Trunking 101

Radio Technology Presentation

July 13, 2007

Rey Freeman, GeoComm

1
 Presentation Agenda

 Trunking Radio Systems “101”

• Trunked radio vs. conventional radio systems
 Simulcast transmitting technology
 Voting receiver system technology
 Digital vs. analog modulation technology

2
“Trunking 101”

Central
Controller

3
 What is “Trunking” ?

 It is NOT a term that “belongs” to Motorola,

Ma/Com, or any other manufacturer
 It is NOT a term exclusively for radio systems
 It IS a generic term used to describe:
“The sharing of a limited number of
communications paths (or Trunks)
among Many Users”

4
 Conventional vs. Trunked

 Conventional Radio (repeater) system:

• Uses a dedicated radio frequency for each
radio channel in a system (unless sharing a
channel)
• A Channel = a Frequency (I.e., 154.235 Mhz
is County Fire)
• Each frequency is assigned to a group of users

5
 FD TX
RX

Fire Channel
TX EMS 154.235 Mhz
RX

EMS Channel
155.340

PD TX
RX

Law Repeater Channel

155.625 Mhz 6
 FD TX
TX
RX RX
EMS
Fire Channel
EMS Channel
154.235 Mhz
155.340

??

PD2 PD1 TX
RX

Law Repeater Channel

155.625 Mhz 7
 Your Bank Tellers – as “Conventional”

Queue
by
Account PD Admin EMS PW Fire

PD
EMS FD

PD FD

8
 Conventional vs. Trunked
 Conventional Radio (base or repeater) system:
• A Channel = a Frequency
• If a channel is in use, radio user must wait in
“queue” before being able to transmit on the
system
• …and a new frequency must be obtained each time
another “channel” is needed in the radio system
• The system is limited by the number of frequencies
in the system…

9
Trunked Radio Systems

Central
Controller

10
 Conventional vs. Trunked

 Trunked Radio (repeater) system:

• Uses a group of similar radio frequencies to
create a “pool” for radio system users to access
• Systems can be built using VHF, UHF or 800
Mhz
• A Channel is NOT a Frequency…(generally)
• A Channel (on your radio) is now a computer-
generated code
• …and are now referred to as “Talk Groups”
11
 Conventional vs. Trunked

 Trunked Radio (repeater) system:

• The entire system is managed by a computer,
often referred to as the “Central Controller”
• All radios in the system also are computer-
controlled, and communicate to the central
controller via one frequency known as the
“Control Channel”

12
 Basic Trunking Diagram

PD

EMS
FD

TX TX TX TX TX
RX RX RX RX RX
CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 28

Control
Channel
Central
Controller

1 to 28 Channels 13
 Your Bank Tellers – as “Trunked”

Queue
by
First
Available
Teller Director CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 5

PD EMS FD

PD
FD

IN
14
 Conventional vs. Trunked
 Trunked Radio Benefits:
• Greatly improved usage of scarce radio
frequencies
• Greater overall radio system flexibility,
including:
Channel (Talk Group) capabilities
Various user features, including Emergency
Alarm, PTT ID, Channel Regrouping, Call Alert,
and Radio Inhibit
• Brings radio users together on a common radio
system
• Consistency in radio coverage
15
So How Does It Work?

16
 Control Channel continuously
PD
transmits system data to all radios

FD
EMS

TX TX TX TX TX
RX RX RX RX RX
CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 28

Control
Channel
Central
Controller
17
 Radio user presses TX button, and radio
information is sent via control channel to
Central Controller FD

TX TX TX TX TX
RX RX RX RX RX
CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 28

Control
Channel
Central
Controller
18
Central Controller processes inbound request, and sends
repeater channel command (CH 3) back to all radios FD
selected on same Talk Group

FD TX TX TX TX TX
RX RX RX RX RX
CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 28

Control
Channel
Central
Controller
19
Originating radio user’s radio automatically switches to
correct voice channel and begins transmitting; All radios FD
selected on same Talk Group do the same and hear the
voice transmission

FD TX TX TX TX TX
RX RX RX RX RX
CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 28

Control
Channel
Central
Controller
20
When transmission is completed, all
FD
units revert back to Control Channel

FD TX TX TX TX TX
RX RX RX RX RX
CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 28

Control
Channel
Central
Controller
21
 Talkgroup Alias
Talkgroup

Talkgroup
Dispatch?
Trunked?

