Talkgroups – Master Control (MCT’s)

Master control Talkgroups are a special breed of non-voice TG’s

NOTE: Very out of date as to the repeaters listed but the MCT ID’s can be deduced if needed or contact tech@pnwdigital.net

Master Control Talkgroups or MCT’s are special talkgroups (group calls) that will override the default or normal settings and timers of most or possibly all talkgroups on a given manager’s timeslot.  MCT’s provide a semiautomatic method to keep other talkgroups from barging into an active conversation or hijacking a QSO on a different talkgroup.  They may control 1 timeslot or both timeslots.

TIP:  If you wish to turn off a TS 2 talkgroup(s), you do 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).  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)

Up to 4 channels may be needed to control both timeslots to make use of the power of the MCT method of talkgroup control.  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).

NOTE: Want to keep this simple?  Local 1 (for timeslot 1) and Metro 2 (for timeslot 2) will also have the same “control off” capabilities but for the shorter off time of 5 minutes and only on their own timeslots.  This is the quick and dirty network silencer for either timeslot and may be the most useful approach for those having radios limited to 16 channels per zone. 

If the repeater is not listed below, you can decode the correct settings as follows; the1st through 4th digits are the same (1677), the 5th digit is 1 for On or 0 (zero) for Off, the 6th and 7th digits are the manager/slot combo number and the 8th digit is 1 for TS1 or 2 for TS2 TG’s control.  MCT’s always TX on TS1 for control of either timeslot.  Decoding the correct TGID’s are as follows; 1st 4 digits are:1677 and are fixed, 5th digit is 1 for On or 0 (zero)  for Off, 6th and 7th digits are the manager/slot combo number (01-100) and 8th digit is 1 for a timeslot talkgroup or 2 for a timeslot 2 talkgroup.  TX is always on TS1 for ALL MCT’s.

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

ManagerIPSC Network ManagerStatus / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
01  01-02  16771011167700111677102216770022
02  03-04 Event Repeater – Sea-Pac, Valley Camp, etc Mgr Normally Disabled16771031167700311677104216770042
Winthrop WA
03  05-06Mazama WA16771051167700511677106216770062
04  07-08Snoqualmie – Rattlesnake Mtn 16771071167700711677108216770082
05  09-10  16771091167700911677110216770102
06  11-12Mazama – Fawn Creek 16771111167701111677112216770122
07  13-14 Seattle – Cougar VHF 16771131167701311677114216770142
08  15-16 Local16771151167701511677116216770162
09  17-18 16771171167701711677118216770182
10  19-20Seattle – Cougar UHFalso Metro16771191167701911677120216770202
11  21-22  16771211167702111677122216770222
12  23-24Seattle; Cougar, E TigerAll hold-offs & MCT’s16771231167702311677124216770242
13  25-2616771251167702511677126216770262
14  27-28Tacoma – Baldi Mtn – UHF 16771271167702711677128216770282
15  29-30Tacoma – Ruston 16771291167702911677130216770302
16  31-32N7MOT 16771311167703111677132216770322
17  33-34Sequim – Blyn Mtn 16771331167703311677134216770342
18  35-36North Bend – Valley Camp 16771351167703511677136216770362
19  37-38  16771371167703711677138216770382
20  39-40Snoqualmie 16771391167703911677140216770402
21  41-42NO7RF 16771411167704111677142216770422
22  43-44 Ocean Shores 16771431167704311677144216770442
23  45-46  16771451167704511677146216770462
24  47-48Bellingham VHF – Lookout 16771471167704711677148216770482
25  49-50Shelton – Shelton 16771491167704911677150216770502
26  51-52Oso – Frailey 16771511167705111677152216770522
27  53-54  16771531167705311677154216770542
28  55-56  16771551167705511677156216770562
29  57-58900 Mhz – Baldisoon16771571167705711677158216770582
30  59-60Olympia – Capital Peak 16771591167705911677160216770602
31  61-62Oregon – SalemN7MAQ16771611167706111677162216770622
32  63-64Seattle South – Kubota 16771631167706311677164216770642
33  65-66  16771651167706511677166216770662
34  67-68GAFSTest Manager16771671167706711677168216770682
35  69-70NW WA UHF – BellinghamLookout Mtn UHF16771691167706911677170216770702
36  71-72Kelso / Longview 16771711167707111677172216770722
37  73-74Seattle – Metroon Gold currently16771731167707311677174216770742
38  75-76Bremerton – Gold Mtn – Seattle Metro 16771751167707511677176216770762
39  77-78WA SW Boistfort – Baw Faw – Ariel 16771771167707711677178216770782
40  79-80Wenatcheemoving to PNW-E16771791167707911677180216770802
41  81-82  16771811167708111677182216770822
42  83-84  16771831167708311677184216770842
43  85-86Yakimamoving to PNW-E16771851167708511677186216770862
44  87-88  16771871167708711677188216770882
45  89-90  16771891167708911677190216770902
46  91-92  16771911167709111677192216770922
47  93-94Seattle DMR – LinkLink16771931167709311677194216770942
48  95-96  16771951167709511677196216770962
49  97-98  16771971167709711677198216770982
50  99-100  16771991167709911677100216770002

