Posted: 5/17/2011 6:58:53 AM EDT
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I just got my callsign showing up in the ULS yesterday and have a Kenwood TH-D72A set up for APRS. I'm successfully transmitting (beaconing?) my location and have managed to send myself an email via APRS messaging. As a networking guy, this is very fascinating stuff! I've been listening and scanning on 2m, but have yet to key the mic and speak to another ham though  I set up a number of memories for some local repeaters but am a little confused by the terminology Kenwood uses for the memory configuration. You can select 'Tone', 'CTCSS', and 'DCS'. I was under the impression that PL Tone (aka Tone?) and CTCSS were two interchangeable terms for the same thing. The TH-D72A menu even gives the same tone frequency choices for 'Tone' and 'CTCSS'. The radio manual looks like I should use the 'Tone' setting for repeater access. Here come the dumb questions! What is the functional difference between the 'Tone' and 'CTCSS' on this radio and is the use of the 'Tone' selection correct? Would (can?) I ever configure both 'Tone' and 'CTCSS' for the same memory location? I don't think I can/would, but am not certain. Thanks! |
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Check out ar-jedi's Ham 101 thread at the top of the forum for a great explanation. It will be post #9 on the first page.
Here's a link: Ham Radio 101 I find myself reading and re-reading that post many times. Lots of great info in there. |
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Quoted: I have read (and think I understand) that post - hence my confusion.Check out ar-jedi's Ham 101 thread at the top of the forum for a great explanation. It will be post #9 on the first page. Here's a link: Ham Radio 101 I find myself reading and re-reading that post many times. Lots of great info in there. Why does Kenwood have separate options for what I thought are the same thing (PL Tone and CTCSS)? What is the difference between the two options? |
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I took a quick look at the manuals (you have to look at both manuals––there are two). Typical Japanese to English translation issues, most likely compounded by tech writers with poor engineering backgrounds.
My interpretation is: Tone = CTCSS encode on transmit, no decode on receive (just carrier squelch) CTCSS = CTCSS encode/decode on both transmit/receive DCS = DCS encode/decode on both transmit/receive Cross Tone = see chart in manual for the various combinations. Just turning on "Tone" will get you into 99% of all repeaters (with the correct tone selected, of course). |