Channel
Failsoft

Priority
(ABBR)
Name
Radio System
Fleetmapping: 1 Itasca Co Law 1 IT Law 1 Y Y 1 2

Radio “channels” 2
3
Itasca Co Law 2
Itasca Co Law 3
IT Law 2
IT Law 3
Y
Y
Y
Y
2
1
2
3

are now called 4

5
Itasca Co Law Tac
Itasca Co SO Admin
IT Law Tac
IT SO Adm
Y
Y
Y?
N
2
1
3
3

“Talk Groups” 6
7
Itasca Co Srch & Res
Itasca Co Probation
IT S-R
IT Prob
Y
Y
N
N
2
1
3
3
8 Itasca Co SO Jail IT SO Jail N ? n/a n/a
9 Grand Rapids PD GR PD Ops Y Y 2 2

(Law Enforcement 10
11
Drug Task Force
Emer. Response Team
IT DTF
IT ERT
Y
Y
N
N

shown here) 12 Law Scene of Action SOA P1 N N n/a n/a

13 Grand Rapids PD Admin GR PD Adm Y N 1 4
14 Bigfork Police Admin BF PD Adm Y N 2 4
15 Bovey Police Admin BV PD Adm Y N 1 4
16 Coleraine Police Admin CL PD Adm Y N 2 4
17 Deer River Police Admin DR PD Adm Y N 1 4
18 Keewatin Police Admin KW PD Adm Y N 2 4
19 Nashwauk Police Admin NW PD Adm Y N 1 4

22
 Talkgroup Alias
Talkgroup

Talkgroup
Dispatch?
Trunked?

Channel
Failsoft

Priority
(ABBR)
Name
Itasca Co Fire 1 IT Fire 1 Y Y 3 2
Itasca Co Fire 2 IT Fire 2 Y Y 4 2
Itasca Co Fire 3 IT Fire 3 Y Y 3 3

Fire & EMS Itasca Co Fire Tac

Fire/EMS Scene of Action

IT Fire Tac

SOAFIRE1
Y

N
Y

N n/a
4

n/a
4

Talk Groups Balsam Fire Admin

Bigfork Fire Admin
Bovey Fire Admin
BS FD Adm
BF FD Adm
BV FD Adm
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
3
4
3
4
4
4
Calumet Fire Admin CA FD Adm Y N 3 4
Cohasset Fire Admin CH FD Adm Y N 4 4
Coleraine Fire Admin CL FD Adm Y N 3 4
Deer River Fire Admin DR FD Adm Y N 4 4
Goodland Fire Admin GL FD Adm Y N 3 4
Grand Rapids Fire Admin GR FD Adm Y N 4 4
Keewatin Fire Admin KW FD Adm Y N 3 4
Marble Fire Admin MB FD Adm Y N 4 4
Nashwauk Fire Admin NW FD Adm Y N 3 4
Squaw Lake Fire Admin SQ FD Adm Y N 4 4
Taconite Fire Admin TC FD Adm Y N 3 4
Warba/Feely/Sago Fire Admin WFS FD Adm Y N 4 4

Fire VHF Mu Aid FD Muaid Y Y 3 3

Itasca Co EMS 1 IT EMS (AMB) 1 Y Y 5 2
Itasca Co EMS 2 IT EMS (AMB) 2 Y Y 6 2
Itasca Co EMS Tac IT EMS (AMB) Tac Y Y 3

Fire/EMS Scene of Action SOAFIRE2 N N n/a n/a

Bigfork Ambulance Admin BF AMB Adm Y N 5

Buck Lake 1st Responders BL 1st Adm
Deer River Ambulance Admin DR AMB Adm Y N 6
Meds1 Ambulance Admin M1 AMB Adm Y N 5
Naswauk Ambulance Admin NW AMB Adm
Squaw Lake 1st Resp Admin SQ 1st Adm Y N 623
Questions…so far?

