Chaos703
Member
Sorry to be ig-nor-ant. But can someone please explain PL tones?
Clearly I'm missing something.
PL Tones, Please...
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Sorry to be ig-nor-ant. But can someone please explain PL tones?
Clearly I'm missing something.
okla-lawman
Member
It is a subaudible tone a radio generates to usually open up a repeater. It can also be used on receive side of a transmitter so it will onlyy receive
those braodcasts which sent that tone along with the transmission. Most repeaters have them on them. Not only to limit /restrict use but to keep
from rebradcasting unwanted signals. One local dept had a real problem at night. The input freq was the same as the output of another dept's repeater. Even though they were hundreds of miles away often the local repeater would pick up the others output and rebroadcast it. The pl tone stopped that...
those braodcasts which sent that tone along with the transmission. Most repeaters have them on them. Not only to limit /restrict use but to keep
from rebradcasting unwanted signals. One local dept had a real problem at night. The input freq was the same as the output of another dept's repeater. Even though they were hundreds of miles away often the local repeater would pick up the others output and rebroadcast it. The pl tone stopped that...
Following up on that, whenever I see input and output frequencies,
I assume I should program them both into my scanner, correct?
I assume I should program them both into my scanner, correct?
By programming the output frequency you will be able to hear both sides of the transmission, i.e., dispathcer and mobile units. By listening to the input you'll only hear the mobiles. If you program both input and output frequencies into your scanner that will take up more memory channels than necessary, unless you have sufficient memory and just want to listen to the mobiles only.
On a similar note, I have VHF/UHF ham radio equipment in my vehicle. I have sufficient memory, to program it as an additional "scanner", and have the capability to program both input and output frequencies. Ido that so that I can monitor the mobiles input during a call. I do that so I can determine how close they are. Make sense?
On a similar note, I have VHF/UHF ham radio equipment in my vehicle. I have sufficient memory, to program it as an additional "scanner", and have the capability to program both input and output frequencies. Ido that so that I can monitor the mobiles input during a call. I do that so I can determine how close they are. Make sense?
K5MAR
Member
A little extra information: PL (Private Line) is a Motorola trademarked term for CTCSS, or Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System. For a little more explaination, including other trademarked terms for CTCSS, go to Ben Saladino's great website covering the Dallas-Fort Worth area http://www.bensware.com/scandfw/ Scroll down to the entry on the main page dated 2/16/2004.
Mark S.
Mark S.
Thanks for that info frootydawg.
oklameatman
Member
Chaos - let me try to explain it in a non-HAM or non-radio professional's terms. They are simply a sub- frequency (or frequency within a frequency) approach to limiting use within the main frequency. Kind of like area codes. I'm sure there are many people with the same 7-digit phone number as me, but I'm the only one with that number in the 405 area code.
Chaos703
Member
Thanks Lawman. That helps. I like it when people speak slowly.
My uncle was a farmer in Nebraska. He suscribed to a farm radio service. I think that system worked with some old form of CTCSSs. Basicaly, a transmission from one his radios activated ONLY his other radios via a tone carried by the repeater. If you turned the squelch all the way down, you could hear everyone else's conversations. When listening on the scanner you heard all the converstaions, plus the tones. It's been about ten years since I was up there so I assume I just described stone-age technology, but is that a good example of PL tones?
I don't think my PRO 95 processes tones. So if I program in a freq managed by tones, will I hear everything. Or nothing. Or is there something I'm still missing?
side note: I'm entering this on my wife's PC. As a good and faithful MAC user, I can't even turn on a PC much less find a spell checker. So if it seems my IQ has suddenly dropped, you guys now know the truth. I can't spell my way out of a paper sack.
My uncle was a farmer in Nebraska. He suscribed to a farm radio service. I think that system worked with some old form of CTCSSs. Basicaly, a transmission from one his radios activated ONLY his other radios via a tone carried by the repeater. If you turned the squelch all the way down, you could hear everyone else's conversations. When listening on the scanner you heard all the converstaions, plus the tones. It's been about ten years since I was up there so I assume I just described stone-age technology, but is that a good example of PL tones?
I don't think my PRO 95 processes tones. So if I program in a freq managed by tones, will I hear everything. Or nothing. Or is there something I'm still missing?
side note: I'm entering this on my wife's PC. As a good and faithful MAC user, I can't even turn on a PC much less find a spell checker. So if it seems my IQ has suddenly dropped, you guys now know the truth. I can't spell my way out of a paper sack.
me too.
yes, that is correct.
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