Data Sheet

Cisco Land Mobile Radio Gateway

Product Overview
®
The Cisco Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Gateway solution uses Cisco integrated services routers with LMR-specific
software capabilities. These gateways link to existing LMR systems and make the critical adaptation of LMR audio
and signaling to IP. The standards-based IP network that interconnects the LMR gateways provides the intelligent
services necessary for real-time, point-to-multipoint traffic. The flexible, cost-effective solution joins multiple LMR
systems temporarily or permanently, and the scalable, distributed architecture can support a few to thousands of
users over unlimited distances across a public or private network.

The LMR industry is moving to a packet-based network infrastructure to interconnect radio base stations. Solutions
based on traditional technologies are expensive, vendor proprietary, not scalable, and unreliable during disaster
scenarios, when radio communications are critical. The Cisco LMR-over-IP solution addresses this important market
by enabling a scalable, robust, and secure network that integrates easily with commercially available radio systems.
The core of the Cisco LMR solution consists of Cisco 2900 and 3900 Cisco 2800 and 3800 Series integrated
services routers, , which can transport LMR traffic over point-to-point or multicast voice-over-IP (VoIP) networks,
enabling LMR systems to extend beyond their traditional geographic limitations imposed by transmitter signal
strength.

Key Features and Benefits

● Based on open standards: The Cisco LMR Gateway solution runs on off-the-shelf Cisco 2900, 3900, or
2800, 3800, series routers. Because it is based on well-known, open standards protocols such as multicast
VoIP and H.323 v.2, it supports innovation and the development of value-added applications. It easily
integrates with open standards applications that extend LMR communications to devices such as personal
digital assistants (PDAs), PCs, IP phones, and public switched telephone networks (PSTNs).
● Interoperable with disparate LMR networks: With its open standards IP infrastructure, the Cisco LMR
solution connects disparate, multivendor radio networks without the need for manual, dispatcher intervention.
● Offers a cost-effective and reliable replacement for dedicated leased lines: Running Cisco LMR
communications on IP infrastructure yields cost benefits and operational efficiencies and increases the
robustness of existing radio systems. Converged networks provide one highly robust and flexible
infrastructure for all needs, including LMR, IP telephony, and data communications.
● Protects investments in existing radio assets: With Cisco LMR solutions, customers can continue to use
push-to-talk (PTT), carrier-operated relay (COR), and tone-controlled radio systems by interfacing with either
analog ear-and-mouth (E&M) ports or digital T1/E1 ports on Cisco integrated services routers.
®
● Offers enhanced LMR features: Cisco IOS Software enhances LMR features to manage tone-controlled
radios, handle fluctuation in audio levels, and deal with faulty PTT buttons on radios.
● Enhanced network features: The Cisco LMR solution is based on Cisco integrated service routers, which
run the industry-leading Cisco IOS Software. Cisco IOS Software enhances LMR networks by incorporating
advanced features such as security, quality of service (QoS), IP telephony, and wireless (802.11).
● Enhanced security and VPN features: Cisco IOS Software provides a robust suite of security features,
including Virtual Private Networks (VPN), firewall, and intrusion detection, to LMR networks for secure
communications.

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 Data Sheet

Product Architecture
Many traditional radios are keyed using the electrical leads of PTT and COR. The Cisco LMR can tunnel the digitized
audio and associated signaling across the VoIP network between two radio base stations by using the Cisco IOS
Connection Trunk feature to establish a virtual tie line, which replaces a leased tie line.

The carrier-operated relay (COR) on the radio maps to the M lead on an E&M router interface. When asserted, it
causes Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets to be inserted across the QoS-enabled VoIP network to the
remote Cisco LMR router.Conversely, the presence of an RTP packet stream from the VoIP network causes the E-
lead to be asserted on the E&M router interface, thereby asserting PTT on the radio side.

The LMR feature set comprises this function, along with thresholds and timers for tuning E- and M- lead behavior. It
preserves the integrity of the electrical signaling across the VoIP network. In addition, the following enhanced Cisco
IOS Software features make this interface between the radio and the router a value proposition:

● Static tone injection: You can configure the router to inject audio tones through the digital signal processors
(DSPs) onboard for keying up or selecting the channel on the radio.
● Notch filtering: You can filter guard and idle tones before the audio is sent over the IP link. This helps
maintain the integrity of the audio.
● Configurable voice transmit delay: To avoid front-end clipping, you can configure a transmit delay to make
the Cisco LMR Gateway play incoming voice to the radio side with a delay of up to 1.5 seconds.
● PTT timeout: A faulty PTT button on a radio can severely hamper radio communication. You can configure
the Cisco LMR Gateway to disable communication from a radio after a configurable PTT timeout duration.
● Automatic gain control: Fluctuating audio levels because of distance from the radio or disturbance in the
medium can be frustrating. With automatic gain control, you can configure the audio levels on both radio and
IP side to a comfortable decibel value.
● Startup E lead off: Traditionally the E-lead on the E&M voice card is raised when the router is in ROMMON
state or reloaded. This can cause unnecessary radio key-up in the radio world. A new command has been
added to turn it off in LMR mode.

Figure 1. IP-Enabled LMR Transport

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 Data Sheet

The Cisco LMR on the Cisco 2900, 3900, 2800, and 3800 series routers expands IP Communications between
multiple radio systems by mapping E and M leads to multicast VoIP groups.

