DCS tones

[WRPL668]

Hello, as a new owner of a Ocean 905G I’ve a problem. I’ve permission to use a repeater but I can’t find where the DCS tones are. Yes I’m a dummy but as a three day owner I just can’t find where there hidden.  I’ve requested to use another repeater but haven’t received permission yet. Here in New Jersey where I live repeaters are in short supply. I can find that CTCSS tones but not the DCS tones. Please help this 80 year old newbie. I know so little. Thanks

bob

[BoxCar]

On 3/5/2022 at 10:25 AM, WRPL668 said:

I understand. You could be correct in what I’m not hearing. I can only try an keep trying until someone answers me. I just heard on standard channel 17 some conversations but could not make the trip myself.  I’m still new to this. But it seems like in my area there isn’t much talking. Especially during the week. 
to old to get into ham at 80 years young. That’s why I’m trying GMRS. 
thanks again,

bob

You're not too old! The Tech test is easy and opens the 2M 144 MHz and 70cm 440 bands for use. I passed the test easily with a little study at 76 years of age.

[wrci350]

A repeater will [normally] have *either* a CTCSS or DCS tone for input, and may have either the same tone or a different one on the output.

If the repeater you have been given permission to use has a CTCSS tone, that's all you need.

[WRPL668]

Thanks. Ive been waiting for steady use on one local repeater of witch I’ve two or three in my local.  Hopefully he will eventually get back to me. One has DCS tones an the other has ctcss tones. Learning has been difficult but steady. 
thanks for nice answer sir. 
bob

[Mikeam]

Does your manual that is for that radio not have both listed? I do not have your model so I am just asking.

[mbrun]

Hello, as a new owner of a Ocean 905G I’ve a problem. I’ve permission to use a repeater but I can’t find where the DCS tones are. Yes I’m a dummy but as a three day owner I just can’t find where there hidden.  I’ve requested to use another repeater but haven’t received permission yet. Here in New Jersey where I live repeaters are in short supply. I can find that CTCSS tones but not the DCS tones. Please help this 80 year old newbie. I know so little. Thanks
bob

Press Menu, scroll to function Menu 14, press Menu, then press the PF2 button to cycle thru CTCSS, DCS normal, DCS inverted options.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

[WRPL668]

You nailed it. Thanks I knew it had to be some where’s. Interesting learning curve. Still waiting for permission on two repeaters since there in short supply here where I live. Monmouth county be the shore is quiet. 
once again thanks for the direction. 
bob

[MichaelLAX]

12 minutes ago, WRPL668 said:

Still waiting for permission on two repeaters since there in short supply here where I live. 

Unless the Repeater database here claims Permission Required and if it lists the tone, my attitude is to also go on the repeater and ask another user about usage requirements.

GOOD LUCK!

[WRPL668]

Mike they say on one it’s ok. But I’ve not heard anything on that channel yet. So I don’t know if I’m on or not. The other one says permission required. One person asked for the tones almost 20/days ago still nothing.   Where I live in New Jersey there are not so many repeaters I can log onto. Three actually an I am on one but even with that one I’m on its very quiet. 
I only have the handhold so my output is just the 5 watts. I’m still new to this. Appreciate your ongoing help. 
bob

[WyoJoe]

14 hours ago, WRPL668 said:

But I’ve not heard anything on that channel yet. So I don’t know if I’m on or not. The other one says permission required. One person asked for the tones almost 20/days ago still nothing.   Where I live in New Jersey there are not so many repeaters I can log onto. Three actually an I am on one but even with that one I’m on its very quiet.

GMRS is a bit different from CB radio or ham radio, in that many, probably most, users are using it just to talk with their family members, and are not particularly interested in carrying on a conversation with strangers. While there are certainly many exceptions, it may be that you're not hearing much because that is how the systems are being used in your area. The best bet for testing repeaters is to have a family member with another radio talk to you through the repeater. That way you can verify if you're radios are properly configured and if you're able to hit the repeater from your location.

