Batboard

Anyone know more about this capability ??
or What does Motorola want to tell ?

Motorola tells me that the data function on their Astro radios does work, but only with their infrastructure, i.e. DIU3000 and RNC3000.

I believe that the P25 standard calls for a generic sort of data transport, but the engineers told me that it isn't supported.

The Department of the Interior test results seem to bear that out. Here is an excerpt:

"DOI DIGITAL RADIO CONTRACT SUBMITTAL LIST

Last modified: 06/05/2003

Motorola

VHF Personal Portable

XTS 3000, Model I, II, III

Accepted with deficiencies.

Contract Deficiencies:

-The XTS 3000 radio does not comply with the TIA/EIA-102 data standard"

xmo is correct in his comment about the XTS3000 NOT supporting the TIA/EIA-102 data standard.

On the other hand, it may not be a big deal for most folks on this board since the ASTRO Data infrastructure investment required to support data on your ASTRO system(s) is essentially prohibitively costly (unless one goes the eBay route and you have LOTs of patience).

For example, the new cPCI-based RNC3000 will set you back a minimum of $45,000 (based on the July 2003 Motorola price book). The MINIMUM RNC3000 Data Controller software price (to support as little as ONE base station) is $15,000, plus an additional $30,000 for the most minimal and smallest capacity Data Controller. The way the new cPCI-based RNC3000 Data Controller is currently priced, one can't avoid getting nicked pretty hard. Add $10k for the DIU3000, and you're at $55,000, plus another $17,000 for the basic Quantar (all told, you'll have $72,000 plus in infrastructure). All list prices, of course. Kind of spendy. Might be a tad bit cheaper to use Nextel, or even a RS FRS in coordination with good WWI carrier pidgeons.

I use the older VME-based RNC3000 Data Controller to support ASTRO Data on our Quantars, which works like a champ, and they are readily available on eBay and at the bigger Hamfests. Basically, the older VME-based RNC3000 is the same thing as the current model RNC3000, except the previous VME-based hardware involves the older style larger circuit boards (so what!). The previous VME-based RNC3000 was cheaper than the current cPCI-based RNC to begin with, and the pricing algorythms were mare favorable to the consumer at that time. The Big M discontinued the VME-based RNC this past May, 2003.

FYI: Don't forget that your Quantar MUST be configured with the 10 msec FAST KEY-UP option (U453AA) in order to support ASTRO Data via the RNC Data Controller, and I believe that it can NOT be added/modified later to your Quantar. It's only a $300 option on a new Quantar, so watch out if you buy a used Quantar and you later decide to support ASTRO Data.

xmo, do you know if there is some way to add Fast Key-up to an existing Quantar?

We got our ASTRO data system started on a shoe string by purchasing the RNC3000 at a Hamfest, and also using the old 9100-386 terminals. They do the job, and these can be had dirt cheap, even with NIB units. Just have to be patient.

Have fun!

Larry

You've gotta love the fact that Motorola, who was a principal contributor to the TIA standard, doesn't fully support that same standard in their (then XTS3K) flagship portable.

Curious, does the XTS5K FULLY support the TIA standards, AND, is there a flash upgrade to allow the XTS3K to fully support the standard as well? How about the A-Spectra series... where does that stand?

I believe if you look at the Feds complete report you will see that all of the Motorola radios tested - Astro Digital Spectra Plus, XTS5000, etc, suffer the same non-compliance.

I think the TIA standard calls for two levels of data. The one protocol looks really simple - sort of me-to-you. You manually enter the id of another radio and connect to it - then the two have a virtual circuit to pass data. Maybe Motorola figures that's old fashioned and nobody wants it [but I think it would be pretty useful]

On the other hand, how would Mother M make the big bucks if you could do data without the $10,000.00 DIU and the $50,000.00 RNC - and a message switch and host software and middleware and on and on...