The SC Call talk group was implemented last quarter. This talk group uses time slot 1 and allows users within SC to make contact, have a short conversation or move to another chat group for a long conversation. With full implementation of SC Call and the addition of repeaters at some local hospitals, effective this month grouping of local talk groups by DHEC regions will be eliminated. So, the local talk group in a zone will truly become local on each repeater.
The change is being made since DHEC has not expressed a need to continue regional groupings, some new hospital locations have requested not to be group regionally and with SC Call, stations needing regional or statewide contact have an easy means to make a connection. Additionally, multiple users indicated they wanted the ability to talk locally without having their conversations carried regionally.
As a reminder, if you are talking locally, SC Call traffic will be inhibited for 5 minutes after you clear the talk group. If you have updated your codeplug with SC Call, no further action is required. Just remember when you select Local you will be local to the repeater.
SC Call talk group now available.
SCHEART has implemented a new talk group for affiliated DMR repeaters located in South Carolina. It is available during the normal operational mode and is called SC CALL This new talk group brings up all South Carolina repeaters with the exception of Aiken and allows you to make an initial contact across the state without using the multi-state PRN talk group. Once you make your contact, move your conversation to an available Chat channel. SC Call talk group code is 27510 and uses Time Slot 1. It shares time with Local and the other dynamic talk groups. Repeaters that are in use by either local traffic or a dynamic talk group (TAC1, TAC310, DCI, Chat, etc.) will not be affected by a state wide call. Five minutes after local or dynamic traffic clears a repeater, SC Call becomes enabled on the repeater.
SC Call allows operators to contact in State DMR users who may not monitor the PRN talk group. Users need to program their radio with the new talk group code and add the group to each repeater they plan to use in the state. The talk group will not work on repeaters located outside of South Carolina. Also remember to add the talk group to your monitor group or scan list so you can hear calls on the talk group.
Remember: SC CALL talk group is not for having conversations. It for making contact and moving your conversation to a Chat talk group or if you can hit the same repeater, the local talk group.
Based on user requests, new functionality has been added to the PRN network and is now available on the SCHEART DMR system. There’s currently 60+ repeaters on the PRN talk group.
Two new talk groups have been added: PRN Chat 1 (TG 27501) and PRN Chat 2 (TG 27502). These groups work inside the PRN system and allow users to chat without bringing up the entire system or in SC, not an entire DHEC region. So if you hear someone and want to have an extended conversation, both stations can go to Chat and they will only use two repeaters. Both talk groups operated on Time Slot 1.
The other new feature is connection of of Tac1 and DCI Bridge 2 talk groups to the Brandmeister Bridge. This bridge acts as an universal translator allowing people on the D-STAR network or Fusion network to talk to DMR. If go to either of these talk groups, you may reach hams using different digital modes.
Thanks, about it for now.
73
Roger, KD4JQJ
