Motorola, Harris and Other P25 and DMR Radios Using an RNDIS Interface
LifeRing Enables P25 and Low Cost RNDIS Radios to Share an Encrypted Common Operational Picture
Some country’s First Responders and militaries use handheld Motorola P25 and low cost DMR Radios for First Responders and Military Squad level voice communications. Previously, there was no way for these radios to be easily connected to Smartphones that enable users to create and exchange a Common Operational Picture (COP), enter friendly and hostile unit locations, Chat, Message, Whiteboard and receive Commands and Geofence alerts. Thus, providing an integrated COP to those at the tip of the spear. LifeRing resolves this issue by providing: A. Highly compressed message standard enabling COP data exchange over very low bandwidth communications, B. AES 256 bit encryption and C. Software that permits direct cable connection to the RNDIS radio I/O driver. See below:
Key Features:
- Transmit and receive own Position Reports
- Enter Hostile Units
- Send Chat and Text Messages
- Transmit and Receive Whiteboards
- Declare Emergency Condition
- Receive and Respond to Orders
- Encrypts Data Communication
The LifeRing software provided First Responder and military Squad level COP information is then passed up the Chain of Command to higher level units. The LifeRing interface with higher commands also permits the receipt of intelligence information and commands from higher headquarters enabling coordination of activities of all up and down the Chain of Command.
Why is an RNDIS interface Needed?
Most radios are designed to interface with Microsoft PCs and Tablets using the Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (RNDIS) for their USB port. Unfortunately, most Android and iPhones are not designed to accept the RNDIS interface. This has created significant system integration issues. In the past, the only way for a DMR, P25, Harris or other RNDIS enabled radio to interface with an Android Smartphone/Tablet was by either one of these three methods:
- Rooting the Android device (which limits the ability to use software updates to the Android device and does not permit use of devices from other manufactures),
- Paying the Android phone manufacturer to create a special USB RNDIS I/O interface (very expensive and limits the ability to use the Android device software updates or devices from other manufactures) or
- Use special, expensive cables that required their own power source. (creating a yet more tangled interface cable mess).
Obviously, all these approaches are not First Responder or militarily operationally attractive.
AGIS approach to resolving this interface issue is totally different and consists of loading a new AGIS software package on the Android device that enables the radios with a RNDIS I/O driver to connect via USB cable to Android Smartphones that have installed AGIS’ LifeRing software.
AGIS has successfully tested LifeRing with AGIS’ new radio/Android Smartphone interface using a small number of Motorola P25 and DMR radios. We are constantly expanding LifeRing’s ability to interface with new devices and/or extend their capabilities. Please contact us to see how we can help you.