EDACS systems. Each repeater has its own controller and all of these controllers are coordinated together. Even though each controller monitors its own channel, one of the channel controllers is assigned to be a master and all the other controllers report to it. Typically on LTR systems, each of these controllers periodically sends out a data burst (usually approximately every 10 seconds on LTR Standard systems) so that the subscriber units know that the system is there.  The idle data burst can be turned off if desired by the system operator.  Some systems will broadcast idle data bursts only on channels used as home channels and not on those used for "overflow" conversations.  To a scanner user the idle data burst will sound like a short blip of static like someone keyed up and unkeyed a radio within about 1/2 second.  This data burst is not sent at the same time by all the channels but happen randomly throughout all the system channels.
 
  
=== Flavors ===
 
  
* [[LTR Standard]]
+
[[Category:RR Glossary]]
* [[LTR Standard and Passport]]
+
[[Category:Database Glossary]]
* [[LTR Passport]]
+
[[Category:Military Glossary]]
* [[LTR MultiNet]]
+
[[Category:Professional Radios Glossary]]
 +
[[Category:Receivers Glossary]]
 +
[[Category:Scanners Glossary]]
 +
[[Category:Signal Analysis and Decoding Glossary]]
 +
[[Category:Software Glossary]]
 +
[[Category:Trunktracking Glossary]]
 +
[[Category:Database FAQ]]
 +
[[Category:Military FAQ]]
 +
[[Category:Scanners FAQ]]
 +
[[Category:Software FAQ]]
 +
[[Category:Trunktracking FAQ]]

Latest revision as of 16:23, 7 February 2020

A trunked radio system is a specialized repeater system with one or more towers, and multiple frequencies, which allows channelized, semi-private conversations between many more groups of users than it actually has allocated RF channels; this is an example of statistical multiplexing. There are many different implementations of trunked business and public-safety radio, using different trunking protocols (like P25 CAI, LTR and Smartzone) and different audio modulations (like FM, NFM, and P25), but they all function in similar ways, and current generation scanners can receive most of them.


Overview

Please read the Trunking Basics overview first. Here is UPMan's excellent description on trunking. If you still have questions, feel free to post on the General Scanning Discussion forum at Radioreference.

Trunking FAQs


Trunked Radio System Types

All forum links go to RadioReference


Sadly some systems are encrypted - and no scanner will ever copy them. A brief listing of these agencies can be found in the Encrypted Agencies article.

The current 800MHz Public Safety band plan change is discussed under Rebanding. You may also find references to what scanners may be supported by following links from the Main Page.

Trunked Radio Terms


Additional Trunking Topics