What is Radio Trunking?
Radio trunking is a method employed on medium to large business two way radio systems to make the best use of the scarce radio channels that are available in the UK today. On a conventional medium to large radio system, businesses will normally use several channels. This usually means that communication within each user group on the system is often on the same channel. The restricting of access to a particular channel for a user group means that communication between groups can be difficult or impossible.
The pressure on radio channels is such that channels are often reused and it may be necessary to share with other user groups, possibly from an unrelated organisation. In this situation, when a shared channel is in use by a particular user group other users must wait until the conversation is finished. At the same time, some channels might be free but the user cannot make use of them.
A Trunked two way radio system makes use of several radio channels centrally managed by a Trunked Controller to provide communication between radio users. When a user makes a call, the Trunked Controller automatically allocate a free channel and sends a message to the radio units involved in the call instructing them to change to the free channel. This means that a conversation can be made if ANY CHANNEL is available, unlike a conventional system where the user must wait for a particular channel to be available. This process is entirely automatic and transparent to the user. Call set up is very fast, very similar to cellphone operation.
The Trunked radio technique provides a comprehensive control system, with the added benefit of individual calling of mobile and hand portable units. The introduction of computer control into the management of the process has the added benefit that a variety of system features can be employed to tailor the operation of the system and mobile fleets to the requirement of the user. In addition it is possible to interconnect trunking systems on different sites and permit the mobile fleet to roam from site to site, providing wide area coverage and connect to landline or mobile phones.
05/07/2007
