PDV Wireless - 900mhz TRBO

[cmdcomm]

Anyone have any thoughts on the new system? We are loading on it in Houston,Tx and seems to have great coverage and audio.

 

[Mars]

What type of system is it? Is it using trunking? If so, what kind?

 

[Mototom]

In the Philadelphia area the system is connect plus trunking. I've been trying to map it somewhat listening with SDR# and DSD+. The system seems to hold true to the coverage maps on their web site in this area. I'm on the fringe of the coverage map area and have strong signals from multiple sites here. I have 5 sites logged so far. The system doesn't seem that active as it is new, only some delivery services and crazy tow truck police chasers in Philly. They have been advertising the system on the local AM news radio station around here, that's how I discovered it. http://www.pdvwireless.com/

 

[Mars]

The website states $30 per unit, for unlimited airtime. That's a really decent offer. If I was local, I would be on there. Saves me the hassle associated with putting up an independent system of my own. I just hope they are maintaining subscriber firmware and implementing proper AGC functionality. Otherwise, looks very solid!

 

[Fatboy]

PDV is headed by the old Nextel crew. They are setting up little Connect Plus islands with systems all over the country on their 900mhz spectrum (Last meeting I was in, their plan was to have the sites in a city connected, but not connecting adjacent cites together to form regional networks). They seem to have lots of funding, but are short on people who know two-way radio..... My honest feeling is that they plan to pump and dump the spectrum for LTE. Fatboy

 

[RO_POL1]

Connect Plus systems are very expensive. Just a single site controller runs over $30,000.

A local radio shop here maintains a 9 site system that covers a couple hundred miles.
Air time starts at $20 a month per radio and if you want GPS it is $25-$30/ month.

The system has over 2000 radios on it and was paid off within a couple years of going live.

The sales staff aren't up on the technical aspects of this particular system as it is advertised as being secure (encrypted) and that it also cannot be received without a Connect Plus option board and the radio ESN entered in the system controller. Neither of their claims are true. Connect Plus is fully capable of running enhanced privacy, but this company just never enabled it.

Large maintained Con+ systems are a great choice for many businesses, etc that need wide area coverage.

 

[Mars]

Unless someone is doing more than 15 or 20 physical sites, linked capacity plus is a much less expensive option, which basically accomplishes the same thing. No controller required. Up to 12 timeslots for voice at each site.

 

[RO_POL1]

Unless someone is doing more than 15 or 20 physical sites, linked capacity plus is a much less expensive option, which basically accomplishes the same thing. No controller required. Up to 12 timeslots for voice at each site.

I agree. For those looking to lease air time on a TRBO system in my area, the only options are Connect Plus systems. Three different shops maintain their own Con+ systems.

I'm surprised there is not one wide area LCP in operation in the Metro Detroit area. Initial system cost would be much lower and I believe much simplified compared to Con+.

Tele-Rad has been expanding their Cap+ system along the west side of the state and recently acquired a contract with an emergent EMS provider.

 

[nje431]

For carrier use, I have to respectfully disagree with usihg LCP. Connect Plus has much better authentication, by requiring the serial number to match the controller. No more pirating like we had in the C/R and LTR days. That can make Connect Plus more economical in the long run.

And, yes I know LCP can have authentication, but it's not near as strong or flexible. More of an afterthought really.

 

[phonebuff]

The problem with Connect Plus, is that the Option Board software makes so much of the base Firmware unusable or at least more difficult to support -

Really hoping that Cap-Next (or MAX as it's called in other regions where it's announced) gives the US market the advantages of Connect Plus with out the dis-advantages
inherent in a Passport system on Steroids.

 

[Mars]

RAS is solid and has not been compromised. It works well with LCP. I do agree the physical serial number based authentication on Connect Plus is nice.

RAS keys are not easily extracted from radios during a codeplug read.