NOTE:  References are to 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 & 2 can be used as shorter MCT Off controls, so the additional MCT talkgroups may not needed in all user zones.

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

ManagerIPSC NetworkStatus / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
01  01-02  16771011167701111677102216770022
02  03-04  16771031167700311677104216770042
03  05-06  16771051167700511677106216770062
04  07-08  16771071167700711677108216770082
05  09-10  16771091167700911677110216770102
06  11-12Boardman – Golgatha 1677111167701111677112216770122
07  13-14Hood River – Burdoin Mtn 16771131167701311677114216770142
08  15-16 Local16771151167701511677116216770162
09  17-18Everson – Everson 16771171167701711677118216770182
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  27-28Portland / Lookout PtI-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  16771371167703711677138216770382
20  39-40  16771391167703911677140216770402
21  41-42  16771411167704111677142216770422
22  43-44Megler- Megler 16771431167704311677144216770442
23  45-46  16771451167704511677146216770462
24  47-48Yakima – Elephant Mtnstill on PNW-A16771471167704711677148216770482
25  49-50MMDVM – Rex2 slot16771491167704911677150216770502
26  51-52Polly-Audio Test 16771511167705111677152216770522
27  53-54MMDVM – WesSingle slot only1677153116770531  
28  55-56  16771551167705511677156216770562
29  57-58Tri-Cities – Jump Off Joe UHF 16771571167705711677158216770582
30  59-60Tri-Cities – Jump Off Joe VHF 16771591167705911677160216770602
31  61-62KC7AAD 16771611167706111677162216770622
32  63-64  16771631167706311677164216770642
33  65-66Prineville – Prineville 16771651167706511677166216770662
34  67-68  16771671167706711677168216770682
35  69-70  16771691167706911677170216770702
36  71-72  16771711167707111677172216770722
37  73-74  16771731167707311677174216770742
38  75-76  16771751167707511677176216770762
39  77-78  16771771167707711677178216770782
40  79-80  16771791167707911677180216770802
41  81-82Wrightwood CAposs: EMMA16771811167708111677182216770822
42  83-84MMDVM – Peter 16771831167708311677184216770842
43  85-86  16771851167708511677186216770862
44  87-88  16771871167708711677188216770882
45  89-90IPSC-MMDVM – TestPTT Only16771891167708911677190216770902
46  91-92ISPC-MM-Open – Test 16771911167709111677192216770922
47  93-94MMCVM – Otis 16771931167709311677194216770942
48  95-96IPSC-MMDVMWB7AWL16771951167709511677196216770962
49  97MMDVM – BridgetSingle slot only1677197116770971  
50  99MMDVM – SuzySingle slot only1677199116770991  

NOTE: References are to 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 & 2 can be used as shorter MCT Off controls, so the additional MCT talkgroups may not needed in all user zones.

