Motorola Solutions integrates Wi-Fi, low-power Bluetooth in next-generation MOTOTRBO portfolio

The next-generation MOTOTRBO platform also offers new flexibility from a network-management standpoint via the introduction of Capacity Max, a trunking solution that supports about 3,000 users per site via a centralized controller while leverages existing infrastructure and subscribers, Helm said.

Capacity Max almost doubles the 1,600 users per site supported by Motorola Solutions’ Capacity Plus product and matches the 3,000 users per site of its Connect Plus offering. However, Connect Plus is designed to support as many as 250 sites in a network with each site having a separate controller; Capacity Max is more appropriate for deployments that have fewer sites and would benefit from centralized control, Helm said.

 “One of the unique use cases that we’ve seen in the utility market is wide-area systems with very low density,” Helm said. “Honestly, one of our challenges with Connect Plus was the fact that I needed a controller at every site. Now, with Capacity Max, I’m really going to be able to more effectively—through software—scale the bandwidth and price the capacity needed at each site.

“So, for those kinds of opportunities, where wide area and low density needs to be cost-effective, Capacity Max really will do that more effectively than Connect Plus. A lot this depends on user needs and topology, and this really fills a feature request that we had over our current portfolio.”

Motorola Solutions also announced its SLR 8000, a high-power repeater that is designed to complement the company’s SLR 5700 low-power repeater with similar features—a modular design, better reliability and a slimmer form factor, according to Helm.

“The SLR 8000 is essentially our next-generation repeater to replace our industry-leading MTR 3000 repeater, which has been a workhorse into this space for many years,” he said.

Motorola Solutions will showcase the next-generation MOTOTRBO portfolio in three weeks at both the company’s channel-partner expo and at IWCE 2016 in Las Vegas, Helm said.