IDAS™ Trunk Solutions

An Overview of Icom’s
IDAS™ Trunk System Configurations

An Overview prepared by Icom America Inc.

Icom’s Digital Advanced System, IDAS™, is a digital Land Mobile Radio (LMR)
platform with a scalable architecture. At the core of IDAS is the NXDN™
protocol (Next Generation Digital Narrowband) operating in 6.25 kHz
narrowband channels enabling many more potential channels to license than
12.5 kHz solutions. Initially, IDAS products may be deployed as analog or
digital, peer-to-peer, simplex configuration. IDAS can then scale to a
conventional repeated system, a digital multisite conventional or simulcast
LINQ system. IDAS may also be deployed as a single-site trunk or multi-site
MultiTrunk™ system.
The Icom IDAS systems all use common hardware and firmware and configuration
software. With a few minor accessory additions and configuration options,
IDAS devices operate in a configuration that suits your specific needs.
In this document, trunk systems will be discussed. IDAS may be deployed as a
single-site trunk system or as a multi-site trunk system, referred to as
MultiTrunk. Although there are similarities, such as both are NXDN Type D trunk
protocol based, some notable differences in capabilities and uses exist. The
following should provide the groundwork to understand where best to employ
and key aspects of how the systems operate.
Note: a key consideration in designing any radio system is creating a coverage
map with appropriate overlap between repeaters to ensure that radios
communicate properly. In radio communications, there may be coverage issues
due to buildings, topography, or atmospheric conditions. Also, a properly
functioning IP network with sufficient bandwidth is essential for multi-site
systems to operate. To learn more about how to successful deploy a radio system,
take a look at our ebook.

Advantage of Trunking Over Conventional

Before we look into trunking, let’s review the advantage of a trunk system over
a conventional one. (To learn about Icom’s IDAS LINQ conventional systems,
see the IDAS LINQ Overview.) A trunking system, in general, exists to provide
higher channel usage efficiencies than a conventional radio system.
For example, a typical conventional system can only handle one talkpath at a
time. This means that if multiple talkgroups have been assigned to a
conventional system only one group at a time can utilize the system. All other
groups must wait for traffic to clear before they can use the system. To address
that, multiple conventional systems can be deployed in series to spread the
talkgroups over a number of repeaters.

2 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

 But in doing so, a talkgroup is limited to the one conventional repeater it is
assigned. If all the talkgroups associated to a repeater are inactive for a period,
that repeater’s temporary idle capacity is unavailable for use by any talkgroups
assigned to other repeaters. This occasional wasted idle time is an inefficient
use of repeater resources inherent to conventional systems.
With trunking, however, those multiple repeaters are configured to create a
single system, managed by a trunking controller, with each repeater handling
a talkpath from any talkgroup. When one talkgroup uses a repeater, the other
talkgroups have free talkpaths available until all repeaters are busy.

IDAS Trunking Architecture

IDAS solutions are designed around NXDN standards. Within NXDN, IDAS uses
the distributed Type-D trunking standard. This is an architecture that uses a
home control channel, often referred to simply as a home channel. The IDAS
home channel architecture makes every repeater in the system available as a
talkpath on every repeater in the system, home channel included.
Other trunking systems have centralized control channel architectures that
performs a similar function as the home channel. There are benefits of central-
ized control channel trunking in that it provides a few more features than a
home channel design. But, those features come at a cost:
• Centralized control cannot be used as a voice channel. As an example,
it would take five repeater channels on a control channel trunking system
to carry the same amount of voice traffic as four repeater channels on a
home channel trunking system.
• A control channel must operate on a dedicated FCC license, known as an
A home channel is not FB8 license.
required to be on such a
hard to obtain FB8 license.

3 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

 Periodic: “I’m open”

TG-1 units transmit Use me (CH 1) TG-2 units transmit

as next available
on next available CH 1 on next available CH 2

Home Channel: Home Channel:

All TG-1 “Go To” Talk CH 1 All TG-2 “Go To” Talk CH 2
...next available CH 2 ...next available CH 3

