Abstract: Data muting apparatus is described that mutes variable-length data signals communicated between a central station and mobile and portable radios in a dispatch radio communications system. The central station includes a base station transceiver, a dispatcher console, a general communications controller (GCC), a digital communications computer and a display terminal. The base station transmitter and receiver communicate over an RF duplex channel to the transceiver of the mobile and portable radios. The dispatcher console provides for voice communications and is coupled by a transmit signal line and a receive signal line to the base station transceiver. The GCC provides for data communications and is also coupled to the transmit signal line and is interposed between the dispatcher console and the base station transceiver in the receive signal line. The GCC and mobile and portable radios include data muting apparatus enbodying the present invention.