Bridging VoIP and Radio Communications With a Gateway

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Radio transmission is used in many applications, including first responders, helicopters, hospitality, construction, maintenance and campus security. Voice over IP is used by large service providers to connect users for voice communications across broadband instead of traditional phone lines. RoIP or radio over IP is a similar philosophy but focuses solely on radio frequencies. It is made possible with RoIP gateways.

Voice over IP and radio over IP both use the same mechanism to transmit voice data. CODEC is used on the transmitting end to convert spoken messages to digital data. It is then assembled into UDP packets and transmitted at intervals. On the receiving end, the digitized UDP packets are converted by CODEC into the spoken voice you hear.

Common Applications of RoIP

If you are considering RoIP gateways but aren't sure if it is the right move for your business, it can be helpful to understand how it can expand your radio coverage. The most common applications are replacing a UHF/VHF link between repeaters, replacing the leased line connection from a console to a repeater, replacing the leased line connection between multiple repeaters, or increasing coverage over remote or steep terrain. Other applications include bridging multiple repeaters and connecting radio with PBX networks.

RoIP Connections

With RoIP, you can achieve access to remote radios and connect radios to dispatch consoles or a telephone gateway. The connections may be point-to-point, point-to-multipoint or cross-band, also known as unicast, multicast and conferences.

When one-to-one communication is critical, unicast transfers voice data to a single IP address. A point-to-multipoint or multicast transmission sends one RoIP packet simultaneously to several devices via a shared IP address. Cross-band or conferences allow multiple devices to share the same RoIP packet within the group. Conferences are similar to multicast but are much easier and more effective when used in larger networks.

Benefits of RoIP

There are many benefits of implementing gateways for RoIP systems:

  • Interoperability between disparate radio systems like HF, UFH and VHF and corporate Voice over IP systems

  • Less cost to upgrade infrastructure such as when replacing wireless links, leased lines and reduced cabling

  • More reliable communication within an IP network

Importance of RoIP

It is vital to find an experienced communication systems provider in PA when you are seeking a reliable bridge between your radio and VoIP systems. The technology is used heavily in military and emergency communications and is certainly a vital technology to the future in this space. No doubt RoIP offers reliable, secure voice transmission that can save lives. Regardless of your industry, transitioning from analog radio to RoIP communications can enhance communications with field personel to a central dispatcher in your business. To find the best gateways for RoIP systems, there are some capabilities you should look for:

  • APIs for custom integrations and application development

  • Blast dial

  • Conferencing

  • Control consoles

  • Full switching and routing

  • PTT pass-through

  • RoIP encryption

For questions, contact an experienced communication systems provider in PA today. They can help you find out how RoIP gateways can benefit your business.