Spokane  —  PNW-E c-Bridge Managers  –  pnw-e.pnwdigital.net

ManagerIPSC Network ManagerStatus / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
01  01-02  16771011167701111677102216770022
02  03-04Allentown PADCI16771031167700311677104216770042
03  05-06  16771051167700511677106216770062
04  07-08  16771071167700711677108216770082
05  09-10 16771091167700911677110216770102
06  11-1216771111167701111677112216770122
07  13-14  16771131167701311677114216770142
08  15-1616771151167701511677116216770162
09  17-18Pateros – Goat Mtn No Internet16771171167701711677118216770182
10  19-20Wenatchee – Little Badger16771191167701911677120216770202
11  21-22Ellensburg – Sun East UHF 16771211167702111677122216770222
12  23-24Ellensburg – Sun East VHF 16771231167702311677124216770242
13  25-26Lewiston ID – Craig Mtn 16771251167702511677126216770262
14  27-28Saint Maries ID – Saint Maries 16771271167702711677128216770282
15  29-30Coeur d’Alene – Blossom Hill 16771291167702911677130216770302
16  31-32Spokane – Krell UHF16771311167703111677132216770322
17  33-34Spokane – Krell VHF16771331167703311677134216770342
18  35-36Spokane – Lookout Point16771351167703511677136216770362
19  37-38Moses Lake – Frenchman Hills 16771371167703711677138216770382
20  39-40Ephrata – Beasley Hill 16771391167703911677140216770402
21  41-42 16771411167704111677142216770422
22 43-44Spokane Valley – Ridgecrest – UHF 16771431167704311677144216770442
23  45-46  16771451167704511677146216770462
24  47-48 Spokane Valley – Ridgecrest – VHF 16771471167704711677148216770482
25  49-50  16771491167704911677150216770502
26  51-52  16771511167705111677152216770522
27  53-54  16771531167705311677154216770542
28  55-56  16771551167705511677156216770562
29  57-58  16771571167705711677158216770582
30  59-60  16771591167705911677160216770602
31  61-62  16771611167706111677162216770622
32  63-64  16771631167706311677164216770642
33  65-66  16771651167706511677166216770662
34  67-68  16771671167706711677168216770682
35  69-70  16771691167706911677170216770702
36  71-72  16771711167707111677172216770722
37  73-74  16771731167707311677174216770742
38  75-76Moses Lake – Frenchman Hills 16771751167707511677176216770762
39  77-78  16771771167707711677178216770782
40  79-80  16771791167707911677180216770802
41  81-82Wrightwood CA – Wrightwood 16771811167708111677182216770822
42  83-84Orange County CA – Santiago Peak 16771831167708311677184216770842
43  85-86Blue Ridge, California 16771851167708511677186216770862
44  87-88  16771871167708711677188216770882
45  89-90  16771891167708911677190216770902
46  91-92 Inland TG Link16771911167709111677192216770922
47  93-94  16771931167709311677194216770942
48  95-96  16771951167709511677196216770962
49  97-98  16771971167709711677198216770982
50  99-100 Local16771991167709911677100216770002

NOTE:  References are to 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.