If you do this with a family member, just remember to provide some distance between the two of you so your transmitter doesn't overload the other radio's receiver, and vice versa.

[WRPL668]

Hmmm it’s a thought.  However I’m the only one in my family with a radio so it’s a crapshoot.  If I can talk my grandson into getting a less expensive this ole vet will do your suggestion.  It’s a great idea. 
Of the three repeaters in my area I’ve been approved with two of them. But it’s been very quiet in my area. I can only do so much with a handheld 5 watter. 
thanks - bob

[WyoJoe]

1 hour ago, WRPL668 said:

Hmmm it’s a thought.  However I’m the only one in my family with a radio so it’s a crapshoot.  If I can talk my grandson into getting a less expensive this ole vet will do your suggestion.  It’s a great idea. 
Of the three repeaters in my area I’ve been approved with two of them. But it’s been very quiet in my area. I can only do so much with a handheld 5 watter. 
thanks - bob

With GMRS, you'll often find that in order to have a conversation through a repeater, you have to provide the user at both ends of the conversation. With ham radio, it's very different. There is often someone tuned to the repeater who will respond when someone else keys up. Many GMRS users are people looking to communicate with their family (who are most likely using the same license). They often only use their radios when they are somehow physically separated but want to keep in touch with each other.

I'm looking into purchasing property that goes up to a ridge, and on the other side is a lake. If I put a repeater on the ridge, my wife could use the radio to keep in touch with me if I'm working somewhere on the property or kayaking on the lake. After I go back in the house, there wouldn't be much reason to leave the radio on since she could talk to me at home. That is the type of use that I've commonly seen or heard about for GMRS.

[WRPL668]

I understand. You could be correct in what I’m not hearing. I can only try an keep trying until someone answers me. I just heard on standard channel 17 some conversations but could not make the trip myself.  I’m still new to this. But it seems like in my area there isn’t much talking. Especially during the week. 
to old to get into ham at 80 years young. That’s why I’m trying GMRS. 
thanks again,

bob

[WRPL668]

I don’t give up that easy. I am wondering if I should have bought a less expensive radio.  I’ll keep trying but so far na-da. 
I also hope I don’t regret not going into ham.  Either way I have a good GMRS radio. 
thanks for your good help. 
bob

[MichaelLAX]

2 hours ago, BoxCar said:

You're not too old! The Tech test is easy and opens the 2M 144 MHz and 70cm 440 bands for use. I passed the test easily with a little study at 76 years of age.

It's good that you waited and did not take The Tech test when you were young and ... 

[WRPL668]

BoxCar I actually gave the ham thing my thinking for a while. I admit my age shut the ham thing down. To my knowledge there is no people in my area to give this ole veteran some help to become a ham tech.  What does bother me now is the lack of transmission by anyone on my GMRS radio for the past 10 days. I do hear people but never got any reply. Nothing an my radio is a good one. 
How can I tell if there any ham folks in my area. As part retired vet etc., got to be careful my my bucks. Now I have a $200.00 outlay an nobody talks near to me.   God I hate wining. At least here I can yack with you nice folks. My radio, not so much. 
Thanks for letting blow off some frustration. 
bob

[MichaelLAX]

6 minutes ago, WRPL668 said:

BoxCar I actually gave the ham thing my thinking for a while. 

Hey, @WROA675Give Bob some tips on how he, as an 80 year old, can study and take the Tech exam in New Jersey!

