A Tale of Three “Cities”

I am not sure why, but my brain always likes to analyze things in columns and rows.  Hence, I find myself doing lots of “spreadsheet analysis.”

Recently, I came across Icom‘s Spencer County Case Study.  I was very impressed by the cost.  In light of even Senators writing about government spending, I thought that it might be fun to do a bit of cost comparison via “spreadsheet analysis” of Indiana’s Spencer County vs. what we are seeing in Virginia.  So, here it is:

Yes, you are reading this right!  The taxpayers in Indiana are paying up to 18+ times less for a radio system than the taxpayers in Virginia!  I argue that these savings are because Indiana is willing to accept competitive bids for standards-based radio communication solutions.

If you would like to figure out how standards-based radio communication solutions can save you 18.3 X, feel free to contact us at (804) 625-4233 or sales AT richmondrf DOT com.

time slots are NOT trunking

We have run into quite a few “green” salespeople lately.  They seem to be telling customers that by moving to a MOTOTRBO Conventional or IP Site Connect (a.k.a. DMR Tier II) system that they are getting the benefits of trunking.  This is simply NOT the case.

DMR utilizes TDMA to allow different users to share the same channel, by dividing it into “time slots”.  In a standard configuration, talkgroups are statically assigned to time slots.

Let’s assume an example case with the following:

  • 20 administrative talkgroup users
  • 10 security talkgroup users
  • 10 maintenance talkgroup users

Since the administrative talkgroup has more users, you decide to assign it to time slot 1.  You decide to assign the other two talkgroups to time slot 2.

If security is using their radios and maintenance needs to talk, can they?  No.  Why?  Because both groups are statically assigned to time slot 2.  If security is using time slot 2, maintenance cannot.  This does not change whether or not time slot 1 is in use.  So, while it is true that “you’ll have double the capacity“, you won’t have an efficient way to use that capacity.

In order to efficiently use capacity, you need trunking, which allows for talkgroups to be dynamically assigned.  If you are looking to efficiently use capacity, please contact us at (804) 625-4233 or sales AT richmondrf DOT com.

PPEA: A way for Virginia to discriminate against small businesses?

The other day, I saw a solicitation on eVA for a product that we sell.  Seeing an opportunity, I prepared a proposal for said product and the associated services.  I decided to hand deliver this proposal.  I was fortunate enough to be able to hand my proposal to the local County Administrator.  After some small talk, he asked me if I had my $5,000.00 check?  I was confused!?!  What was he talking about???

It was at this point that he informed me that the County was only accepting proposals that complied with the PPEA procedures adopted by the County.  So, I started my research…

  • PPEA is the Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act of 2002. It is outlined here:  https://dgs.virginia.gov/PPEA/tabid/62/Default.aspx
  • PPEA allows Counties to establish their own Purchasing Policy implementing PPEA.
  • This PPEA Purchasing Policy can include a “Proposal Review Fee.”
  • This particular PPEA Purchasing Policy says: “the County will require an initial processing fee of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) with an additional proposal fee of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be charged should the project proceed beyond the initial review. The initial processing fee shall be submitted with the initial proposal or competing proposal. The County will refund any portion of fees paid in excess of its direct costs which include, but are not limited to, all staff costs, outside consultants, financial advisors, engineers and attorney’s fees associated with evaluating the proposal. In the event either the initial processing fee of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or the additional proposal fee of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) is insufficient to cover all of the direct costs incurred by the County, the proposer shall pay such additional direct costs incurred by the County in reviewing the proposal.”
  • It is not uncommon for these PPEA Proposal Review Fees to reach $50,000. Here are some examples:  (I wish I was able to charge $50,000 to read every proposal that comes across my desk.)
    1. http://resources.dhrm.virginia.gov/rfps/ppea/emails.pdf
    2. http://www.vita.virginia.gov/itpartnership/default.aspx?id=445
    3. http://www.rrha.org/2009/html/11pdfs/Summary.pdf

So, Counties (and State Agencies & Institutions) in Virginia apparently have the right to charge businesses $5,000 to $50,000 (or more?) just to read their proposals for products and/or services.  In my example above:

  • A big manufacturer paid a County $5,000 to read their ~$2,500,000 proposal
  • the County was unable to read a local small business’ $777,000 proposal

In summary, it looks like PPEA is a mechanism for Virginia to discriminate against small businesses.  And, I have a hard time seeing how the County is going to benefit by purchasing a solution that is ~$1,700,000 more expensive, but included a $5,000 initial processing fee.

Why aren’t we TDMA fanboys

A fanboy is defined as “A person who loves something without question.”

Accepting things without question is counter to part of our mission to provide radio communication solutions that provide choice, performance, and best-value.

Here are some of the reasons that we don’t just accept TDMA without question:

Many of the comparisons above are between TDMA and FDMA.  I don’t want you to get the wrong impression; I don’t think FDMA is perfect.  (As a matter of fact, recently a really smart friend predicted that CDMA will ultimately win this battle.)  On the other hand, I do want to encourage you to think about things like interference, coverage, and cost before purchasing a new radio communication solution.

