How does this all work?

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MOTOTRBO (a.k.a. TRBO) is a Motorola Solutions branded DMR Radio. MOTOTRBO has a few more features than a standard DMR radio including IP Site Connect, which we use to network our repeaters in the USA, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. When one person transmits, all of the repeaters are keyed up on our network without the user having to fumble through finding node numbers or access codes. All of our repeaters are networked 24/7. Our network is 100% DMR digital with no analog connections.

.. Our network has some innovative features such as 2 slot communications, location finding, and text messaging capabilities. DMR as you will read more about below supports 2 time-slotted channels from one repeater. Many of our USA stations have time slot 1 linked to the network and use time slot 2 for local communications. This means each repeater supports 2 unique voice channels at the same time!

Our repeater owners and trustees constantly monitor network and repeater performance using several diagnostic tools such as RDAC and GW3-TRBO. TRBO also has an extensive 3rd party Application Developer Program. These innovators design many hardware and software accessories for the TRBO platform.




DMR (Digital Mobile Radio)

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DMR is a published international digital radio standard that specifies the 2-slot (channel) TDMA communications. DMR is amateur radio's newest digital protocol. DMR radios are produced by several manufacturers and they all work on our TRBO system. DMR is not compatible with Icom's D-Star technology. Competition between manufacturers is a big reason why DMR radio prices are fair. DMR is here to stay since it is not a single manufacturer technology.

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DMR also satisifies the FCC's narrowbanding mandate by being 6.25 kHz equivalent. It's actually more spectrum efficient than other 6.25 kHz modes since no guard band is needed for the two channels. Think of DMR as HALF the channel bandwidth of a 25 kHz analog signal with TWICE the number of voice channels. It's also features forward error correction, offers extended battery life, and did we mention it has superior voice quality over other digital voice modes?



Recommended Radios



The C-Bridge

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Our network is connected to the NorCal (Northern California), Arizona, North Carolina, and DCI networks of repeaters via Rayfield Communications' C-Bridge. So, on our network you have access to nearly 60 repeaters simultaneously when you key up on the networked time slot!

 


SmartPTT

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We also use a software tool called SmartPTT to bridge our regional legs of the network, especially in Europe. Watch the videos to learn more.




I'd like to present this to my club. Can you help?

Sure! Download the brief presentation we used at Dayton, this handout of common FAQs, and convince your club that a TRBO repeater will move them into the 21st century of digital communications! Then apply to join our worldwide network.



How do I get a radio? Where can I go for more answers?

Be sure to ask one of your local authorized Motorola dealers if they offer "ham friendly TRBO pricing." You'll probably learn many of the dealers are hams who offer good deals on new equipment. Join one of the TRBO yahoo groups to learn more. Don't be afraid to ask questions on those forums.

You may also find new and used TRBO radios on EBay



DMR-MARC User Experiences

"MotoTRBO outperforms similar FM coverage, sounds excellent by far over the other digital modes and full duplexes incredibly well. Networking the repeaters is simple, very close to plug n play. While costs are higher than ham-only radios that we are all generally using, the used radio market is not overly expensive considering you will have a narrow-band capable analog and digital radio useful for GMRS, commercial, public service, MURS, Itinerant, etc. TRBO simply brings more enjoyment to hamming and more life to repeaters that seems to have diminished on the FM repeaters in recent years."
Mike Shirley, WB6WUI
Mazama, WA USA

"MotoTRBO on the amateur band has made amateur radio exciting for me again! After barely being a part of the hobby for the better part of 10 years, this new media has engulfed me!"
Miguel Lombana, KD4IML
Goodyear, AZ USA

"I was introduced to MotoTrbo at Field Day 2011 by Jeff, KØJSC, and was instantly hooked! A week later I had my first HT and had it programmed by Reid, NØRC, in time for a vacation trip to the east coast where I met additional Trbo users and enjoyed being ”walk-about” in Washington, D.C. and making contacts worldwide! I now have an XPR-4550 (mobile), an XPR-4300 (base), the XPR-6500 (HT), and am working quickly to put the first VHF MotoTrbo repeater on the air in Kansas City along with a UHF machine east of the city! The DMR-MARC network and community of users has been incredibly helpful and welcoming! Now I’m getting started as one of the NCS operators on the Saturday DMR-MARC Worldwide Net. MotoTrbo and DMR-MARC are WHERE IT’S AT! GET ON BOARD!!!"
Jim Duncan, KUØG
Warrensburg, MO USA

How do I get an amateur radio license?

All stations using our network must have a valid amateur radio license. Choose a country below to find out how to get the license. It's easy and inexpensive!



Other TRBO Networks and Repeater Groups