[K3] Scanning for repeater tones.

[Nate Burr]

Does the K3 have the ability to scan for tones that are being used on a repeater?

-n8
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[Ken G Kopp]

Nate,

I'll preface this by stating that I'm the repeater coordinator for
Montana,  and a retired career 2-way radio tech.

It's common for repeaters to require a CTCSS tone for access,  but is
-very- rare to find one in the amateur world that also transmits the CTCSS
tone.  Out of almost 300 I have in Montana I'm aware of none.  The ARRL
Repeater Directory lists the tone required if it's needed for accessing a
repeater.

Yes, one can listen to the station that's accessing the repeater and
perhaps ascertain the frequency of the CTCSS tone, but this is difficult to
do since the tones are in the sub - audible range.  There -are- scanners
and amateur transceivers that can do this and of course professional test
equipment.

BTW ... CTCSS stands for "Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System".  The tones
are standardized and are the same for all brands of 2-way radios but each
has their own trade marked names ... (Motorola = PL /  Private Line), GE =
CG / Channel Guard), etc.

A Google search will tell you more.....

73

Ken - K0PP
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[Rick WA6NHC]

Hi Ken,

It may be that way in Montana (one of my favorite places in the summer)
but it's not that way in CA.  Output tones on a repeater are common here
because of the repeater density (simple proximity, co-channel or by
distance) and because summer ducting is common.

It's a poor mans noise filter.  Many of our 'communities' are larger
than Billings or Helena (together) and the cities are obscenities. The
RF noise floor can be rough.  Using output tones on a repeater makes a
huge difference for users.

Even where I live, in suburbia, the local club uses an output tone on
all of our repeaters (6, 2, 220, 440 and 900) and there is no other 2M
channel user for 200 miles, rare here.

I'd bet that most metro areas of size (DFW, NYC) also use output tones
on ham repeaters.  It's a simple means to lower user irritation from
other radio systems.

We're starting to see more DPL used as well.

No, to the original poster, the K3 does not listen for tones.  I'm sure
it could be added, but frankly I'd rather the team works on other
things.  Use of tones on 10/6M (stock K3 feature) repeaters is common
here and the percentage of folks using 2M transverters for repeaters is
a small percentage of the whole.  There isn't much demand or return on
engineering time to change the K3 to decode.

I use a commercial radio on 6M repeaters (except when remoting from my
station while traveling) and a dual band radio for 2M/440.  It's simpler
in the long run and they have the decode features, plus I can listen to
the local DX repeater without tying up the K Line. ;o)

73,
Rick wa6nhc
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[Charlie T, K3ICH]

Same here in the DC area.  Many repeater send the tones through so you can
have CTCSS on receive too.  Makes for a LOT less noise in your radio from
local squelch breaks.

We also use CTCSS tone squelch on simplex as well.  With the proliferation
of RFI devices, it really helps.

73, Charlie k3ICH


----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick WA6NHC" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 2:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Scanning for repeater tones.


> Hi Ken,
>
> It may be that way in Montana (one of my favorite places in the summer)
> but it's not that way in CA.  Output tones on a repeater are common here
> because of the repeater density (simple proximity, co-channel or by
> distance) and because summer ducting is common.
>
>

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[QUENTIN COLLIER]

Oops - apologies for the spurious posting below....one of the cats took a
 stroll along the keyboard while I was making my early morning tea   :-(


73, Quin G3WRR


________________________________
 From: QUENTIN COLLIER <[hidden email]>
To: Rick WA6NHC <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2015, 7:46
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Scanning for repeater tones.
 


54


________________________________
 From: Rick WA6NHC <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2015, 6:39
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Scanning for repeater tones.
 

Hi Ken,

It may be that way in Montana (one of my favorite places in the summer)
but it's not that way in CA.  Output tones on a repeater are common here
because of the repeater density (simple proximity, co-channel or by
distance) and because summer ducting is common.

It's a poor mans noise filter.  Many of our 'communities' are larger
than Billings or Helena (together) and the cities are obscenities. The
RF noise floor can be rough.  Using output tones on a repeater makes a
huge difference for users.

Even where I live, in suburbia, the local club uses an output tone on
all of our repeaters (6, 2, 220, 440 and 900) and there is no
 other 2M
channel user for 200 miles, rare here.

I'd bet that most metro areas of size (DFW, NYC) also use output tones
on ham repeaters.  It's a simple means to lower user irritation from
other radio systems.

We're starting to see more DPL used as well.

No, to the original poster, the K3 does not listen for tones.  I'm sure
it could be added, but frankly I'd rather the team works on other
things.  Use of tones on 10/6M (stock K3 feature) repeaters is common
here and the percentage of folks using 2M transverters for repeaters is
a small percentage of the whole.  There isn't much demand or return on
engineering time to change the K3 to decode.

I use a commercial radio on
 6M repeaters (except when remoting from my
station while traveling) and a dual band radio for 2M/440.  It's simpler
in the long run and they have the decode features, plus I can listen to
the local DX repeater without tying up the K Line. ;o)

73,
Rick wa6nhc

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[k6dgw]

Ummm ... Montana is relatively sparsely populated compared to ... shall
we say the San Francisco Bay area.  Repeater/remote transmit CTCSS is
fairly common out here on the populated frontier.  I think it all
depends on where you are.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org

On 3/10/2015 7:45 PM, Ken G Kopp wrote:

> Nate,
>
> I'll preface this by stating that I'm the repeater coordinator for
> Montana,  and a retired career 2-way radio tech.
>
> It's common for repeaters to require a CTCSS tone for access,  but is
> -very- rare to find one in the amateur world that also transmits the CTCSS
> tone.  Out of almost 300 I have in Montana I'm aware of none.  The ARRL
> Repeater Directory lists the tone required if it's needed for accessing a
> repeater.

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