VDES Overview

VDES refers to a (relatively) recent development in VHF communications, which allows certain VHF channels to be used for the sending and receiving of digital data, instead of voice communications. As VDES combines multiple existing VHF channels, a number of changes are required to existing VHF channels, in order to prevent interference. However, while the changes implemented in the software update described in this document make your Class D VHF radio VDES-compliant (in the Europe CEPT band), the radio does not gain any new VDES functionality as a result of this update.

In terms of VDES implementation, in 2015, the ITU World Radio Communication Conference (WRC-15) decided to re-allocate VHF channels which had previously been in use for analogue voice communications, for VDES. At this time, only European CEPT regions have agreed to implement this change, which is mandatory from 1 January 2024, following the CEPT ECC Decision (19)03. For more information, refer to: https://docdb.cept.org/download/1452