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DIU3000's still needed?

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 6:44 pm
by Pj
We are going to start on phase 2 of our upgrade to digital.

Currently we are only going to upgrade to one digital PD channel.

We currently have one Quantar as a standby repeater and we are getting a 2nd one for our main repeater. Upgrades from a Centracom II to Gold Elite (so far) is going to be about it.

According to the quick esitmate, we will also be getting a DIU3000. Is this really nessesary? We are going to stay with DVP-XL and no other town channel is going digital at this time, or have plans for it.
We are adding 1 or 2 recievers as well (we have none at this time).

My understanding is that the DIU is nessesary for analog compatibility, but I could be wrong. I am not as well versed in site digital eqiupment as I am with the other stuff.

So what with the DIU? Do we really need it, and if so, where in the system is it required? Curious. Also don't want spend $$$$$ for equipment that we may not need.

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 7:20 pm
by xmo
Earlier stations like MSF5000 could encrypt and decrypt internally so you could connect a console via wireline and have coded/clear comm control by tone remote.

Quantar has no internal encryption capability. The DIU supports an encryption cartridge. The console will connect to the DIU - the DIU to the Quantar . That way you will have secure comm from the console.

If you don't need secure to the center - then you don't need the DIU. Some people also choose to equip the center with a Secure capable control station as a lower price alternative, but I favor having the Console control the repeater directly.

As long as you are getting the DIU and the Quantar - you should set the system up for mixed mode and start transitioning to P25. The voice quality is superior to securenet.

Also the ODP grants are going to require P25 capability - why miss out on the opportunity to the the FEDs buy you some radios.

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 7:42 pm
by Pj
Ok. I figured it may have something to do with the encyption, but couldn't remember. Last budget year we got all our XTS's, 1/2 the Astro Spectra's and the one quantar. This year should be the rest, but we will see.

In true political form, the town decided to make this a 2-3 year deal and pay more for the system instead of getting it all at once for a cheaper price.

Ahhhhhh, the love of having people who know nothing about anything elected to run a town..

Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 8:21 pm
by ASTROMODAT
xmo, what about an S6? This is 100% digital, including not needing a DIU for encryptrion, correct?

That is what my comment was in terms of the DIUs eventually going away.

Larrry

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2003 5:44 am
by wavetar
Larry, I believe you'll still need the DIU or it's equivalent for encrypted comms, digital or no digital. Something has to be keyloaded to do the encrypting/decrypting, and it isn't the Quantars. Unless the new S6 dispatch consoles have that capability?

XMO, we had to use CIUs for DVP-XL encryption in the old SecureNet days. I'm assuming it's because they didn't want the possibility of someone tapping the clear audio off the leased lines running between dispatch & the trunked site. So they let the MSF5000's handle the signals transparently, much like the Quantars do. Then the CIUs handled the encrypting/decrypting at the dispatch center. I guess if the MSF5000 repeaters were on-site, the CIUs wouldn't have been necessary.

Todd

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2003 6:47 am
by xmo
I have no firsthand knowledge of the S6 - but what I heard is that they do all the magic with control stations.

Todd, you are exactly right abouth the CIUs. If your stations were local - or your lines were secure - you could install encryption hybrids in the MSF and keyload the station itself.

If there was a concern about the security of the wirelines [or your salesman needed a LOT more log dollars that month] then you put in the CIUs and Securenet modems to pass the 12 KBps digital from the comm center to the base/repeater.

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2003 11:58 am
by Salem The Cat
ASTROMODAT wrote:xmo, what about an S6? This is 100% digital, including not needing a DIU for encryptrion, correct?

That is what my comment was in terms of the DIUs eventually going away.

Larrry

Larry what is "S6" ?

In newer SZ6.X systems (all digital, w/9600 CC) the DIU's
are no longer in the system. They've been replaced with a
"virtual" DIU called an MGEG (Motorola Gold Elite Gateway)
contained in a PCI based Windows 2000 platform.

The MGEG interfaces directly with the AEB/Embassy, and is
controlled via the Zone Config Manager. The MGEG would
contain 2 PCI crypto boards.

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2003 12:25 pm
by ASTROMODAT
STC, I meant to type "SZ6," and mistakenly typed S6. Sorry.

Larry

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2003 3:16 pm
by wavetar
Salem The Cat wrote:
In newer SZ6.X systems (all digital, w/9600 CC) the DIU's
are no longer in the system. They've been replaced with a
"virtual" DIU called an MGEG (Motorola Gold Elite Gateway)
contained in a PCI based Windows 2000 platform.

The MGEG interfaces directly with the AEB/Embassy, and is
controlled via the Zone Config Manager. The MGEG would
contain 2 PCI crypto boards.
Doh!! Thanks Salem. I now remember reading about that last year sometime (probably in one of your posts?). I think I'm running short of RAM upstairs these days. :)

Todd

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:32 am
by ASTROMODAT
For information on "Adding Crypto Card to the MGEG," see Motorola publication #SB-FI-0010-A. It can be found on the https section of MOL, and/or ordered from Motorola pubs.

Larry