Talk around??

[dward42586]

I have forgotten about "talk around channels or frequencies" I haven't heard the term in a long time until today when a unit said "switch to talk around"
It was on one of the NE RMA ids.

Would someone tell me about talk around or direct me to info source.

Thanks

[N5TWB]

Originally Posted by dward42586

I have forgotten about "talk around channels or frequencies" I haven't heard the term in a long time until today when a unit said "switch to talk around"
It was on one of the NE RMA ids.

Would someone tell me about talk around or direct me to info source.

Thanks

It used to mean they went to 854.9625: Tulsa County, Oklahoma (OK) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Given the recent addition of P25 and encryption for TPD, it likely means they are on the encrypted car-to-car talkgroup. But it can't hurt to keep the old talkaround frequency handy. If it just comes up with a buzzing sound, then that's encrypted, too.

[jaspence]

On many professional radios there is a button that takes the radio out of repeater (semi-duplex) mode and puts it in simplex mode, usually on the receive frequency. This keeps the traffic off the repeater but still allows the repeater to be heard by the user. It limits the range of reception, especially on a handheld for privacy or when the coverage area doesn't require the repeater.

[dward42586]

Thanks guys, that jogged my memory.

[quarterwave]

Talk-a-Round simply means "talking around the repeater". So, Talk-a-Round (aka Direct) is where the mobile or portable talks simplex to others on the output frequency of the repeater they normally use. It is primarily used when a repeater is out of service, or you are out of range of it.

Unfortunately the meaning is skewed now days. With all of the trunking systems, Talk-a-Round has has been commandeered into describing conventional repeater channels that are stand-alone from a trunking system, and also to describe car-to-car type talk groups on a system. It has been my experience that very few 700/800/900 systems have any actual simplex "Talk-a-Round" capabilities. Which in my opinion is a shame. That means in a failure, you can't even talk to the guy standing 100 feet from you on that fancy radio.

Trunking systems talk groups should be labeled as car-to-car, field ops, chatter, non-dispatch, etc. And, stand-alone conventional repeaters should be labeled as back-up, etc. But, the way things are, most people using radios now have no idea what Talk-a-Round really is.

Our local Sheriff's department has cars that go to "direct" (which IS true Talk-a-Round in this case, they run a conventional simulcast system) but they don't understand why the dispatcher is talking over them, and doesn't know it. They have a car-to-car channel and never use it. Goes back to training and operator knowledge.

I'm sure someone will disagree with me here. And, I realize the OP was in relation to a specific system in a specific area the OP lives in, but the topic was general and I was in the mood.

[MississippiPI]

Talkaround as I understand it is radio to radio, doesn't go thru the repeater. On my fire dept radio all I do is touch a switch and it goes to talkaround..


Be safe

[plaws]

Originally Posted by jaspence

On many professional radios there is a button that takes the radio out of repeater (semi-duplex) mode and puts it in simplex mode, usually on the receive frequency. This keeps the traffic off the repeater but still allows the repeater to be heard by the user. It limits the range of reception, especially on a handheld for privacy or when the coverage area doesn't require the repeater.

Except that the OP is referring to a unit on OKWIN, our Type-II statewide(ish) system. Not even sure trunked radios have a talk-around (or direct) button. Too bad, very handy, but not really relevant on a trunked system.

It's more likely that it's jargon for another channel.

[HogDriver]

Im guessing a "talk around" channel could be set up on a radio used for a trunked system by simply assigning a talkgroup number that doesn't go thru a repeater.

[ecps92]

Talk-Around vs Simplex - As said, all depends on how the Vendor/User configured the System when talking a TRS. Many Agencies have Talk-Around also known as Car-Car or Chit-Chat as a TG, where-as others use a conventional pair. Using the TG keeps them on the TRS and allows the ability to still monitor the primary TG's

When talking Conventional it's the simplex of the Repeater.

Originally Posted by HogDriver

Im guessing a "talk around" channel could be set up on a radio used for a trunked system by simply assigning a talkgroup number that doesn't go thru a repeater.

[PaulSuperman]

And I have seen trunked systems with both talkgroups, And talk around simplex channels. And I have talked on portables with both as well.

[DickH]

Originally Posted by ecps92

When talking Conventional it's the simplex of the Repeater.

On our trunked system, simplex has no connection with the repeater - unless I'm not understanding your words.
We have 160 channels in our radios, of which there are 20 simplex channels. Those are conventional freqs., not trunked. They are the 5 national 800 freqs., 5 Oregon state freqs., 5 Washington state freqs., 4 fire simplex freqs. we use in hi rise buildings and other places where it's difficult to hit the repeaters using regular talk groups, and one MAYDAY freq.

[ecps92]

I think you might be confussing Trunked Repeater vs Conventional Repeater - together they make up your System [all added]

Again folks need to break up the two when talking over-all

I know of a System here in New England that is primarily a Trunk with TG's and one of the TG's is called Talk-Around [now SW TALK] however they also have access to Conventional Repeaters in those same Radios. A mix of Nationwide Interop [8TACs] in both Repeater mode and Simplex [aka TA also called Talk-Around, because you are Talking-Around not thru the Repeater] they also have non Interop on State [just like your OR, WA Conventionals] again, either Thru a Repeate or Direct [aka TA aka Talk-Around aka Simplex]

Originally Posted by DickH

On our trunked system, simplex has no connection with the repeater - unless I'm not understanding your words.
We have 160 channels in our radios, of which there are 20 simplex channels. Those are conventional freqs., not trunked. They are the 5 national 800 freqs., 5 Oregon state freqs., 5 Washington state freqs., 4 fire simplex freqs. we use in hi rise buildings and other places where it's difficult to hit the repeaters using regular talk groups, and one MAYDAY freq.

[DickH]

Originally Posted by ecps92

I think you might be confussing Trunked Repeater vs Conventional Repeater - together they make up your System [all added]

If you look at the FCC database, 2 of the 4 systems list those freqs. in their TRS license, but as MO only - no repeaters. The other 2 systems license their simplex freqs. as GE - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Conv, also no repeaters, except for some temporary FB2T small suitcase-type repeaters.
I know of two such repeaters we have used in training, but they have never been used in a field operation.
Here's one: 000851.57500000 FB2T 3.000 3.000
000851.57500000 MO 6856 35.000 118.000