Topic
Why Use an IP Gateway for Digital Radio?
As digital radios already operate over IP and gateways have historically been used to connect analog radios over IP networks, a question regularly arises about why you would need a gateway for digital radios. Below we discuss the 7 Key Ways in which RoIP Gateways add Value to Digital Radio Networks.
1. Saves Costs
Gateways Allow Radios with Point-to-Point Protocols to be Shared Amongst a Number of Operator Positions
For example the P25 DFSI protocol is NOT designed to be used by more than one console at a time. Without a Gateway (or a central server, like the DX-Altus server), only one console would be able to connect to a P25 DFSI base station. A Gateway allows a single radio connection to be fanned out to multiple consoles.
Only ONE Vocoder is Required (and located in the Gateway) and Shared Amongst a Number of Users.
This presents significant cost savings when multiple users exist. If no Gateway existed you would need to pay for a vocoder on every operator position.


As digital radios already operate over IP and gateways have historically been used to connect analog radios over IP networks, a question regularly arises about why you would need a gateway for digital radios. Below we discuss the 7 Key Ways in which RoIP Gateways add Value to Digital Radio Networks.
1. Saves Costs
Gateways Allow Radios with Point-to-Point Protocols to be Shared Amongst a Number of Operator Positions
For example the P25 DFSI protocol is NOT designed to be used by more than one console at a time. Without a Gateway (or a central server, like the DX-Altus server), only one console would be able to connect to a P25 DFSI base station. A Gateway allows a single radio connection to be fanned out to multiple consoles.
Only ONE Vocoder is Required (and located in the Gateway) and Shared Amongst a Number of Users.
This presents significant cost savings when multiple users exist. If no Gateway existed you would need to pay for a vocoder on every operator position.
2. Flexibility
The IP gateways will also operate with various levels of console from Omnitronics. An organization can start with a simple desk mounted console, upgrade to RediTALK for more dispatch functionality, then move to a fully featured DX-Altus system for dedicated demanding dispatch operations. No changes are required to the DRG200i and additional units can be added as the organization grows.
3. IT Networking Choice
4. Increased Reliability
Single points of failure are also eliminated where multiple gateways are used: failure of one device will not result in total failure of communications.
5. High Security
6. Greater Interoperability
Furthermore, within an open-standard there may be some additional features that are not tested for interoperability such as Location Services. By adding a compatible digital radio gateway to the equations, you can not only interconnect different radio manufacturers within a protocol but you can also interconnect across protocols.