Tetra seems to be just another addition to the list of DMR, dPMR and DStar. Just like DMR Tetra originates from the professional user environment. The protocol became known because it’s been used for the dutch nation wide network for emergency services called C2000. As there were a lot of negative comments regarding C2000 it seems as if Tetra is a bad system. But Tetra is only the communication protocol of the network and has as such no direct link to the coverage of the network. The quality and setup of the infrastructure and the quality of the mobile and base equipment are the corner stones.
The name C2000 insinuates that in the year 2000 all emergency services should be migrated to this network. In reality this was a bit different. About the year 2007 the migration had been completed and all emergency services in all regions were operating C2000. Then some remous arose regarding quality and network coverage. There were situations where users couldn’t contact the network even when they were in line of sight with a base station.
Despite all the difficulties C2000 seems to be it’s final position in the work of emergency services. Some 10 years after the start of the migration. But that means that so now and then equipment is written of. A good opportunity for radio amateurs? No, not really. The equipment used by emergency services contains firmware offering encryption. This is the reason why it’s possession of this specific equipment is strictly prohibited. But Tetra is not only in use by the government. It’s also used by companies. That equipment has so called ‘clear’ firmware: it contains no TEA2 encryption. And also those users see the first batch of radios reaching ‘end of life’, which indeed offers an opportunity for radio amateurs. So now and then Tetra radios are offered via some second hand websites. And this equipment suits the job for some experiments.
What’s important when getting used Tetra radios?
- Frequency range: some available equipment covers the range 380-400 MHz. This is mainly:
- equipment initially used for C2000 (operating exactly in this range), so likely it has entered the second hand market in a less legal way!
- first generation of equipment, which is hardly to convince to go out of band.
- Programming: Tetra radios are professional radios, which means there are many users and only little programmers and software available. Professional radios can’t be programmed directly on the device. So to get the most out of the radio programmer, programming cable and correct software are mandatory;
- Functionality: a general rule of thumb: the older the radio is, the more limited its functions are;
- Availability of information: research the internet into the most desolate corners before purchasing a radio to make sure you find enough information. Some exotic radios are available, but there is almost no information to find.