Squelch Type

[Spirit]

Can some one tell me what I should have my squelch set to for all VHF & UHF frequencies? I have these to choose from:
NONE, CTCSS (PL), DCS, P25 NAC or Search. When I have it set on search it seems to have the frequencies cut out.

[jeffreyinberthoud]

CTCSS (PL) or DCS if it has and you know tone.......search when you dont As an example the front range forest freqs Have several diffrent pl tones depending on the repeater your hearing

see below table ,they could be used for diffent uses in diffrent areas with out bothering each other

169.92500* 110.9 PL FS EAST NET US Forest Service East Net*
169.92500* 127.3 PL F OBRH R US Forest Service Oak Brush Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 151.4 PL F WFCK R US Forest Service Wolf Creek Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 103.5 PL F DEVL R US Forest Service Devil Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 136.5 PL F TKVL R US Forest Service Tuckerville Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 167.9 PL F PRGN R US Forest Service Pargin Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 146.2 PL F GRSY R US Forest Service Grassy Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 123.0 PL F KNBC R US Forest Service Kennebec Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 131.8 PL F KNDL R US Forest Service Kendall Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 114.8 PL F MSNY R US Forest Service Missionary Repeater (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 110.9 PL F SMTR B US Forest Service Smelter Base (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 110.9 PL F PGSA B US Forest Service Pagosa Base (USFS East Net)*
169.92500* 110.9 PL F BYFD B US Forest Service Bayfield Base (USFS East Net)*

[Spirit]

Thanks Jeff, what about med evac and rocky mt. natl' park?

[n5ims]

Please be aware that any squelch setting besides NONE may eliminate some transmissions. These are designed to help reduce interference from unwanted signals (which is why Motrola first called theirs "Private Line".

If you want to make sure that you catch all signals (including those that arrive via "skip") on a monitored frequency, NONE should be selected. There is no real advantage to selecting the specific one used on to system unless you are specifically trying to only monitor that specific system.

[jeffreyinberthoud]

I think PL also does block interfearance on a given freq for example ,Living close to the MEAD towers the weather transmitter contantly jams some of Boulder county freqs with out PL I would be unable to monitor those freqs

[abqscan]

Originally Posted by Spirit

Can some one tell me what I should have my squelch set to for all VHF & UHF frequencies? I have these to choose from:
NONE, CTCSS (PL), DCS, P25 NAC or Search. When I have it set on search it seems to have the frequencies cut out.

Some research about each of these options might help you in understanding what they are used for. Then it will be up to you in determining if you are going to utilize the scanners squelch options.


CTCSS, i.e. PL tones.

DCS, i.e. the digital version of CTCSS/PL tones.

NAC, i.e. the P25 version of DCS

None=none. This means the scanner won't try to utilize any special squelch options.

Search= your scanner will search for the above options and will display its findings on the display if any squelch options are found.

[Spirit]

Thanks Erik for the articles and to all that gave me insight on this.