Master Control Talkgroups are a special breed of non-voice Talkgroups

Page Contents

(🆘 Need help? If you have questions not answered on this page, or a TG is not responsive, please contact tech@pnwdigital.net.)


Introduction

What are Master Control Talkgroups (MCTs)?

Master Control Talkgroups (MCTs) are special talkgroups on the PNWDigital network that enable you to turn off or turn on all other networked talkgroups on the PNWDigital repeater on which you are communicating. 

What’s an example of when I would want to use a MCT?

Having an uninterrupted QSO on your preferred talkgroup can be challenging when other users are periodically transmitting on different talkgroups using the same timeslot. However, our repeaters have a powerful feature to help you control the chaos: Master Control Talkgroups (MCTs).

By briefly keying up on the MCT assigned to your talkgroup’s timeslot, you can temporarily turn off or disable access to all* other talkgroups on that timeslot for the next 15 minutes. This leaves the repeater clear for your exclusive use during the length of your QSO.  (Bear in mind that other users on this same repeater can be affected by your use of MCT’s and vice versa.)

For example, say you want to use the Cascade1 TG but there is occasional interfering traffic on the PNW1 TG, which shares the same timeslot. Simply initiate a quick transmission (kerchunk) on the MCT for timeslot 1 to disable PNW1 as well as any other talkgroups on timeslot 1. Now you can enjoy your QSO on Cascade1 without conflicts.

Each repeater timeslot has its own MCT that can be used in this way. So whether you need to use Timeslot 1 or Timeslot 2 talkgroups, keying up on the respective MCT will turn off all other talkgroups on that timeslot for 15 minutes – giving you conflict-free airtime.

How do I use MCTs to perform tasks?

  1. Use the tables below to find the MCT Talkgroup ids for your repeater, timeslot, and whether you want to turn the talkgroups on or off. For example, looking at the PNW-A – c-Bridge Managers – Bremerton  –  pnw-a.pnwdigital.net table below, I find my repeater, “Issaquah WA – E. Tiger VHF”, and the TS 1 Off column to get the MCT ID: “16770031” 
  2. Program the selected MCT ID into your radio on timeslot 1 using your preferred programming method.
    (note: all MCTs TX on timeslot 1 even if they control timeslot 2 talkgroups.)
  3. Then briefly keyup (kerchunk) that MCT. 
  4. Once you do this, all* other talkgroups on the repeater will be turned off for 15 minutes.  
    (Note: If another user keys up during that period on another TG, it will enable that TG for 3 minutes, if it is a Push to Talk (PTT) TG,  or simply turn it back on if it is a Full time (FT) TG.  No other TG’s are affected and the 15 minute timer continues to run until it ends.)

Tips for radio with MCTs

  1. Don’t wait for an opening
    If you wish to turn off a TS 2 talkgroup(s), you may not need to wait for an opening, just Ker-Chunk as you are TX’ing onto TS1, not nearly as busy as TS 2 (if TS 1 is busy, you will get bonked of course).  
  2. Sort your zones
    Sort your zones so that the MCT’s are in the middle to cut down on the thumbing or place MCT off in multiple places in your zone (beginning, middle and end; 3 times)
  3. Limited channels per zone in Radio?
    Up to 4 channels may be needed to control both timeslots on a repeater.  If your radio is limited to 16 channels per zone, you may wish to skip MCT’s or add a second or third zone for a particular repeater to make room for the MCT’s as well as the additional talkgroups that are supported on the PNWDigital.Net repeater managers (the c-Bridge).
  4. Local 1 and Metro 2 can be Mini-MCT Off’s
    These 2 talkgroups have a 5 minute hold-off for all network traffic. The timer is shorter, but using these means you do not have to add the MCTs to your radio.  

c Expand All C Collapse All

Networked talkgroups are any TG’s that are passed through the c-Bridge controller from one repeater to another. Almost all TG’s on PNWDigital are networked, including those from other c-Bridges or Brandmeister. Only the talkgroup, “Local 1” is never passed to another repeater by the c-Bridge controllers.

Visits: 80

We wrote that ‘all’ talkgroups are controlled by MCTs. This is not exactly the case. There are a few emergency communication and public service talkgroups that are not controlled by MCTs. In addition, local traffic is not controlled by the MCTs. Local traffic are communications recieved by a repeater and transmitted back out by the repeater without going through a c-bridge controller to any other repeater or network. The talkgroup, Local 1, is the example of a talkgroup that is not controlled by an MCT.

