TETRA

Data Services &

Applications
Luis Canessa
Airbus

1
Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association
 Introduction

TETRA Data Capabilities

Standard TETRA Data Services
Advanced Data Applications Over
TETRA

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)

Each RF carrier (radio channel) is divided into

4 timeslots within a 25 KHz channel.
6.25 KHz equivalent technology. 28.8
7.2 Kbps
Kbps 36 Kbps
The transmission rate is 7.2 kbps per slot.
Aggregation of timeslots for up to 28.8 kbps.

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 TETRA Data Capabilities

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 Example of channel distribution

SBS 1
T1 T2 T3 T4
Carrier 1 (main) MCCH TCH PDCH PDCH

T1 T2 T3 T4
SBS 2
Carrier 2 TCH TCH TCH TCH
T1 T2 T3 T4
Carrier 1 MCCH SCCH PDCH TCH

SBS 3
T1 T2 T3 T4
Carrier 1 (main) MCCH SCCH SCCH SCCH

T1 T2 T3 T4 MCCH: Main Control Channel

Carrier 2 PDCH PDCH TCH TCH SCCH: Secondary Control Channel
TCH: Traffic Channel
PDCH: Packet Data Channel

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 Standard TETRA Data Services
Data Services Over Control Channel
Status: Simple 16 bits numeric message
over control channel.

Short Data Service (SDS): 4 types according to length.

o SDS types 1, 2, 3: 16, 32, and 64 bits, respectively.

o SDS type 4: 255 bytes. Supports text

messaging and GPS data.

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 Standard TETRA Data Services
Data Services Over Traffic Channel
Circuit Mode Data: Transparent data. Unprotected.
7.2 kbps single-slot
14.4 kbps 2-slots
28.8 kbps 4-slots

Packet Data: TCP/IP packets.

Single-slot and multi-slot.

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 TETRA Applications
GPS Tracking
Tracking and management of an
organizations mobile resources in
real time.
GPS information transmitted as SDS
message:
periodically (predefined interval)
by distance variation
by interrogation (polling)
upon predefined events (emergency call,
before power off, etc.)

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 TETRA Applications
Telemetry
Monitoring and control of remote
processes
Use of SDS and/or packet data
channels depending on type, length,
and frequency of data to send.
Electric and water utilities, oil & gas
sector, industrial processes, etc.

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 TETRA Applications
Imaging
IMAGE application software loaded
in radio terminals and at control
center.
Allows reception of images directly
viewable in the radio display itself.

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 Summary

TETRA is not only for voice radio networks, but also has
a variety of standard data services with capacity
beyond that supported by other technologies.
Permits value-added applications such as GPS tracking,
telemetry, and image transmission over the same basic
infrastructure.

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

 NATF

web: www.tetra-na.org
e-mail: admin@tetra-na.org

Directors:
Keith Ammons, kammons@powertrunk.com
John Monto, jmonto@arinc.com
Stephanie Piciorgros, sp@piciorgros.com

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association