Glossary

Agentschap Telecom

Agentschap Telecom (Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands) is responsible for frequency management, it grants licences and ensures rules and procedures are enforced in the Netherlands.

ATEX

ATmosphere EXplosieve (French for explosive atmosphere). European legislation in relation to explosion proof equipment.

ATIS

Automatic Transmitter Identification System: 5 tone code system for marine telephones and two-way radios used in inland shipping. Each ship, including pleasure craft, has a unique and compulsory dual tone digitalised code, which is automatically sent at the end of a call. The receiver can then read the ships name. The ATIS codes and names are registered with Agentschap Telecom in Groningen. Application; automatic reporting to traffic supervision systems and at bridges, sluices and marinas.

BIPT

Belgisch Instituut voor Postdiensten en Telecommunicatie; Belgian Institute for Postal services and Telecommunications. BIPT is responsible for frequency management, grants licences and ensures rules and procedures are enforced in Belgium.

C2000 and ASTRID

C2000 in The Netherlands and ASTRID in Belgium are digital radio networks for mobile communication for the emergency services. C2000 and ASTRID are intended for fire brigade, ambulance services and police. Services such as customs, the coast guard and rangers are also able to use C2000 and ASTRID. The handsets and permanent stations can be used as a two-way radio, mobile radio, mobile data terminal and pager. C2000 and ASTRID are based on TETRA. Flash offers the option to improve the indoor coverage of C2000 and ASTRID handsets.

Cell enhancer

Active antenna system for expansion and optimisation of the radio range. Is used in combination with special antennas, such as ceiling antennas, radiating co-axial cable etc. Cell enhancers are available in channelled and broad band types for VHF and UHF bands. Are applied in tunnels, parking garages and for indoor coverage of the C2000- and ASTRID-network at Special Coverage Locations.

Conventional

Communication technology where the peripherals communicate directly with each other without the intervention of a switching system. Usually works on one frequency channel. You need to manually switch simultaneously with regard to multiple frequency channels.

Diversity

Diversity is used in networks that consist of multiple transmitters/receivers. If more than one receiver receives the same signal, the diversity system will compare the underlying values and will only pass on the strongest signal. This, for example, prevents echoes due to time differences. Often automatic transmitter choices are linked to this to ensure that the signal to send back uses the same transmitter/receiver through which the strongest acknowledgement signal arrived.

DMO

Direct Mode Operation. Direct contact of peripherals without using a network or system.

Duplex

Communication method where a channel consists of two frequencies; one for transmitting and one for receiving. You can transmit and receive at the same time in contrast to the semi-duplex method as is the case in relation to (mobile) telephony.

Fixed mobile radio

Fixed installation of a transmitter/receiver. They will often be mobile radios that are suitable to serve as the 'base' service by adding specific accessories. They will often be extended by using a separate control.

Interface

Required to connect different equipment, signalling methods and such when a partnership is required. A telephone interface will, for example, connect a radio communication system to a company's telephone exchange to ensure personnel can efficiently carry out their tasks.

Man-down function

Is used in hazardous working environments, for example chemical factories. The man-down function will automatically send an alarm signal to a central post, as soon as the two-way radio is held at an angle below 45 degrees for a certain length of time.

Midband

Popular name for the low VHF frequency band, which is between 68 and 88 MHz. In the Netherlands, this band is only used by penitentiary institutions. In Belgium, Midband is used less and less frequently; it is now only used by a number of refuse collection departments.

Tait Midband radios

Mobile radio

Transmitter/receiver meant for installation and use in vehicles and vessels.

MPT1327

International trunking protocol for analogue PMR communication. Operational for the first time in 1986 in London. MPT1327 is an open standard for private systems and national covering networks and has been adopted by various manufacturers and suppliers. Functionally it is based on both individual and group communication. Well-known application in the Netherlands and in Belgium is the Entropia network.

