TRBOnet: Dispatch Systems
What is TRBOnet?
Purpose-built for Motorola MOTOTRBO radios, TRBOnet is a professional application developed for dispatch centres that need to monitor large amounts of radio traffic. It supports digital and analogue channels, which makes it especially useful for agencies and businesses migrating to a digital platform, and it can link multiple public safety agencies or departments for better first responder coordination.
What will TRBOnet do for you?
TRBOnet lets operators and dispatchers monitor audio and data from radio channels, see radio locations in real time, manage records, and review events within seconds of their happening.
Key features
- Radio or fleet tracking
- Radio monitoring
- Channel monitoring
- Telemetry and emergency triggers
- Seamless system integration
- Instant notification of problems or events
- Interoperability with other radio networks
- Archived historical data and recorded voice traffic
- Reporting capabilities
- Mixed digital and analogue channels
TRBOnet expands the standard capabilities of MOTOTRBO radios, carrying voice calls alongside data transfer: text messaging, email messaging, vehicle speed and location, and more. It is used for communication management and monitoring across public safety (police, fire, ambulance), transportation and municipal services, and has proven itself wherever radio user status and location detection, text messaging, emergency handling and digital data transfer matter.
Scalability and reliability are key advantages. A radio network can grow without limits, both in number of users and territory covered. There is no single central mind in TRBOnet, so if one component fails the rest of the system keeps working.
The main component is the RadioServer software installed on a computer, together with a digital fixed radio or base station that connects to MOTOTRBO users over a radio channel. When the base station is powered on it sends an authorization enquiry to the RadioServer and registers all users on the network. Registered users then get the full TRBOnet feature set: individual and group calls, text messages, built-in telemetry, GPS monitoring and conversation recording.
The RadioServer database stores information about every registered user and base station activity. The number of users on a RadioServer is limited only by radio channel capacity. There can be an unlimited number of RadioServers anywhere in the world (the only requirement is internet access), and an unlimited number of dispatchers can connect to any of them over IP.
TRBOnet uses GPS receivers, digital maps in many formats, and base stations to monitor and manage a fleet of moving assets. A dispatcher can see the current location of a police car, ambulance or vehicle carrying valuable or dangerous cargo on a digital map, and communicate with the user by radio or send data in digital format.
TRBOnet architecture
TRBOnet is based on client-server architecture. The main advantage is flexibility: it can be installed on a single computer, and it is also designed for distributed systems.
Supported systems
- Simplex radio operation
- Single MOTOTRBO repeaters in digital mode, with IPSC enabled
- MOTOTRBO IP Site Connect
- MOTOTRBO Capacity Plus
Direct IP connection to MOTOTRBO repeaters
The TRBOnet RadioServer connects to MOTOTRBO repeaters using UDP and sends and receives data and digital audio (native AMBE+2). The benefits are:
- All voice and data are recorded, including private calls and text messages between units
- Very easy to install and configure
- Less expensive
TRBOnet can connect to several single repeaters or IP systems at once, and a dispatcher works with all of them as one radio system. The CrossPatch feature ties repeaters and sites together, and roaming lets units move from one site to another while staying in contact with a dispatcher.
TRBOnet Enterprise: advanced dispatch system
TRBOnet Enterprise provides a VoIP software-based control centre for MOTOTRBO radios, sitting between the transport and network level protocols. It supports all MOTOTRBO features (Capacity Plus, GPS positioning, text messaging, ARS and telemetry) and adds options such as voice recording, geofencing, lone worker operation, intercom, a scheduler for text messages, a unit activity monitor and email communications.
The simplest dispatch system consists of one RadioServer acting as a gateway between radios and an IP network, to which an unlimited number of dispatcher consoles can connect. The interface is simple and easy to use, and lets a dispatcher service dozens of radios and radio groups.
TRBOnet Enterprise supports distributed dispatch systems, so dispatchers anywhere can connect to a central RadioServer: dispatchers in Vancouver and Toronto can connect to a RadioServer installed in London or Melbourne to check the positions of their mobile units and talk to subscribers and fellow dispatchers. It also supports radio networks operating with both analogue (including MDC) and digital subscribers, with the calling subscriber's ID always visible to dispatchers. All radio traffic is registered within the system, and dispatchers can replay audio records or download individual audio files for reporting.
