Introduction
Most organisations that have used two-way radios for more than a few years have a mixed fleet. The security team is on analog. The management team switched to DMR two years ago. The warehouse supervisor uses a PTT over Cellular device because his site has no reliable radio coverage. Three different systems, three different networks — and none of them can talk to each other.
TM840 gateway-series gateway from Sole Engineering is built specifically for this problem. It is an integration gateway that connects DMR, Analog, and PTT over Cellular (PoC) radio networks into a single, interoperable communication system — without requiring every user to replace their existing device.
Sole Engineering features the TM840 gateway-series gateway prominently in their News Update section: ‘TM840-series gateway is born for integration of DMR, Analog, PoC with rich compatibility and high convenience, widely used in different zones, formats.’ This guide explains what that means in practice, who it is for, and how Sole Engineering supports its installation and operation.
| TM840 gateway-Series — Key Headline
Direct from the Sole Engineering website News Update: “TM840 gateway-series is born for integration of DMR, Analog, PoC with rich compatibility and high convenience, widely used in different zones, formats.” Supplied and configured by Sole Engineering Sdn Bhd, Shah Alam. |
What Is the TM840 Gateway?
The TM840 gateway-series is a radio gateway device. In technical terms, a gateway sits between two or more communication networks and translates signals so that devices on different networks can communicate with each other. In the context of the TM840, this means:
- A DMR radio user can communicate directly with an Analog radio user on the same site
- A PTT over Cellular user (on a smartphone or PoC device like Sole Engineering’s T60 or M50) can communicate with both DMR and Analog radio users
- Different talkgroups, zones, and formats can be linked into a unified communication system
The TM840 gateway does this through its integration architecture — it receives the digital or analog signal from one network, converts it to the appropriate format, and retransmits it on the other network in real time. The end user experience is seamless: you press your PTT button, and everyone on all linked networks hears you.
Why Mixed Radio Fleets Exist — and Why They Are a Problem
Mixed radio fleets are extremely common in Malaysian organisations for a straightforward reason: radio technology has evolved, and organisations have upgraded incrementally. A company that bought 20 analog radios in 2010 then added 10 DMR radios in 2018 for their management team now has two incompatible networks. They cannot retire the analog fleet because it still works and the investment has not been recouped. They cannot expand the DMR fleet to all 200 staff because the cost is prohibitive.
The practical result: departments that cannot communicate with each other directly. A DMR user who needs to reach an analog user must make a mobile phone call, find a supervisor to relay the message, or physically walk to the other team. In a fast-moving operational environment — a manufacturing plant, a large construction site, a resort — this is a real operational inefficiency.
The TM840 gateway resolves this without forcing a fleet replacement.
Which Organisations Need a TM840 Gateway?
Manufacturing and Industrial Sites with Legacy Analog Fleets
Many Malaysian factories and industrial facilities invested in analog radio infrastructure years ago — base stations, repeaters, hundreds of handsets. Upgrading all of that to DMR is a significant capital project. The TM840 allows management and supervisory staff to use DMR radios (with better audio quality and digital features) while the floor workforce continues on their existing analog handsets, with full interoperability between both groups.
Construction Sites Transitioning to Digital
Large construction projects in Malaysia often span multi-year timelines. The site may have started with analog radios supplied in year one. By year three, the project team wants to add DMR for improved coverage and audio quality in the expanding site. Rather than replacing the existing analog fleet mid-project, the TM840 bridges both networks while the transition occurs at a managed pace.
Multi-Site Operations with Mixed Infrastructure
A company with multiple sites — offices, warehouses, a manufacturing plant — may have different radio systems at each location based on what was installed when each site was commissioned. The TM840, combined with PTT over Cellular, can link these sites so that a management team member on PoC can communicate with the warehouse team on analog and the plant supervisor on DMR simultaneously.
Hospitality with Extended Coverage Requirements
Large resorts and hotel complexes often have areas where conventional radio does not reach reliably — outdoor spaces, remote buildings, underground service areas. Staff in these areas use PoC devices on cellular/WiFi. The TM840 links these PoC users with the main hotel radio network, so a poolside attendant on a T60 POC device can communicate directly with the front desk on DMR.
TM840 and the Sole Engineering Ecosystem
The TM840 gateway is not a standalone product — it works with the full range of radio types that Sole Engineering supplies:
| Radio Type | Sole Engineering Model | TM840 Compatibility |
| Analog Walkie Talkie | JT189, MAGONE, Kirisun Analog | Direct integration via TM840 analog port |
| DMR Walkie Talkie | DMR405, Kirisun DMR, MOTOTRBO series | Direct integration via TM840 DMR channel |
| PTT over Cellular | T60 POC, M50 | Integration via PoC network through TM840 IP interface |
| TETRA Radio | THR9 series (via THR9 gateway) | Complex integration — consult Sole Engineering for configuration |
This ecosystem compatibility means that an organisation already using any of Sole Engineering’s products can add the TM840 to create a unified network, rather than starting from scratch.
Installation and Configuration: What Sole Engineering Provides
The TM840 is a professional-grade integration device. It requires expert configuration to map the correct channels, talkgroups, and zones between the connected networks. Sole Engineering’s service centre provides the full configuration service:
- Configure and programming — setting up TM840 channel mappings, talkgroup assignments, and zone definitions for your specific fleet
- On-site configure and programming — for complex deployments where the TM840 needs to be integrated with existing base stations, repeaters, and PoC servers at the physical site
- On-site radio service and tuning — ongoing optimisation of the gateway configuration as your fleet or operational requirements change
- User training — for radio operators and IT staff who will manage the integrated system
- Spare parts support — for TM840 and connected Kirisun, MOTOTRBO, and Analog equipment
Comparing Alternatives: Gateway vs Full Fleet Replacement
| Approach | Cost | Disruption | Timeline | Result |
| TM840 Gateway integration | Low — one gateway device per integration point | Minimal — existing radios unchanged | Days to weeks | Full interoperability between existing networks |
| Full DMR fleet replacement | High — replace every analog unit | High — retrain all staff, reconfigure entire system | Months | Unified DMR network; analog infrastructure retired |
| Separate networks (status quo) | Zero additional cost | Zero — but ongoing operational friction | N/A | Departments cannot communicate directly |
For most organisations with a working analog fleet and a growing DMR deployment, the TM840 gateway is the optimal short-to-medium term solution. It extends the useful life of existing equipment while delivering the interoperability that mixed fleets currently lack.
How to Enquire About the TM840
To discuss whether the TM840 gateway is the right solution for your site, contact Sole Engineering:
- Email: sole@soleengineering.com.my
- Phone: 03-5125 9669 | 03-5125 9701
- Mobile: +6013-613-9393
- Address: No. 2, Aras 2, Jalan Salung 33/26, Seksyen 33, 40400 Shah Alam, Selangor
When enquiring, describe your current radio fleet: how many units, what types (Analog, DMR, PoC), and what integration outcome you need. Sole Engineering’s team will advise on the appropriate TM840 configuration and any additional infrastructure required.
Conclusion
The TM840-series gateway solves one of the most common and most frustrating problems in Malaysian business radio communication: incompatible fleets that cannot talk to each other. By integrating DMR, Analog, and PTT over Cellular into a single interoperable system — without forcing a fleet replacement — it gives organisations a cost-effective path to unified communication across all their radio users.
Sole Engineering is the authorised supplier and service provider for the TM840, with the technical capability to configure, install, and maintain integrated radio systems for Malaysian businesses.
