NXDN ®

versus
DMR
a comparison of protocols
JVCKENWOOD USA CORPORATION

D.E. Wingo, Sr. Product Manager

WHITE PAPER
Contents

Executive Summary 1

NXDN and DMR Standards 3

A Basic DMR Overview 7

DMR Tier II 10

DMR Tier III 11

A Basic NXDN Overview 14

NXDN and Trunking 19

Protocol Comparison 20

Faults and Foibles 25

Basic Use Cases 31

Conclusion 34
Executive Summary

The transition to digital radio in the land mobile market has

been fraught with fits and starts, misinformation and downright
confusion. The goal of this paper is to help make the right protocol
decision by separating fact from fiction.

Camps have been established with one side must realize that there is more than a single
saying that their digital offering is better than digital protocol in the market and there are
the other, while the other says theirs is. This some unique features and/or functions to
is especially true of the markets outside of particular offerings. There are three digital
public safety where manufacturers fight for protocols that have been adopted for use in
market share. While standards have been the market, including an additional one that is
established by different bodies that cover not currently found in the Americas.
protocols, that hasn’t stopped proprietary
features and operations from creeping in. This
document is designed to help select the best
protocol for the use case. With that said, one

JVCKENWOOD 1
 Executive Summary –continued

Table 1

CHANNEL MANUFACTURER’S
PROTOCOL STANDARD ACCESS NAMES TYPICAL USE CASE

P25 TIA FDMA/TDMA Motorola – Astro Public Safety, Some Utilities

Harris – VIDA
Airbus – VESTA
EFJ – ATLAS
Tait – Taitnet

NXDN NXDN Forum FDMA Icom – IDAS Business/Industrial, Utilities,

Kenwood – NEXEDGE Some Public Safety,
Public Service, SMR

DMR ETSI TDMA Motorola – MotoTRBO Business/Industrial, Utilities,

Hytera – XPT Some Public Safety,
Simoco – Xd Public Service, SMR

dPMR ETSI FDMA Unknown in North America

As Table 1 shows, there are a number manufacturer or they may choose to use the
of naming conventions used by various protocol name such as DMR. Since our focus
manufacturers although they typically have in this paper is to examine NXDN and DMR,
to do with their systems. They can cover we will concentrate only on the standard and
subscriber units if so designated by the any typical variations from the standard.

JVCKENWOOD 2
NXDN and DMR Standards

These two protocols are based on standards written by two

different bodies.

The DMR Standard was developed by the European

Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

The Standard is defined in four documents.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
• TS 102 361-1: the DMR air interface protocol
PART 1: AIR INTERFACE
• TS 102 361-2: the DMR voice and generic
services and facilities • Sub-part A Common Air Interface

• TS 102 361-3: the DMR data protocol • Sub-part B Basic Operation

• TS 102 361-4: the DMR trunking protocol • Sub-part C Trunking Procedures (Type-C)
• Sub-part D Security
The NXDN Standard was developed by • Sub-part E Common Air Interface (Type-D)
the NXDN Forum through a joint technical • Sub-part F Trunking Procedures (Type-D)
alliance between Icom Incorporated and
PART 2: CONFORMANCE TEST
JVCKENWOOD Corporation. The goal was
• Sub-part A Transceiver Performance Test
to satisfy the FCC narrow banding mandate
• Sub-part B Common Air Interface Test
initially proposed in 2005 and completed in
• Sub-part C Basic Operation Test
2013. In February 2017, the NXDN Common • Sub-part D Trunking Operation Test (Type-C)
Air Interface (CAI) was accepted by the • Sub-part E Trunking Operation Test (Type-D)
International Telecommunications Union-
Radiocommunications Sector (ITU-R). The
NXDN Standard consists of the documents
listed to the right on this page, available on
the NXDN Forum web site (nxdn-forum.com).
JVCKENWOOD 3
 NXDN and DMR Standards –continued

Both NXDN and DMR protocols support somewhat from the standard in the areas of
conventional and trunking operations as networked repeaters and trunking. This will be
defined in Table 2. Motorola and Hytera’s addressed later in this document.
implementations of the DMR standard vary

Table 2

NXDN DMR MOTOTRBO COMMENTS

Conventional

Direct (FDMA) Direct (1-SLOT / 2-SLOT) Direct (1-SLOT / 2-SLOT) Simplex operation - single channel

Repeated Repeated Repeated Half-duplex repeater operation

RX Voting RX Voting RX Voting RX voting to fill poor talk-in areas

Networked

Conventional Tier II IP Site Connect (manual) Networked - requires user to change

channels manually

Site Roaming N/A (networked only) IP Site Connect Automatic roaming is not part of the ETSI
standard for DMR.