The system supports subscriber status control, which is reflected in the dispatcher console. When subscribers come online their assigned dispatchers are notified, and the radio then reports its GPS coordinates to the RadioServer regularly. Dispatchers can review movements on various electronic maps and set a tracking mode.
Geofencing controls crossings of defined regions. TRBOnet Enterprise lets you assign regions to subscribers and be alerted when a predefined boundary is crossed, which is useful in restricted areas. Both subscriber and dispatcher are notified, and the breach is registered in the system.
Dispatchers receive all incoming text messages from subscribers and can send text to a specific subscriber or a group, and the system can re-transmit received messages to specified email addresses. Access control for dispatchers is fully supported, so each dispatcher can be given different permissions: assigning a dispatcher to particular groups of subscribers, or limiting who can add, modify or remove subscribers and change RadioServer channels. The intercom feature gives dispatchers a communication option separate from the radio network, which reduces radio load.
TRBOnet features
Voice dispatch
VoIP technology carries voice over IP networks, so a remote dispatcher with access to the RadioServer can communicate with radio network subscribers and other dispatchers from anywhere in the world.
Voice recording
TRBOnet records all conversations between dispatchers and subscribers, including private calls and text messages between subscribers where a direct IP connection to the repeaters is in place. Conversations are stored as audio files and logged with date, time and playback.
TX passive
TX passive delays a transmission when the line is busy. The dispatcher records a message and queues it, and the RadioServer transmits it as soon as the line is available.
Intercom
Intercom lets dispatchers talk among themselves separately from the main line, lightening the load on it.
Telephone interconnect
Telephone interconnect allows calls from radios to telephones and from telephones to radios. A dispatcher can also make calls from the dispatcher console.
CrossPatch
CrossPatch lets dispatchers patch talk groups, channels, sites and systems together for seamless communication between all radio users, regardless of frequency or whether the radios are operating in analogue, digital, IP Site Connect or Capacity Plus.
Emergency
An emergency call is activated by the emergency button on a MOTOTRBO radio. When a subscriber presses it, alarm mode is activated and the dispatcher receives the alarm message. All calls from that subscriber become broadcast and the system starts monitoring them. The system also generates an alarm after a geofencing, lone worker or speed policy event.
GPS and indoor positioning
Integrated MOTOTRBO GPS shows subscriber locations and routes on a map, with vector and raster maps supported. TRBOnet InDoor is a software and hardware system that positions and tracks digital MOTOTRBO subscribers indoors, where GPS signals are unavailable.
Geofencing and speed control policies
Geofencing lets the dispatcher limit the movement of subscribers by adding regions on the map and setting rules for entering or leaving them. When a subscriber leaves a region, the system sends them a message and raises an alarm for the dispatcher.
Messages
Both dispatchers and subscribers can send messages. Predefined messages send templates, scheduled text messages go out at a set interval or time, and text passive holds a message for a subscriber who is offline and delivers it when they come back online.
Telemetry
TRBOnet uses data from telemetry sensors and buttons. When a telemetry button on a subscriber's radio is pressed, the dispatcher gets a message, and the dispatcher can set the telemetry parameters.
Lone worker
The lone worker policy lets the dispatcher set a time interval within which communication from a subscriber is expected. If a lone worker has not called in for 15 minutes, for example, they get a message and the dispatcher gets an alarm.
User activity
User activity lets the dispatcher build lists that subscribers are assigned to based on their activity. If a subscriber sends an "on duty" message or presses a pre-set telemetry button, they are assigned to the on-duty list in the console. Dispatchers can also assign subscribers manually.
Stun kill passive
If a dispatcher gives the command to disable a radio that is offline, TRBOnet delays it and carries it out as soon as the radio comes back online.
Radio allocation
A specific radio can be assigned to any employee registered in the system, which is useful for shift work. All radios are disabled by default, and an employee enters a username and password to take a radio or return it. When taken, the radio is enabled and assigned to that worker; when returned, it is unassigned and disabled again.
Brochures
Contact us to talk about a TRBOnet dispatch system for your radio network.