rdale said:
many local talkgroups are strictly kept local.
I often pick up out of area TGs in Traverse City. Marquette Co. (a good 5 hour drive from TC) often pops up, as well as other UP counties. A few southern county TGs have also
briefly popped up from time to time. I too have been told that if an out of area unit was in my area with a moble/prep that I would hear their traffic while they were nearby. However, I also understand that TGs can affiliate with just one tower, or be county wide, district wide, or statewide. I doubt that Marquette Co. (for example) TGs are statewide, and they are certainly in a different district.
I'm no expert, just thought I'd offer my 2 cents.
G