You can develop open standards-based applications to expand connectivity to IP phones and PC clients. These
applications can dynamically mix RTP streams from disparate multicast VoIP groups. In addition, these applications
can mix RTP streams from multiple endpoints to serve the same function as a dispatcher in traditional LMR
implementations.

Ordering Information
A feature license is required to turn on Cisco LMR Gateway functions. The feature is a configurable option or can be
purchased as a spare for existing chassis.

Table 1. Ordering Information

Part Number Price Platforms Supported

FL-LMR $995.00 Cisco 2900, 3900, 2800, and 3800

FL-LMR= (spare) $995.00 Cisco 2900, 3900, 2800, and 3800

Feature Availability

Table 2. Feature Availability

Platform Feature Set Minimum Flash/DRAM Recommended Flash/DRAM

Cisco 2900 UC Technology Package 256MB (platform default)/512 MB 256MB (platform default)/512 MB
(platform default) (platform default)

Cisco 3900 UC Technology Package 256MB (platform default)/1GB 256MB (platform default)/1GB (platform
(platform default) default)

Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851 Advanced Enterprise Services 64/128 MB 64/128 MB

SP Services 64/128 MB 64/128 MB

Cisco 3825 Advanced Enterprise Services 64/194 MB 128/256 MB

SP Services 64/194 MB 128/256 MB

Cisco 3845 Advanced Enterprise Services 64/194 MB 128/256 MB

SP Services 64/194 MB 128/256 MB

Product Specifications

Table 3. Product Specifications

Products Specifications

Supported Platforms ● Cisco 2901, 2911, 2921, 2951

● Cisco 3925, 3945
● Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851
● Cisco 3825 and 3845

Supported Cisco IOS ● 12.3(11)T SP Services and above for Cisco 2800, and 3800 series
Software Release ● 12.4(2)T SP Services and above for LMR feature enhancements*
● 15.0(1)M and above for Cisco 2900 and 3900 series

Protocols Multicast VoIP, Cisco Group Management Protocol (CGMP), class of service (CoS), differentiated services code point
(DSCP), H.323v2, Internet Group Management Protocol Version 3 (IGMPv3), low-latency queuing (LLQ), and type of
service (ToS)

Supported Network ● Analog: Part numbers NM-HD-1V, NM-HD-2V, and NM-HD-2VE

Modules ● Digital: Part number NM-HDV2 (LMR feature is supported with onboard voice interface cards (VICs) on Cisco 2800
and 3800 series, requires onboard DSPs/PVDM2 or PVDM3)

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 Data Sheet

Products Specifications

Supported Voice ● Analog: Part numbers VIC3-2E/M (NM-1V or NM-2V only), VIC3-2E/M (NM-HD-1V, NM-HD-2V, or NM-HD-2VE only)
Interface Cards ● Digital: Part numbers VWIC2-1MFT-T1, VWIC2-2MFT-T1, VWIC2-1MFT-E1, and VWIC2-2MFT-E1 (NM-HD-2VE
only)

Features and Functions Interconnect radio base stations using connection private line auto ringdown (PLAR), connection trunk and connection
trunk-to-multicast VoIP networks; adjustable E lead, M lead parameters to control receive and transmit for COR and PTT
radio systems

System Capacity

Table 4. Maximum LMR Ports

Platform Maximum Analog Ports Maximum Digital Channels

Cisco 2901 ● 8 total ● 8 T1s on board

Cisco 2911, 2921 ● 12 total ● 8 T1s on board

● 4 T1s on network module
● 12 total

Cisco 2951, 3925 ● 16 total ● 8 T1s on board

● 8 T1s on network module
● 16 total

Cisco 3945 ● 24 total ● 8 T1s on board

● 16 T1s on network module
● 24 total

Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851 ● 4 on network module ● 4 T1s on network module
● 6 on board ● 6 T1s on board
● 10 total ● 10 total

Cisco 3825 ● 8 on network modules ● 8 T1s on network module

● 8 onboard ● 8 T1s onboard
● 16 total ● 16 total

Cisco 3845 ● 16 on network modules ● 16 T1s on network module

● 8 onboard ● 8 T1s onboard
● 24 total ● 24 total

Summary
Cisco Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Gateway is a Cisco IOS Software-based solution that runs on Cisco 2900, 3900,
2800, and 3800 series integrated services routers to integrate different radio systems over a highly scalable, robust,
and secure VoIP network. The Cisco LMR solution is built on standard protocols such as multicast VoIP to integrate
transparently with third-party applications to extend LMR communications to IP telephony, PSTNs, and PC-based
endpoints.

Additional Information
Contact your local or regional Cisco account representative for additional information about Cisco LMR.

To Download the Software

To download Cisco IOS Software, visit the Cisco Software Center at:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/products_ios_cisco_ios_software_category_home.html

Cisco and Partner Services for the Branch

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clear, replicable, optimized branch footprint across technologies. Planning and design services align technology with
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improve operational efficiency, save money, and mitigate risk. Optimization services are designed to continuously
improve performance and help your team succeed with new technologies. For more information, visit
http://www.cisco.com/go/services.

For More Information

For more information about Cisco LMR over IP, contact your local Cisco account representative.

Printed in USA C78-562595-00 11/09

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