When the conversion to the P25 digital radio system started, KDOT also began installing a statewide mutual aid system called Motobridge. The Motobridge System is a conventional system that allows radio users to be patched together in order to communicate. KDOT has installed a repeater for each frequency band at each tower site (800, UHF, VHF and Low Band) programmed with the national mutual aid channels. This system was in place at all tower sites by September 2010.

The Motobridge System gives users that don’t normally communicate with each other the ability to do so. A request to have the patch established is made to the KHP Central Dispatch. Once the patch is in place, the users can communicate freely. An 800 MHz user could talk to a UHF user or a VHF user, etc. Any band of radio can be patched together as long as the user has the mutual aid channels programmed into his radio.

The Motobridge System is available to any public safety or public service agency user to utilize in a mutual aid situation. It cannot be used for daily routine radio traffic.

KDOT and KHP have developed a State of Kansas Radio Communications Mutual Aid Reference Guide which gives the mutual aid frequencies for each band and shows the tower sites across the state. This guide provides the instructions on how to request a patch through KHP Central Dispatch and what the mutual aid frequency is at each tower site. This guide is intended to be used by public safety and public service agencies across the state of Kansas.