Trunking

Type-C (centralized) Tier III Capacity Max (Tier III) Requires FB8 channels; continuous control
channel operation

Type-D (distributed) NA Capacity Plus LTR-like

JVCKENWOOD 4
NXDN and DMR Standards –continued

As with analog, both protocols provide

solutions for simplex, repeated and trunking
operations. The differences are in the channel
access methodology and channel bandwidth.
NXDN uses Frequency Division Multiple
Access or FDMA and DMR uses Time Division
Multiple Access or TDMA for their channel
access methodologies. In FDMA, the channel
is divided by frequency and TDMA divides the
channel by time, as seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1

NXDN CHANNELS DMR CHANNEL

SLOT #2

SLOT #1

SLOT #2

SLOT #1

12.5 kHz 6.25 12.5 kHz

kHz

JVCKENWOOD 5
 NXDN and DMR Standards –continued

NXDN allows a single carrier on a channel DMR supports operation on a 12.5 kHz
at a time and TDMA allows two carriers on channel only.
a channel, but separated in time. Channel
In the industry, the terms to describe these
bandwidth use also varies between the two
operational efficiency differences are 6.25
protocols.
kHz operation and 6.25 kHz equivalency.
NXDN operates on either a 12.5 kHz channel DMR obtains efficiency with the use of two
or a 6.25 kHz channel bandwidth. time slots on the channel compared to the
actual 6.25 kHz occupied bandwidth of
NXDN.

NXDN operations Both protocols use the DVSI AMBE+2™

12.5 and 6.25 kHZ vocoder for analog / digital and digital /
analog conversion of voice. They vary in bit
DMR operations rate and FCC emission designation. These
12.5 kHZ values are denoted in Table 3.

Table 3

PROTOCOL CH. BW (kHz) VOCODER BIT RATE EMISSION DESIGNATOR

Voice Data Voice & Data

NXDN 12.5 7200 bps 8K30F1E 8K30FD 8K30F7W

6.25 3600 bps 4KF00F1E 4KF00F1E 4K00F1W

DMR 12.5 3600 bps 7K60FXE 7K60FXD 7K60FXE

JVCKENWOOD 6
A Basic DMR Overview

DMR equipment is available in three tiers but only two tiers

are sold in North America.

These tiers are: TIER I TIER II TIER III

Digital Peer-to-Peer and Trunked
PMR446 Repeater Mode Operation

Tier I is similar to the United States Both Tier II and Tier III employ TDMA
Unlicensed Family Radio Service Radios technology, allowing for two time slots on a
(FRS) in Europe. This frequency band is single 12.5 kHz channel. Over the air, the slot
occupied by the amateur radio service in structure is 30 ms (27.5 ms slot + 2.5 ms
most of the Americas. Tier II and Tier III guard) with a 50% duty cycle. The user of a
are the predominant tiers in the U.S. There slot transmits for 30 ms while the receiving
are variations offered by several of the radio, listens during that 30 ms window.
manufacturers but these are not pure to the Another transmitter and receiver may use
DMR standard. the other 30 ms block of the second slot to
communicate. This results in what appears to
be simultaneous operation to users.

JVCKENWOOD 7
 A Basic DMR Overview –continued

Figure 2 is a representation of the time slot cycle.

Figure 2

27.5 ms 27.5 ms 27.5 ms 27.5 ms 27.5 ms 27.5 ms 27.5 ms

1 2 1 2 1 2 1

Since time slotting is used, synchronization

is required to ensure that radios transmit and
receive traffic only in their designated time
slot. Different sync patterns are used between
voice and data bursts so a receiver can
differentiate between the two. To deal with
co-channel interference, different patterns are
also used for inbound and outbound channels.
Figure 3

60 ms 360 ms

DATA DATA VOICE VOICE VOICE VOICE VOICE

DATA DATA VOICE VOICE

SYNC SYNC SYNC SYNC

Like analog, there are equivalent signaling

features available in DMR. In DMR, Color
Code is the equivalent for CTCSS and DCS.

JVCKENWOOD 8
 A Basic DMR Overview –continued

Talk Groups and Unit IDs are available for in Table 4. These functions are described in
users to separate units on a time slot, to detail in ETSI TR 102 298, Electromagnetic
identify a calling radio, and to provide different Compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters
calling functions such as group and individual (ERM); Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) General
calling, and messaging. The Tier II services Design, Section 6.1 DMR Services Overview.
defined by the ETSI specifications are shown
Table 4

SERVICES SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES USE CASE

Individual Call Late Entry Join in-progress call

OVCM Call Monitor Calls - Supervisor

Talking Part Identification PTT-ID

VOICE
Group Call Late Entry Join in-progress call

Unaddressed Call All Call type operation

OVCM Call Monitor Calls - Supervisor

Talking Part Identification PTT-ID

IP over PDP None NA

Short Data over PDP -

CONFIRMED Status / Pre-coded
PACKET DATA
Short Data over PDP -
PROTOCOL Raw Data

Short Data over PDP -

Defined Data

IP over PDP None NA

UNCONFIRMED Short Data over PDP -
PACKET DATA Raw Data

PROTOCOL Short Data over PDP -

Defined Data

JVCKENWOOD 9
DMR Tier II

DMR Tier II supports, as noted in the previous section,

direct mode, repeated, repeated with receiver voting, and
networked repeated.

