Daniels has quietly begun to ship the MT-4E radio platform, which replaces the MT-4D line which was an interim step from the long established MT-3 series.
The MT-4E is software definable, via USB cable, for narrow or wideband channels. After installation as an analog radio, the firmware can be upgradable via the USB interface to full P25 Digital. Encryption requires an optional module, but is easily upgraded in the field after initial installation.
National Interop believes that the ability to upgrade to P25 Digital in the field via USB is unprecedented for base stations (e.g. Motorola and M/A-Com do not offer this ability) so we like the MT-4E for our clients since it gives them a high quality analog radio now, but doesn't close the door to future P25 operation.
As with some of the P25 mobiles and handhelds on the market, the MT-4E will operate "mixed mode" with narrowband analog and narrowband P25 digital simultaneously on one channel, another plus for our customers that will migrate to P25 digital in a gradual transition.
The MT-4E is compatible with existing Daniels subracks, racks, system monitor cards, control cards (including the UIC with the IP Radio interface compatible with Twisted Pair Solutions) so this is a straight-forward upgrade.
-National Interop Staff
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