Bridging Two-Way Radios to Nationwide PTT: The RoIP Gateway Guide
You do not have to choose between the two-way radio system you own and nationwide push-to-talk. A Radio Over IP (RoIP) gateway bridges an existing LMR or DMR system to the PeakPTT network, so legacy radio crews and nationwide PoC crews share traffic on the same channels. Installation takes less than 10 minutes, and the legacy system's reach effectively becomes nationwide.
- The RoIP gateway connects PeakPTT devices and existing 2-way radio users across channels
- Install is under 10 minutes: connect a donor radio from the LMR/DMR system to the gateway, and the gateway to wired internet
- Crews transition at their own pace, or run both systems permanently where each fits
- One-time hardware cost ($1,250, universal radio cable included), no repeater build-out, no new licenses on the PoC side
Why Bridge Instead of Replace?
A working UHF or DMR system represents real money: repeaters, licensed frequencies, programmed radios, and crews who know how to use them. A forklift replacement throws that away on day one. Bridging keeps it: the existing system keeps doing what it does well on site, while the PeakPTT side adds what it cannot do, which is reach a truck three states away, a second facility, or a manager's handset anywhere there is 4G LTE or Wi-Fi.
The result is one conversation across both worlds. A crew member on a legacy handheld talks on their usual channel; a PoC radio, the dispatch console, or a manager's app hears it and answers back through the gateway.
How the RoIP Gateway Works
The Radio Over IP Gateway Router is a small appliance (6 by 4 by 1.5 inches, with a 4.3 inch touch screen) that sits between the two systems:
- On the legacy side, a donor radio from your LMR or DMR system connects to the gateway with the included universal radio transceiver cable. The donor radio needs a ground plane antenna.
- On the network side, the gateway connects to a wired internet connection (10/100 Ethernet).
- In between, the gateway carries audio both directions, so the legacy channel and the PeakPTT talk group become one shared conversation.
Installation takes less than 10 minutes. There is no tower work, no reprogramming of the legacy fleet, and no change to how existing radio users press and talk.
Three Deployment Patterns That Work
- The transition. New hires and new sites go straight onto PoC radios while the legacy fleet keeps working. The gateway keeps everyone on shared traffic until the last legacy radio retires on its own schedule.
- The permanent split. Some operations keep LMR where it is genuinely the right tool and run PoC everywhere else: local yard crews on the repeater, drivers and remote sites on nationwide PTT, all talking through the bridge.
- The range extension. The legacy system stays exactly as it is, and the gateway simply extends its reach: anyone on the PeakPTT side, anywhere in the country, can join the local channel.
What It Costs
The gateway is a one-time $1,250 hardware purchase with the universal radio cable included. The PeakPTT side is the standard published service: $24.95 per radio per month, no contract, radios pre-programmed. There are no new FCC licenses on the PoC side, because those radios ride the cellular carriers' licensed networks.
For the wider decision between the two technologies, see our PoC vs traditional radio comparison.
Ask us about your specific radio system
Tell a real person what LMR or DMR gear you run and what you want it to reach. 24/7, U.S.-based.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to replace our existing two-way radios to use PeakPTT?
No. The RoIP gateway bridges your existing LMR or DMR system to the PeakPTT network, so both fleets share traffic. Replace radios on your own schedule, or keep both permanently.
How long does the gateway take to install?
Less than 10 minutes: connect a donor radio from your system to the gateway with the included cable, and connect the gateway to wired internet. The donor radio needs a ground plane antenna.
Does bridging change anything for our existing radio users?
No. Legacy radio users keep pressing and talking on their usual channels. The gateway carries that traffic to the PeakPTT talk group and back.
What does the bridge cost?
The gateway is a one-time $1,250 purchase with the universal radio cable included. PeakPTT service on the PoC side is the published $24.95 per radio per month with no contract.