Well, I don't listen to the old frequencies. But, Virginia Beach rescue uses 800/700 frequencies for all their traffic, yet, the radios in all the apparatus are triband radios. 800/700/155 mhz. The old frequencies are still maintained due the possibility of the trunk being knocked out by a storm or some other cause. They aren't used on an every day basis, but are there if needed. I no longer listen to them either, but I can switch back if needed. Trunking is very nice with the extra capability it adds, but there are many ways it can also fail. STARS uses internet and microwave linking to acheive what that system can do. My city also uses microwave and some internet linking also. So, there are many ways that those systems can become unusable. Once there is no repeater to use, 800/700 mhz range decreases to a line of sight system that the dispatchers can't use to alert or contact units over the large area covered by the trunk. VHF has greater range and does not depend on anything but the two radios communicating with each other.