Text Messaging

MOTOTRBO radios support text messaging. On current models, messages can be up to 280 characters. First generation radios supported messages up to 138 charcaters.

Multiple MOTOTRBO system components interact together to deliver text messaging services. This includes the radios themselves and software applications.

The text messaging capabilities of a mobile or portable radio allow the user to send and receive information in a text format. This feature provides a useful alternative to voice on the MOTOTRBO system. The built-in text message service is accessed via the radio menu. Some aspects of this service are also available on non-display models.

The text messaging application (right) can either connect to the radio network either via a Control Station or via MNIS.

Services provided to a Radio User

Using the built-in text messaging services, a radio user can create, send, receive, store and display a text message. The following capabilities are included:

• A radio user can create a text message in one of two ways: Quick text or limited free-form text messages. Quick text messages are pre-defined using CPS or RM. This allows a user to choose from commonly sent messages without having to retype the content. Once selected, the user is allowed to edit any part of the Quick text message prior to sending. The CPS allows you to define 10 Quick Text messages.
• A radio user can select to send a text message to other radios. Messages can be sent to an individual or to a group. When a message is sent to an individual, the sender receives an acknowledgment once the recipient receives the message. If all delivery retry attempts were exhausted, a failure indication will be generated. With messages addressed to a group, the sender only receives confirmation that the message was transmitted and does not receive confirmation from any of the intended recipients.
• When receiving a text message, the user is notified of a new message by an icon, display string, and an audible tone if enabled in the codeplug through the CPS or RM.
• Messages are received only if the radio is currently in digital mode of operation. A radio user should enter Scan mode to receive messages if multiple channels are being utilized.
• A user can store up to 30 received or sent text messages at a time. The user is notified once the Inbox and Sent folder storage becomes full. Once full, subsequent new messages automatically cause the oldest messages to be deleted. Messages are not deleted when the radio is turned off.
• A user can store up to 30 draft text messages in the Drafts folder at a time. Once full, subsequent new drafts automatically cause the oldest draft(s) to be deleted. A user can opt to Send, Edit, or Delete the drafts in the Drafts folder. The user can opt to Save a text message that is being written or edited to the Drafts folder. If a high priority event causes the radio to exit the text message editing screen, the current text message is automatically saved into the Drafts folder. A draft that is sent is deleted from the Drafts folder and stored to the Sent folder.
• The user can scroll through messages and select any message to read, reply to, forward, save or delete.

Predictive Text Entry

Predictive text entry is now available for text messaging in MOTOTRBO software version R02.10.00 (anno 2013). Previous releases supported the multi-tap input method whereby the user repeatedly presses the same key to cycle through the letters for that key.

Predictive text may take some time to master for some radio users. Therefore, there is an option to return to the multi-tap input method when necessary. Although once mastered, predictive text entry can lower the number of overall keystrokes utilized when typing a text message, making text messaging quicker and easier.

Predictive text also provides additional functions:

• For alphabetic languages, the radio includes punctuation intelligently based on the input key. For example, after the radio user presses “2-abc”, “2-abc”, “6-mno”, “1 -,.?” and “8-tuv”, the word “can’t” is predicted.
• The radio can learn the common word sequences the radio user uses often. This function predicts the next word after the user enters the first word of the sequence that is frequently used. This can be enabled or disabled through the utilities menu.
• The radio can automatically capitalize the first word of a sentence for alphabetic languages. This function can be enabled or disabled through the utilities menu.
• The radio can supply alternative choices when the input word is not recognized by the radio dictionary. For example, if the radio user incorrectly types “thsi”, the radio autocorrects to “this”. This function can be enabled or disabled through the utilities menu.
• Accenting is mostly used with non-English words, the radio automatically adds an accent to words such as “cafe".

A radio user can add words that are not in the standard dictionary, such as names, e-mail addresses, and instant messaging IDs.

Note that predictive text is only supported in display-full-keypad portables and the full-display mobiles with software version R02.10.00 or later. Mobiles require a four-way navigation microphone with keypad.

Predefined Text Messages

This feature saves a user time by allowing commonly used text messages to be sent by simply pressing one button or selecting the message from a list. It also allows a MOTOTRBO radio, with no display or keypad, to send such text messages. These commonly used messages are programmed into the radio and can be selected via the menu or by pressing a button.

Text to Speech

This feature enables the radio to generates voice announcement using a speech synthesis algorithm. When enabled, the radio can read out of received text messages and job tickets. The CPS/RM supports configuration of a custom dictionary to ensure accurate readout of abbreviations and industry specific terminology as well as various voice files to suit the users dialect preferences (e.g. British English Female).

It is a premium feature in some radios and requires the purchase of a licence.

Interoperability Options

ETSI DMR Standard Text Messaging

To fulfill an optional DMR Standard Text Messaging format interoperability on conventional systems, ETSI DMR standard text messaging is available in addition to (Motorola Solutions) proprietary text messaging.

However, DMR standard text messaging has the following limitations:

• Works only for radio to radio text messaging;
• Available in Conventional Single Site (both local and wide area channels);
• Only supported on second generation radios.

DMR standard or proprietary Text messaging can be selected in the radio codeplug, using CPS or RM. The radio can receive both DMR standard and proprietary text messages regardless of the CPS selection. The radio also replies in-kind, meaning the reply follows the received text message format (DMR standard or Motorola Solutions proprietary). However, while initiating a radio to radio text message, the initiating radio always follows the CPS configuration (DMR standard or Motorola Solutions proprietary text message).

ETSI DMR Tier 2 UDP/IP Header Compression

There are three choices for header compression:

1. ETSI DMR Tier 2 UDP/IP Header Compression
2. (DMR), Motorola Solutions legacy Header Compression (MSI),
3. do not use header compression (none).

DMR header compression and MSI header compression are not interoperable. DMR header compression is supported only in the newer version radios/repeaters (R02.40.00 or later) of MOTOTRBO 2.0 series, and provides improved retry reliability compared to MSI header compression and should therefore be used in preference with both DMR Tier 2 text messaging and Motorola text messaging but only if supported by all radios in the fleet to maintain interoperability. Header Compression selection is configurable through CPS or RM.

The following are the recommendations for selecting the appropriate option:

1. Select ‘DMR’ Header Compression when using ETSI DMR Tier 2 text messaging (the entire fleet supports software version R02.40.00 or later).
2. Select ‘DMR’ Header Compression if using Motorola text messaging and the entire Radio and Repeater fleet has software version R02.40.00 or later.
3. Select ‘DMR’ Header Compression if the entire Radio and Repeater fleet supports “DMR”, that is, their software version is R02.40.00 or later.
4. Select ‘MSI’ or ‘none’ Header Compression if not all the radio/repeater fleet support “DMR”. This is for backward compatibility. Older radios/repeaters (prior to software version R02.40.00) only support MSI header compression or no header compression.
5. Select ‘MSI’ or ‘none’ Header Compression if not all the radio/repeater fleet support software version R02.40.00 or later. This is for backward compatibility. Older radios/repeaters (prior to software version R02.40.00) only support MSI header compression or no header compression.

See Also

Text Messages