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

ManagerIPSC Network ManagerStatus / NotesTS 1 OnTS 1 OffTS2 OnTS2 Off
01  01-02  16771011167701111677102216770022
02  03-04Allentown PADCI16771031167700311677104216770042
03  05-06  16771051167700511677106216770062
04  07-08  16771071167700711677108216770082
05  09-10 Winthrop VHF 16771091167700911677110216770102
06  11-12Mazama VHF16771111167701111677112216770122
07  13-14  16771131167701311677114216770142
08  15-1616771151167701511677116216770162
09  17-18Pateros – Goat Mtn No Internet16771171167701711677118216770182
10  19-20Wenatchee – Little Badger16771191167701911677120216770202
11  21-22Ellensburg – Sun East UHF 16771211167702111677122216770222
12  23-24Ellensburg – Sun East VHF 16771231167702311677124216770242
13  25-26Lewiston ID – Craig Mtn 16771251167702511677126216770262
14  27-28Saint Maries ID – Saint Maries 16771271167702711677128216770282
15  29-30Coeur d’Alene – Blossom Hill 16771291167702911677130216770302
16  31-32Spokane – Krell UHF16771311167703111677132216770322
17  33-34Spokane – Krell VHF16771331167703311677134216770342
18  35-36Spokane – Lookout Point16771351167703511677136216770362
19  37-38Moses Lake – Frenchman Hills 16771371167703711677138216770382
20  39-40Ephrata – Beasley Hill 16771391167703911677140216770402
21  41-42 16771411167704111677142216770422
22 43-44Spokane Valley – Ridgecrest 16771431167704311677144216770442
23  45-46  16771451167704511677146216770462
24  47-48  16771471167704711677148216770482
25  49-50  16771491167704911677150216770502
26  51-52  16771511167705111677152216770522
27  53-54  16771531167705311677154216770542
28  55-56  16771551167705511677156216770562
29  57-58  16771571167705711677158216770582
30  59-60  16771591167705911677160216770602
31  61-62  16771611167706111677162216770622
32  63-64  16771631167706311677164216770642
33  65-66  16771651167706511677166216770662
34  67-68  16771671167706711677168216770682
35  69-70  16771691167706911677170216770702
36  71-72  16771711167707111677172216770722
37  73-74  16771731167707311677174216770742
38  75-76Moses Lake – Frenchman Hills 16771751167707511677176216770762
39  77-78  16771771167707711677178216770782
40  79-80  16771791167707911677180216770802
41  81-82Wrightwood CA – Wrightwood IRG16771811167708111677182216770822
42  83-84Orange County CA – Santiago Peak IRG16771831167708311677184216770842
43  85-86Blue Ridge, California IRG16771851167708511677186216770862
44  87-88  16771871167708711677188216770882
45  89-90  16771891167708911677190216770902
46  91-92 Inland TG Link16771911167709111677192216770922
47  93-94  16771931167709311677194216770942
48  95-96  16771951167709511677196216770962
49  97-98  16771971167709711677198216770982
50  99-100 Local16771991167709911677100216770002

NOTE:  References are to 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.

How it Works

These talkgroups are special in that they are not used for voice traffic but as a control method (much like DTMF) to override the standard or default talkgroup timers associated with each talkgroup.  Newly created c-Bridge managers (IPSC network repeater groups) will be based on this Master Control Talkgroup (MCT) concept while older managers will keep their hold-off timers as the primary method of talkgroup manipulation, though MCT’s may also be supported.

  • Suggested:  Use One Touch buttons or place Local 1 & Metro 2 channels either in position 1 & 2 or 15 & 16 on HT’s for easy and frequent access.  One touch is best for MCT on’s while MCT off’s are best used in position 16 (or 15/16) on a HT for quick kerchunks.  You may wish to set the One Touch menu timer to 30’s or so.
  • New PNWDigital.Net managers will have 2 set of two MCT’s; “Master Off” and “Master On” for one or both timeslots.  Some older managers have only 1 set of 2 MCT’s for control of both timeslots (see chart above)
  • Each MCT On will turn on some or all networked TG’s on one or both timeslots (typically 55 or 59 minutes).  On’s will seldom be used
  • Each MCT Off will turn off all networked TG’s on one or both timeslots (typically 15 or 29 minutes).  Off’s (or Local) will be used extensively
  • Local 1 & Metro 2 will also act as MCT Off’s but with shorter hold-off timers (typically 5 minutes)
  • Some PTT talkgroups may be turned on via MCT; programming is up to repeater owner on which if any.  These variations may or may not be documented, contact the repeater owner for more information.

How it works for a PNW Local Repeater User

Normally a user should turn off all talkgroups prior to making a call via MCT Off or Local.  Then a kerchunk on the talkgroup of choice will turn this one talkgroup back on.  Once done with a conversation, the user can optionally kerchunk the main TG back on.  If they don’t do this, the default state will return within 15-29 minutes, a time span determined by the network manager and/or repeater owners.  This time span is selected to try to match the typical length of a conversation.  If a conversation is longer than the timer, then the user should re-kerchunk the Master Off or you will roll the dice on loosing the timeslot to another talkgroup that may go active during an extended conversation.  This is the MCT method described in it’s simplest form.

The stock Master On timer will turn on all talkgroups, including those that are normally full time by default just incase they were turned off.  This likely will be infrequently used while the MCT Off command will be very commonplace. The network manager and/or the repeater owners may select other options such all talkgroups on or some of the PTT talkgroups turned on.  This is all determined before the manager is coded.  So some or all of the PTT talkgroups could be turned on as some sort of monitoring situation.

