What is the features of 5-tone signalling?

[KMB]

Hello all,
As the company I work want to install a "Zetron DCS-5020 Digital Dispatch Console System" and the supplier said the it use 5-tone for signalling, however, our portable and mobile radios don't have this function. So, I want to know that:
1. What is the special features of 5-tone?
2. Is it different with MDC, QCII??
3. Does MDC can do the same as 5-tone? As we want to knwo the ID of the radios only.
4. Where can find details of 5-tone and MDC, such as their working theories.

Thank you very much!

KMB

[Keygun]

5Tone signalling (aka Select-V in Motorola language) is heavily used here in Germany. I guess it can`t do more or less than MDC. It`s OK for IDing, alerting and some status messages. But needing this, means you can`t use any of those nice US-market radios (Saber, Astro Saber. aso).

The difference to other signalling is that it is strictly analogue - only a sequence of five tones. MDC for example uses small data packets.

Keygun

[dls00]

I think you are asking what Select V can do that MDC (Stat-Alert) can or can't do.

You have found that a majority of mobile/portable radios don't support 5Tone any longer. The evolution is MDC, which Motorola let anyone develop encoders/decoders for, so there are much more items and support for MDC than there are for 5Tone.

I want to ask, you are looking at a DCS-5020 console from Zetron. It supports "selcal 5/6" - this is just a paging format - a 5/6 tone generator for pagers. It isn't going to signal your radios.

Find a console that supports the MDC signaling that your radios have. Don't rely on only one supplier, find one that can support your MDC signaling requirements. Call your local Motorola distributor and tell them you want an MCC 5500 console with MDC (Stat-Alert) signaling.

[KMB]

We are a Aisa public bus service company and we hope to connect our stand-alone 7 repeaters to form a network for our outdoor staff, with around 150 portables (GP3188) and 30 mobiles (GM300, looking for new model) now. As there is a small place, only few radio providers here in which only 2 can provide network technical support. We hope to install a low-cost console in our central control unit, apart from MCC 5500, and other suggestions for me?
And how much of the MCC 5500?

Thank you!

KMB