Visits: 83


Master Control Talkgroup Tables

PNW-A – c-Bridge Managers – Bremerton  –  pnw-a.pnwdigital.net

ManagerIPSC Network Manager (PNW-A)Status / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
02  03-04 Event Repeater – SeaPac, Valley Camp Normally Disabled16771031167700311677104216770042
03 05-06Issaquah WA – E. Tiger VHF16771051167700511677106216770062
04  07-08Bellevue – Cougar VHF16771071167700711677108216770082
05  09-10 Winthrop – Riser Lake 16771091167700911677110216770102
06  11-12Mazama – Fawn Creek 16771111167701111677112216770122
09  17-18N7ER (HLO) Reserved16771171167701711677118216770182
12  23-24Bellevue – Seattle; Cougar, E Tiger16771231167702311677124216770242
14  27-28Tacoma – Baldi Mtn – UHF 16771271167702711677128216770282
15  29-30Tacoma – Ruston 16771291167702911677130216770302
16  31-32N7MOT 16771311167703111677132216770322
17  33-34Spare Spare16771331167703311677134216770342
18  35-36North Bend – Valley Camp 16771351167703511677136216770362
20  39-40Shoreline – Shoreline 16771391167703911677140216770402
21  41-42NO7RF Reserved16771411167704111677142216770422
22  43-44 Ocean Shores – Ocean Shores 16771431167704311677144216770442
23  45-46 Back-up Manager for PNW-A Normally idles16771451167704511677146216770462
24  47-48Bellingham VHF – Lookout 16771471167704711677148216770482
25  49-50Shelton – Shelton 16771491167704911677150216770502
27  53-54 MMDVM – West Single Slot1677153116770531NANA
28  55-56 Oso – Frailey (removed, may return)  Out of Service16771551167705511677156216770562
29  57-58W7NCXReserved16771571167705711677158216770582
30  59-60Olympia – Capital Peak 16771591167705911677160216770602
31  61-62Oregon – SalemN7MAQ16771611167706111677162216770622
33  65-66 Tulalip – Tulalip 16771651167706511677166216770662
34  67-68GAFSAdmin Test Manager16771671167706711677168216770682
35  69-70Bellingham – Lookout Mtn UHF16771691167706911677170216770702
36  71-72Kelso / Longview 16771711167707111677172216770722
37  73-74Seattle – Metro Area16771731167707311677174216770742
38  75-76Issaquah – East Tiger UHF 16771751167707511677176216770762
39  77-78Ariel – Areal Mtn 16771771167707711677178216770782
40  79-80MMDMV – Ted – AltBackup16771791167707911677180216770802
41  81-82 Boistfort – Baw Faw (SW Washington) 16771811167708111677182216770822
42  83-84 APRS-D Gateway ReservedNANANANA
43  85-86MMDVM – Demi2-Slot server16771851167708511677186216770862
44  87-88 Tacoma – Baldi 220 Mhz 220 MMDVM Repeater16771871167708711677188216770882
45  89-90 Audio Stream  Streaming Server16771891167708911677190216770902
46  91-92 Tacoma – Baldi VHF and 900 Mhz 16771911167709111677192216770922
47  93-94Seattle DMR – LinkLinkNANANANA
NOTE:  References above are for repeater managers, not repeaters directly, though they may be listed for additional clarity
ALL MCT’s must TX on timeslot 1, do not TX on timeslot 2, even though the MCT may control timeslot 2 talkgroups
Local 1 & Metro 2 can be used as shorter MCT Off controls, so the additional MCT talkgroups may not needed in all user zones

