More of your questions answered

Here is a sample of questions I got via my contact form in the last few weeks. While I'm not able to respond to questions individually, I've instead answered those questions here so that (hopefully) everyone can benefit.

If you have a technical question, the best place to ask is here in the comments or on the FAQ page. 

We want to build a Multisite Capacity Plus system, what routers can be used other than the Motorola recommended ones?

In theory any router will work but please don't use consumer grade hardware. If you're on a strict budget, I've use a Mikrotik RB2011iL-RM on my demo/test system and have had no trouble. I have written several posts on this topic, so have a look here.

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Using a GPIO pin/output, is it possible to sense when a repeater is transmitting in digital mode? It can be done in analogue mode.

No, external PTT and data PTT are both inputs. You are able to get an output because you are using antenna relay which is a feature used with old dispatch consoles. As the name suggests, this allowed the repeater to be configured like a (semi-duplex) radio and connected to a single antenna via a RF relay. The GPIO would be connected to the coil of the relay (via some electronics). Antenna relay does not work in digital mode since there is no such thing as a base station connected to a console in DMR. 

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What is the operating frequency and power of an iBeacon and how are they configured to get location info to TRBONET enterprise?

iBeacon is a protocol developed by Apple but a number of vendors have since made iBeacon-compatible hardware transmitters – typically called beacons. These beacons are class of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices that broadcast their identifier to nearby portable electronic devices like mobile phones and (in this case) MOTOTRBO radios that support Bluetooth 4.x.

Bluetooth Low Energy technology operates in the the 2,400 to 2,4835 GHz ISM band and the maximum transmit power is 10mW - this gives a maximum range of about 100m per beacon.

MOTOTRBO radios supports up to 20 UUIDs. A UUID is the identifier of all the beacons the radio is interested in. Each beacon also has major and minor ID, which is what is used for location tracking. The beacon sends out the UUID as well as the major and minor ID. The radio receives major and minor ID from beacons that match the UUID programmed in the CPS/RM. It then sends major and minor ID to TRBONET (or whichever mapping application you are using) along with some other data, which is then used to position the radio on the map. The major and minor ID are both two bytes – this means that up to 4.294.967.296 beacons can be supported per UUID.

The UUID is something you would configure in the beacons themselves. All the beacons used in a radio system should (must) use the same UUID. There is no need to add each beacon to the radio, only the UUID needs to be added in the CPS/RM.

I would suggest consulting the TRBONET (Enterprise) documentation on how to add Bluetooth beacons.

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Would you be able to help me with OTAP? I have followed your tutorials on your website and YouTube...

I'm generally not able to help customers. If you work for a Motorola Channel Partner, there ought to be someone like me in your region who can help you. If you work for a Motorola Channel Partner and are in one of these countries, speak to your distributor or account manager if you don't have my contact details already.

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Dose the MTR3000 require IPSC license to operate on IPSC? I have one repeater and its says on the CPS IPSC; available for purchase.

If you bought this repeater from an authorised EMEA Channel Partner then IPSC is free. My suggestion would be to contact the company who sold you this equipment (i.e. the company who issued you the invoice).

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Is there a way of programming a terminal DM4401 to be able to shift from a analog channel by default and entering a digital channel just to send GPS data?

No, data revert is not supported in analogue mode.

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I need program public address function on DM4600e. And if possible made output to accessories connector?

I must confess that I've never used/implemented this feature in MOTOTRBO radios. In (much) older radios, the PA function allowed the user to route microphone audio to an external public address system. By pressing a button, they could also switch received audio to the PA system.

On the DM4000e series radios, pin 13 and 15 would be connected into an external audio amplifier. or PA system. Pressing the control button configured for Toggle Internal PA and Toggle External PA would route microphone and/or received audio to the PA system.

The amplifier itself could be turned on an off whenever the above functions were triggered. Usually the PA system had an enable input that could be driven by connecting it to the PA Relay GPIO on the accessory connector.

My knowledge of this topic is a little sketchy. I know that a lot of PA systems were sold in North America so maybe someone can fill in the (many) blanks for me.

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I need to connect one or more SLR8000 repeater on some area where i don't have [cellular] coverage at all and i don't have access to my microwave backbone. Is it possible to do through satellite link. If yes what type do you prefer? What latency is allowed?

IP Site Connect will work okay with a latency of up to 300ms. The trouble with satellite is not only the latency but also the unpredictability of the latency since a IP packet could be sent or received through any of the operator's ground stations.

Having said that, SpaceX Starlink is promising a 40ms median latency. I've never tried that but if this is true, it might be a viable option.

 

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