(some of) the power of Radio over IP

Lately, in the lab, we have been tinkering with Radio Over IP Gateways.  Since we love standards, we spent a significant amount of time with Icom America’s VE-PG3, because it “speaks” the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

Just like most other Radio Over IP Gateways in the marketplace, the VE-PG3 can connect two or more radio sites over an IP network.  In this configuration, received radio audio is bridged to opposing radio sites of the network.  This bridge mode can connect dispersed radio sites over the network and can provide cross band, cross category communication.

This technology is already in use by the Virginia State Police.  They call it COMLINC (Commonwealth’s Link to Interoperable Communications).  It enables adjoining jurisdictions totally different radio systems (such as Hanover County’s 800 MHz system and Powhatan County’s VHF system) to be connected.  This is how they are going to catch you if you go speeding from Hanover into Powhatan!

I believe that we will see this technology being used even more in the near future.  One example I can think of is Virginia’s electric cooperatives.  If Northern Neck Electric Cooperative (IDAS on 153MHz) needs to talk to Rappahanock Electric Cooperative (TaitNet MPT 1327 on 217MHz), this is a great way to make it happen.

But, going beyond connecting two or more radio sites is where the VE-PG3 really starts to shine, because it can convert radio audio into SIP.

These were some of the immediate benefits that we were able to see in the lab:

  1. Eliminate EXPENSIVE virtual radio/dispatcher software on PCs by using any SIP softphone/hard phone. (Hint, here are 20 FREE SIP Softphones.)
  2. Use a SIP softphone on any device (think Android, iPhone, etc.) to talk to your radios.
  3. Use a SIP Trunk to talk to your radios. Anyone with any phone can call a telephone number and talk to your radios.
  4. Use all of the features of Asterisk on your radio system. Imagine the literally endless possibilities:
  • Get Call Detail Records for all of your radio traffic
  • Record all of your radio traffic
  • (Conference Bridging.) Bridge any mix of any number of PCs, Androids, iPhones, analog phones, radio systems, paging systems, etc.

If you couldn’t tell, we are excited to see standards coming to the Radio over IP marketplace.

If you are looking to take advantage of Radio over IP, please contact us at (804) 625-4233 or sales AT richmondrf DOT com.

Are we creating a modern Tower of Babel?

You need only look at our Twitter Bio to recognize the fact that we are advocates of standards-based radio communication solutions.  However, in reading a recent forum post (and reflecting on some of our blog posts), we realized that the wireless industry may not share the same affinity for standards-based radio communication solutions.

As the wireless industry moves to digital, different digital technologies are being chosen by different customers.  For example:

So, what happens when there is an emergency and it is critical that the local public safety organization communicates with the local MTA, the local electrical cooperative, a neighboring public safety organization, etc.???  Nothing!!!  None of these radio communication solutions can communicate with the other; we have created a modern day Tower of Babel!  Add encryption into this mess and even fewer organizations can communicate.

In our next post, we hope to address possible solutions to this problem.

Thanks for reading!  And, if you see any typos/mistakes, please contact us at (804) 625-4233 or sales AT richmondrf DOT com.

License free radio options

People frequently like to ask us what their license free radio options are for personal use.  Basically, there are three license free radio options other than Citizens’ Band radio:

One could easily argue that FRS is the most common license free radio option.  This is because FRS radios are sold in retail channels (such as Best Buy, etc.) and FRS has been around since 1996.  However, FRS radios are limited to an ERP of 500 milliwatts (half a watt).  FRS manufacturers generally claim exaggerated range. Because FRS is in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, the presence of large buildings, trees, etc., will reduce range.  Under normal conditions, with line of sight blocked by a few buildings or trees, FRS has an actual range of about 0.5 to 1.5 km (0.3 to 1 mile).

MURS was established by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in the fall of 2000.  MURS transmitter power output is limited to 2 watts.  This higher power output limit and the fact that MURS is in the very high frequency (VHF) band makes MURS have an increased range.  Also, MURS allows for external antennas, which FRS does not allow for.  Ranges of 10 miles or more are possible.

Both FRS and MURS do not allow for encryption.  On the other hand, radios on the ISM band frequently use Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum, which enhances communications privacy.  This means that transmissions cannot be picked up on a radio scanner that someone might purchase from an electronics store.  Also, whereas FRS and MURS radios offer only one-to-many group communications, ISM band radios are capable of one-to-one as well as one-to-many.  These radios also offer enhanced capabilities due to their ability to transmit and receive data as well as voice; they can offer Caller ID and even Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging.

So, as you can see, there are many options for license free radio.  For the best “range”, you might choose MURS.  For the most privacy, you might choose Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum radios on the ISM band.  If you have any questions about what radio might fit your personal license free radio needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (804) 625-4233 or sales AT richmondrf DOT com.

