Key issues to consider when switching to digital

January 2012

Going digital 12.5 kHz DMR or 6.25 kHz FDMA?

Two of the most important reasons that LMR users go digital are to add voice capacity and to more easily add data applications This presentation sets out the important issues for the user to think about

Adding capacity 12.5 kHz DMR or 6.25 kHz FDMA?

Adding data applications nearly always means that more capacity is needed to ensure: Existing voice quality of service is to be maintained and The new application is to work well There are real differences between DMR and 6.25 kHz FDMA when it comes to increasing capacity in terms of: Spectrum efficiency is existing licenses Infrastructure requirements

Digital migration in existing 12.5 kHz licences - DMR

Analogue to digital migration with DMR

Existing analogue talk paths in a 12.5 kHz license

New digital talk paths in your 12.5 kHz license

Double capacity in current license?

Digital migration in existing 12.5 kHz licences - FDMA

Analogue to digital migration with 6.25 kHz FDMA Existing analogue 12.5 kHz license

New digital talk paths In 12.5 kHz license

Double capacity in current license?

Spectrum efficiency - DMR and 6.25 kHz FDMA

DMR Migration 6.25 kHz FDMA Migration

Existing analogue 12.5 kHz licence

New digital channels

6.25 kHz spectrum efficient? New channels fit legacy devices? No risk of new interference issues?

Spectrum use - DMR vs 6.25 kHz Migration

Because DMR uses the same 12.5 kHz channels as analogue

co-existence between analogue and digital is simple Ease of migration Ease of long co-existence between analogue and digital

Going digital DMR and 6.25 kHz FDMA licence summary

Going digital with DMR means: Doubling capacity in existing licenses

Keeping existing spectrum

No new frequency co-ordination requirements Being able to continue to use legacy analogue radios in your spectrum No new risk of interference as the channel characteristics stay the same and proven 12.5 kHz signals are maintained

Use of infrastructure: DMR compared to 6.25 kHz FDMA

One channel DMR

Migrating from one channel DMR to two

channel DMR:

No extra complexity No extra cost

Two channels DMR

Power efficient No extra space No new site issues No extra maintenance

Use of infrastructure: DMR compared to 6.25 kHz FDMA

One channel 6.25 kHz FDMA

Migrating from one channel FDMA to two channel FDMA:

Extra complexity Extra cost

Two channels 6.25 kHz FDMA

Greater power use

More space Potential site issues Extra maintenance

DMR advanced features not possible with FDMA

Advanced control features through reverse channel signalling System flexibility through simultaneous voice and data calls, two way calls, double data rates enabled by two slot TDMA

Power efficiency of DMR compared to 6.25 kHz FDMA Two slot TDMA structure means transmitter is used 50% less than with FDMA This means DMR radios are more power efficient than FDMA and give greater battery life/unit of battery capacity Significant with data applications

Adoption of DMR technology today

There is a strong supplier base of DMR Over 1,000,000 DMR 2-way radios are in operational use DMR manufacturers support a robust and established vendor interoperability testing programme

Summary
When you switch to digital: Understand the real differences in the technology that is on offer

Understand the license implications

Understand the infrastructure requirements today and tomorrow Understand the strength of the DMR supplier base Make the smart choice