Programming PL Tones

[FastEddieRides]

Hope someone out there can help me out here. Just got the Uniden BC246T scanner and I love it. Does anyone know how to program PL tones? Of if it is even necessary? :? Thanks

Mark

 

[Voyager]

Hope someone out there can help me out here. Just got the Uniden BC246T scanner and I love it. Does anyone know how to program PL tones? Of if it is even necessary? :? Thanks

Mark

It's never necessary, but it does make listening much more pleasant since it will reduce the amount of unwanted traffic.

In the scanner, program it the same as you would the frequency, only in the field that is a 'few doors down' from the frequency field. It's also the same way you program the name - it is all in the channel settings.

In the UASD, double-click the CTCSS field, select the correct mode (CTCSS or DCS) and select the frequency or code.

Joe M.

 

[BANDIT]

It is only necessary to program the tones if the agency you want to monitor is using a tone. If they are then you program the tone they are using and then your squelch will only break when they make a transmission. This way you will not hear a distant station on the same frequency that keeps popping the squelch open when they transmit.

 

[FastEddieRides]

Much obliged there Mr. Bandit. I appreciate the info. Take care and have a good one down there in Georgia.

Mark
KCMO

 

[Voyager]

It is only necessary to program the tones if the agency you want to monitor is using a tone.

Absolutely incorrect. You never need to program a CTCSS/CDCSS tone to monitor an agency - even if they are using CTCSS/CDCSS. You can hear them fine on Carrier Squelch (no CTCSS/CDCSS tone/code).

Joe M.

 

[BANDIT]

No it is not incorrect. Thats what the tones are for, if you have two agencys on the same frequency located near enough to each other to interfer with the others transmissions. They use tones to keep their radios from breaking squelch when the other transmits. You program the tone for the agency you want to listen to and you dont hear the other. Carrier squelch will receive both. What else do you think the tones are used for??

 

[thumbtrap]

He was correct, in that you will still hear it if you dont have any tones programmed in,it just won't reject all other transmissions on the frequency. You don't need it to hear them in the first place. You explained the concepts correctly yourself. It's just grammar and logic parsing after that.

 

[JoeyC]

Sorry, Voyager is correct. You never NEED to program a PL tone. The original question was about how to program them and if they were even needed. The answer is NO, they are NOT needed. Programming a PL tone is ALWAYS optional and is only necessary if you are receiving 2 or more stations on the same freq and don't want to hear them both.

 

[BANDIT]

I think that is what I told him in my original post.... They are never needed, it is just a tool to keep from hearing two stations on the same freq.

 

[Voyager]

I think that is what I told him in my original post.... They are never needed, it is just a tool to keep from hearing two stations on the same freq.

That may be what you intended to say, which is correct. What you said, however was "It is only necessary to program the tones if the agency you want to monitor is using a tone."

It is never necessary to program a CTCSS/CDCSS to hear someone. You will always hear them (and everyone else on the frequency) if it is programmed CSQ (no tone/code).

Have a smooth ride, Mr. Bandit. 8)

Joe M.