Uniden Scanners and Programmable CTCSS/DCS codes (PL/DCS)

[Gezelle007]

The newer Uniden Scanners are able to be programmed with PL and DCS codes so that they operate more like an actual radio, being able to block unwanted communications.

I think is an awesome feature, but heres my question: If you program a PL tone, lets say 100.0 and the scanner picks up a transmission with that tone, it will open and you will hear the audio, OK cool. - BUT will the scanner MUTE the audio as soon as the tone is no longer present? Or will it receive and unmute the ENTIRE transmission?

I'm asking because where I am there is a unique amateur system and when people talk and transmit, the repeater uses a tone, however as soon as they stop talking, the repeater removes the tone and just transmits a carrier (CSQ). This can be quite annoying because the carrier causes my scanner to hold on that freq and I miss other communications for about 15 seconds until the repeater stops transmitting..

 

[GTR8000]

As soon as the PL/DPL drops (or changes), the scanner will consider it the end of transmission, regardless of whether a carrier is still present (CSQ or a different tone even). Of course, you have to take into account the delay most scanners have before they resume scanning (usually 2 seconds).

If you're listening to a ham repeater that only passes the input tone through while someone is transmitting, but otherwise operates CSQ, the scanner will stop and unmute when it detects the proper tone, and when the tone drops (even if the carrier stays active for another 15 seconds), the scanner will resume scanning after any scan delay has passed.

By the way, a lot of ham repeaters operate that way, it's not really all that unique.

 

[Gezelle007]

As soon as the PL/DPL drops (or changes), the scanner will consider it the end of transmission, regardless of whether a carrier is still present (CSQ or a different tone even). Of course, you have to take into account the delay most scanners have before they resume scanning (usually 2 seconds).

If you're listening to a ham repeater that only passes the input tone through while someone is transmitting, but otherwise operates CSQ, the scanner will stop and unmute when it detects the proper tone, and when the tone drops (even if the carrier stays active for another 15 seconds), the scanner will resume scanning after any scan delay has passed.

Alright, awesome. I had a GRE scanner that wouldn't do that. That's exactly what I wanted to know, thanks!

 

[GTR8000]

What model GRE was it? It should behave the same way, moving on once the tone drops. That's odd that it didn't resume scanning.

 

[Gezelle007]

What model GRE was it? It should behave the same way, moving on once the tone drops. That's odd that it didn't resume scanning.

Well technically it was a Radio Shack PRO-164, basically the same model as a PSR-300. I got rid of it for other reasons, but that was one of my problems with it.

 

[GTR8000]

Interesting. I've got a PSR-410, which is basically the next generation 300/400, and I don't think I've ever experienced that. I'll have to try it now to see how it handles that.

 

[Gezelle007]

Interesting. I've got a PSR-410, which is basically the next generation 300/400, and I don't think I've ever experienced that. I'll have to try it now to see how it handles that.

Alright thanks, yeah I don't think I'll buy GRE again, I've been using Uniden forever and I got the GRE as a backup, turned out to be a mistake.