Two-way Voice and Data Systems

Kenwood offers two-way voice and data systems for analog conventional and analog trunked (LTR®, MPT-1327, PassPort™) and digital (NEXEDGE™ /NXDN® and P25). They offer integrated medium-duty workforce mobile data and GPS AVL solutions with partner vendor hardware and software solution providers on specialized projects.

NEXEDGE™ is the Kenwood brand for its digital radio systems using the NXDN® digital air interface. NEXEDGE offers advanced features, extended coverage, strong security and 12.5/6.25 kHz compatibility. Designed for self-paced migration and upgrades, a major cost and effectiveness advantage of NEXEDGE is its ease in transition to digital for users. Critical infrastructure agencies can continue to use analog radios in their fleets for as long as necessary, replacing analog with digital mobile and portable units and deploying software-driven upgrades as they progress to more advantaged digital system configuration.

NEXEDGE is comprised of a digital radio communications protocol using 4-Level FSK (4LFSK) modulation capable of operating on 12.5 and 6.25 kHz channel bandwidths. NXDN access methodology is classified as FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access). In addition, NEXEDGE uses the AMBE+2™ VOCODER, a state-of-the-art voice digitization and compression technology offering enhanced Forward Error Correction and noise reduction for clarity at varying signal strengths.

Because Kenwood’s NEXEDGE/NXDN subscriber and system equipment were designed with analog to digital migration in mind, the subscriber equipment supports analog, conventional, analog trunked and NXDN digital conventional and trunked, thereby being able to operate on both analog and NXDN digital systems. NEXEDGE subscriber units and base stations can operate in conventional “mixed mode” where both analog and NXDN digital fleet can share the same channel. In addition, the NEXEDGE digital trunked systems have hardware and software provisions to permit legacy analog conventional and analog trunked fleets to share the system’s traffic channels. This allows analog fleets to continue to be served while transitioning to digital.

Users who replace analog with NXDN reported increases in coverage. They also can now add on multiple talk groups, so that employees in different departments can have simultaneous conversations without hearing other departments.

Kenwood NEXEDGE digital systems offer several tiers of security. The digital air interface provides an inherent level of security, thus preventing casual interception and eavesdropping (versus easily intercepted analog radio). All subscriber units include a basic voice/ data scrambling feature and high level encryption options. The system is secured by management software that uses encrypted files, USB hardware keys and passwords to limit access to programming and subscriber unit privileging to authorized staff only. Subscriber units can be validated in the system by virtue of unit ID and talk group ID permitting the operator to provision and re-provision permanent, temporary and seasonal subscribers as changes require. In addition, similar to cellular, the subscriber units have a unique, one-of-a-kind, embedded Electronic Serial Number (ESN), permitting system access to only authorized subscriber unit “hardware.” A lost, stolen or compromised subscriber unit can be invalidated and a replacement unit issued while preserving the original authorized user’s Unit ID and talk groups. NEXEDGE 65,619 ID range accommodates group and individual private unit-to-unit calling for large fleets and multi-user shared systems.

Paging with alert provides traditional “beeper” and talk back pager functionality while voice storage options allow users to recall and playback missed dispatcher voice calls. Emergency features can alert a dispatch, a supervisor or a whole talk group to a unit in distress. The All Group Call and Broadcast Call features provide facility-wide general announcements or communications command and control during emergency evacuation or lock down procedures. Remote Stun/Kill and Revive temporarily or permanently disables lost or compromised subscriber units that may compromise security or cause system interference and Remote Check enables a dispatcher to verify if a unit is in system range. All subscribers have simultaneous voice and GPS capability for automatic fleet tracking.

NEXEDGE trunked radio sites are IP linked to form wide-area radio networks and any enterprise can utilize their existing IT assets such as LANs, WANs, private microwave and carrier services to transport and manage their private radio communications just as they do their data and VoIP telephony. Since radio communication operations in critical infrastructure organizations are frequently becoming folded into IT telecom departments, NEXEDGE IP –capable trunked networks offer IT managers a shorter learning curve and higher comfort level. They can anticipate, plan and budget for their enterprise wide networks for data and VOIP telephony to include radio-over-IP also .  

The NEXEDGE radio line includes a full complement of accessories including specialty items like a GPS option for both mobile and portables, voice storage options and remote mount mobile accessories for fleet vehicles.

Renowned ergonomically sound design, commitment to the highest performance standards, a reputation for cost-effective solutions and strong audio quality are among the unique advantages attributed to Kenwood in their wireless communications products, which include two-way mobile and portable radios as well as custom systems. Based in Suwanee, GA, Kenwood is a company with a world wide 50 year heritage in electronics and is acknowledged as a leader in the U.S., particularly in communications for critical infrastructure applications. Kenwood is ISO-14001 certified based on their advocacy for and adherence to ecologically sound sourcing, manufacturing and production processes. Kenwood focuses on equipment and systems primarily for voice and data that operate in the private land mobile two-way radio spectrum, which is ideal for first responders and others who rely on communications. While public network solutions offer some advantages, for emergency communications the major U.S. public safety agencies depend on private network solutions like those offered by Kenwood.