[Trunkcom] MultiNet

[SJ]

 Ok so I sort of took it for granted that people already knew that the type
2 systems had a data channel. I don't know anyone who actually listens to
data channels. "you don't have AGENCY home channels" is what I said.
 But thanks for pointing out semantic mistake.

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian J Cathcart [mailto:scannerdude@juno.com]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 11:42 PM
To: sjonesy@together.net
Cc: trunkcom@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Trunkcom] MultiNet


On Fri, 4 Jan 2002 18:17:56 -0500 "SJ" <sjonesy@together.net> writes:
> I don't think so, because with conventional Motorola systems,<the
> ones with control channels>, you don't have agency home channels.

Um, Motorola systems *do* have a home channel, the control channel, where
all radios listen to get their talkgroup & frequency assigments..  LTR
systems have home channels, and on those home channels the radios receive
the talkgroup and frequency assignment in the sub-audible stream.  In
Multi-Net systems, the home channel does the same thing, except instead
of optionally having more than one home channel, they all have just one.

That's simplifying it, but as you can see the prinicple is the same - the
radios, whether in Motorola or LTR or Multi-Net systems listen for the
data that directs their steps.



>  I live in an area that got hit with an ice storm in '98, the
> county trunking system was going nonstop for days on end, at certain
times
> they would tell people to stop talking in order to let the equpiment
cool
> down. It is a standard 800 motorola type 2 system <5 channels>. I can
> imagine the mess if it had been an LTR system instead.

LTR is not designed for Public Safety use, so of course it would not have
done as good of a job.  And Multi-Net would probably not done as well
either (based on the complaints about these systems).  But consider the
fact that your Motorola 5-channel system only has 4 voice channels
available at any one time (since one is a control channel), but a
5-channel LTR or a 5-channel Multi-Net system would have had all 5
channels available for use.  And from the sound of it, an extra channel
would have helped in that ice storm.

LTR has proven itself as a good system for businesses.  Multi-Net is a
different story.  I would not slam either based on the principle of the
system (using home channels).  And the simple fact is that trunking, in
whatever form (LTR, Motorola, etc) uses frequencies more efficiently.

--

The Scanner Dude
Brian J. Cathcart - KE4PMJ
South Florida Trunking Guide - 5th Edition (On CD-ROM too!)
Palm Beach County Frequency Directory - 4th Edition (On CD-ROM too!)