Talkgroup (TG) 1 Talkgroup (TG) 2

Home Channel /
TG-1 Talk CH 1

Data Bus
Talk CH 2

Talk CH 3

Talk CH 4
Trunking Repeaters

Home Channel Operation

The primary function for a home channel is to direct the subscriber radios to
a free repeater. To do so, the home channel and all other repeaters at that site
communicate their status over a wired data bus. When a subscriber keys up, it
informs the home channel. The home channel then sends an over the air
message to all the subscriber radios directing any radios on the requesting
radio’s talkgroup to ‘go to’ a specific talk channel. All other subscribers ignore
the command and continue monitoring the home channel. Since this is a
Transmission Trunking Mode, this process occurs every time a radio is keyed.
Often times, that ‘go to’ channel is the home channel itself. When the home
channel is busy, included in the over the air voice packet is a command to
all radios stating the home channel is busy and to ‘go to’ talk channel X. The
Digital signals result in high
next subscriber to key up will transmit to the free talk channel, i.e. repeater
voice quality all the way to the
2. Repeater 2 uses the data bus to inform the home channel it has a request
edge of coverage.
for a specific talkgroup. The home channel then sends a message in its voice
payload informing all subscribers that this specific talkgroup should to ‘go to’
repeater 2. All other subscribers using different talkgroups ignore the command
and continue listening to the home repeater.
This is all made easier because the system is digital. The information, voice
or data, is transmitted as 1’s or 0’s and sent as packets over the air. Those
packets have a payload structure that is able to contain both voice and data.
So, every set of packets sent, voice and control data can be transmitted to the
subscriber radio. Another benefit of digital systems is the voice and data
sent can use digital methods to improve the signal, such as Forward
Error Correction.

4 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

 Another thing to keep in mind, in a quiet system with no traffic being
transmitted, the home channel sends out an ‘idle message’ every few seconds.
The idle message simply tells the subscriber radios that it exists and that it is
available for the next call.

IDAS Single-Site Trunking

Repeaters with
UC-FR5000
Data Bus

IP Network

IDAS Single-Site Trunking

Single-site Trunking is an IDAS trunk system operating in NXDN distributed
trunking (Type D) mode that is limited to a single site. An IDAS single-site trunk
system can have up to 30 channels. As mentioned, one repeater would be
the home channel repeater capable of voice while the other(s) would be voice
channel repeaters.
Typically, a single-site trunking system is built from the outset to meet site
requirements. A single-site system can have up to 30 repeaters. For a single
This solution is for a single campus, this is a lot of capacity to handle calls. There are cases when this is
campus or local geographic needed, but a two to ten channel system is more common.
region.
Schools and universities, warehouses, manufacturing plants, hotels and resorts
are common applications of a single-site trunking system. These often have
a good number of radios in use with multiple groups who only need to talk
among themselves and don’t want to be distracted by other groups conversa-
tions. For example, any campus may have facilities or engineering, custodial,
staff, managers, and security groups. Other than in times of emergency, these
groups perform better if the only radio talk they hear is from their work group.
With IDAS trunking, an ‘all call’ capability exists that allows communication to
all talkgroups during that infrequent emergency situation. This is enabled
using the block decode and priority settings so all subscribers can listen to
a talkgroup other than their own which can be set at a higher priority than all
other talkgroups.

5 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

The full set of features available on the IDAS platform are available in trunking.
Features like short data messages (text), status, call alert, radio check, stun /
revive / kill, remote monitor, multiple levels of encryption, GPS, lone worker,
mandown, superior audio quality (various features dependent on radio model),
among others.
At the system level, a second repeater can be configured as a back-up in the
event the primary fails. Configuring that secondary home channel is a wise
thing to do as it has no penalty in doing so – just a bit extra time in set-up.
The subscribers will use the secondary home channel but will continue to look
back at the primary. The secondary home channel can be configured with a
cover channel feature. A cover channel function tells the subscribers to stop
looking back to the primary home channel if it senses the primary has a
hard failure.

IDAS Multi-Site MultiTrunk

Multi-site Trunking (MultiTrunk) is an IDAS trunk system operating in NXDN
Type D mode with one to 48 sites where multiple sites are connected via an IP
network. An IDAS multi-site trunk system can have up to 30 channels per site.
MultiTrunk is an extension of single-site trunking. The home channel has the
same function and operates in a similar way. Secondary home channels per
site can be configured. And, the features found in IDAS apply in MultiTrunk.
This section will focus on the differences between single and multi-site
trunking. There are some enhancements, but the bulk of the differences are
features that enable multi-site operation.
Roaming from the RF coverage area of one site of trunking repeaters to
another poses a healthy set of challenges. IDAS MultiTrunk elegantly
addresses those challenges.

Where are the subscriber radios?

An inelegant approach to that question would be – it doesn’t matter. If that
approach is taken, and it is a choice you can make, all sites would have a
repeater transmit each time any radio keys up. This occurs even if there are no
subscribers, or active talkgroups, on that site. While this may be acceptable
for a two or three site system where is it likely a radio or talkgroup is at each
site, this does not scale. Regional systems with 30 sites may have fleets that
operate exclusively in one area. Consuming a repeater on each site for a fleet
using only four or five sites is wasteful.

