Communication system with controlled talk around mode

A method for preserving system integrity in a communication network having a trunk composed of a plurality of frequency channels, one of the channels being a control channel and the other channels being talk channels, and the communication network including a base unit and a plurality of subscriber units, comprising the steps of:

• sending a talk around request from a first subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to the base unit;
• acknowledging the request at the base unit and sending a signal from the base unit to the first subscriber unit;
• determining at the first subscriber unit a RSSI (received signal strength indication) of the signal received from the base unit;
• sending the RSSI from the first subscriber unit to the base unit;
• comparing in the base unit the RSSI to a predetermined window;
• denying, if the RSSI is above the window, the request from the first subscriber unit, the first subscriber unit thereby not going into a talk around mode;
• assigning, if the RSSI is within the window, the first subscriber unit to a talk channel which is spaced apart from the control channel by other talk channels, and controlling a power level to the first subscriber unit to minimize interference to the network by the first subscriber unit being in talk around mode, the first subscriber unit thereby going into a talk around mode;
• not responding, if the RSSI is below the window, to the first subscriber unit, the first subscriber unit thereby going into a direct communication mode independent of the communication network.