Direct mode is single RF channel simplex In Tier II, repeaters may be networked to
between two units. There are two different allow a user to communicate across multiple
types available. The original version was a sites to increase coverage footprint. This is
single time slot used for communications generally referenced as RF multi-cast. This
between two units. A newer method allows is accomplished via IP connection between
for two time slots to be used on the channel. each site. The ETSI standard covers only
Like repeater operation, synchronization is a single site, therefore each manufacturer
required, but two different operational groups has developed their specific site connection
may share the same simplex channel, thereby methodology using IP. This may preclude
increasing the efficiency of the channel. radios from operating on a different
manufacturer’s Tier II multi-site repeater
Repeater operation in DMR Tier II is no
system without prior knowledge to implement
different than analog repeater operation
the other system’s method.
except for the availability of two time slots.
This allows a single repeater to act as two
repeaters although the same channel pair is
used. The receiver voting allows additional
receive only sites to be configured to fill
problem areas of coverage, with the best
receiver used as the input to the main site
repeater.

JVCKENWOOD 10
DMR Tier III

The Tier III standard feature set is defined by the following

services:

GENERIC SERVICES VOICE SERVICES DATA SERVICES

• Mobile Station (MS) Access • MS talk group call service • Short Data service
Control and Management • MS individual call service • Packet Data service
using a control channel and
• All-Call service • Supplementary data
a random access protocol
• Broadcast voice call service transfer service
• MS location with the system
• Open voice channel mode • MS stun and revive
radio coverage by radio site
identification and registration call service (OVCM) • MS kill
• Control Channel hunting
• System acquisition
authorization
• Unified data transport
mechanism; support short
data services, supplementary
data service and destination
addressing through gateways
• Broadcast of system
parameters to MS
• MS Authentication

The Tier III services defined by the ETSI and Radio Spectrum Matters (ERM); Digital
specifications are shown in Table 8. These Mobile Radio (DMR) General Design, Section
functions are described in detail in ETSI 8 Trunking (DMR Tier III.)
TR 102 298, Electromagnetic compatibility

JVCKENWOOD 11
DMR Tier III –continued

Trunked operation is supported in DMR Tier If Slot #1 of Repeater #1 is defined as a

III. Tier III uses a centralized trunking method control channel, then Channels #2 through
with a control channel that regulates access #4 may be used as traffic channels.
and assigns traffic channels on a site. Traffic
Like other centralized trunking systems,
channels are time slots available. Both single-
subscriber units monitor the control channel
site and multi-site systems can be deployed
when idle. If a talk group becomes active and
depending on the needs of the customer.
the subscriber is a member of that talk group,
Subscribers may roam between sites as
all subscribers who are a member of that
needed in a multi-site system. As seen in
group will get a go-to message with a traffic
Figure 4, the time slots are defined as logical
channel assignment.
channel numbers.

Figure 4

CH CH
#2 #4
CH SLOT #2 CH SLOT #2
#1 #3
SLOT #1 SLOT #1

RPT. #1 RPT. #2

JVCKENWOOD 12
 DMR Tier III –continued

Table 5

SERVICES SUPPLEMENTARY USE CASE

SERVICES

VOICE Initiate Random Access Group Call Late Entry Join in-progress call
All Call
Broadcast Call
OVCM Call Monitor Calls - Supervisor
Unaddressed Call
Call to Line PABX / PSTN
Priority Call
Emergency Call
Initiate Random Access Individual Call Late Entry
OACSU
OVCM Call
Call to Line PABX / PSTN
Priority Call
Emergency Call
Initiate Press and Talk Individual and Group Call By Random Access
CONTROL (CSBK or MBC) Broadcast System Parameters
SHORT DATA Status Message Paging (one-way)
Individual Short Data Message
Group Short Data Message
CONFIRMED DATA Individual Packet Data Call - Connection Oriented
Individual Packet Data Call - Connectionless
Individual Circuit Data Call - Reliable
UNCONFIRMED DATA Individual Packet Data Call - Connectionless
Group Packet Data Call - Connectionless
Individual Circuit Data Call - Unreliable
Group Circuit Data Data Call - Unreliable
UNCONFIRMED DATA Individual Packet Data Call - Connectionless
Group Packet Data Call - Connectionless
Individual Circuit Data Call - Unreliable
Group Circuit Data Data Call - Unreliable
VOICE Group Call Increase priority in Emergency
Individual Call
DATA Increase priority in Emergency

JVCKENWOOD 13
A Basic NXDN Overview

NXDN equipment is offered for Conventional and Trunking

operation. All NXDN configurations are available worldwide
since no unlicensed version is offered in any market.

