246T ctcss/dcs tone search during normal scanning?

[safetyobc]

Can the 246T search for ctcss/dcs tones while scanning my programmed freqs. I haven't found it if it can. I found the option under the "Srch/CloCall" Opt menu but can I set it to find the tones while scanning like the 250D, Pro97 and other scanners do?

 

[kikito]

Yes, you need to go into each frequency and set to Search on the "Set CTCSS/DCS" menu.

 

[safetyobc]

thanx. Don't know what I was thinking?

Thank You Butel!!!!! I programmed all my conventional freqs to search in about 10 minutes. I have like 600 conventional freqs for different areas I travel..so ARC246 is GREAT

 

[CZ]

kikito:

Yes, you need to go into each frequency and set to Search on the "Set CTCSS/DCS" menu.

Did you mean each group instead of frequency?

 

[safetyobc]

kikito:

Yes, you need to go into each frequency and set to Search on the "Set CTCSS/DCS" menu.

Did you mean each group instead of frequency?

nope, I had to go into each freq and set the search, luckily I had ARC246.

 

[Voyager]

kikito:

Yes, you need to go into each frequency and set to Search on the "Set CTCSS/DCS" menu.

Did you mean each group instead of frequency?

No - the CTCSS/CDCSS is set per frequency. Every frequency can have a different CTCSS/CDCSS tone/code, be set to NONE (CSQ), OR be set to SEARCH in which case it will display any CTCSS/CDCSS seen on that frequency.

You can also set it to TONE LOCKOUT in which case it will receive all EXCEPT transmissions with that particular tone/code.

Joe M.

 

[CZ]

Hmmm, then if I'm reading the above correctly, say I have 50 channels in a group, I cannot scan for tones while scanning those 50, and have to go one at a time instead.
If I'm not reading it wrong, I wonder why they did that, instead of allowing you to look for tones and scan the channels at same time like the 785D does.


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Update

Tried to program 246T tone searching following instructions on Page 89 of the manual, and no indication, whether by an icon, or the Tone frequency itself, that a Tone was being searched for/picked up.
Don't have any Tones in the 246T loaded via the Demo-ware Uniden program for area Hospitals, or most of the local PD channels, (PD uses 136.5) so should have picked up something in the way of Tones, but no luck.

 

[safetyobc]

I went in on my ARC246T and programmed every frequency to search for the tones. Every channel that is active shows the tone now. I even discovered that certain freqs are using different tones, which made me pay more attention to the radio and realized I was hearing more than one department

My tone search works just like the search on my BC250D, except with the BC246T it is instant and the BC250D took several seconds to find the correct tone.

 

[CZ]

Hmmm, so you can't set it up manually to search for Tones while scanning like you can with the 785D.

 

[Voyager]

Hmmm, then if I'm reading the above correctly, say I have 50 channels in a group, I cannot scan for tones while scanning those 50, and have to go one at a time instead.
If I'm not reading it wrong, I wonder why they did that, instead of allowing you to look for tones and scan the channels at same time like the 785D does.


=====================

Update

Tried to program 246T tone searching following instructions on Page 89 of the manual, and no indication, whether by an icon, or the Tone frequency itself, that a Tone was being searched for/picked up.
Don't have any Tones in the 246T loaded via the Demo-ware Uniden program for area Hospitals, or most of the local PD channels, (PD uses 136.5) so should have picked up something in the way of Tones, but no luck.

You can program 1000 channels and set them all up for CTCSS/CDCSS SEARCH. Each will display the tone/code that is received.

Look, CZ, do this. Program a channel you know uses CTCSS or CDCSS in your scanner and set it for SEARCH. When that frequency becomes active, you will see the tone/code displayed.

Joe M.

 

[CZ]

I have about 10 channels with the tones programmed in with the Demo-ware Uniden program, so I have to specifically program the 246T to search mode for Tone's and just write it down--presume that Tones you want to use can't be programmed in with just a keypress?

 

[Voyager]

I have about 10 channels with the tones programmed in with the Demo-ware Uniden program, so I have to specifically program the 246T to search mode for Tone's and just write it down--presume that Tones you want to use can't be programmed in with just a keypress?

Yes, you have to specifically program it for search mode - just like you have to specifically program it for any CTCSS or CDCSS tone/code if you want to use that.

If it's decoding a tone, you can press ENTER to access the menu. Scroll clonter-clockwise 5 clicks and hit ENTER again. Select the correct mode, hit ENTER, and select the tone/code and hit ENTER again. Then hit the power button BRIEFLY to exit the programming.

