How does the page function work on a Minitor VI

[JSMachine]

Trying to understand how the page function works on Minitor pagers and even some small HT radios. I'm interested in how the radio will ignore all channel traffic until unlocked. I know what privacy tones or ctcss type tones are. Is this the same thing? Thinking it may not be because the tone that unlocks it is actually audible.

I’m looking at a vhf public safety radio, and trying to mimic programming in a cheap HT using Chirp.

I currently have two channels in this particular public safety HT - same freq as the pager. CH1 is the repeater, CH2 is simplex.

CH1 is set to the following: tone mode-TSQL, tone squelch-118.8, duplex +, offset-(offset value).

CH2 Is set to the following: tone mode-TSQL, tone squelch-118.8, all other fields clear

Obviously CH1 has the offset to get into the repeater, where CH1 is set up like a simplex should be.

What would enable a channel to behave in the same way the pager does while locked out (page only)? This has to be a programming thing because I have a Kenwood radio programmed the same way with a page only channel.

Note: posted here because the pager is a Motorola.

 

[Tech21]

When a pager is in "page" mode and not CSQ?

It's like being behind a closed door and somebody walking up and saying the password for the door to open. Otherwise, the pager simply does not open the receiver because the right password wasn't said.

The pager is listening for the right PL/tone combination to open up the receiver.

Put it in CSQ and that's essentially letting anything and everything on frequency through, regardless of PL/tone settings.

 

[GTR8000]

Minitor pagers aren't capable of decoding PL/DPL, so they simply wait for the correct QCII tone combination(s) to alert and open squelch when in selective call mode.

 

[JustinWHT]

Older pagers used two-tone selective calling. They do not use CTCSS aka Motorola Private Line.

An option would be to add an after market two-tone decoder. Two Tone Signaling - Midian Electronics

 

[ElroyJetson]

It's called a decoder circuit. It's in the receive path and only when it is activated by a correct sequence of decoded signals does it open up the audio circuit.

For a deeper understanding you'll have to get into circuit theory. Do you want to do that?

 

[JustinWHT]

I know what privacy tones or ctcss type tones are. Is this the same thing? Thinking it may not be because the tone that unlocks it is actually audible.

No. In the '70s pagers used two-tone sequential, Motorola Quick Call Ii and GE Type 99. Eventually there came FLEX, ReFLEX, POCSAG, GOLAY. They had no need for CTCSS. Two-tone sequential was very audible using 300-3,000 Hz tones.

CTCSS used "sub-audible" tones from 67-254 Hz, they certainly audible but not intrusive. Motorola Private Line, GE Channel Guard, RCA Quiet Channel. Because it was indeed audible it was called "hum squelch".

My Motorola HT220 had aftermarket decoder boards that used both CTCSS and two-tone to page me.

 

[chief21]

I’m looking at a vhf public safety radio, and trying to mimic programming in a cheap HT using Chirp.

Minitor pagers (and many commercial radios) support 2-tone sequential paging.
Most cheap HT's that use Chirp, as well as most other amateur radios, don't support 2-tone sequential paging formats.
There are lots of differences between commercial/public safety radios and amateur radios (most cheap Chinese radios are marketed as amateur radios).

 

[JustinWHT]

I currently have two channels in this particular public safety HT - same freq as the pager. CH1 is the repeater, CH2 is simplex.

Note: posted here because the pager is a Motorola.

It sounds like you want the HT to mimic the Minitor pager. That's not possible as the HT has no two tone decoder.

Why not just leave things the way they are. The HT for repeater communication and the Minitor for pager alerts.