TETRA Open Digital Radio Standard
TETRA is an international open digital radio standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). It is the most widely deployed digital radio standard in the world – used in a variety of applications from huge public safety systems in Europe through to small manufacturing operations. The standard was developed over ten years ago – and continues to be updated regularly to ensure it remains at the forefront of radio technology. Below is a video of a 2020 conference overviewing the ongoing development of the TETRA standard.
TETRA has a reputation as a ‘high end’ solution – over time increased competition in the TETRA market has lowered prices and made this a cost-effective solution on all but the smallest sites.
TETRA technology is a TDMA based standard which means the radio divides the frequency into time slots. With this standard it is four slots, and this has the benefit of allowing you greater efficiency from infrastructure and licensing as several different radio user groups can concurrently use each frequency.
The TETRA standard reduces the risk associated with deployment of two-way radio systems by providing access to a wide choice of independent vendors to keep your enterprise radio communication system running well into the future irrespective of what happens to your supplier arrangements. Most manufacturers are into their third or four generation of TETRA product ensuring a stable and mature solution. Competition between manufacturers creates a dynamic market, fostering innovation.
TETRA is a digital Two-Way radio technology for building highly scalable, secure and intelligent, radio communication networks with the following features:
- Ease of use
National Wireless TETRA systems are designed for effective operational simplicity.
Robust. Real-time. Instant. One-to-many voice communications – convey messages to multiple team members instantly without latency. - Amazing audio clarity
TETRA handsets operate perfectly out in the wind and even next to operating machinery providing crystal clear voice communications (ask for a demonstration – you will be amazed!) - Location services are optional with GPS built-in to the handsets for outdoor applications or indoor positioning – Location features can be activated with appropriate software.
- One device
National Wireless TETRA can replace all of your other mobile communications equipment – pagers, mobile phones, text messaging and emergency alert systems – with the one supportable device - Low cost of integration with telephony and other systems. Your radio can become a full extension of your internal phone system, effectively joining your voice communications systems together.
- Advanced handset features to meet diverse operational needs including configurable emergency safety systems – man-down, lone worker with location services.
- Central configuration: manage your total system centrally with complete control over talk groups and who can access the system. No need to panic over stolen handsets – just lock them out, additional talk groups or coverage can be provisioned with reprogramming the fleet.
- Open standard – wide choice of leading network equipment and handset manufacturers.
- Multiple talk groups and aliasing: No need to remember channel numbers; handsets display actual talk group names.
- Scalability
National Wireless TETRA systems provide advanced features for small systems supporting 20 handsets but can be later scaled-up with additional capacity or coverage without reprogramming terminals. - Resilience
The network can be built with various layers of redundancy to outages or coverage issues (handsets and vehicle radios can become repeaters at the flick of a switch). - Advanced handset battery power management to increase time between battery charge and increase battery life. This is just one example of how we can reduce whole of life costs.
TETRA enables a more efficient use of spectrum
National Wireless’ application of the TETRA standard provides customers with robust, feature packed, flexible radio solutions. National Wireless TETRA is an end-to-end approach to supplying two-way radio systems that integrate:
- Business needs analysis
- System specification, fleet mapping, design and engineering
- Business case support
- System installation and migration from legacy equipment
- End-user training
- Ongoing support and future expansion
With National Wireless TETRA you are not just buying a “bunch of two-way radios” you are procuring a purpose-built, well-engineered, well deployed, and well supported advanced communications platform to underpin your business operations. National Wireless has a proven track record engineering two-way radio for organisations that need robust, fit for purpose, future proof radio communications.
More than just two-way radio
National Wireless TETRA will drive real change in your business processes by eliminating the constraints of legacy two-way radio systems; enabling you to re-think your operational procedures and leverage productivity improvements.
National Wireless TETRA delivers ease of use, vastly superior voice performance in noisy environments, and the ability to replace mobile phones, pagers, and emergency devices with just one easy to use handset.
DMR Mobile Radio Association Open Standard
DMR is an international open digital radio standard recently developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). It is the most widely deployed digital radio standard in the world, with it estimated as accounting for up to 75% of the market. Most radio manufacturers now have DMR products or advanced plans for DMR product releases.
The DMR standard reduces the risk associated with the deployment of two-way radio communications systems by providing access to a wide choice of independent vendors to keep your enterprise radio communication system running well into the future irrespective of what happens to your supplier arrangements. Competition amongst manufacturers creates a dynamic market fostering innovation and makes DMR a safe choice for business.
This technology is a TDMA based standard which means the radio divides the frequency into time slots. With this standard it is two slots, and this has the benefit of allowing you greater efficiency from infrastructure and licensing as two different radio user groups can concurrently use a frequency.
The DMR standard is divided into three tiers:
- Tier I – basic radio-to-radio communications
- Tier II – Uses a repeater to extend coverage. Each channel has two slots effectively reducing infrastructure and licensing costs – this is a very common implementation.
- Tier III – This is a full control channel supported solution similar to P25 and Tetra. In the early part of 2013 this is not widely supported by manufacturers.
DMR supports backward compatibility to analog modes of operation, providing a migration to digital without a forklift upgrade.
Advanced voice features are supported in the standard such as group call, which is ideal for announcements to multiple groups, one-to-one calling and text messaging. Some features such as messaging will require a terminal with a display and full keypad.
Private call capability is useful for restricting radio calls to specific people like a supervisor or a security guard when you don’t want them to broadcast over an open channel.
Find out more
At National Wireless we understand how large organisations work when considering new technologies and evaluating vendors. We have partnered with some of Australia’s largest organisations on their journey toward improved radio communications delivering better business outcomes.
National Wireless can offer:
- Expert advice from our sales team – every industry, every step of the way.
- No-obligation free-trial of our radios.
- Exceptional service and repairs from our team of qualified technicians.
- Free radio coverage tests and site visits to ensure reliable communication.
- After-sales support and assistance – we’re with you for the long haul.