No-move function

Is applied in hazardous working situations, for example chemical factories. The No-move function will automatically send an alarm signal to a central post, if the two-way radio has not moved for a certain length of time.

Operation

Unit to control a permanently installed transmitter/receiver via, for example, a telephone line. It is often used when the distance between the transmitter/receiver and the antenna installation is such that the power loss in the antenna cable becomes too great.

Pager

It is used by fire brigades in particular to signal an alarm to firemen through their own networks. It is also referred to as beeper or bleeper.

PL, Private Line or CTCSS

Private Line is a registered trade mark of Motorola for a tone signalling technology where a code (frequency) is also sent while transmitting that cancels a blockage, which ensures that the transmitted signal can be heard by the receiver. Only those transmitters/receivers that are adjusted to the same PL code can communicate with each other. You cannot hear other users. This feature is also known as pilot tone, subaudio tone or tone squelch.

PMR

Private Mobile Radio or; closed network. A customised network configuration for one or more groups of users within an organisation. This can vary from two to a hundred participants through conventional or trunking technologies.

Repeater

A transmitter/receiver that operates based on the duplex method with the task of increasing the communication range among the peripherals themselves. The signals that are received are automatically retransmitted. The transmitting frequency of the repeater is, therefore, equal to the receiving frequency of the peripherals and the transmitting frequency of the peripherals equals the receiving frequency of the repeater. The repeater can also be used as a fixed mobile radio by adding a control.

Select-5

Registered trade mark of Motorola for tone signalling technology where the users can be called selectively or as a group within a closed network through the transmission of unique 5-tone codes. This also reduces disturbances on the network.

Semi-duplex

Communication method where a (traffic) channel consists of two frequencies; one for transmitting and one for receiving. It is used in networks where a repeater is used and combines the features of the simplex and duplex methods.

Simplex

Communication method where one frequency channel is used. You cannot transmit and receive at the same time.

SmartNet

This is a Motorola trunking system and protocol. A SmartNet trunking system with the maximum configuration of one control channel and seven communication channels offers sufficient capacity for approximately 1000 users. The SmartNet functions are based on group communication.

StartSite

Similar to SmartNet but with small protocol differences and a maximum configuration of one control channel and four communication channels with capacity for approximately 300 users.

Telephone coupling

Coupling/interface module, developed to couple a radio system or network to a (company) telephone switchboard. This allows the mobile radio to directly 'call' an internal telephone and vice versa. The conversation is carried out in simplex form however. This also allows for contact with external telephones via the telephone switchboard.

TETRA

TErrestrial Trunking RAdio. Digital trunking technology based on one frequency channel and four traffic channels by applying time slots (TDMA = Time Division Multiple Access).

TGN

A temporarily closed network (Tijdelijk Gesloten Net) is used when you are working with radio communications for a short period. Frequency channels have been reserved in both the VHF and the UHF bands. TGN is used when turnarounds are planned at production companies, events and similar.

Trunking

Technique where the different frequency channels are dynamically allocated. This results in a higher efficiency of the available traffic capacity.

Two-way radio

Practical, portable transmitter/receiver. Also referred to as walkie-talkie, that has an antenna and a rechargeable battery as a minimum. Application: where direct contact within a group is required.

UHF

Ultra High Frequency. Part of the frequency spectrum that has been determined to be between 380 and 470 MHz for professional mobile communication of different user groups by Agentschap Telecom and BIPT who are responsible for frequency management. These high frequencies are very suitable for use at locations where there is a lot of building due to their specific features. Examples of where they are used: industrial companies and distriparks.

VHF

Very High Frequency. Part of the frequency spectrum that has been determined to be between 146 and 175 MHz for professional mobile communications of different user groups by Agentschap Telecom and BIPT who are responsible for frequency management. These frequencies are suitable for use at locations where communication takes place outdoors or where there are few building in the vicinity due to their specific features. Examples of where they are used: at events or construction firms.