Questions about joining a trunking system

[Pr999]

I don't think anyone has asked this before. But if were wanted to join a trunking system, how could I locate the owner/company of it and what would I need to do to join one. Along with other questions like; what are the main requirements that I need to meet, how frequent are the charges if used, do I need to be affiliated with any company or have one of my own, what do I need to sign, and what to do after I have joined.

I have no idea what thread or topic to put this on, so if this is the incorrect one then please find a fitting place for it.

 

[mmckenna]

I am assuming you are talking about a commercial radio shop running a local/regional trunked system.
Your best bet is to do a web search on two way radio shops in your region. They often run their own systems and lease time on them.

You'll be required to buy a radio from them, and they'll do the programming. You likely will not be permitted to change the programming, since that is how they make their money.

All you need is money to join, a reasonable need, and someone else to talk to, as one radio won't do you any good.

Usually billed monthly. Billing will depend on what kind of service you need-
-You'll pay a monthly fee for each radio on the system
-You may have to pay a per-minute charge, depending on the company.
-You may have to pay up front, or supply a deposit, for the radio.

They'll work with you to figure out exactly what your needs are. If this is for a small company/family, one talk group on the system would be enough. You'll pay for additional resources/talk groups/features.

 

[nd5y]

But if were wanted to join a trunking system, how could I locate the owner/company of it and what would I need to do to join one.

If you wanted to access to a particular trunked system how could you NOT already know who operates it?

 

[BMDaug]

If you wanted to access to a particular trunked system how could you NOT already know who operates it?

Sometimes it’s non-obvious… like our state network. There are lots of agencies on the network, yet none of them own it. At worst, it takes some searching on the interwebs…

For the state system I’m thinking of, you need an agency sponsor, and a radio from the list of supported radios, and even then, they can reject you just because. I have a sponsoring agency (the sheriff’s office), and a brand new radio on their list, plus a radio shop authorized to program for the system, but the gatekeepers said no for a reason that is still unclear and illogical… but that’s that I guess?

-B

 

[ladn]

Some systems/system operators will let subscribers rent/lease the subscriber radios rather than outright purchase. One would need to evaluate if it's more advantageous to own or rent/lease.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Sometimes it’s non-obvious… like our state network.

If it's a state system it is obvious the owner is the state and you go through your comms person who then goes to the state communications shop. I doubt the OP is a member of an authorized agency for access to a state system.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

If you wanted to access to a particular trunked system how could you NOT already know who operates it?

Muddy waters. For example, a lot of the "Advantage Communications" sites in Central Texas have been through the wringer the last decade or so. Going from Weir Radio, All Points of San Antonio to Consolidated Telecom (which was a Bearcom acquisition) and then sold off (within a month of acquisition) to an investment group...which defaulted when the fed's froze their assets only to be acquired by the person who had been leasing the spectrum to CTS, Bearcom and the investment group, Bill Morgan. Would then operate what was left as WAM Radio until he acquired Advantage in 2019. There was also some LTR thrown in with the Advantage acquisition but you wouldn't be able to tell any of that just by looking up the licensee in many of those cases beacuse CTS, Bearcom, etc leased it all from Bill. Plus, many of the systems were co-located at several sites so it was difficult to tell just who's system you wanted on to. (i.e. the rack for All Point's primary Connect Plus site is located physically 3 feet from Advantage's primary Connect Plus site and they both use MTR3000 repeaters feeding the same transmit combiner and receive off the same multi-coupler. In fact, at that site there is literally two Connect Plus sites, a Privacy Plus site and LTR site all using the same transmit and receive antenna...plus the tower also has a GATRRS site on it.

 

[BMDaug]

If it's a state system it is obvious the owner is the state and you go through your comms person who then goes to the state communications shop. I doubt the OP is a member of an authorized agency for access to a state system.

Except ours is not… it’s owned by the Consolidated Communications Network of Colorado INCORPORATED… like I said, not always obvious…

-B

 

[pandel]

Now my head hurts

 

[KevinC]

I believe the OP has enough information to get them headed in the right direction. Closing.