6 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

Icom IDAS’s solution is to have each subscriber register at the site before
accessing the system. MultiTrunk provides ESN (Electronic Serial Number)
validation and registration. This can be programmed by a system administrator
to use the radio’s ESN to validate whether that radio can register on the
system. This is a global setting and once enabled, only radio ESN’s entered
into the system programming will be allowed onto the system. Radios not
entered into the system will fail to register.
The registration now gives the system the information to efficiently allocate
resources as needed throughout the system. If no one on a specific talkgroup
is registered to this site, no repeaters will transmit when that talkgroup keys
up, thus freeing resources for use by others. A side benefit of subscriber radio
registration is it controls rogue users from using your system further preserving
your system capacity.
The registration of a particular subscriber is negotiated at each site and
communicated to a system master database (which also happens to be an
IDAS repeater dedicated to this function). Once the negotiation is complete, all
other sites are updated with which site the radio is registered.
What happens when the radio leaves the coverage area of one site and enters
the coverage of another?
Roaming

Site A
Site B

Poor signal strength

Poor signal strength

Accep
table s
ignal s
trength

Site C

This is called roaming. There are a lot of things going on in the background to
enable roaming. The subscriber radio is continuously monitoring the quality of
the signal from the home repeater. As one site’s quality diminishes, the radio
will shift to a new site if the quality there is better.

7 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

 Roaming Registration
1 Subscriber requests
to join site System Master

IP Network

2 Collect Channel
notification 3 System Master confirms
subscriber is allowed
4 Collect Channel
notifies subscriber Home Channel /
to access
Talk CH 1
Home Channel
Talk CH 2

Talk CH 3

Collect Channel

During that process, the subscriber listens for a ‘collect channel’ from the new
site. The collect channel regularly announces itself. When the radios enter the
area, they will find the collect channel and request registration. The collect
channel manages the negotiation, which is essentially querying the system
master database to see if that radio is allowed on the site/system.
Since the system master database now knows the radio is registered on a
site, it communicates that information to all sites. At the end of the registration
process the collect repeater tells the subscriber to go to the site home channel
so normal trunking activity can begin.
The collect channel is also
available as a talk channel. The collect channel and system master database also push information to the
subscriber radios. These aforementioned push updates of any new site collect
channels added to the system. This process is called Over the Air Update. This
allows the subscribers to have the site collect channels automatically updated
without the need for manually reprogramming the subscriber radios as the
system adds resources – a convenience for all.
There are several settings to adjust how the radios roam to fine tune the
system for the most seamless roaming process. A discussion of those is
beyond the scope of this paper, but it is good to know the system has settings
to optimize performance.
MultiTrunk has IP-enabled utilities available to the system. Firmware updates,
configurations changes, and system health monitoring can be done over IP
without needing to travel to the repeater site. A utility for subscriber radio
Over-the-Air-Programming is also available. The IP connection to the system
enables Icom’s remote communicator software to access the system.

8 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

 MultiTrunk systems may be used by large organizations such as utilities,
college campuses, K-12 school districts, municipalities or may be deployed
by a radio system operator who rents radios and airtime to clients throughout
their RF coverage area.

Conclusion
A trunking system generates higher channel efficiency over conventional
systems. IDAS Single-site Trunking can support up to 30 channels in one
site. The extended version, IDAS Multi-site Trunking can support 48 sites with
30 channels each. Depending on your needs, there is an option for any
operation scale.
As an IDAS solution, there are many useful features to apply so your specific
needs are met. Emergency functions, encryption, text messages, status calls,
GPS, custom call announcements and much more.
Icom America Inc.
12421 Willows Road NE Icom can also connect our LTE or satellite radios to an IDAS trunk system for
Kirkland, WA, 98034 individuals in the fleet that roam beyond the RF footprint of the trunk system.
We can connect Wifi radios or radios of various protocols, like P25, to IDAS
trunk systems. Icom is able to create a true team communications environment
by connecting disparate technologies to form the right solution to meet
your needs.
Experts at Icom America are ready to work with customers to design a system
that meets their requirements. This support is critical to ensuring that their
system performs as expected. It can be easily upgraded with hardware/
software for future use.

About Icom
Icom started in Japan in 1964, and quickly became a leader in amateur radio
products. In the following years Icom has grown to provide radio equipment
for marine, land mobile, and avionics applications. It has become a leader in
the design and manufacturing of radio equipment that reaches across the
spectrum from simple radios to sophisticated IP-based systems. Icom America
is responsible for representing Icom products within the entire Western
Hemisphere, as well to U.S. Territories in the Pacific. For more information, visit
our website or click here to request support.

