In-band vehicular repeater for trunked radio system

A wireless communication system for a trunked system, comprising:

• a base site station;
• one or more vehicular repeaters;
• and
• one or more mobile radios for direct communication with said base site station in a communication band, or for indirect communication with said base site station via said one or more vehicular repeaters in said same communication band,
• wherein at least one of said one or more vehicular repeaters comprises:
• a first operational radio for communicating with said base site station;
• an in-band vehicular repeater module, connected to said first operational radio, for communicating with at least one of said one or more mobile radios.

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base site, comprising the steps of:

• inquiring, by said portable unit, the availability of a control channel associated with said base site;
• if said control channel associated with said base site is available then:
• locking onto, by said portable unit, said control channel associated with said base site;
• and
• transmitting or receiving a message on said control channel associated with said base site by converting said control channel associated with said base site to a working channel;
• and if said control channel associated with said base site is not available then:
• inquiring, by said portable unit, the availability of a control channel associated with said repeater unit;
• locking onto, by said portable unit, said control channel associated with said repeater unit if said repeater control channel is available;
• and
• transmitting or receiving a message on said control channel associated with said repeater unit by converting said control channel associated with said repeater unit to a working channel.

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base site, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, by said portable radio unit, a message to said repeater unit, said message informing said repeater unit of the identity of said portable radio unit, and the identity of a group of portable radio units to which said portable unit belongs;
• storing indicia at said repeater unit representative of said identity of said portable radio unit and the identity of said group;
• monitoring, by said repeater unit, a control channel for messages addressed to said portable unit by making reference to said indicia;
• and
• upon determining that a message is addressed to said portable unit, allowing said portable unit to receive said message.