Joe M.

 

[CZ]

So, then if I want to see if there's a tone on 460.425 (local Police Channel 7; CTCSS 136.5) with the 246T I have to set it to search only on that frequency & wait until it comes up, then hopefully hit the keys in time to program it in.

======
What I was doing is: Program system > Srch/CloCall Opt > CTCSS/DCS Search <enter> CTCSS/DCS Search on <enter> which takes me back to Srch/CloCall Opt. When it comes back to that I press the 'Scan' button, and presto! no Tones.

 

[Voyager]

So, then if I want to see if there's a tone on 460.425 (local Police Channel 7; CTCSS 136.5) with the 246T I have to set it to search only on that frequency & wait until it comes up, then hopefully hit the keys in time to program it in.

======
What I was doing is: Program system > Srch/CloCall Opt > CTCSS/DCS Search <enter> CTCSS/DCS Search on <enter> which takes me back to Srch/CloCall Opt. When it comes back to that I press the 'Scan' button, and presto! no Tones.

Last item first. Close Call or frequency search has NOTHING to do with the mode I've been talking about. You can set the stored frequencies for any CTCSS tone, or any CDCSS code, or none (CSQ), or SEARCH.

SEARCH is a CTCSS mode that can be programmed into ANY channel. You program it the same as any CTCSS tone, only clicking the scroll not the CTCSS or CDCSS, but to SEARCH.

When you see the CTCSS (or CDCSS) displayed, you simply remember that tone or code, (and the rest is a direct re-quote from what I said above) press ENTER to access the menu. Scroll clonter-clockwise 5 clicks and hit ENTER again. Select the correct mode, hit ENTER, and select the tone/code and hit ENTER again. Then hit the power button BRIEFLY to exit the programming.

Joe M.

 

[CZ]

Rereads the thread, *scratches head*, and concludes he's about as confused as before.... So,

246T ... Only can find Tones when in a "Search" Mode set uup for a particular channel, or program with Software.

BC-785D .... Can be scanning channels normally that're already programmed in for Tones, & press key to program them into a channel.

I think.... :? :?

 

[UPMan]

One of the attributes of a channel is the tone setting. You can set this attribute to any of 50 CTCSS tones, 104 DCS tones, Lockout, or Search. If you put the setting on Search for that channel, whenever the scanner stops on a transmission on that channel during normal scanning, it will display any CTCSS or DCS tone that is included on the transmission on that channel.

 

[CZ]

UPman

If you put the setting on Search for that channel, whenever the scanner stops on a transmission on that channel during normal scanning, .

--------------
Hmmm, well I'm doing *something* wrong still.
Will Re-re-reread the thread & see what I can get it to do regarding scanning normally all 50+ programmed channels, & searching for/displaying tones.

In Demo-ware UART these settings are in "System Editor" (Its a Conventional System) (246T Fimware Vers: 1.42)

CTCSS/DCS ... NONE ... No Tone is programmed into a channel
Tone Lockout.... OFF ... on all Tone & non-tone channels.

But presume they would have no effect when trying to manually set it up for scanning for Tones among 50 channels then keying them in.....

 

[pmsar35]

CZ,

Try doing this manually. Select MENU, PROGRAM SYSTEM, etc. and get to a conventional frequency.

When you get to SELECT CHANNEL, hit ENTER or push the selector knob, turn the selector knob clockwise 6 clicks to SET CTCSS/DCS, hit ENTER or push the selector knob, then turn the selector knob. The choices are OFF, SEARCH, CTCSS, DCS and SET LOCKOUT. Since you want to search, select SEARCH and hit ENTER or push the selector knob.

At this point you can press the SCAN button.

When you're scanning and a transmission comes up on this conventional channel, a CTCSS or DCS code will display if there is one used. Unfortunately, you need to remember what CTCSS or DCS code displays because pressing ENTER does not store it like it does on the BC296D.

To store it, follow the directions above, but select CTCSS or DCS, hit ENTER or push the selector knob, then turn the knob until you get to the correct code, then hit ENTER.

Hope this helps.

 

[UPMan]

CTCSS/DCS ... NONE ... No Tone is programmed into a channel

So, instead of setting it to NONE, set it to SEARCH.

 

[CZ]

Think I may put the 246T away for a day or 2, Re-re-re-re-reread the thread (& Manual sections on Tones), & start over again.