PL tones and the BC246T scanner

[NCscannerman]

I just got a new BC246T and I want to listen to the fire dispatch for local stations on mecklenburg county fire dispatch. The Mecklenburg county fire dispatch uses PL tones (seperate from Charlotte fire) and I'd like to filter out all tones except a select few (Matthews, Providence, Idlewild are the ones I want to hear). I would also like to fliter out certain PL tones using Union County fire dispatch which is on a VHF system. Is it possible to only hear certain PL tone dispatches with my scanner?

I appreciate the help and let me know if you don't understand, this can be a little overwhelming when you're new...

[MarkWestin]

This should be a relatively straight forward process. If you have software, such as Butel's ARC246, your job will be much easier.

Question 1: Do you know what the PL tone is for the Fire Department that you want to listen to?
Question 2: Do you know what the PL tone is for the Fire Department (or whatever) that you don't want to listen to?
Question 3: If you don't have any software yet, are you able to program your radio without any software?

You may be able to find the PL tone for the Fire Department you want to listen to in the Data Base.

For each channel, there is a field called "CTCSS" (same as PL). You can choose the tone if you know it (or a DCS) or "Search". If you choose search, the tone will show on the screen when the frequency is active. You just have to figure out which tone is the one that you want. If you want to listen to two or more different tones, enter them as separate channels and name them appropriately. If you have the software, put the software in "virtual control" mode, and the software will log the tone(s) as they are received (as long as the "CTCSS" is set to search.

Let me know if you need more info, I've had my BC246T about 1.5 years now.

Mark

[NCscannerman]

Thanks for your reply,

First of all here are the answers to your questions,

Answer 1: Yes, I do know the PL tone for the Fire Dept. I want to listen to

Answer 2: Yes, I know the PL tones for the Fire Depts. I don't want to listen to

Answer 3: I don't have any software yet but I do know how to program the scanner by hand.

**********************************

Now, these are the fire tones I'm looking at and that I also want to program into the scanner (http://radioreference.com/modules.ph...&code_id=1092). Specifically I want stations 26 through 32 since they are in my vicinity. Is it possible to filter out all other stations and just listen to this handful of stations being dispatched? In essence I'm trying to filter out all other dispatches for all other stations in Union county except four stations, possibly something like fire tone-out on the BC246T?

Also, I live right on the county line and I'd like to do the same with Charlotte's Motorola trunked system using TGID's.

Now, I tried what you said in the original reply and I set the CTCSS to search and it brought up 103.5 as the PL Tone for every station dispatched. That is what the RR Database says is the PL tone but I don't see how this could filter out any stations. Also, can I do CTCSS filter or search on a Motorola trunked system with TGIDs?

Sorry about all the questions and I really appreciate your help. Also, if PM is easier for you feel free to do that.

[KE4ZNR]

Might get a quicker (and more reliable) response in the NC Forum next time 1st off Welcome to RR.com! Good to have another NC Resident on board! Now the bad news: The 246T does NOT have the feature you are looking for....You are confusing CTCSS tones with the Fire Tone Out Feature that Uniden offers...while your 246T has CTCSS/DCS capability it does NOT have the Fire Tone Out Feature you are looking for....only the BR330T, BCD396T, & BCD996T have the Fire Tone Out Feature you are looking for....
Hope this helps!
Marshall KE4ZNR

[hiegtx]

Originally Posted by NCscannerman

Thanks for your reply,

First of all here are the answers to your questions,

Answer 1: Yes, I do know the PL tone for the Fire Dept. I want to listen to

Answer 2: Yes, I know the PL tones for the Fire Depts. I don't want to listen to

Answer 3: I don't have any software yet but I do know how to program the scanner by hand.

**********************************

Now, these are the fire tones I'm looking at and that I also want to program into the scanner (http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=codes&code_id=1092). Specifically I want stations 26 through 32 since they are in my vicinity. Is it possible to filter out all other stations and just listen to this handful of stations being dispatched? In essence I'm trying to filter out all other dispatches for all other stations in Union county except four stations, possibly something like fire tone-out on the BC246T?

Sorry about all the questions and I really appreciate your help. Also, if PM is easier for you feel free to do that.

If I'm reading you correctly, you are refering to dispatch tone outs. not radio frequency PL/CTCSS tones or DCS codes. If you want to hear certain specific stations, 26 through 32, paged or toned out, but not the others, you need a scanner other than the 246.