The digital standards and the manufacturers

In a previous blog post, we referenced the fact that digital standards are maturing.  So, while we were at IWCE, we started a spreadsheet to:

  • compare the digital standards
  • list which manufacturers are involved with which standards

Below is this spreadsheet.  You can learn a lot from it.  For example, there appear to be as many manufacturers focused on DMR (if you add in the Chinese manufacturers) as there are manufacturers focused on P25.  (This is pretty significant when you consider the marketshare of P25 in public safety agencies or the fact that EF Johnson and Midland only have P25 offerings.)

Enjoy!  And, if you see any typos/mistakes, please contact us at (804) 625-4233 or sales AT richmondrf DOT com.

NXDN

DMR

P25 Phase 1

TETRA

kHz

12.5 or 6.25

12.5

12.5

25

FDMA

TDMA

FDMA

TDMA

2-slot

4-slot

EF Johnson

Yes

Harris

Yes

Yes

Yes

Hytera

Yes

Yes

Icom

Yes

Yes

Kenwood

Yes

Yes

Midland

Yes

Motorola

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tait

Yes

Yes

Vertex Standard

Yes

 

The importance of good radio programming software

We have been spending a lot of time working with different radio programming software lately.  Some of the common flaws that we have seen:

  1. There is not a good way to move frequencies around in the programming software.  Cut, copy, and paste should be included in all radio programming software.  These functions have been around since the 1970s.  Why doesn’t all radio programming software have this?  For example moving a frequency from channel 14 to channel 7, should not require retyping the frequencies for channels 8 through 14.
  2. There is not a good way to share data between different models of radios.  For example, if you setup a handheld for the frequencies that you want to use, you should be able to reuse that programming to setup a mobile for the same system.  Again, this should not require retyping all of the frequencies for your channels.
  3. Because so much time is spent on developing great hardware, it appears that many radio manufacturers don’t spend enough time developing great programming software.  Much of of software that we have seen is just not very “user friendly.”

All of these issues above increase entry errors which, in a worst case scenario, can cause radios:

  1. to be on the wrong frequencies
  2. to be wideband when they should be narrowband
  3. to be unable to access the system because of incorrect CTCSS (PL) tones
  4. etc.

If radio manufacturers are unwilling to invest in radio programming software with simple features like this, maybe they should consider contributing to an open source radio programming software, like CHIRP.  (CHIRP is surely not perfect but it does solve the three problems mentioned above.)

 

The Perfect RF Storm

According to Wikipedia, “perfect storm” is an expression that describes an event where a rare combination of circumstances will aggravate a situation drastically.  We believe that there is a perfect storm brewing in the two-way radio business that can benefit users and dealers alike.  The combination of circumstances are as follows:

  1. FCC narrowbanding mandate.  Organizations, big and small, have failed to meet the January 1, 2013 deadline to cease operating using 25 kHz efficiency technology.  Many counties in Virginia, such as Caroline County, are not yet using 12.5 kHz efficiency technology. Add to this many smaller organizations, such as weekend racers, that are not yet using 12.5 kHz efficiency technology, and you will come to recognize that the opportunity for the two-way radio dealers has seldom been better.
  2. Rise of standards.  In the early years, analog was THE standard for radio communications.  Then, digital came into the marketplace; this created confusion for users and profit for manufacturers, because each manufacturer stated that you need to buy their digital radios to work on their digital systems.  But, as the digital marketplace has matured, so have the standards.  For example, today, it is possible for an inexpensive radio from China to work on a MOTOTRBO system; this is possible because of the DMR standard.  Standards are driving down pricing for users and increasing the need for manufacturers to prove the value of their solutions.
  3. Rise of competition.  We recently had the privilege of attending the 2013 IWCE event in Las Vegas.  It was full of great exhibitors from all over the world.  Many of the exhibitors have names that you would recognize, such as Harris and Motorola.  Some of the exhibitors have names that you might recognize, such as EF Johnson, Icom, Kenwood, and Tait.  Some of the exhibitors, you might never have heard of before.  Looking at our local marketplace, we realized that there are only two (2) radio dealers in Richmond and both of them only provide solutions by a single large manufacturer.  We wish to bring some competition to the Central Virginia marketplace by offering solutions from more than one manufacturer.
  4. Rise of Radio over IP (RoIP).  In our opinion, Radio over IP has the potential to revolutionize interoperability in the two-way radio marketplace.  RoIP can extend a two-way radio system to the entire Internet.  Today, there are already solutions what will enable users to connect analog systems to digital systems.  Bridging systems in Alaska and Hawaii is now a reality.  Being able to dispatch calls from anywhere is no longer a dream.  Applications like this show the power of IP (Internet Protocol) and can surely benefit users.

We are ready to take advantage of this “perfect storm” with you.  If you are still using 25 kHz efficiency technology, are looking to move to a standards-based radio solution, want to consider competitive alternatives, or are looking to take advantage of Radio over IP, please contact us at (804) 625-4233 or sales AT richmondrf DOT com.

As a side note, although 25 kHz efficiency radios can no longer be used in the United States, they can be used in other parts of the world.  So, please make sure to ask us about our trade-in program.