If your business is using a Motorola digital two-way radio system without Capacity Plus, you’re only tapping into half its potential. Capacity Plus enhances communication capabilities, improving efficiency and connectivity without requiring extra frequencies or additional control gear. This guide breaks down how it works and why it’s a game-changer compared to conventional digital systems.

What Is Capacity Plus?

Capacity Plus is a lightweight trunking solution for Motorola MOTOTRBO two-way radio systems. It enables seamless cross-channel communication and optimises available resources, ensuring that calls, emergency alerts, and data transmissions are efficiently managed across all users.

Key Benefits:

• More Channels, More Communication: Each repeater provides two active channels. Adding more repeaters increases the number of concurrent conversations.
• Cross-Channel Functionality: Unlike conventional systems, emergency calls, private calls, and group communications can occur across multiple channels without restriction.
• Dynamic Slot Allocation: Capacity Plus dynamically assigns available timeslots, optimising system efficiency.

Capacity Plus vs. Conventional Digital Systems

Conventional Systems

In a standard digital two-way radio system, each talk group is tied to a specific repeater and timeslot. Users must remain on the same channel to communicate. If a user on Channel 1 tries to reach someone on Channel 5, communication will fail because the channels are independent.

How Capacity Plus Improves Efficiency

Capacity Plus pools all available timeslots, dynamically assigning them as needed. This
means that radio users can communicate seamlessly across all repeaters in the system,
improving flexibility and response time.

Example: Emergency Calls

Without Capacity Plus, an emergency alert sent on Channel 3 is only received by users on that channel. With Capacity Plus, the alert is broadcasted to all relevant users, regardless of which channel they are using at that moment.

Compatible Motorola Two-Way Radios and Repeaters

Most Motorola MOTOTRBO digital radios support Capacity Plus, except for entry-level models such as the DP1400. Some models require an additional license (EID) to activate the feature.

Supported Radio Models:

Radio Model	Single Site Capacity Plus	Multi-Site Capacity Plus (LCP)
DP2600e	✅	✅
DP3661e	✅	✅
DP4801e	✅	✅
R7 Series	✅	✅

Note: Some older models are also compatible with Capacity Plus but may require additional licensing.

Supported Repeaters:

Repeater Model	Single Site	Multi-Site Capacity Plus (LCP)
SLR 5500	✅	✅
SLR 8000	✅	✅

Understanding DMR Timeslots

Motorola MOTOTRBO radios use Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) technology, which splits a frequency into two timeslots. Each timeslot supports one call, meaning a single repeater allows two conversations at the same time. With Capacity Plus, all available timeslots are pooled, allowing users to access the next available slot instead of waiting for a specific channel to be free. This is similar to how mobile networks assign calls to available lines in real time.

Example: A Large System in Action

Imagine a business with 400 radios and 4 repeaters, providing 8 available timeslots. At any given moment, users could be making group calls, sending emergency alerts, and performing data transmissions simultaneously without interference.

Why Upgrade to Capacity Plus?

If your business relies on two-way radio communication, upgrading to Capacity Plus enhances:

• Scalability: Expand your system as needed without reconfiguring channels
  
• Efficiency: Dynamic call assignment reduces congestion
  
• Safety: Emergency calls reach all necessary personnel immediately

By implementing Capacity Plus, your Motorola digital radio system becomes more powerful, ensuring seamless communication for businesses of all sizes.

For more details on how to integrate Capacity Plus into your existing setup, contact DCRS, an official Motorola Solutions partner, today!

Download the MOTOTRBO Capcity Plus brochure for a full overview.