What are the benefits of a Trunked Two Way Radio System?

There are many benefits in having a trunked radio system, some of which are listed below. Trunked two way radio combines many of the functions of a mobile telephone with the best of conventional PMR. Calls are made on a one to one or one to group basis with user friendly confidence tones to inform the user of the progress of the call. If the called unit is not in range, the caller is informed. Once the call is connected, only those parties involved in the call will hear the conversation.

Trunked two way radio equipment exploits the power of the Trunked principle to serve the requirements of the mobile user. When calls are received while the user is not present, the details of the callers will be stored so that the call can be returned at a convenient time. Facilities to pass messages to the displays of other radios are included, reducing the need for routine voice communications.

Connect to a Telephone Network (when supported by the trunked network operator)
Trunked two way radios are often equipped to make and receive calls between the Trunked radio network and private or public telephone networks (where supported by the Trunked network operator). The required number may be dialled on the keypad, or recalled from a pre-programmed list of approved numbers.

Spectrum Efficient
In a Trunked radio system, all radio users share all channels. In a Trunked system, no channel stays unused when a need for communication exists. The automated Trunking controller immediately allocates a free channel when requested.

Private
Users only hear the conversation intended for them because they have exclusive use of the channel. At all other times, their radio will be silent. Since communication in a Trunked radio communication system happens on an arbitrary channel selected by the system, it becomes difficult for unauthorised users to monitor the voice communication of a particular group of users. The degree of privacy can be even further enhanced on a Trunked system by adding voice encryption, if supported by the system architecture.

System Reliability
A fault on a conventional system can take out all of the users on that channel and they are prevented from communicating unless they all know in advance what channel to switch to if another is available. This situation never occurs in a Trunked radio system. If a repeater station falls out, the Trunking controller registers the fallout and does not assign the repeater as a voice channel, until it has been repaired or the disturbance has disappeared.

Cost Effective
It is possible to buy airtime on existing systems - no need to own your own site or system. Most Trunked network operator's charge a fixed monthly rate based on the area of service provided. A fleet manager will be able to budget exactly for the cost of his communications - no nasty surprises when the airtime bill arrives!

Wide Area Coverage
There are national or regional systems which users are able to buy space on - so gain wide radio coverage without the expense of hardware or licensing.

05/07/2007