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Icom have all the digital two way radio solutions

Icom have now expanded its IDAS business range of digital radios to include a new European digital protocol called dPMR. Currently IDAS customers have been using an international protocol called NXDN which have been traditionally been used globally. Icom now have alongside NXDN developed a dPMR variant adaptable for the European market which will allow European type analogue signaling / trunking such as 5-TONE / BIIS1200 / MPT-1327. The introduction of dPMR means that Icom can provide even more digital radio solutions to business and industry users. Today, IDAS offers a complete system of handheld radios, mobile radios, repeaters and now network interface/trunking controller, IP-based virtual radio, various accessories….and now dPMR. In fact IDAS now provides the complete system solution.

Icom’s new dPMR range will provide customers solutions to a broad range of industries including factories, warehouses, hotels, construction sites, security, transportation etc. Essentially the new dPMR range is divided into dPMR446, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 based on the sophistication on the customer need.

IDAS dPMR uses the same hardware as NXDN, featuring models such as handhelds (IC-F3162 series), mobiles (IC-F5062 series) and repeater (IC-F5100 series) which are capable of digital/analogue mixed mode operation. This means that they can receive both analogue and digital mode signals on a single channel. Mixed mode operation is a benefit for the business customer as there is no need to buy a complete system outright, an important consideration in the current economic climate. This can help the transition from an existing analogue system to digital. NXDN can be flashed to become IDAS dPMR but cannot be both at the same time (either NXDN based or dPMR). Details regarding firmware flashing will be announced in future messages.

dPMR446
Icom, at present, are the only manufacturer to have on the market a licence-free product for use in peer to peer operations without base stations or repeaters in the 446 MHz UHF band. The IC-F4029SDR is a professional, digital licence free, transceiver that provides fantastic audio quality, secure communications, status messaging and high performance with no licence fee to pay.

dPMR Mode 1
This is the general purpose peer to peer application of dPMR for all forms of licenced PMR use and is part of the ETSI standard TS102 658. There are many commercial users such as building sites, shops, hotels, sports centres etc where use of repeaters is not required so this is where the handhelds such as the IC-F3162 series or mobiles such as the IC-F5062 series will be useful. dPMR Mode 1 offers the optimum radio functionality for such local area coverage. Base station (non repeater type) radios could still be interconnected to IT networks via IP and exploit both text messaging and voice calls using the voice and data functionality of dPMR.

dPMR Mode 2
This is the standard licenced PMR version that includes all base station and repeater functionality and allowing interfaces via gateways (Telephone, IP etc) and is part of the ETSI standard TS102 658. This is the dPMR solution for normal business and industrial users or local government services where a normal repeater coverage area is adequate. The IC-FR5100 repeater with UC-FR5000 IDAS trunking board plugged in allows a company to operate a single-site digital trunking system. This works differently to an ordinary radio system by sharing multiple channels across different radio groups, allowing more users onto a radio system. Icom’s single site digital trunking system is ideal for organisation with a high volume of voice traffic such as hotels, hospitals, warehouses, manufacturing plants and other medium to large single-site facilities. Where needed, dMPR Mode 2 can also provide wide area coverage using its special co-channel multi-repeater functionality. dPMR radio equipment can be seamlessly integrated into existing IT networks with 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.
*Please note dPMR conventional multi-site is coming soon.

dPMR Mode 3
Icom will soon have full functionality of dPMR that can be offered by managed access multisite complex systems including all the same interfaces and gateways as Mode 2. This is the dPMR solution for either very large business and industry or government services where wide area multisite, multichannel trunked repeaters can offer up to national coverage if required. With the introduction of the UC-FR5000 IDAS digital trunking and network controller board, which literally plugs into the IC-FR5100 repeater means that an IDAS system can provide a digital radio infrastructure over a much larger geographical area. The new controller board allows a business to utilise a conventional IP network to connect dispersed sites over different cities, counties or even countries. It is even possible to use this technology on areas where radio coverage has been difficult to deploy such as in a tall building. With an IDAS network controller board; you can create a conventional IP network to have radio communications all the way from the basement to the top floor, all in stable digital audio. Already deployed LAN cables can be used in an in-building solution resulting in improved customer service and increased productivity for your business.

Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager of Icom UK Ltd said,' IDAS offers business and industry users a wide range of solutions from simple peer to peer licence free communication, to bespoke security management solution to multisite systems dispersed over different cities, counties or countries. Icom has a national dealer network. For more details about the benefits that IDAS can bring to your business or to find your local Icom agent, contact Icom at: systems@icomuk.co.uk .’

For details of the IDAS product range go to https://www.idasuk.co.uk/.

Icom UK Marketing - marketing@icomuk.co.uk