www.danelec.

com
Radio Over
nternet Protocol
{RoP}
Douglas Bigrigg
Director of Sales
APCO Canada
April 2005
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What is VoP?
Voice over Internet Protocol is a method for taking analog
audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on the
phone, and turning them into digital data that can be
transmitted over the Internet (or Local Area Network).
The analog audio is encoded with a standard audio codec,
such as G.711, G.723, GIPS or GSM. The digitally encoded
audio samples are then packaged in UDP (User Datagram
Protocol), RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) or a similar
transport layer protocol for transport over an IP network.
At the far end of the transport, the digital audio is decoded
back to an analog audio signal.
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What is ROP?
Radio (Control) over Internet Protocol uses standard VoIP
techniques to transfer the analog audio, used by Land Mobile
Radio systems, digitally over the Internet (or LAN).
In addition to voice, RoIP also transfers signals that are
specific to LMR applications, such as PTT and COR control
lines.
Upgradeable to allow many more features of radio control
over the Internet. Some possible features could be:
Reprogramming of the radio features (frequency, tone, etc.)
Alarm monitoring (high VSWR, AC power loss, etc)
Control functions (switching to a secondary LMR system,
turning on generators, etc.)
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Ouality of 8ervice
The Quality of Service (QoS) refers to the ability of the voice
traffic to reduce delay and jitter over an IP network. VoIP gets
priority over other network traffic.
Priority queuing support prioritizes IP voice traffic (over
data) to help preserve voice quality even when the network
traffic is heavy.
Many different methods exist for maintaining QoS, and are
offered by the VoIP manufacturers.
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RoP Benefits
Removes high cost of leased phone lines to remote
controlled base stations by using standard Internet
connections already located at sites.
Multiple PC (dispatch) consoles can be operated without the
high cost of installing fixed consoles. Almost any PC can run
base station control software applications.
Most existing LMR base station equipment can easily
connect to RoIP (with the addition of a router or gateway)
using E&M, tone remotes or other methods.
Base Station control can be utilized anywhere there is
access to the network (locally, nationally, internationally).
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Why use RoP?
Aside from the other benefits mentioned, many organizations
are integrating their Radio shop and IT divisions. Since
personnel are being integrated, why not integrate the
systems?
With RoIP, there is less line level loss than with fixed lines.
Level settings are done from the router to the base radio, and
not from the console to the (distant) base radio. This eases
the maintenance and tuning of a base system.
P25 digital radio systems can transparently pass digital
information through the RoIP interface, such as NACs,
TGIDs as well as encrypted voice signals. This allows much
more capability for security and flexibility of the radio system
to be located at the PC console.
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RoP Base {Gateway}
RoIP Base Stations using an IP Tone Radio Gateway.
The IP Tone Radio Gateway is located at the base station radio
site, and multiple Remote PCs can be located anywhere there is
LAN / WAN access.
PTT / COR and audio signals are sent across the LAN / WAN to
and from the IP Tone Radio Gateway (in IP format).
The IP Tone Radio Gateway connects to a tone remote adapter
via a full duplex soundcard, using tone control of the base station.
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RoP Base {Router}
RoIP Base Stations using an RoIP Controller Interface.
The RoIP Controller Interface (router) is located at the base
station radio site, and multiple IP Base remote consoles can
be located anywhere there is LAN / WAN access.
PTT / COR and audio signals are sent across the LAN / WAN
to and from the RoIP Controller Interface (in IP format).
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RoP Linking
RoIP is not limited for use in base station applications. RoIP
linking eliminates the need for leased lines, microwave, or
radio links and also allows for repeaters to be located in
areas where line of sight paths between repeater sites may be
restrictive.
A network extension unit (router) is connected at both
repeater sites allowing PTT / COR and audio signals to be
sent across the LAN / WAN to and from the remotely located
repeaters.
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Radio to P nterface
The Radio to IP network interface can be accomplished
a number of different ways.
In the Gateway example, the Radio to IP interface uses
in-band or Voiceband signaling to key the radio
through a tone remote adapter
In the Router example, the Radio to IP interface uses
analog E&M connections. The E&M leads are used for
the radio signalling, and audio is connected to
balanced audio ports.
A Radio to IP interface can also be accomplished
without analog audio (as in P25 digital radios). The IP
interface could connect directly to a digital Interface
unit in the radio.
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P25 Radios and RoP
The RoIP connection between a console and a base radio
closely mirrors the proposed fixed station (Ef) and console (Ec)
interface for the P25 General System Model.
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P25 Digital nformation
P25 Digital Radios communicate digital voice information over
the air using C4FM. The digital information conforms to the
P25 Common Air Interface.
Since voice information is already in digital format, P25 is an
easy step from the radio to the Internet. Analog audio is no
longer present, and all that is required is for the P25 digital
voice information to be re-formatted to an IP transport
protocol.
Digitally encrypted P25 communications can then be passed
securely across the network.
P25 data packets, voice message information (NAC, TGID,
etc.) can also be passed to and from the consoles over the
Internet.
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Universal nterface Card
Daniels Electronics UIC card provides a direct
digital interface from the P25 receiver and
transmitter to an IP network via an RJ45 Ethernet
connector.
The UIC card is a proprietary signaling format that
Daniels Electronics Ltd. Makes available to any
other console/VoIP manufacturers that may wish
to be compatible with our P25 base station.
Currently the first release version is planned to be
compatible with Telex/Vega, Catalyst and Twisted
Pair consoles.
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Daniels Compatibility
Daniels current analog and P25 digital radio systems are also
compatible with any router using standard 4 wire E&M
connections, such as JPS, Cisco and Telex/Vega
Daniels products are also compatible with in-band signaling
products such as the Catalyst VoIP software.
P25 digital compatibility with the UIC card will continue to
grow as Daniels releases the signaling format to other
manufacturers (this is currently being discussed with many
other console and VoIP manufacturers)
Once the P25 Fixed Station interface is finalized, Daniels will
release a firmware upgrade for the UIC cards to meet that
standard.