Conventional and Trunking operations may be broken down as follows.

CONVENTIONAL OPERATION TRUNKING OPERATION

• Conventional Simplex • Type-C Trunking (Centralized)
• Conventional Repeated • Type-D Trunking (Decentralized)

Unlike DMR, NXDN is not broken down into or in trunking, as FDMA. Only a single user
tiers, so for the purpose of this paper, we will may transmit on the channel at a time for
examine conventional and trunking. intelligibility to be maintained. Both DMR and
NXDN are subject to the same effects of FM
In conventional, NXDN can be operated
capture since both are FM.
using analog methodology. A user may
operate in simplex or use a repeater. Channel
occupancy, again, is like conventional. A single
carrier operates on a given channel, thus it is
defined as single channel per carrier (SCPC)

JVCKENWOOD 14
A Basic NXDN Overview –continued

NXDN is unique in that it can use either 12.5

NXDN is unique
kHz channel bandwidths or 6.25 kHz channel in that it can use either
bandwidths. This is generally referred to as
narrow and very narrow operation. When
occupying these different channel bandwidths,
12.5 kHz
CHANNEL BANDWIDTHS
the vocoder bit rate differs, therefore the or
emission designators differ as shown in Table
3. In addition, the data payload of signaling 6.25 kHz
and voice or data have different frame lengths. CHANNEL BANDWIDTHS
In one frame at 12.5 kHz it is 40 ms in length
and at 6.25 kHz, a single frame is 80 ms.

At the start of a transmission, the preamble

is appended with a frame sync word to insure
receiver initial synchronization capture. The
sync is the same whether voice or data.

NXDN can be used for voice,

data or voice and data.

JVCKENWOOD 15
 A Basic NXDN Overview –continued

Figure 4 shows the basic structures for very

narrow and narrow.

320 ms
80 ms

Figure 4

SYNC SYNC SYNC SYNC

320 ms
40 ms

SYNC SYNC SYNC SYNC SYNC SYNC SYNC SYNC

Although NXDN is digital, it uses signaling Version 1.4, NXDN Technical Specification,
methods like analog. RAN (Radio Access Part 1: Air Interface, Sub-part A: Common
Number) is used as an equivalent for CTCSS Air Interface, Section 2.2 Functions Defined
and DCS. Talk Groups and Unit IDs are by CAI details the services available in both
available to separate units on a channel, Trunking and Conventional Operation as
identify calling radios and provide different shown in the Table 6.
calling functions such as group and individual
calling and messaging. The NXDN TS 1-A

JVCKENWOOD 16
 A Basic NXDN Overview –continued

Table 6

SERVICE TRUNKED CONVENTIONAL

Multi-Site Single Site Repeater Direct

VOICE Broadcast Group Call 4 4 NA NA

Conference Group Call 4 4 4 4
Individual Call 4 4 4 4
Interconnect Call 4 4 4 NA
DATA Data Call 4 4 4 4
Broadcast Data Call 4 4 4 4
Short Data Call 4 4 NA NA
Broadcast Short Data Call 4 4 NA NA
Simultaneous Data Call 4 4 4 4
SUPPLEMENTARY Status Call 4 4 4 4
Broadcast Status Call 4 4 4 4
Paging 4 4 4 4
Emergency Call 4 4 4 4
Emergency Alert 4 4 4 4
Remote Monitor 4 4 4 4
Remote Stun 4 4 4 4
Late Entry 4 4 4 4
SYSTEM Registration 4 4 NA NA
Group Registration 4 NA NA NA
Site Roaming 4 4 NA NA
System Roaming 4 4 NA NA
Composite Control Channel 4 4 NA NA
Restriction Control 4 4 NA NA
Fail Soft 4 4 NA NA
Call Queuing 4 4 NA NA
Priority Monitor 4 4 NA NA
Intermittent Operation 4 4 NA NA
Traffic Timer 4 4 NA NA

SECURITY Authentication 4 4 4 4
Encryption 4 4 4 4

JVCKENWOOD 17
A Basic NXDN Overview –continued

In conventional mode, the subscriber operates While the NXDN standard covers the
almost identical to a standard analog push- common air interface (CAI) for the subscriber
to-talk, release-to-listen operation. It operates and repeater operation, the standard does not
differently in that the audio is encoded define the structure of the IP backhaul. Each
and decoded into digital via a vocoder. The system manufacturer uses their own structure,
transmitter may occupy a single channel of therefore repeaters of one manufacturer
a bandwidth of either 12.5 kHz or 6.25 kHz. cannot be networked with those of another
The over-the-air data rate varies based on the manufacturer.
channel bandwidth selected by the end-user.
These figures are noted in Table 3.