If the user doesn’t Master Off first, then any talkgroup that is fulltime is capable for grabbing the timeslot and preempting the current conversation.  The user would then need to time a Master Off kerchunk between the current talkers Tx cycle.  Then kerchunk their talkgroup back on.  If you don’t mind losing your active conversation, then no need to use the MCT’s.

It is suggested that users with HT’s, program the Master On and Master off MCT’s in positions 15 and 16 (and 13/14 if both timeslots are used in one zone).  This will make it easy to spin the dial to the top to quickly turn off the talkgroups.  Mobiles with more channels may wish to have more than 1 MCT set in the zone to simply getting to them for a kerchunk.

Another user radio programming option is to program up the MCT via dedicated front panel keys if your radio supports it so there is no need to have the MCT’s using 2 or 4 channel slots in your zone.  Pushing outside the box, the MCT Off TG’s could be used a Local only talkgroup on either slot, increasing the versatility of that channel slot.

Example: 

Let’s say that Washington 2, PNW 2 and PNW Regional 2 are all on full time (by default), this being typical for most Washington state repeater managers.  Now comes a local user who wants to talk on TAC 310 (PTT by default).  The user has two choices, key up on TAC 310 to turn it on and then begin a conversation or kerchunking “MCT 2 Off” then switching to TAC 310 for a QSO with no other networked talkgroups to bother the QSO on TAC 310. 

If the local user skips the “MCT 2 Off” step, everything can still work fine but those three full time talkgroups could go busy at any time and capture the timeslot thereby taking TAC 310 away from the active local user.  This effectively ends that local users conversation when other networked talkgroups are enabled and idle, but then go active.

To keep from having the rug pulled out from under the local user (another talkgroup barging in), the user should turn off all talkgroups by kerchunking the “MCT 2 Off” talkgroup.  This provides 15 or 29 minutes (typically) of “quiet time” for a conversation.

At the end of the local user’s conversation, the MCT 2 On talkgroup could be kerchunked to turn the timeslot’s talkgroups back on.  If done though, it will turn on all timeslot 2 talkgroups, which may not be what you really want done.  So you could kerchunk the main TS 2 talkgroup back on, PNW 2 for example or just simply wait for the talkgroups to pop back on when the 15 minute timer expires.

So while MCT’s are optional, they play an important role in for local users who wish to engage in a conversation.

PRO’s:

  • Simple understanding to our local users on how the system works
  • Either talkgroups are On or Off
  • Can be called up via One Touch front panel programming via TRBO HT’s and likely other makes as well
  • Fewer competing timer interactions to confuse users
  • Can be used to monitor nets (passively) without other talkgroup interruptions
  • c-Bridge admin time is minimized by a factor of up to 16 times simply to program a new manager
  • Local 1 & 2 will also act as MCT Off’s but can have shorter hold-off timers of 5-15 minutes typically
  • Some c-Bridge groups are already using some form of MCT already. 
  • This admin has used MCT’s for years on his local repeater managers and uses them daily

CON’s:

  • Less intelligent control dynamically during and between conversations
  • User should know and remember to initiate the sequence before beginning a conversation
  • May require the use of and space for the additional 1, 2 or 4 more talkgroups for dedicated channel space in zones
  • It is a new approach and harder for existing users to embrace the change

While some “automation” is lost as are 1 or 2 channels per timeslot in a subscriber radio zone (suggest using One Touch buttons), this is a huge benefit to the admin who must code in up to all 37 timeslot 2 hold-offs for each of the talkgroups on the timeslot.  At the low end, 15 talkgroups on 1 manager can be 225 hold off timers or up to 1370 timers at the high end.  MCT’s require only 1 timer set per talkgroup or 15 additional line entries for a minimal timeslot.  Local 1 and Metro 2 will add another hold-off timer entry but still well short of the upper end of 1300 plus currently.

In practice, there will likely a dual use of Locals as well as a combination of hold off timers for the full time talkgroups added to supplement the MCT’s to insure a better experience by the local repeater users.  But at this point, a new manager with 15 TG’s could be created and be useable in about 90 minutes, far less than the 6-8 hours entering all the possible hold off timer combinations.

First Published: September 9, 2021 Last Updated: 1 month ago by Mike – NO7RF

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