TETRA Terminals Review
TETRA Ireland Conference, Dublin
David Taylor, Senior ConsultantMason Communications
Wednesday 13 April 2005
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
2
PSX0319O.PPT
TETRA Terminals Review
1. Introduction
2. TETRA Terminal Evolution
3. Some Key Terminal Issues
4. Drivers for New Terminal Development
5. Summary
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
3
PSX0319O.PPT
TETRA Terminals Review
1. Introduction
2. TETRA Terminal Evolution
3. Some Key Terminal Issues
4. Drivers for New Terminal Development
5. Summary
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
4
PSX0319O.PPT
First Generation TETRA Handportables
• First generation terminals no longer in market
• Limited processing power and memory
• First generation terminals provided simple ‘entry level’ features but:
– Had many supplier specific ‘TETRA’ implementations
– Limited talkgroup numbers
– Limited Static Cipher Key capability
– New features difficult to incorporate (e.g. Transmit Inhibit)
– Little or no possibility for software upgrades
– Poor battery performance
Comparison between analogue and TETRA
1G terminal
(Aachen Pilot)
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
5
PSX0319O.PPT
Second Generation Handportables• More processing power and memory
– Ability to implement new features by software upgrade
• Extended battery life
• Reduced size + weight
• Capable of:
– WAP browser
– Hardware support for SIM
– Multi-slot data?
• Colour Display
• Voice Feedback
Public Safety Examples
Commercial Examples
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
6
PSX0319O.PPT
Enhanced Second Generation Handportables
• Even more processing power and memory
– Physically the same as previous equipment, but often new platform under the skin
• Widespread use of better colour screens
• Integrated GPS receiver
• Enhanced MMI, with larger numbers of groups supported, and better group management
• End-to-end encryption supported (may be additional module)
Public Safety Examples
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
7
PSX0319O.PPT
TETRA Handportable Terminals - size and weight
600g
400g
200g
1st Generation
1997 1998 1999
PAMR
Public Safety
2nd +
20042002
2nd Generation
2001 2003
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
8
PSX0319O.PPT
TETRA Terminal Interoperability
• Terminal Interoperability is a key requirement for the vast majority of users
• Many TETRA systems currently in operation are supporting terminals from a range of suppliers
• Suppliers involved in an active TIP programme
• At the last TETRA World Congress in Vienna, November 2004, TETRA interoperability was demonstrated with terminals from the following manufacturers:
• Cleartone
• DeTeWe/FWK
• OTE
• Motorola
• Nokia
• Sepura
• Teltronic
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
9
PSX0319O.PPT
TETRA Terminals Review
1. Introduction
2. TETRA Terminal Evolution
3. Some Key Terminal Issues
4. Drivers for New Terminal Development
5. Summary
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
10
PSX0319O.PPT
Overview
• Still a need for mobile and portable terminals
– Mainly portables for mobile workers
– However cars are still equipped
– Need for motorcycle and other specialist terminals in Public Safety
• Portables could be personal issue, or picked up from station at start of shift
– Public Safety Encrypted radios are secure devices, and need to be treated as such
• Most suppliers are now in enhanced second generation terminals
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
11
PSX0319O.PPT
Basic Terminal User RequirementsFeature Public Safety Commercial
Size and Weight1
Battery Life1
‘Coverage’
Security
Rugged
DMO
Sim V&D
High Speed Data
Accessories
PEI
1 Handportable RequirementPortable Mobile
Commercial PublicSafety
Market Streams Now FutureNow Future
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
12
PSX0319O.PPT
Battery Life
• NiCad batteries not used for some years now
• Most portables now use Li Ion batteries
• Improvements are in battery capacity and weight, not in extended battery life
• Most suppliers offer standard and extended life batteries, to achieve the duty cycle
1997 1999 20022001
10
20
30
Typical Battery Life (90/5/5)
G1PublicSafety
G1PAMR
G2PublicSafety
Year
Hours
NiCad
Li Ion
NiMH
Ene
rgy
Den
sity
Battery Technology
x 1.3
x 2
x 1
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
13
PSX0319O.PPT
Direct Mode
Expectation was for a powerful set of DMO functionality
• Repeaters, gateways, gateway/repeaters, dual watch
Where are we today?
• Basic DMO in use, with gateways used to extend coverage
Still to be addressed
• Security
• Channel surveillance
• SDS-TL
• PEI for DMO
• Dual Watch
• Frequency Efficient Mode
Mostly Software?
