Transmission trunked radio system with voice buffering and off-line dialing

A trunked radio subscriber requesting dispatch service transmits a request (103) for a channel and immediately begins to speak (102) without waiting to receive permission to access the channel. The subscriber radio locally records the information to be transmitted and, upon being assigned (106) a channel, begins to reproduce and transmit (107) the information. Recording and reproduction provides delay to span the time between request for and assignment to a channel and eliminates the need for the subscriber to wait to transmit or to quickly seize a channel assigned after an initial refusal. This enhances overall response time and increases time available for transmitting information signals. During interconnect calling, a trunked system alternately assigns inbound and outbound frequencies only as required for back-and-forth communication between simplex radio and duplex wireline subscribers. Voice buffering allows the parties to begin talking during the delay between request for and assignment of frequencies. The invention further provides for call origination by either radio or wireline subscribers without use of information channels. These procedures release resources and make them available to other callers.