As part of conventional mode, the subscriber

unit can be operated in direct mode, simplex
unit-to-unit or repeated mode via a repeater
to extend range. RAN codes and talk groups
may be used to segregate users in either type
of operation. Repeaters may be networked via
IP to allow extended functionality as follows:

• Conventional Repeated with

Receiver Voting

• Conventional IP Networked

• Conventional IP Networked
with Site Roaming

JVCKENWOOD 18
NXDN and Trunking

The NXDN standard supports two different trunking

protocols, Type-C and Type-D. The CAI differs between
trunking and conventional. This adds a level of security since
a conventionally programmed radio will not decode trunking
traffic. Like conventional, trunking can be used on either 12.5
kHz or 6.25 kHz channels although channel bandwidth may
not be mixed in a system.

Type-C uses a dedicated control channel Type-D operates in a similar fashion to analog
that continually transmits. The system may be LTR. Control is distributed between the
installed as a single site or multi-sites can be repeaters and a home channel is assigned
installed that allow subscribers to roam when for a subscriber. Available only as a single
leaving the coverage of a site. This increases site, but with a familiar operation, easing the
the operational footprint of the user compared migration path from LTR for the user.
to that of a single site. The control channel
manages registration of the subscribers as
well as channel resources, assigning users to
open channels upon request and directing a
like talk group to that channel. This does not
differ from the basic Tier III DMR trunking
operation except that, in NXDN, channels
are physical channels and not time slots on a
channel.

JVCKENWOOD 19
Protocol Comparison

This paper has provided a basic foundation of NXDN and

DMR. To properly compare the two protocols features and
functionalities one must also provide information on those that
vary somewhat from the basic standard. As discussed there
are several manufacturers for both protocols. This section will
include the various differences and also show where those
differences are found.

Table 7 shows the basic conventional, A manufacturer may provide a standards

networked and trunking operational modes based system but add extended capability
as defined in the Standards or added as that only their subscribers can use, while
proprietary by a manufacturer. In general, another subscriber can still use the same
the Standards cover only basic conventional system, without access to the proprietary
and trunking operations. Manufacturers have feature.
added networking, therefore, as previously
discussed, infrastructure cannot be mixed,
although subscriber units may be mixed
depending on what control signaling is used.

JVCKENWOOD 20
 Protocol Comparison –continued

Table 7

OPERATIONAL NXDN DMR

MODE
NXDN NEXEDGE IDAS DMR MotoTRBO Hytera
Standard (Kenwood) (ICOM) Standard

CONVENTIONAL Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct

6.25 / 12.5 kHz 6.25 / 12.5 kHz 6.25 kHz 1-SLOT / 2-SLOT 1-SLOT / 2-SLOT 1-SLOT / 2-SLOT

Repeated Repeated Repeated Repeated Repeated Repeated

6.25 / 12.5 kHz 6.25 / 12.5 kHz 6.25 kHz Tier II Tier II Tier II

NA RX Voting RX Voting NA RX Voting NA

6.25 / 12.5 kHz 6.25 kHz

NETWORKED NA IP Connected IP Connected NA IP Site Connect IP Connected

Manual Manual Manual

NA IP Connected IP Connected NA IP Site Connect IP Connected

Site Roaming Site Roaming Roaming Roaming

TRUNKING Type-C Type-C Type-C Tier III Capacity Max Trunking Lite/Pro
Centralized 6.25 / 12.5 kHz 6.25 kHz Tier III Tier III

Type-D Type-D Type-D NA Capacity Plus eXtended

Distributed 6.25 kHz 6.25 kHz Pseudo Trunk

Looking at the NXDN features, one can be programmed such that it can roam without
see that receiver voting and IP connectivity user prompting.
between conventional repeater sites has been
As for trunking within NXDN, a subscriber
added by the manufacturer. Since receiver
with the proper programming and trunking
voting is an infrastructure based feature, it
type may operate on any manufacturers
is not subscriber unit centric, therefore any
system per the Standard. There are no special
NXDN subscriber unit will be capable of
variants between manufacturers to make
operating. This also holds true of IP connected
the operation proprietary. Again, networking
sites with manual roaming or what is referred
between sites even in trunking will vary,
to as selector roaming, which is when the user
which means repeaters cannot be mixed and
changes to that site’s channel. IP connected
matched among manufacturers.
with site roaming requires that the subscriber

JVCKENWOOD 21
Protocol Comparison –continued

Within DMR, there appears to be more different methodology for assigning traffic
variation from the Standard. However, the channels in a multi-channel system.
Standard like NXDN covers direct, repeated
Capacity Plus can be single or multi-site.
and trunking. It does not cover networking of
Single site operation uses what it is termed a
sites or receiver voting. Receiver voting is a
Rest Channel. Idle radios occupy an assigned
non-issue since this is infrastructure based,
Rest Channel until a call goes active. The
so we may rule out any effects from it. Where
call goes active on the Rest Channel which
issues arise is with networked and trunking
becomes the traffic channel and all radios
operations. Each manufacturer has their
not involved in a call move to a new Rest
particular “spin” on that operation. If we look at
Channel or an open idle channel. At the end
simple IP connected repeaters where the user
of a call, the system broadcasts the status
manually roams, then there isn’t an issue. IP
of all channels. In multi-site operation, logical
connected with roaming introduces variables
channels are defined as local or wide area.
that require firmware and software tailored to
The local channel is repeated at the site
ensure proper operation.
where the wide area goes over the system.
While there is a single trunking type in DMR, The trunking process is the same as the
several manufacturers have developed their single site.
own version in addition to Tier III. These
versions correlate with NXDN Type-D.
Motorola has Capacity Plus and Hytera
has eXtended Pseudo Trunk. Each uses a

