On 4/23/07, Paul Metzger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Mototrbo also allows one to configure the repeater to be either > analog, or digital. But once configured for one (analog or digital), > programming will be required to switch it. > > I have overcome this by placing two repeaters within the same > cabinet. One conventional, and Mototrbo, both on the same frequency > pair. Therefor, it will remain an open system for all to utilize and > experiment. At his point, I'm just waiting for the Mototrbo repeater > to arrive.
Not trying to be a spoil-sport, but since Mototrbo isn't a "documented public protocol" doesn't it fall under the "encrypted" transmission rules, and wouldn't be allowed in the Amateur bands? What do folks think that know more about Mototrbo? Is it documented well enough (like both D-Star and P-25 are) to engineer something to receive it without breaking a Moto patent or other intellectual rights, and will Moto allow it? I don't think Moto's "sharing" the details of the Mototrbo protocol, thus -- it's probably not legal for Amateur use. Perhaps you're not talking about an Amateur repeater, though. Strange new world of CODEC's and proprietary software we're headed into -- I've been deeply involved in some open-source licensing issues in the computer world, and it would appear to me that radio folks aren't quite ready for this transition -- there's going to be a lot of wild and wooley lawsuits coming soon... Digital protocol engineers make a lot of money, and someone has to "own" the protocol for a while to pay their salaries... so unless a standards body "owns" it... (like APCO with Project-25, or JARL with D-Star's underlying protocal)... the manufacturer will have to "protect" their interests in the protocol if anyone copy-cats it. At least for a while... Also, with these types of things, there's always a possibility that the protocol is "encumbered" as they say, with other licensing agreements. An example would be the P-25 AMBE vocoder... the "owners" of that software get a cut of every P-25 radio made. So is Moto willing to share enough information to allow others to make Mototrbo compatible radios, even if they don't actually make them? That would seem to be the litmus test. If not, beware if your plan was to put such a repeater into Amateur service. Nate WY0X
