Trouble using Tone->DTCS & DTCS->Tone

[DrLoomis1978]

I'm using two Baofeng UV-82HP's and just tried to use the Tone->DTCS & DTCS->Tone options. After programming them manually, and then through CHIRP, neither way works. The receiving radio lights up so it knows a signal is coming through, but no audio can be heard. Same happens no matter which radio I use to TX/RX with. If the option is there, it should work, but it doesn't. If anyone has the answer I'd love to hear it because I'm totally confused. Thank you in advance.

 

[jonwienke]

Use one or the other. You're broadcasting a DCS code to a radio expecting to receive a tone, or vice versa. It's not going to work.

 

[robertmac]

Pretty hard to tell without seeing your settings. The CCR are a pain when it comes to setting DCS or CTCSS. Probably a wrong tone which is the usual cause. Never sure why one wants to use CTCSS and DCS. Just complicates an already complicated set up.

 

[DrLoomis1978]

Thank you both for the quick responses. I figured that kind of setup was a little weird but wanted to try it out since it's an option using chirp. I was just curious, but, it's nothing important to me as I already use DCS with DCS and CTCSS with CTCSS and they work just fine so I'm happy.

 

[chief21]

If I remember correctly, those settings provide for TONE encode / DCS decode or vice versa. Why would you want/need to do that between two handheld radios? If you're looking to minimize annoying interference, just use CTCSS on both radios or DCS on both radios. No need to mix these two different methods.

John AC4JK

 

[DrLoomis1978]

Okay, I figured it out. In order for you to use a mix of DCS and CTCSS you can only use two radios. Any more than two and it will not work. Using Chirp you need to program radio A with a DCS TX (ex: 223) and a CTCSS RX (ex: 110.9) making sure Tone Mode says CROSS and Cross Mode says DTCS->TONE. Radio B has to be programmed opposite. You'll need to program CTCSS TX (110.9) and DCS RX (223). Tone Mode still says CROSS but Cross Mode now says TONE->DTCS. Throw in a third radio and it won't work. Which settings would you use? You'd only be able to hear one of the other radios. Obviously this is not very practical for two way communication, too annoying to bother with, and pretty much useless. I was just determined to figure out why Baofeng and Chirp offered this as an option and whether or not it served a purpose. Well, the answer is... not really.

 

[jonwienke]

Like I said, you'd NEVER use that combination of settings on simplex.

You could use it on a repeater, where all the radios are talking to the repeater, and not to each other. But most people just use the same code/tone on input and output for simplicity.

 

[Sconnick]

I was just determined to figure out why Baofeng and Chirp offered this as an option and whether or not it served a purpose. Well, the answer is... not really.

As Jon mentioned, it makes little sense in a simplex system, but in a system using a repeater, it's fine. There are a number of law enforcement agencies in my immediate area - Westchester County, NY - that use a combination of PL and DPL (like a PL to get into the repeater, and a DPL to receive from the repeater).