PNW-D – c-Bridge Managers  – Kennewick  –  pnw-d.pnwdigital.net

ManagerIPSC Network Manager (PNW-D)Status / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
01  01-02 I-84 14 Future I-84 Group16771011167701111677102216770022
02  03-04Hood River – Mount Defiance I-84 Group16771031167700311677104216770042
03  05-06 Trout Lake – Flattop Mtn I-84 Group16771051167700511677106216770062
04  07-08 Government Camp – Mt Hood I-84 Group16771071167700711677108216770082
05  09-10 Hillsboro – Saddle MtnI-84 Group 16771091167700911677110216770102
06  11-12Boardman – Golgatha Butte I-84 Group1677111167701111677112216770122
07  13-14Hood River – Burdoin Mtn I-84 Group16771131167701311677114216770142
10  19-20Cascade Locks – Cascades Locks Hill 16771191167701911677120216770202
11  21-22Biggs Junction – Juniper PointI-84 Group16771211167702111677122216770222
12  23-24The Dalles – Stacker RidgeI-84 Group16771231167702311677124216770242
13  25-26Portland – WesthillsI-84 Group / AARG16771251167702511677126216770262
14  27-28Corbett – Lookout PointI-84 Group16771271167702711677128216770282
15  29-30Gresham / HospitalI-84 Group16771291167702911677130216770302
16  31-32Portland / Mt ScottKA7AGH16771311167703111677132216770322
17  33-34IPSC Demo – TestStatewides FT16771331167703311677134216770342
18  35-36Portland – PPMC 16771351167703511677136216770362
19  37-38 Powell Butte – Powell ButteHiDARG16771371167703711677138216770382
20  39-40 WA7HAA Testing16771391167703911677140216770402
23  45-46 Back-up Repeaters 16771451167704511677146216770462
24  47-48Yakima – Elephant Mtn16771471167704711677148216770482
25  49-50MMDVM – RexOregon 2 slot 16771491167704911677150216770502
26  51-52Polly-Audio Test NANANANA
27  53-54MMDVM – WesSingle slot only1677153116770531 NA NA
28  55-56 W7NCX Testing16771551167705511677156216770562
29  57-58Tri-Cities – Jump Off Joe UHF 16771571167705711677158216770582
30  59-60Tri-Cities – Jump Off Joe VHF 16771591167705911677160216770602
31  61-62Prosser – Hrse Faven Hill 16771611167706111677162216770622
32  63-64 Williamette Valley SRA16771631167706311677164216770642
33  65-66Prineville – Prineville OARA16771651167706511677166216770662
39  77-78 VU Meter NANANANA
40  79-80 MMDVM -Ned NCS16771791167707911677180216770802
42  83-84MMDVM – Peter 1677183116770831NANA
43  85-86 APRS-D Gateway KF7EEL16771851167708511677186216770862
44  87-88 Brush Prarie 16771871167708711677188216770882
45  89-90IPSC-MMDVM – TestPTT Only16771891167708911677190216770902
46  91-92ISPC-MM-Open – Test 16771911167709111677192216770922
47  93-94MMDVM – Otis Oregon16771931167709311677194216770942
48  95-96IPSC-MMDVMWB7AWL16771951167709511677196216770962
49  97MMDVM – Bridget1-Slot1677197116770971 16771992 16771992
50  99MMDVM – Suzy – Alternate1-Slot1677199116770991 16701002 16700002
NOTE:  References above are for repeater managers, not repeaters directly, though they may be listed for additional clarity
ALL MCT’s must TX on timeslot 1, do not TX on timeslot 2, even though the MCT may control timeslot 2 talkgroups
Local 1 & Metro 2 can be used as shorter MCT Off controls, so the additional MCT talkgroups may not needed in all user zones

PNW-E – c-Bridge Managers  – Spokanepnw-e.pnwdigital.net

ManagerIPSC Network Manager (PNW-E)Status / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
02  03-04Allentown PADCI16771031167700311677104216770042
13  25-26Lewiston ID – Craig Mtn16771251167702511677126216770262
14  27-28Saint Maries ID – Saint Marie 16771271167702711677128216770282
15  29-30Coeur d’Alene – Blossom Hill 16771291167702911677130216770302
16  31-32Spokane – Krell UHF 16771311167703111677132216770322
17  33-34Spokane – Krell VHF16771331167703311677134216770342
18  35-36Spokane – Lookout Point 16771351167703511677136216770362
NOTE:  References above are for repeater managers, not repeaters directly, though they may be listed for additional clarity
ALL MCT’s must TX on timeslot 1, do not TX on timeslot 2, even though the MCT may control timeslot 2 talkgroups
Local 1 & Metro 2 can be used as shorter MCT Off controls, so the additional MCT talkgroups may not needed in all user zones

PNW-S – c-Bridge Managers  – Seattle  pnw-s.pnwdigital.net

ManagerIPSC Network Manager (PNW-S)Status / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
02  03-04Allentown PA (future)DCI16771031167700311677104216770042
05  09-10Winthrop VHF 16771091167700911677110216770102
06  11-12Mazama VHF 16771111167701111677112216770122
09  17-18Pateros – Goat MtnFuture16771171167701711677118216770182
10  19-20Wenatchee – Lil Badger & Pateros16771191167701911677120216770202
12  23-24Ellensburg – Sun East VHF16771231167702311677124216770242
13  25-26Lewiston ID – Craig MtnFuture16771251167702511677126216770262
14  27-28Saint Maries ID – Saint MariesFuture16771271167702711677128216770282
19  37-38Moses Lake – Frenchman Hills16771371167703711677138216770382
20  39-40Ephrata – Beasley Hill 16771391167703911677140216770402
22  43-44Spokane Valley – Ridgecrest VHF 16771431167704311677144216770442
38  75-76Moses Lake – Frenchman Hills UHF 16771751167707511677176216770762
41  81-82Wrightwood CA – Wrightwood IRG16771811167708111677182216770822
42  83-84Orange County CA – Santiago PeakIRG16771831167708311677184216770842
43  85-86Blue Ridge Mtn, CaliforniaIRG16771851167708511677186216770862
NOTE:  References above are for repeater managers, not repeaters directly, though they may be listed for additional clarity
ALL MCT’s must TX on timeslot 1, do not TX on timeslot 2, even though the MCT may control timeslot 2 talkgroups
Local 1 & Metro 2 can be used as shorter MCT Off controls, so the additional MCT talkgroups may not needed in all user zones

First Published: September 9, 2021 Last Updated: 6 months ago by Mike – NO7RF

Visits: 1879

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