Abstract: A master repeater controls a trunked communication system having a number of communication resources. The master repeater determines (201) how many communication resources are available to the master repeater. When one control resource and one message resource are among the available communication resources (203), the master repeater suspends (211) trunked communication system operation when the number of available communication resources are less than a minimum number of resources (205), and the available communication resources fail to include all control resources (207) from the trunked communication system.

Abstract: A plurality of consoles (111-113) share use of a single landline (101) with minimal requirements for internal maintenance data signalling. As two or more consoles both share use of the link, a telephone interface (103) assigns one of the consoles to be responsible for maintenance signalling. If and when the assigned console concludes its communication needs or otherwise becomes unable to continue the maintenance signalling, the telephone interface will assign a new interested console to provide the maintenance signalling. This continues until no consoles remain having an interest in maintaining the communication link. In one embodiment, when the link is used by only a single console, a hold function can be accommodated. When two or more consoles are serviced, however, the hold function is not applied. Also, when the link has been placed on hold, any console can remove the hold condition.