Talkgroup ID Status Bits

Talkgroup IDs are numbered in multiples of 16 from 16 to 65536.

Each ID has 16 specialized modes (status bits) that identify special types of communications associated with the talkgroup.  The chart below identifies these special modes.

 
ID + # Usage
ID+0 Normal Talkgroup
ID+1 All Talkgroup
ID+2 Emergency
ID+3 talkgroup patch to another
ID+4 Emergency Patch
ID+5 Emergency multi-group
ID+6 Not assigned
ID+7 Multi-select (initiated by dispatcher)
ID+8 DES Encryption talkgroup
ID+9 DES All Talkgroup
ID+10 DES Emergency
ID+11 DES Talkgroup patch
ID+12 DES Emergency Patch
ID+13 DES Emergency multi-group
ID+14 Not assigned
ID+15 Multi-select DES TG

 

The BC780xlt, BC250D/296, BC785D/796 & BC245xlt all have an option to "toggle the STATUS BIT"  When ON, all specialized modes will be heard on the "Normal Talkgroup" ID.

When the STATUS BIT is toggled OFF & with the BC235xlt, if you want to hear a talkgroup that is patched to another (for instance) you would need to program the talkgroup ID PLUS 3.  Therefore, if the normal talkgroup ID is 208, a patched transmission will be on talkgroup 211.

Since I leave the STATUS bit ON on my scanners, I am not familiar with how many of these specialized modes are actually used, except for the +3 Patched mode, which is used frequently on the San Diego City system.