24
 Simulcast Transmitting Systems

 Simulcast Transmitting is defined as:

• A radio system where the same radio
frequencies are Simultaneously Broadcast from
all tower sites within the radio system
• This allows same radio frequencies to be used
throughout the entire coverage area

25
 Simulcast Transmitting Systems

 Simulcast Benefits:
• Seamless communications throughout the radio
system’s coverage area
• Improved radio frequency utilization
• Improved coverage in areas with difficult
terrain
• Improved in-building coverage (signals in
overlap zones are “additive”)

26
 Simulcast Transmitting Systems

 Simulcast “cons”:
• Not inexpensive technology
• Tower site spacing is critical (especially when
using NPSPAC frequencies)
• Signal “timing” is critical between all sites
• Tower site interconnection (microwave, T1,
etc.) is also critical and can be expensive

27
 Simulcast Transmitting Systems

Site 1
Site 2

f1 f2 f3 f4 f5
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5

f1 f2 f3 f4 f5
Site 3

28
 f1 f2 f3 f4 f5

f1 f2 f3 f4 f5

Kandiyohi Co MN – with Simulcast

29
30
“Simulcast” fills in where single site can’t

31
 Simulcast Issues

• Amplitude and frequency of transmitted

signals must be very accurately timed to
ensure good signal quality

32
 Simulcast Issues

• Slightly out of phase -

“Ghosting” on a T.V. set

• Out-of-phase signals can

cause destructive cancellation

• Fully in-phase signals

produce constructive
composite signal

33
 Discussion and questions
regarding Simulcast transmission
techniques and issues?

34
Multicast Transmitting Systems

 Multicast Transmitting is defined as:

• A radio system where different radio
frequencies are used at each tower site
within the radio system
 Multicast Benefits:
• Reduced system complexity
• Minimized site spacing issues
• Lower system overall system cost

35
 Multicast Transmitting Systems

 Multicast “cons”:
• Very high frequency usage (each site needs its
own set of frequencies)
• No Simulcast coverage benefits (overlap,
voting)
• Units “roam” between sites

36
 f1 f2 f3 f4 f5

f 6 f 7 f 8 f 9 f 10

Kandiyohi Co MN – with Multicast

37
 ARMER System

 In the ARMER system, each tower site is

connected back to Zone Controller via
microwave or other network link
 Typical ARMER tower site is Multicast
 Typical Local Ehancement system is
Simulcast

38
 Zone
Controller

39
 Radio System Modulation
Technologies

• Analog vs. Digital:

 Most existing Public Safety radio
systems are analog
 New 800 Mhz system are digital
 So what’s the difference?
 Is digital better, and why?

40
 Modulation Techniques

Information is sent by
changing the frequency,
amplitude or phase of the
Analog transmission radio signal

Information is converted to
true data bits, and applied
directly to the radio
transmitter using FDMA,
(or TDMA or CDMA)
Digital transmission
41
 Modulation Techniques

• Digital Benefits:
Clearer audio throughout system coverage
area
Improved radio frequency efficiency
Improved system coverage
Imbedded signaling options
Encryption with no range loss

42
 Voting Receiver Technology
 In a multi-tower site radio system, a mobile or
portable radio transmitting within the system’s range
has a good probability of being heard by more than
one tower site
 In a Voting receiver system, the same-frequency
receivers of the trunked repeater stations are
connected together back to a main site…
 …where – in a digital system – all received signals
from one “channel” are combined (added) together
and used to create a the final received product…
 …which may be stronger than the original signal!
43
 Voting Receiver Systems

Site 2

Site 3

Site 1
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f1 f2 f3 f4 f5

f1 f2 f3 f4 f5

Received
audio to
Comparator System
44
Discussion
&
Questions

45