SPEN1 - To PL or not to PL?

[BIODTL1997]

For years, I have left SPEN in all my radios to CSQ. Frankly, I'm getting a little sick of the squelch tail. And I realize not all agencies TX with PL. But how many? I've recently upgraded my antenna and amps and I'm receiving comms from ~100mi+ and there's so much chatter on SPEN that it's starting to get to me that I want to enable PL for RX.

Will I miss much? Looking to hear your experiences.

Thanks!

 

[trentbob]

I've been listening to SPEN 1 for decades. It's still very busy and the alerts are regular including the signal twenty ones in the morning.

Always use the pl tone. All agencies use the pl tone. The reason you use it is to keep it quiet. The reason every agency uses it is because other agencies won't hear them if they don't. You're going to get image rejection and bleed over and all kinds of other noises from your RF environment if you don't use it. PL tones keep things quiet. The reason you're getting more chatter is because of your improved antenna. Squelch tail is most likely the radio you're using it has nothing to do with anything else. I get no squelch tail.

SPEN 2 is the only csq SPEN Channel and that is because it is the National Police emergency frequency that is ages old. Because it is csq agencies can talk to other agencies all over the country. It is especially helpful to out of town police Choppers.

 

[RadioDitch]

All agencies use the pl tone.

I can tell you 100% that is not the case in North Jersey.

 

[rr60]

I can tell you firsthand. The following is especially true if using a HT or mobile radio in the field.

Do program TX PL always. Do not program RX PL.

The reality is there is no consistency in what has been programmed or if you will mis programmed.

Aero medical is a frequent example. Many times presets or even on the fly programming transmits CSQ no PL. Makes for major challenges and confusion.

If receiver has CSQ RX the message always gets through. The choice is up to you. Perhaps program both.

 

[trentbob]

I'm familiar with Central and South Jersey, which is a simplex SPEN 1 with 1 PL tone. Of course if you're using a scanner you do not have to program that PL tone and you will hear all stations anyway.

If there is a different system in North Jersey could someone let me know? If there are different PL tones for transmit and receive would someone be kind enough to list them for me for my records. Thanks.

 

[railtrailbiker]

I've been listening to SPEN 1 since its inception, and have always kept CTCSS 131.8 programmed in for receive (I've never had transmit capabilities on that frequency). I can't recall an instance in which I heard only one side of a broadcast, and I routinely monitor while driving throughout several counties in North Jersey.

 

[APX8000]

Who is not using a PL in North Jersey ?

 

[BIODTL1997]

"Always use the pl tone. All agencies use the pl tone."

Trentbob, that's not true. There are plenty of agencies with radios dating back to the ice age that definitely do not TX with PL 131.8

I know very well, the benefits of PL/DPL/NAC. That's not what I'm asking, no offense. The radios I'm using are all Moto XTL/XTS and APX. As well as some CDM and Radius. ALL emit squelch tails regardless of frequency, if not configured with tones. Perfect example: the entire marine band.

What I'm asking is; through other's experience, how many calls will I miss if I configure SPEN1 with the PL.

Thanks all for the assistance!

 

[BIODTL1997]

" Who is not using a PL in North Jersey?"

That is the million dollar question!

There are definitely a handful. I dont have that answer -- I removed PL from all my radios because I could clearly tell that I was missing a significant amount of comms. I cannot remember who though.

 

[trentbob]

"Always use the pl tone. All agencies use the pl tone."

Trentbob, that's not true. There are plenty of agencies with radios dating back to the ice age that definitely do not TX with PL 131.8

I know very well, the benefits of PL/DPL/NAC. That's not what I'm asking, no offense. The radios I'm using are all Moto XTL/XTS and APX. As well as some CDM and Radius. ALL emit squelch tails regardless of frequency, if not configured with tones. Perfect example: the entire marine band.

What I'm asking is; through other's experience, how many calls will I miss if I configure SPEN1 with the PL.

Thanks all for the assistance!

The additional information that you're giving is helping me to understand exactly what you were asking and what is in question here. My apx 7000 is UHF 2 and 7 - 800 megahertz so I have to use a scanner for SPEN. My primary interest is Burlington County, Bordentown barracks, West Trenton headquarters, Hamilton Mercer County Center. All of which are in this century LOL.

