Push To Talk Talkgroup Control: How to make PTT work for you;  PTT turns on links and it turns off links.  Typically (most TG's), when you ker-chunk a TG, it will link that TG (if not already linked) but it also will unlink certain other busy TG's that are also on the same timeslot.  The timers are typically 15 minutes on for the actual TG and 3 minute hold-off for the other TG's that might otherwise go busy from outside your IPSC network.  As long as someone on the same IPSC network (that your repeater is on) keys up at least once within three minutes (normal back and forth conversation does that), most of other TG's are kept unlinked and will not capture the timeslot.  To capture a timeslot that has active IPSC network traffic, you must key up between the ongoing transmission cycles of an active conversation to turn on your talkgroup and turn off the active networked talkgroup. If you need a more detailed explanation of how PTT works, go to:  PTT in detail.

Additional talkgroup controls are provided by the "Locals" and  Master Control talkgroups.  New managers will be implementing this method to enable the local repeater user to turn-off all networked talkgroups or turn some or all back on after finishing a conversation.  This means that the state of all networked talkgroups can be turned off to provide a user exclusive use of a specific talkgroup on that timeslot and when done, turn all the talkgroups back on.  MCT's work in conjunction with the full time and PTT talkgroups but without the necessity of programming hundreds of hold-off timers.  More on MCT's

Your local repeater should have its "Group Call Hang Timer" set for 1 second (not the 3 second default) for PTT talkgroup control to work best.  For example, the "Bridge 2" talkgroup is active but you wish to use "Local 2"; wait for the transmission to stop, wait for repeater's 1 second "Group Call Hang Timer" to toll, key up on "Local 2", if you get talk permit tones, you have un-linked "Bridge 2" (as well as several other networked talkgroups that are also on the same timeslot 2).  The 2 minute activity window renews with every PTT on "Local 2" and will continue to keep all talkgroups on timeslot 2, off so that you will not loose the use of Local 2.  If your repeater owner has not changed the "Group Call Activity Hang Timer" to 1 second, then it is very hard to break in between and you may need to wait for the conversation to clear or a long pause.

It is important to remember that PTT only controls other talkgroups and links outside of your local repeater or IPSC network.  In other words, PTT has no direct affect on what is transmitted over the local repeater/IPSC network.  PTT controls what goes out from your local repeater/IPSC network or what comes into your local repeater/IPSC network but not what is heard by or from a local user on that local repeater/IPSC network.

c-BRIDGE: c-Bridge to c-Bridge "Conference Connections" are like "trunk lines" and do not have the busy issue (Bonks) like talkgroups have on an IPSC network.  Talkgroups can be mapped on both sides of 2 c-Bridges so that neither end gets inappropriate busies from traffic active at the other end.  DCI uses a series of Super Groups coding that "prioritizes" talkgroup traffic as well as a scheduler, timers and dynamic switching to manage those links and their priorities with respect to other talkgroups operating on the same timeslot.

RECEIVE ONLY TALKGROUPS: DCI is now able to provide talkgroups that are receive only.  This can be useful for certain talkgroups that are restricted in some fashion, the Regionals for example.  Other talkgroups may not wish the national activity but don't mind if you listen in, so their distribution is now possible.  These talkgroups may be programmed as full-time or part-time receive only.

NETS: Some of the weekly DMR nets are carried on most DCI network managers and are activated by a scheduler a few minutes prior to the start of the net.  Currently we carry the DMR Worldwide Net and the DMR Tech Net on most of our networks.  NOTE:  Some talkgroups are scheduled to unlink so that the nets will not be interrupted for those who may be only listening to a net.

TALKGROUP PLETHORA: While using multiple talkgroups for a various purposes may be handy, the downside in having "too many" talkgroups is that there is likelihood of congestion or busies on the two timeslots.  So a balance of traffic between the 2 timeslots is wise as well as not carrying all talkgroups on all networks managed by any single c-Bridge.  As more c-Bridges come online, the various talkgroups increase the efficiency of use on the two timeslots across the US and worldwide.  The statewide and regional  talkgroups listed above may or may not appear at any given time and are shown only to illustrate possible use within the DCI c-Bridge.  If in doubt on any talkgroup's status, kerchunk the talkgroup as many TG's are made active or linked via a short TX on that talkgroup and may automatically un-link after a period of inactivity.  The table above lists the various talkgroups that may be available.

ALL CALL:  DCI does not support the routine use of the All Call talkgroup and requests that it not be used on our networks.  However, for high priority or Emergency needs, then you may of course use All Call.  The DCI c-Bridge is programmed to support All Call in two ways:  1) If you call out on Call, your transmissions will be heard on all repeaters on your network on your timeslot.  2) DCI Admins and select c-Bridge control Op networks will also hear your transmissions no matter which slot you use.  3)  DCI control op Networks are able to transmit out on All Call onto both timeslots and ALL networks simultaneously.  5)  DCI Control Ops will not use All Call except in cases of Priority or Emergency situations.  More Info on All Call or if you are a c-Bridge administrator and you wish to explore a US emergency Talkgroup, please Email us.

DCI uses the convention of talkgroup labels including their timeslot position, such as Comm 1 and Comm 2 for example.  This indicates two different talkgroups on two different timeslots, 1 and 2 respectively.  DCI uses the convention that timeslot 1 is of higher priority than timeslot 2 generally, so many more talkgroups appear on timeslot 2.  This enables timeslot 1 to be "more" free of traffic coming in from outside the DCI c-Bridge.  So knowing which timeslot is used for each talkgroup is much simplified by it's label showing the timeslot number.