JVCKENWOOD 22
 Protocol Comparison –continued

Hytera’s eXtended Pseudo Trunk (XPT) is DMR Tier III and NXDN Type-C both use a
similar in operation to Capacity Plus as a control channel like many of the legacy public
single site trunking system. Subscribers are safety trunking systems. These systems can
assigned a home repeater where they reside be either single or multi-site based on the
when idle. If the home repeater is available for user’s needs. The subscribers reside on the
traffic, it will use the pre-assigned repeater control channel when idle and use the control
and time slot for communications. If not channel for registration and channel requests.
available, it will switch to an available channel Tier III and Type-C differ only in what is
based on the system status broadcast. This defined as a channel. Tier III defines a channel
operation is very much like analog LTR. as a time slot and NXDN defines a channel
as a physical channel.

Both NXDN and DMR have defined

Tier III and Type-C differ
encryption methodologies as part of their
only in what is defined as
Standard. DES and AES are universal for
a channel. Tier III defines a
both protocols where the basic encryption
channel as a timeslot and
differs. Table 8 shows the encryption methods
NXDN defines a channel
employed.
as a physical channel.
Table 8

NXDN DMR MOTOTRBO HYTERA

Voice Security (Encryption)

Basic (15 bit) ARC4 (40 bit) Basic (16 bit) ARC4 (40 bit)

DES (56 bit) DES (56 bit) ADP (RC4 based) AES (128 bit)

AES (256 bit) AES (256 bit) AES (256 bit) AES (256 bit)

JVCKENWOOD 23
Protocol Comparison –continued

Other areas of differences between the REVIEW

protocols are within the available Unit ID
The above paragraphs have summarized
(UID) and Talk Group (GID) range along
features and system types, the fundamental
with the signaling value range. As shown
difference between DMR and NXDN is
in Table 13, DMR has a significant number
channel access. This has been discussed
of UIDs and GIDs. While the range may be
in previous sections; let’s take a moment to
large, the system deployed may not support
review.
the maximum number of ID’s available. The
system purchaser must ensure that the DMR is capable, by the use of time slotting,
system will support their requirements. This to have two users occupy a single channel
will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer in a pseudo simultaneous fashion. NXDN
especially when considering non-standards allows only a single carrier on a channel. It
based systems. cannot share the channel with another user
in a pseudo simultaneous fashion. It is a

Table 9 single carrier per channel. Both have their

advantages and disadvantages when using
NXDN DMR
this channel access methodology, plus the
Unit ID Range (UID) protocol itself limits operation. Where one
1 to 65519 1 to 16,776,415 protocol may work for a one user’s system, the
Group ID Range (GID) other may not and vice versa. The next section

1 to 65519 1 to 16,776,415 will deal with these items.

Signaling Value Range

RAN = None, 1 to 63 Color Code = 0 to 15

JVCKENWOOD 24
Faults and Foibles

We started off by stressing that these are complementary

products and not competitive products. The reason for this
statement is that one protocol may work better than the other
for a particular use case. Let’s look and discover where the
proverbial wheels come off one, compared to the other.

There are probably many more examples a 12.5 kHz narrow channel and is referred to
than these, but these are the “big” ones that as 6.25 kHz equivalent. NXDN can occupy a
become obvious when selecting a protocol to 12.5 kHz or 6.25 kHz (very narrow) channel.
use. This section should be read as a whole NXDN meets the true 6.25 kHz operation in
and not as a way to pick one protocol over the very narrow and DMR is an equivalent. NXDN
other. In the use case section, we will bring is true to the analog method of channel
everything together. access, thus, the user sees no difference
in migration whether on the subscriber or
One of the most obvious items, which is
infrastructure side. Signaling is set in a similar
brought up often, is that DMR provides a
manner as analog but instead of CTCSS or
two-to-one (2-to-1) advantage. This occurs on
DCS, RAN is used. In DMR, there is a Color
Code and a Slot that needs to be set for each
NXDN true operation subscriber which is not difficult but different