• Interoperability was a problem but now a basic TIP
• A few manufacturers of gateways and repeaters
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
14
PSX0319O.PPT
Simultaneous Voice and Data
Expectation was for simultaneous voice and data calls
• Any combination of single or multiple calls (e.g. voice call and simultaneous data download)
Where are we today?
• Various ‘pseudo-simultaneous’ services
• Voice and SDS/Status
– Number of different signalling channels (FACCH, SACCH etc) depending upon the current state of the call
– Slower than operation on main control channel
• Alternating Packet Data and Voice/SDS
– Service Interaction TIP and Test Plan available
– Allow suspension of one service to get another
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
15
PSX0319O.PPT
High Speed Data
Where are we today?
• Support for circuit mode is limited (no TIP, fewer & fewer Manufacturers)
• Single slot packet data well established, typically 4.8KBps max with error correction
Expectation was for ‘high speed’ multi-slot data
• Back in 1997, the quoted 28.8KBps, using four concatenated timeslots, was being described as being fast…..
For higher speeds in TETRA1, multi-slot data is needed
• Multi slot will be available in very near future
• Greater processing power will allow portables to do more than on slot
TETRA2, still being developed
• TEDS (TETRA Enhanced Data Service) in standardisation
• Will be available in a few years, but needs increased channel bandwidths for the higher data rates – spectrum planning
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
16
PSX0319O.PPT
Location Services
• User requirement has pushed manufacturers to offer integrated GPS solutions
• This includes locating the person, not just vehicles
– APLS (Automatic Person Location Service)
• ETSI standards being enhanced to include a Location protocol standard - LIP
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
17
PSX0319O.PPT
Personalisation• Portability of personalisation data attractive for
– Mobile terminals (personal issue not practical)
– Shared terminals (transfer of data between shifts, e.g. telephone numbers)
– Replacement and repair
Upload/download from radio
• Re-program of terminal
• Download/upload via PEI
• Download/upload via TETRA
• Download/upload via local (non-TETRA) wireless link
• Multiple profile storage in terminal
SIM
• Widely used
• Likely to be standardised solution
• Not robust
• Security?
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
18
PSX0319O.PPT
TETRA Terminals Review
1. Introduction
2. TETRA Terminal Evolution
3. Some Key Terminal Issues
4. Drivers for New Terminal Development
5. Summary
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
19
PSX0319O.PPT
Drivers for New Terminal Development
• TETRA terminal volumes are a small fraction of the GSM market (1-2%)
• Manufacturers seeking to exploit synergies with other product lines and technologies
• Common software and hardware platforms to reduce development costs
• TETRA standards and feature roll-out continuously evolving
• Competition in the TETRA market – manufacturers cannot afford to sit back and see their terminals eclipsed by others
• Latest trends in GSM and 3G
– Colour displays
– Polyphonic ring tones
– Camera
– MMS
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
20
PSX0319O.PPT
Third Generation TETRA Terminals
• Current terminal development cycle 18 – 24 months
• Higher levels of integration and more MIPs
– Class E equalisers?
• Multi-mode (TETRA/GSM/UMTS?) operation??
• Enhanced data facilities, including Java
• Availability of data-only ‘modem’ units (here now)
• Over the Air download and configuration
• Will we see PDA type devices with TETRA capability?
• TETRA2 Highest speed data (nQAM) not until fourth generation?
= !
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
21
PSX0319O.PPT
TETRA Terminals Review
1. Introduction
2. TETRA Terminal Evolution
3. Some Key Terminal Issues
4. Drivers for New Terminal Development
5. Summary
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
22
PSX0319O.PPT
Summary
• There remains some functionality to be delivered
• Hand portable terminals will continue to evolve to be lighter and smaller
• Interoperability is a reality; TIP determines minimum feature profile
• Key terminal issues being resolved: personalisation, MMI, RF Sensitive Mode
• Short terminal release cycle – this has a real commercial impact
• Specialist terminals and peripherals are starting to be commercially available
• TETRA Release 2 promises much but commercial reality is still several years away
• TETRA offers unique PMR type functionality that is not provided by public cellular networks
© Copyright 2005 – Mason Group Ltd
23
PSX0319O.PPT
Questions?
David Taylor
Mason Communications Ltd
5 Exchange Quay, Manchester
M5 3EF, UK
Tel: +44 (0)161 877 7808
www.mason.biz