RNRC links multiple VHF repeater sites into one shared digital radio network so members can communicate across large rural areas without having to think about which repeater site they are using.
Your radio connects to an RNRC repeater site. That site is connected to the rest of the RNRC network, allowing your conversation to reach other members even when they are using a different repeater site.
A handheld or vehicle radio by itself can only communicate so far. Repeater sites placed at elevated locations allow the network to cover much larger areas.
Repeater equipment is placed at strategically selected locations where elevation and terrain provide useful coverage across rural areas.
When you transmit, your two-way radio sends its signal to a nearby RNRC repeater site.
The repeater receives your transmission and rebroadcasts it from a high-elevation antenna system, allowing other radios across the site's coverage area to receive the call.
RNRC repeater sites are linked together as part of the same network. A member using Site A can communicate with another member using Site B when both are using the same authorized talkgroup. The users do not need to be within range of the same repeater.
The linked network is what turns individual repeater sites into a wide-area communications system.
Traditional radio systems often require users to manually change channels as they travel from one repeater coverage area to another.
RNRC is designed to make that experience much simpler. Compatible radios can automatically search for and use an appropriate RNRC site as the user travels through the network.
That means a driver can travel between coverage areas while continuing to use the same organization talkgroup rather than trying to remember which mountain or repeater channel should be selected.
The radio can move between programmed RNRC sites as coverage changes. For most users, the network should feel like one radio system rather than a collection of separate repeaters.
Digital radio networks use talkgroups instead of treating every user on the system as part of one large conversation.
A talkgroup functions somewhat like an operational channel. Radios assigned to that talkgroup can participate in the conversation, while users on unrelated talkgroups are not part of that traffic.
RNRC can provide organizations with dedicated talkgroups while also maintaining shared talkgroups for communications between participating organizations when needed.
One member's radio might include several talkgroups for different purposes.
RNRC is designed around VHF land mobile radio because it is well suited to the large, open, and rural operating environments the network is intended to serve.
VHF is widely used for communications across ranches, roads, open terrain, agricultural operations, and other large rural areas.
RNRC uses commercial-grade digital land mobile radio equipment designed for vehicle and field use.
Traditional RNRC radios communicate over the cooperative's radio infrastructure rather than depending on the user's cellular carrier.
Both types of radios can use the RNRC network, but they do not perform exactly the same way.
RNRC repeater sites exchange information over data connections so they can operate together as one network.
This connection is known as backhaul. Depending on the site, RNRC may use point-to-point wireless links, local internet connections, or other IP networking methods.
Backhaul is what allows a transmission received at one repeater site to be carried to other RNRC sites where members of the same talkgroup may be operating.
Your field radio communicates with the repeater using VHF radio. The repeater sites then use IP networking to communicate with the other sites in the RNRC system.
A member does not need cellular data or internet service on a normal VHF subscriber radio simply to communicate with an RNRC repeater.
Remote communications infrastructure must account for power outages, network interruptions, weather, and difficult site access.
Sites can be designed with battery backup, solar power, generators, or other power systems appropriate for the location.
Where practical, network paths can be designed with alternative routes or redundant connections.
RNRC manages network configuration and infrastructure centrally so members do not have to maintain their own repeater systems.
Traditional VHF radio is the foundation of RNRC, but optional broadband tools such as Motorola WAVE PTX and Radio-over-IP interoperability can extend access far beyond the physical coverage of the repeater network.
By connecting broadband push-to-talk services with the RNRC radio network, a member can participate in RNRC communications using either a traditional VHF radio or an internet-connected WAVE PTX device. A person standing on a ranch with a VHF handheld can potentially be on the same conversation as someone hundreds or thousands of miles away using a smartphone, TLK device, or other authorized broadband connection.
The VHF portion of RNRC is naturally limited by terrain and radio coverage. Broadband access changes that equation.
An authorized WAVE PTX user with suitable internet connectivity can access communications from well outside the VHF coverage area. That could mean another town, another state, or potentially another country, subject to service availability and network access.
In practical terms, this allows RNRC to connect remote VHF field users with supervisors, dispatchers, owners, office personnel, or other authorized users almost anywhere they have a usable IP connection.
WAVE PTX can add broadband capabilities that are not available on a conventional two-way radio alone.
Use a smartphone, supported TLK device, tablet, or other authorized WAVE PTX endpoint to participate in push-to-talk communications.
Authorized WAVE users can communicate with users operating on the connected RNRC land mobile radio network.
Broadband users can exchange text information in addition to normal push-to-talk voice communications.
WAVE PTX can support sharing photos, video, and file attachments, providing additional information that cannot be sent through a normal voice-only subscriber radio.
Supported WAVE services can provide location sharing and mapping capabilities for broadband-connected users.
Broadband dispatch capabilities can provide authorized personnel with centralized access to communications and connected users from an internet-connected workstation.
Office staff can communicate with VHF field personnel without requiring a VHF base station at every office location.
Supervisors and managers can remain connected to authorized talkgroups while outside the normal RNRC radio coverage area.
Uses VHF radio coverage from RNRC repeater sites.
No cellular connection required.
No Wi-Fi connection required.
No broadband subscription required simply to use the normal RNRC VHF system.
Uses cellular data, Wi-Fi, or another suitable IP connection to reach WAVE PTX.
Can extend communications far beyond RNRC's physical VHF coverage.
Requires the applicable broadband device, service, integration, and WAVE PTX subscription.
RNRC does not need to build every possible site on day one. The cooperative can expand as members identify new coverage needs and resources become available.
Ideally, very little. The technology should stay in the background.
Choose the operational group you need from the radio.
Use the radio like a normal professional two-way radio.
Roaming, repeater selection, site-to-site connectivity, and optional broadband integration happen behind the scenes as much as possible.
Explore expected coverage, review approved radios, or learn how your organization can participate in the cooperative.