6.25 kHZ for users migrating but does require an extra

step.
DMR equivalent
6.25 kHZ

JVCKENWOOD 25
 Faults and Foibles –continued

NXDN DMR Figure 4

To maintain decode in each protocol, the is extremely important so a receiver may

subscriber’s receiver and repeater’s receiver properly align in time with the assigned slot.
must obtain sync with the incoming frames. Decode cannot start until sync is established.
This is accomplished using a sync word that
NXDN has a sync word at the beginning of
is repeated. In the basic overview of each
each frame so the decoder has a 40 to 80 ms
protocol, a representation of each frame is
window to obtain sync after joining an on-
shown for both protocols. DMR sends its sync
going call. In reality, at least three frames are
mid-frame separated by 60 ms in two data
needed before the decoder starts the decode
frames and within the beginning and end of
process.
the voice frames. Since two time slots may
occupy a single channel, synchronization

JVCKENWOOD 26
Faults and Foibles –continued

Once sync is established, the DSP can buffer

a number of frames. This buffering allows it NXDN demonstrates a
to properly replicate the original voice frame conservative range increase
and send it to the vocoder. This number varies of 20% compared to analog.
between protocols therefore late entry is
affected differently between them. Late entry
Since FDMA has been introduced, the single
is defined by the period of time that it takes
channel per carrier, the guard frequency
for a radio joining an in-process call to audio
that provides isolation between the channel
decode. DMR takes a minimum of 360 ms
and adjacent, have to be considered. If a
to enter into a call. NXDN varies due to the
user decreases his occupied bandwidth by
channel bandwidth available. For a NXDN
using very narrow spacing, more isolation
Narrow channel, 12.5 kHz, it takes a minimum
is provided from the adjacent channel and
of 160 ms and for NXDN very narrow, 6.25
even on-channel signals. This improvement in
kHz, it can take between 320 and 560 ms.
signal-to-noise contributes to the receiver’s
ability to decode a lower signal strength. If a
Since the release of digital protocols for
protocol uses a standard bandwidth, then no
land mobile radio, we have seen the curve
advantage is seen from improved signal-to-
showing the difference between analog and
noise. With DMR, we have to consider not only
digital. Digital with the use of forward error
guard frequency band but time between the
correction (FEC) yields an increase in range
slots.
of approximately 20% but is this consistent
between the protocols? NXDN demonstrates
a conservative range increase of 20%
compared to analog when subscriber and
repeaters are properly installed and tuned.

JVCKENWOOD 27
Faults and Foibles –continued

In DMR, there is a guard between slots of In RF, we must deal with what is referred to
2.5 ms. If our signal is delayed it can start as multi-path. This is when a signal arrives at
encroaching on this guard time thus decoding a receiver via two or more paths. The signals
will be halted so as not to create interference may arrive at the same time or be delayed one
with the other slot. This is what has been from another. They may also differ in relative
described as the Near / Far effect. Extra time amplitude due to path loss. The best example
is needed for a distant unit to transmit back in the analog television days is what we called
to, say, a base station compared to a unit that ghosting and in modern digital TVs where
is near the base station. The distant signal, we see locked or dropped pixels or even full
due to its delay, may encroach on the near image lock-up.
unit when it starts to transmit on the other
time slot. This limitation alone reduces the
available footprint of a DMR system compared
to a NXDN system. Studies done in the past
on TETRA (TDMA) and Tetrapol (FDMA)
demonstrated a three-to-one difference in
coverage. One manufacturer notes that the
Near / Far effect is less of an issue in an
urban environment but in a rural area, the
effect could be significant. A NXDN system
will require fewer sites.

JVCKENWOOD 28
Faults and Foibles –continued

If the path delay is small compared to the answer is no, if the channel is shared with
digital symbol time, then the effect may be an analog signal or the immediate adjacent
constructive. If the delay is large, then it may is analog. While the signal strength falls off
be destructive, depending on the amplitude of by one divided by range squared, the roar
the delayed signal. In digital, the BER would of a digital signal when received by a co-
increase unless the delay is large enough to channel analog subscriber without signaling
be subtractive on the signal thus cancelling is quite annoying. If the signal captures the
the primary path. Since DMR is switching at a analog receiver, then it will block the front
2.5 ms rate between slots, path delay will be end thus reducing sensitivity. The same holds
of great importance to maintain a low BER. true for an adjacent channel. It takes less
DMR (TDMA) functions better when the signal strength on the adjacent that is digital
signal strength is large to take advantage of to block an analog receiver. Since DMR is
capture where NXDN (FDMA) can decode switching between slots every 27.5 ms at
at a lower signal strength in a multipath 50% duty, it can create audio anomalies that
environment since it does not have to deal will false analog CTCSS signaling. Care must
with signal switching which may contribute to be exercised in sharing a channel between
the delay. a digital and analog system. The current
contours seem to be insufficient at VHF
One general question that comes up is
based on actual field experience.
whether digital is a good co-channel or
adjacent channel neighbor? The simple

MULTIPATH
ENVIRONMENT

JVCKENWOOD 29
Faults and Foibles –continued

While telephone interconnect has been suits the application. The key is to study the
basically replaced by cellular telephones, usage and evaluate the standard protocol
there are still areas where no cell coverage features before looking at the features offered
is available creating demand for telephone by any system manufacturer. The key is not to
interconnect. As in analog, NXDN is capable be wooed by a non-standard feature that will
of interconnect but operating in a half-duplex drive you as a purchaser to obtain a system
fashion. Due to the use of time slots, DMR that doesn’t fit how you need to use the
is capable of operating full-duplex. This system. It is important to investigate both the
allows a radio user to carry on a telephone protocol and the manufacturer.
conversation like they would via a POTS line.
No additional equipment is required to do
this. NXDN could replicate this operation
in a similar fashion, but it would require the
splitting of both transmit and receive channels
at a site to do this.

