how far can I pick up a TGID (from a local repeater)

[CHHTX]

(to explain why I'm asking instead of trying, I'm currently in Lakehills TX and I can't try it.)

This question is about "can you listen to all TGIDs on a large area simulcast system, or will you only be able to hear the TGIDs within their individual ranges? My logic is that since all of the talkgroups are on LRGVRRS, they would all be accessible from ANY site (repeater) in the LRGVRRS network.

Right now, I'm programming my scanner that I'll be using when I'm in the Rio Grand Valley (far south TX). I will be actually based (using an SDS200) in Weslaco (highlighted on the map below), using the LRGVRRS site/repeater there in Weslaco. If I'm listening to that Weslaco repeater, will I be able to hear a TGID whose range doesn't extend that far (like South Padre Island)?

There are, of course, other LRGVRRS sites (link here) but the one that I'm less than a mile away from will be the one in Weslaco. My logic is that since all of the talkgroups are on LRGVRRS, they would all be accessible from ANY site (repeater) in the LRGVRRS network.

 

[CHHTX]

Of course I researched the question before I made that first post in this thread and after digging some more, I think I might have found an answer. Hopefully someone can confirm?

(according to this) It looks like I would only be able to hear South Padre Island (SPI) if a SPI police officer were to come in the range of the Weslaco tower and then "associate himself" with the Weslaco tower. And so, the best idea would be to program all of the sites that I can hit that cover those far TGIDs. Does that sound correct?

 

[mmckenna]

There are, of course, other LRGVRRS sites (link here) but the one that I'm less than a mile away from will be the one in Weslaco. My logic is that since all of the talkgroups are on LRGVRRS, they would all be accessible from ANY site (repeater) in the LRGVRRS network.

Usually, no.

As you discovered, the trunked system will only send traffic for a talk group if there is a radio that needs that talk group registered on that site.

It's a way of utilizing the resources efficiently. No point in transmitting radio traffic if there isn't anyone listening.

Since your scanner has no way of telling the trunked system that you want to listen to a specific talk group on a specific site, you are, essentially, SOL.

Your scanner would need to be listening to the site that has that traffic on it. There's no way around that.

 

[drdispatch]

The other side of that coin is that if you only monitor one site, you may miss traffic, if there are *no* radios on the talkgroup affiliated with that site at that moment.
So to find the "happy medium" you should program all sites that you can get a decent signal from.

 

[n1chu]

Generally speaking, a talkgroup will only access the sites needed for coverage. An example would be a state police troop. Each troop has their own geographic area they provide services for. But that’s not to say they don’t have the ability to access sites outside of their normal patrols. They do but, depending upon how their radios are programmed, they may need to instruct their dispatch center to give them access. Or, their radio may have that capability pre-programmed, and access is achieved simply by switching the channel selector. Dispatch centers can have “wide area” access when needed whereby their transmissions can access all sites statewide or just select sites within a particular region, composed of certain troops.

That is why, when selecting your sites, it is important to remember your reception will depend upon the range of a site. If it’s too far away you won’t hear anything, no sense in including a site that’s out of range as it will only slow up the scan speed. Once you have determined which sites to monitor, choose your talkgroups. When another troop decides to include additional sites to broadcast information, they will do so and you will hear the broadcast on a site local to you.