I was not aware that in North Jersey there were radios that old being used. I know Trenton City used to have older equipment but last I heard they don't even have SPEN capabilities since they went to their nxdn system.

The reason I use the PL tones all the time is with the rooftops I will get a lot of RF interference if I don't.

I realize now you don't have different PL tones in North Jersey you were talking about the listed PL tone as opposed to csq.

As always we are not sure of a posters experience from the information provided in a question. I appreciate your comments. Just trying to help... Bob

 

[BIODTL1997]

No worries, Bob! Thanks for helping out.

I thought I was pretty clear in my post, but that's neither here, nor there.

I'm going to configure my SDS200 scanner with CSQ and my VHF XTL with PL and record both for a week or so and compare. I'll report back with my findings. Thanks again.

 

[trentbob]

Sounds good, I listen to SPEN on my sds200 also, as far as not understanding your post, it's not you, it's me, especially as I get older LOL.

 

[jaymatt1978]

PL/DPL for scanner listeners is to eliminate interference, I know I'm simplifying it that's the really it in a nutshell. Truthfully you won't miss any base station transmissions because their radios ARE programmed with PL as a matter of fact I have never came across a SPEN transmission WITHOUT a PL. The cars can can vary I know most most radios disable PL when you pick the microphone up from the clip to ensure you won't be stepping on anyone else trying to transmit. However they ALWAYS TRANSMIT PL!~! As long

Personally I leave all my SPEN channels on tone search, especially SPEN4 because there are a few towns who use SPEN4 as a TAC channel with a different PL. As a matter of fact before I understood PL concept, I originally thought SPEN3 (154.725) was used to coordinate with Rockland County Police who was on 154.7250 with a PL of 151.4!

So to answer your question the chances you'll miss something are very very slim.

"Always use the pl tone. All agencies use the pl tone."

Trentbob, that's not true. There are plenty of agencies with radios dating back to the ice age that definitely do not TX with PL 131.8

I know very well, the benefits of PL/DPL/NAC. That's not what I'm asking, no offense. The radios I'm using are all Moto XTL/XTS and APX. As well as some CDM and Radius. ALL emit squelch tails regardless of frequency, if not configured with tones. Perfect example: the entire marine band.

What I'm asking is; through other's experience, how many calls will I miss if I configure SPEN1 with the PL.

Thanks all for the assistance!

 

[APX8000]

I have PL programmed in all my radios on SPEN-1 and I have never heard only half of a conversation because someone was not transmitting a PL.

 

[BIODTL1997]

"Sounds good, I listen to SPEN on my sds200 also, as far as not understanding your post, it's not you, it's me, especially as I get older LOL. "

Ain't that the truth?!!! LOL

 

[BIODTL1997]

"most radios disable PL when you pick the microphone up from the clip to ensure you won't be stepping on anyone else trying to transmit."

Removing the mic from the HUB only disables RX tones.

 

[BIODTL1997]

" Personally I leave all my SPEN channels on tone search, especially SPEN4 because there are a few towns who use SPEN4 as a TAC channel with a different PL. As a matter of fact before I understood PL concept, I originally thought SPEN3 (154.725) was used to coordinate with Rockland County Police who was on 154.7250 with a PL of 151.4! "

Glen Rock used SPEN3 as their TAC ("Channel 8") all through the 80's and 90's. I guess in a sense, SPEN2-4 were basically the U/ITACs of the past.

 

[wtp]

why not just raise your radios squelch a little ?

 

[BIODTL1997]

That wouldn't work. A squelch tail is a very brief burst of static/white noise of a FM call after a transmission before the receiver realizes that the signal has dropped.

This does not occur when the transmitter and receiver are configured with matching PL & DPL sub-audible tones that silence the receiver to tell it to shut up as soon as it does not hear that tone (PL) or receives the the matching digital (DPL) code.

Additionally, turning up my squelch will prevent receiving distant comms in fringe areas.

 

[wtp]

i was talking more about the 100+ mile reception stuff.