Two Way Radio Communications for Airside, Logistic Support and All Area Security

Radio communication specialist Icom UK has heralded in a new era of two-way radio communications, with the introduction of digital Private Mobile Radio (dPMR) Mode 3.

Icom UK’s launch of dPMR Mode 3 took place at the FCS Business Radio event on Thursday 14 November, at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon. Members of the two-way radio industry were given an overview of how dPMR Mode 3 works, the advantages of the new standard and the improved and increased functionality of products that operate on the dPMR standard.

The (dPMR standard) covers three modes:

• Mode 1 – peer to peer;

• Mode 2 – via centralised repeaters;

• Mode 3 – via managed repeaters (trunking).

The emphasis with dPMR is on providing a fully functional radio system that can seamlessly integrate with IP networks, and is capable of offering customisable application software tailored to any business communication needs.

dPMR can provide a useful ‘stepping stone’ allowing users to migrate from an analogue radio system to a digital solution. The advantage being that the user does not have to throw away his existing system and suffer the pain of starting completely from scratch.

Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager of Icom UK Ltd said, ‘For users of two-way radio, planning a migration path to new technology platforms can be bewildering. Interoperability, as well as the integration of analogue and digital, are required, and the choice of radio standard is a difficult one’.

‘Many organisations collaborate at different times and it is vital that whatever platform is chosen, it can be integrated with existing infrastructure and offer interoperability. Each radio system needs to be able to talk to the other – dPMR offers this advantage.’

The global trend for digital migration is based on the simple fundamental requirement for more channels. The radio spectrum is a limited resource and demand for channels exceeds supply, resulting in interference and can be a barrier to growth for business.

‘In light of the current policy of spectrum pricing, it became clear that a new advance was needed to make the most efficient and economical use of this scarce resource,’ Lockyer says.

Since the beginning of PMR radio, there has been a constant juggling act between available spectrum and channel size. As filter and modulation technology has advanced the channel size has progressively reduced from 100kHz to 50, then 25, then to the current size of 12.5kHz users have known for the past 20 or so years.

Up to now 6.25kHz was not possible with analogue technology, but research by Icom, has proven that 6.25kHz could be achieved using a new digital protocol and have since developed this technology to make effective use of the spectrum available.

The dPMR system allows users to scale migration to a digital system at their own pace and need, whilst still running their existing system. If the radio users increase in the future, or users require expanded communication coverage, the dPMR conventional system can be upgraded to a multi-site system, or grow into a Mode 3 trunking system while using the same subscribers, hosting up to 1,024 site networks and in turn up to 500,000 subscribers. This provides investment protection for the communication system.

dPMR Mode 3 solutions offer wide area multisite, multi-channel trunked repeaters capable of national and international coverage if required. dPMR radio equipment can be easily integrated into existing IT networks providing both text messaging and voice calls using the voice and data functionality of dPMR. Solutions already exist for PC based remote control of dPMR base stations to give completely configurable dispatcher functionality.

dPMR Mode 3 also offers users the possibility to operate efficiently in ‘direct mode’ separately from the network or beyond the coverage area of the network for special purposes such as on-scene activities.

For more information about the opportunities that DPMR Mode 3 can provide your business, visit our new dPMR microsite (http://www.dpmruk.co.uk). To arrange a demonstration, contact our systems department at systems@icomuk.co.uk.

Icom UK Systems Department: systems@icomuk.co.uk