Scanners with the fire tone out feature, which is what you want, as I read it, include the BR330T (handheld) and the BCT15, a base/mobile scanner. [The digital BCD396T & BCD996T also have fire tone out, but are considerably more expensive. They would, however, also be capable of receiving the NC state system, VIPER, which has some digital talkgoups.] All of these are Unidens. No Radio Shack/Pro series scanners currently offer fire tone out.

Also, I live right on the county line and I'd like to do the same with Charlotte's Motorola trunked system using TGID's.

Fire tone out does not work on trunked systems, only conventional system frequencies.

Now, I tried what you said in the original reply and I set the CTCSS to search and it brought up 103.5 as the PL Tone for every station dispatched. That is what the RR Database says is the PL tone but I don't see how this could filter out any stations. Also, can I do CTCSS filter or search on a Motorola trunked system with TGIDs?

In your original question, you mentioned that dispatch used different PL tones. Actually, it's the tone out, as discussed above, and based on the link you provided. The PL (or CTCSS tone) is used to control the squelch on the radios. Had you been trying trying to separate various departments that all were on the same frequency, but using different PL tones, that would work. That's what it initially sounded like, since you specifically referred to PL's. Since all the dispatches are on the same frequency, by the same agency, the PL, as you've found, is the same, 103.5. You need Fire Tone Out, not PL, separation. PL tones are not used on trunked systems, so nothing that I'm aware of that will serve the purpose.

I see Marshall jumped in there while I was typing.

[KE4ZNR]

^it's ok bro...your response was probably a little better explained than my ramblin' senior citizens typin' late at night
Marshall KE4ZNR

[E-542]

Originally Posted by hiegtx

Fire tone out does not work on trunked systems, only conventional system frequencies.

Actually, not true. Salisbury City Fire Department here in Rowan County where I am uses an 800MHz trunked system, and all four stations each have a unique Quik-Call II dispatch tone. Charlotte though, yes, does not. I've got a Radioshack PRO-528 with the Radioshack 800MHz antenna, and I can pick up Charlotte city fire.. And E-14 just got toned out, well, sorta toned out. Charlotte for all the calls, medical or fire, use a steady tone like --------------------------, and there it is again.. engine 5, difficulty breathing. But for fire alarms, it's a hi-low tone like -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ . Also, would someone mind explaining to me, while I'm here, what CTCSS, and PL tones are?

[SteveSimpkin]

Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System - The RadioReference Wiki

Steve

[hiegtx]

Originally Posted by E-542

Actually, not true. Salisbury City Fire Department here in Rowan County where I am uses an 800MHz trunked system, and all four stations each have a unique Quik-Call II dispatch tone. Charlotte though, yes, does not. I've got a Radioshack PRO-528 with the Radioshack 800MHz antenna, and I can pick up Charlotte city fire.. And E-14 just got toned out, well, sorta toned out. Charlotte for all the calls, medical or fire, use a steady tone like --------------------------, and there it is again.. engine 5, difficulty breathing. But for fire alarms, it's a hi-low tone like -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ .

E-542,
That answer, in an old thread, refers specifically to the use of the fire tone-out function of certain scanners (BCD396T, BR330T, BCD996T, among other Unidens) that can decode the fire tone outs. They are designed to work only on conventional systems, not on a trunked radio system. Totally different than what you are referring to, which are fire departments using tone outs on the trunked system, and you hearing it on a scanner.

See this Wiki page, and also the linked article on it, for more details.

[rdale]

Originally Posted by E-542

Actually, not true. Salisbury City Fire Department here in Rowan County where I am uses an 800MHz trunked system, and all four stations each have a unique Quik-Call II dispatch tone.

If anything it's probably a retransmission of VHF and/or just an attention tone, there are very few trunked system that use tones since it is so expensive compared to a standard pager. In any case, FTO doesn't work with it.

[E-542]

Originally Posted by rdale

If anything it's probably a retransmission of VHF and/or just an attention tone, there are very few trunked system that use tones since it is so expensive compared to a standard pager. In any case, FTO doesn't work with it.

No, it's not VHF, Salisbury City 100% removed VHF awhile ago, the only VHF frequencies in the COUNTY anymore is the simulcast of County Fire 154.2500, and County EMS 155.7150 as pagers are used, but no, I listen to Sals. City daily, and it's two-toned, and 800MHz Trunked. Trunking ID is 752. Charlotte has the attention tone you are mentioning though.