Question about CHP PL Tones

[Elpablo]

Hi All,

I recently drove from San Diego to Monterey with all the area CHP frequencies programmed into my 796D. Using ARC software, I programmed all the divisional PL tones for each channel as well as tagging each area with an alpha label (i.e.: 42.46 Black Central LA 192.8). I figured this would only have LA traffic on it based on the PL. What I found was no matter which PL I programmed, Coastal, Southern, Golden Gate, etc., whatever area was transmitting on the freq would be picked up on their color regardless of PL. So I got LA on the Black with the Coastal PL for Monterey (167.9). Another example would be getting Altadena (42.5 Brown 192.8) traffic on the Ruby (42.5) for San Jose with the Golden Gate PL of 131.8. Do the base frequencies not use PLs? Are PLs only use for mobiles? Hopefully, one of you can explain this to me.

Thanks in advance.

[antfreq]

Originally Posted by Elpablo

Hi All,

I recently drove from San Diego to Monterey with all the area CHP frequencies programmed into my 796D. Using ARC software, I programmed all the divisional PL tones for each channel as well as tagging each area with an alpha label (i.e.: 42.46 Black Central LA 192.8). I figured this would only have LA traffic on it based on the PL. What I found was no matter which PL I programmed, Coastal, Southern, Golden Gate, etc., whatever area was transmitting on the freq would be picked up on their color regardless of PL. So I got LA on the Black with the Coastal PL for Monterey (167.9). Another example would be getting Altadena (42.5 Brown 192.8) traffic on the Ruby (42.5) for San Jose with the Golden Gate PL of 131.8. Do the base frequencies not use PLs? Are PLs only use for mobiles? Hopefully, one of you can explain this to me.

Thanks in advance.

If your scanner was correctly programmed with 42.5 with Tone of 192.8 then all you should have heard was Altadena. You shouldn't have heard anything else in Calif

42.5 San Jose Ruby 131.8
42.5 Bakersfield Brown 146.2
42.5 Altadena Brown 192.8
42.5 Chico 179.9

I would check your programming and also check to see if there is a system option on the BC796D to turn on/off/search the PL tones. I suspect that you had it turned off.

[gmclam]

I'll add that this is definitely a programming problem. The tones should work the way you intended them to. Certainly Ruby base and Brown base use the same frequency of 42.500; but what IDs them is the CT being transmitted.

On my old PRO-92 I have to close a bank for the CT value to be "required" to open the squelch. I suspect there is some option like that on your Uniden.

[JoeyC]

Originally Posted by Elpablo

Hi All,

I recently drove from San Diego to Monterey with all the area CHP frequencies programmed into my 796D. Using ARC software, I programmed all the divisional PL tones for each channel as well as tagging each area with an alpha label (i.e.: 42.46 Black Central LA 192.8). I figured this would only have LA traffic on it based on the PL. What I found was no matter which PL I programmed, Coastal, Southern, Golden Gate, etc., whatever area was transmitting on the freq would be picked up on their color regardless of PL. So I got LA on the Black with the Coastal PL for Monterey (167.9). Another example would be getting Altadena (42.5 Brown 192.8) traffic on the Ruby (42.5) for San Jose with the Golden Gate PL of 131.8. Do the base frequencies not use PLs? Are PLs only use for mobiles? Hopefully, one of you can explain this to me.

Thanks in advance.

What immediately came to mind was that you forgot to turn on the Tone Squelch mode in the menu ( Menu - 1 - 8 - 2 (for tone squelch)) as opposed to CSQ (1) or Tone Search (3).

You can program the PL tones but they will have no effect unless you turn it on in the menu.

[Elpablo]

Thanks all. I just figured if I assigned a PL, it would work. I am looking into if in deed I need to turn on a PL or CT mode. I appreciate the imput. Maybe the "PL On" feature was left off the ARC software.

[JoeyC]

Originally Posted by Elpablo

Maybe the "PL On" feature was left off the ARC software.

No, its under BC796D / Other Options / SQ Mode