User's Manual

Viking™ VP600 Portable Radio Operating Manual 3-15
General Operation
3.11.2 SmartNet / SmartZone Mode
This is a trunked operating mode in which automatic access is provided to several RF
channels. ID codes are used to select what radios are being called and what calls are
received. Monitoring is performed automatically and special messages and tones indicate
busy and out-of-range conditions.
SmartNet and SmartZone operation and programming is very similar. Basically, SmartNet
operation is limited to a single repeater site and SmartZone operation allows automatic
roaming between sites. Enhanced SmartNet/SmartZone features include roaming
(SmartZone only), telephone, private, and emergency calls, Call Alert™, and messaging.
Either analog or digital signaling may be used (digital is optional).
When a SmartNet or SmartZone channel is selected or the radio is powered up on one of
those channels, the alias (name) of the selected channel is displayed as the radio searches
for a control channel. Once a control channel is found, the radio attempts to register on the
trunked system. If a control channel could not be found (because of an out of range
condition or the system ID is not correct, for example), “No Sys” (early units) or “Out Of
Rng” (later units) is displayed and the radio continues to search for a control channel.
The control channel transmits and receives system information to and from all radios
registered on the system. Therefore, once a control channel is found, it is continuously
monitored for incoming call information and is used to make call requests. The radio
automatically changes to a traffic channel to place and receive calls and then returns to the
control channel when the call is complete. Operating features unique to SmartNet/
SmartZone channels are described in Section 6.
3.11.3 P25 Trunked Mode
The P25 Trunking operating features are very similar to the SmartZone type. Some
differences between the P25 Trunking and SmartZone modes are as follows:
• Digital signaling is always used with P25 calls. Either analog or digital signaling may
be used for SmartZone calls.
• Calls made to a specific radio in the P25/SmartZone/SmartNet/P25 Trunked modes are
called Unit Calls.
• Messaging is not available with P25 calls.
• Telephone calls are available.
• The P25 control channel data rate is 9600 baud and the digital voice data rate is also
9600 baud. With SmartZone operation, the control channel data rate is 3600 baud (both
digital and analog calls) and the narrowband digital voice data rate is 9600 baud.
• The P25 mode uses a system ID, Wide Area Communications Network (WACN) ID,
and RF Subsystem ID (RFSS). The SmartZone mode does not use the WACN and
RFSS IDs.