9 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

Glossary
• All Call. Radio function that allows communication to all talkgroups during
infrequent emergencies.
• Beaconing. A signal that is sent by a repeater that enables subscriber radios
to receive a transmission for the purposes of subscriber voting.
• Channel. A specific frequency (or frequency pair) on which a radio
transmits and receives RF signals.
• Collect Channel. The channel that authenticates radios to allow it on the
system. There is one per site on an IDAS multi-site trunking system.
• Conventional. The most basic repeater radio system. A fixed channel,
non-trunked, repeater system that receives signals on one frequency and
transmits on another.
• Cover Channel. Secondary home channel function that informs subscriber
radios the primary home channel has a hard failure and that they should stop
looking back to it.
• Downlink. The signal that a repeater transmits to a subscriber radio.
• Forward Error Correction. Forward Error Correction (FEC) is a method used
in digital communication where a certain percentage of bits in a string can
be corrected by the receiving end based on a code sent along with the data
by the transmitting end, thus limiting the need for retransmission of the data.
• Home Channel. Channel that directs subscribers to other open channels.
The home channel may also be used as a talk channel.
• Mobile (radio). A radio designed to be mounted in an automobile.
• Multicast. A system of transmitters transmitting the same signal using
different downlink frequencies. Note: Downlink frequencies may be reused if
transmitters have non-overlapping coverage areas.
• NXDN™. A digital protocol that uses 6.25 kHz channel spacing to enable
more efficient use of RF frequency spectrum. NXDN was developed jointly
by Icom and JVCKenwood.

10 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

• Over-the-Air-Programming. When a computer application, connected to a
radio, sends out programmed files to all select subscribers over an
RF channel.
• Over the Air Update. A function where a subscriber automatically updates
with new frequencies when they register on the collect channel.
• Portable (radio). A handheld radio powered with a battery. Power output
typically 4-6 watts.
• Receiver. Receivers simply accept radio frequency signals.
• Repeater. A radio with two different frequencies that simultaneously
receives on one and transmits on another to extend the range of an
RF signal.
• RF Hotspot. A geographical location with a strong radio signal.
• RSSI. Receive Signal Strength Indicator. A key metric that radios use to
evaluate the strength of a radio signal.
• Scan. A radio’s ability to look at multiple frequencies and stop at active
frequencies.
• Secondary Channel. A predefined back-up home channel in an
IDAS Trunking system.
• Simplex. Radios programmed with the same frequency for both receiving
and transmitting.
• Simulcast. A multi-site repeater system, using the same frequency set for
all sites, where a central controller tells the various transmitters when to
transmit so the subscribers receive the transmissions “in-phase”.
• Subscriber. A radio user radio that is part of a commercial radio system.
Also, frequently used as shorthand for either a portable or mobile radio.
• Subscriber voting. A form of voting where the subscriber radio evaluates the
RSSI signal and transmits on the strongest channel, also called vote scan.

11 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview

 • System voting. A form of voting performed by the comparator. Devices in the
LINQ system analyze the signals from the subscriber radios and transmits
the strongest signal.
• Talkgroup. A dedicated group of users on a common channel that is
separated from other users using applicable signaling “gates” as found in
the IDAS digital protocol.
• Transceiver. A radio which has both a receive and transmit capability.
• Transmission Trunking Mode. Calls are established only for the duration
of the time the Push-to-Talk button is pressed. It is different than Message
Trunking where the call remains for the duration of the conversation (similar
to a telephone call).
• Transmitter. A transmitter is any device that sends a radio-frequency signal.
• Trunked. A repeater system that uses a control channel on each site to
automatically assign frequency channels to groups of user radios. This
controller directs traffic between channels and directs the subscriber units
as to which channel to immediately turn to. This gives the system the
ability to receive multiple signals at the same time and repeat to other
repeater sites.
• Uplink. The signal that a subscriber radio transmits to a repeater.

Icom, Icom Inc. and the Icom logo are registered trademarks of Icom Incorporated (Japan) in the United States, the
United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Russia, Japan and/or other countries. IDAS, IDAS logo are trademarks of
Icom Incorporated. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective holders.

©2022 Icom America Inc. The Icom logo is 12421 Willows Road NE
a registered trademark of Icom Inc. All other
trademarks remain the property
Kirkland WA 98034
of their respective owners.43167 Phone: (425) 454-8155
Fax: (425) 454-1509
[email protected]

12 IDAS™ Trunk Solutions: An Overview