Tone-Out on the XT

[wv_mountaineer]

Okay, I just started playing with this Tone-Out function today after having my XT for about a year and a half. So here goes... I'm using the search mode in Tone_Out and it's working. Now for the real question, my county also dispatches EMS units using tones. I have received 3 different tone-out readings for the same EMS company same station number. Could this be because they may have 3 different station locations within the county?
As of now I have only been using one freq. to search that the county dispatches on. We have a North, South, East and West Tower that dispatch uses depending on what part of the county the call is going out to. Could these Tone-Out numbers change from tower to tower or should they stay the same? Some areas overlap depending on what tower dispatch is using. I'm sure this also depends a lot upon my location from which I am listening also.

 

[DaveIN]

The agency could be using a different tone out for multiple stations or units. Generally, you can sometimes see a pattern of a common tone for multiple stations in the same area. With the second tone or just a long tone (A+B tone length) used to signal common stations.

Keep in mind even if your system uses multiple dispatch frequencies, your XT is only able to monitor one frequency and listen for the tone out.

 

[wv_mountaineer]

Just to add to my ???

Well after playing and monitoring my new project using the 396xt with its tone out function I have come up with about 25 search hits. Not a one has matched to really pinpoint the exact tone out "A or B" number codes. So after saying that I believe my problem here my just be all about the signal I am receiving, hence my location from point of origin of the signal and or the antenna I am using. Signal, Signal, Signal.... I believe could be the answer to the inaccurate "A and B" numbers codes.
So are these "A and B" number codes for tone out exact all of the time or can they very a tenth or 2 and still be correct enough to be used on my XT. My thoughts are to get an average from about 7 or so hits for the same station and just go with the tone out codes or numbers I come up with. Should this be enough to work for me or is my logic all wrong?

 

[captclint]

So are these "A and B" number codes for tone out exact all of the time or can they very a tenth or 2 and still be correct enough to be used on my XT. My thoughts are to get an average from about 7 or so hits for the same station and just go with the tone out codes or numbers I come up with. Should this be enough to work for me or is my logic all wrong?

Yes, averaging is a good technique, unless one or more of the received tone is off by more than a couple of Hz. That would indicate a different meaning, say maybe a cancel tone was used. Eliminate all the vaules that vary more than 2 Hz, and you should get a good approximation. BTW, I have a solid signal, and I still get some a few tones that vary 1 or 2 Hz. Variations of a tenth of a Hz are more common.

 

[wv_mountaineer]

Thank you Capt. I can always count on you for a really good answer to confirm my thoughts and instincts.

 

[DaveIN]

If the tones saved in the XT are off one or two Hz it should still capture the tone out.
You can find more information in the Wiki: Fire Tone Out - The RadioReference Wiki