As it can be seen in this section, both

protocols have their own advantages and
disadvantages. How you intend to use the
technology will dictate the protocol that best

JVCKENWOOD 30
Basic Use Cases

The conclusion of the previous section recommended

evaluating the protocol based on how it will be used. The
last paragraphs will look at a few of these cases. Again, one
must remember that these are not competitive products. The
intention is to pick the best protocol for the application, so
let’s look at a few.

Let’s consider a four-building complex where appropriate maintenance personnel. Based

the current user has been using analog from on prior discussions about the NXDN Type-D
a single conventional repeater. Since there solution, what is considered best for the
are four buildings, the customer would like application? To look at this appropriately, we
to provide four talk groups to split up the can break down issues as follows:

CHANNELS  REVIOUS
P USER
AVAILABLE LOCATION OPERATION GROUPING

Four FB6s Urban office Analog, single Four groups

building; repeater that required
indoor covers the
coverage complex

JVCKENWOOD 31
Basic Use Cases –continued

At first glance, we could easily satisfy this with current coverage of analog, conventional DMR
trunking, but cost and complexity is higher. is the best solution.
Talk groups can be used in conventional
In the next case, a moderately sized rural
digital so one doesn’t need trunking. Since
county requires extended mobile and portable
the analog only system provided adequate
coverage where analog suffered in the past.
coverage throughout the four buildings, our
They have a primary site and no other site is
site placement is simple. We can either use
available. Their requirements breakdown as
four NXDN repeaters to give them four talk
follows:
paths for the desired groups or two DMR
repeaters for the four groups with expansion
to four more groups as their capacity
requirements grow. Based on helping the
customer future proof for expansion and the

CHANNELS  REVIOUS
P USER
AVAILABLE LOCATION OPERATION GROUPING

One (1) Rural Analog, single Less than

conventional repeater with 10 users per
some voting; shift; central
poor coverage dispatch

JVCKENWOOD 32
Basic Use Cases –continued

Initially, a DMR conventional would increase The protocol answer is not as simple as
capacity for the county, but they do not the other two examples. While the above
need the capacity. What they need is overall questions are few, there are many other
coverage in the fringe areas from a single questions that these lead to that will help the
site. They need a good talk-in profile to the dealer select the right protocol. The dealer
repeater so that a weak digital signal can must look carefully at what he is trying to
be decoded. They need to make sure their accomplish and the cost of implementation.
communication is reliable even on late entry If the dealer is replacing a small analog
so there is minimal delay in the transition from system and wants to add subscribers, then
mobile to portable. This county would be best DMR may fit his requirements. If he plans to
served by NXDN conventional. build-out a large rural system, then NXDN
would be a better protocol choice. There
The final example is that of a dealer that
is no right or wrong protocol choice in this
wants to provide radio as a service on an SMR
case, but it is critical that the dealer weighs
system. The dealer may need to provide reliable
his requirements against the capability of the
communications to his subscribers over a large
protocol.
or small geographic area. Some of the things
that the dealer needs to consider are these:

CHANNELS  REVIOUS
P USER
AVAILABLE LOCATION OPERATION GROUPING

What do How big will Do I want to Who is my

I currently my service expand if I targeted
have and area be and already had an customer base
what can I what are the existing analog and how many
license? demographics? system? groups will then
need?
JVCKENWOOD 33
Conclusion

This paper has presented a brief overview of the two

protocols, NXDN and DMR. The intention was not to present
evidence that one is better than the other since it isn’t true,
but to present the pros and cons based on the limitations of
each.

The reader must carefully consider the

basic protocol before choosing, and also
consider that manufacturers will tout features
that appear to offer many benefits over
another manufacturer’s offering. To ensure a
successful deployment, it’s always best to go
back to the fundamentals and wise selection
of a protocol is one of those fundamentals.
Features alone do not make a customer
happy if it turns out that their radios can’t be
heard or the channel even accessed.

JVCKENWOOD 34
JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation

3970 Johns Creek Court, Suite 100

NXDN® is a trademark of JVCKENWOOD Corporation and Icom, Inc.
Suwanee, GA 30024 NEXEDGE® is a registered trademark of JVCKENWOOD Corporation.

http://comms.kenwood.com All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.