InterceptRadio.com Forums

:?: Besides Checking The FCC DATA Base How can you Tell if a Freq has an PL Tone With it ??, :?

:roll: 8) :D

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Brian Sewell

By either using a scanner with PL Search capabilities, or some other kind of receiver with PL decode (such as an extended receive amateur radio). The latter will require you to manually switch the PL tone until the signal opens the squelch.

Crude, but effective - since there are only 38 or so "standard" PL tones, it usually doesn't take too long to find the right PL tone.

Some places may be using DPL (or DCS, depending on who you talk to). That's a bit trickier to detect, but most of the newer/expensive Uniden Scanners will search for those, too.

Brad.

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Whatever.....

8) Thanks for The info :D

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Brian Sewell

I didnt know the FCC database gave the PL Tones... Am I just not looking close enough?

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Cory C.
Vancouver Island Scanner Reference
http://www.members.shaw.ca/bcscanner/

:roll: I didn't Know Eather but I Assume That if you Apply for a Lic on a Freq you Probably Have to Have one for your PL Tone Freq (NUFF SAID) Get er Done,


8) :shock: :o

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Brian Sewell

OK, I thought I was missing out on some info freely available out there... I would assume the PL's would have to be licenced with someone. Its too bad they arent listed on the FCC online database.

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Cory C.
Vancouver Island Scanner Reference
http://www.members.shaw.ca/bcscanner/

:D The FCC public data does NOT include PL or DPL information. A radio user may use any PL or DPL tone they wish --- provided it does not cause interference or access to an un-licensed frequency or site. There are 50 common PL tones and 104 common DPL tones. There are also additional DPL and PL tones that are used -- but rare. Of the 104 DPL tones 21 are GE/Erickson tones and 83 are Motorola Tones. One local Seattle area radio shop uses 60 hz as his private PL tone.

I would assume somebody would need to keep track of which tones are used on which frequencies though to prevent the same tone being used on a single frequency

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Cory C.
Vancouver Island Scanner Reference
http://www.members.shaw.ca/bcscanner/

:D And that would be the local - regional and national frequency co-ordination groups. For Public Safety -- APCO and maybe someone with say the WWCIC in Seattle as well as the local APCO group. Just a reminder ---- A Ham operator in the Los Angeles area went to Federal Prison for talking on local police and fire radio channels. DON't even think about it.

The awesome thing about the following scanners:

RS Pro-2067 and RS Pro-92 - They both decode PL and DPL tones. They are out of production, but just 2 of the best scanners on the market. I found a bunch recently on ebay.

Unless transmitting, pl tones serve no purpose really, except for us nuts who enjoy keeping track of them!

Brian J. Preston
Moses Lake, WA

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Spectrum Communications, Inc.
526 S Locust Lane
Moses Lake, WA 98837

- - - - -
Kenwood/Relm-BK/Vertex-Standard/David Clark/USAlert/Swissphone. Serving You Since 1978!
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http://www.scml.us
http://www.insp.com
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Because I live next to a mountain with many transmitters, PL tones make scanning possible from my house. Without them, there would be too much interference. Often times several agencies use the same frequency, but with different PL Tones, so they can be used to distinguish between them.

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Cory C.
Vancouver Island Scanner Reference
http://www.members.shaw.ca/bcscanner/

:D Plus you can Program in the same freq Several Times but With Different PL Tones for Different Users 8)












:D :) :( :o :shock: :? 8) :lol: :x :P :oops: :cry: :evil: :twisted: :roll: :wink: :!: :?: :idea: :arrow: :mrgreen:

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Brian Sewell

Cory & the group: There are times when NOT using PL or DPL is best. While listening to the WSP while enroute from Bellingham to Portland -- along the Interstate --- using NO PL is best. Troopers can use what ever PL tone they select -- even no tone at all. Programming just the WSP frequencies -- without any tones --- allows you to hear ALL WSP radio traffic. A WSP unit could select to use the "Spokane Area" tone as car to car tone -- and unless your radio was programmed with that tone --- you would NOT hear that unit. When monitoring the WSP -- or other State Police -- it's best to NOT use the PL tone -- unless that frequency is shared. PS: Looks like brian is having a mode ( mood ) swing. LOL

:D YEAH :P MOOD SWING
But I am not Talking about WSP I am Thinking about Other Agencys city county Local Goverment ex ex ex

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Brian Sewell

I know up here in canada that industry/spectrum canada (equivilant to the FCC) gives out the radio licenses and operation frequency for a business
as for ctcss/dpl tone assignment, it is up to the radio shop/dealer to program a tone into your radio that does'nt conflict with other licensed user's on the same radio frequency.
a real good tech should monitor the assigned frequency for awhile to see if there are other users on the frequency and assign a tone
that is unique to your business
if there is a conflict Im sure the radio shop/dealer would program the radio to another ctcss/dpl code at no charge assuming you have a contract
with a radio service center

for police/fire/ambulance systems they all have radio techs either in-house or contract that keep a file on each and every radio license,
frequency that is used and the ctcss/dpl tones that are used by each user.
the FCC does'nt care what tone you use, they only care what frequency your licensed to and how much output power you are using

xjf79