[wayoverthere]

7 minutes ago, WRPL668 said:

BoxCar I actually gave the ham thing my thinking for a while. I admit my age shut the ham thing down. To my knowledge there is no people in my area to give this ole veteran some help to become a ham tech.  What does bother me now is the lack of transmission by anyone on my GMRS radio for the past 10 days. I do hear people but never got any reply. Nothing an my radio is a good one. 
How can I tell if there any ham folks in my area. As part retired vet etc., got to be careful my my bucks. Now I have a $200.00 outlay an nobody talks near to me.   God I hate wining. At least here I can yack with you nice folks. My radio, not so much. 
Thanks for letting blow off some frustration. 
bob

The mindset varies from area to area, honestly. Some areas are a "frs+" mindset, where people stick strictly to their group, and you won't get an answer from them...you will find that view represented here too.  Others have more enthusiast presence (we have this here too) and are more like a "ham-lite", and open to chatting with others. I suspect at least some of this is hams that also added gmrs to get their family on the radio, or people like me who started with gmrs and then added ham.

Are you able to program your 905g on the computer? It should be possible to add some ham frequencies to see what activity is out there, 70cm stuff at minimum (I didn't see a frequency range listed, but most likely it'll cover uhf at minimum). Repeater book.com is a good spot to look for ham repeaters in your area, with a variety of ways to search

[gortex2]

As was stated most users of GMRS/FRS use the radio to talk to there friends family etc. Very few buy a radio to talk to others unless its for a specific thing, like Jeep clubs etc. I'll be the first to say all my radios have DPL/PL enabled and if i do hear someone on my selected PL and channel I change channels. I dont use GMRS for chat chat with others. Never was intended for it originally. 

Sounds like what you want is more of ham radio. Hate to sound bad about this but I travel 1000 miles a week and my radios are in scan all the time and rarely do i hear folks. 

[WRPG745]

2 hours ago, WRPL668 said:

BoxCar I actually gave the ham thing my thinking for a while. I admit my age shut the ham thing down. To my knowledge there is no people in my area to give this ole veteran some help to become a ham tech.  What does bother me now is the lack of transmission by anyone on my GMRS radio for the past 10 days. I do hear people but never got any reply. Nothing an my radio is a good one. 
How can I tell if there any ham folks in my area. As part retired vet etc., got to be careful my my bucks. Now I have a $200.00 outlay an nobody talks near to me.   God I hate wining. At least here I can yack with you nice folks. My radio, not so much. 
Thanks for letting blow off some frustration. 
bob

Hi Bob,

you might try the FCC search tool to find licensed operators for GMRS or HAM in your area. its not super user friendly. This might give you an idea of who's around. theres no guarantee they would hear or answer a transmission.

the "advanced" license link is:  https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchAdvanced.jsp

repeater groups have weekly nets on the repeater. if you haven't already, you might search for clubs in your area (HAM or GMRS)

good luck!

-jc

[WRPL668]

The thought I have is if get real lucky an pass this test an get my license will I run into the “Quiet” that I appear to have now on GMRS.  Good decent equipment costs. I’ve only so much to spend. That’s why I got a good radio. If I can get

some local support I’d love to give it a chance (ham).  
if not I’ll just keep trying here with what I have. I hate quitting an I won’t. 
thanks all I do appreciate your input.

bob

[wayoverthere]

39 minutes ago, WRPL668 said:

The thought I have is if get real lucky an pass this test an get my license will I run into the “Quiet” that I appear to have now on GMRS.  Good decent equipment costs. I’ve only so much to spend. That’s why I got a good radio. If I can get

some local support I’d love to give it a chance (ham).  
if not I’ll just keep trying here with what I have. I hate quitting an I won’t. 
thanks all I do appreciate your input.

bob

Bob,

You may check with Monmouth Amateur Radio Club; they look to be not too far from you, at least meeting wise, and may be able  to offer some local help.

http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/middletown-amateur-radio-club/type:club

[WROZ250]

Did a quick search on QRZ.com for Bob's area.  No clubs came up, but there are 43 licensed hams in his town.  More in the surrounding towns.

As @wayoverthere notes, there are some clubs a bit out of town, but not too far (certainly within a 5-10 mile radius).  I suggest contacting them and would think they would be more than willing to point you in the right direction if they can't directly assist you.

 

[WROZ250]

A further check/search (by grid square) shows a few clubs in the area

http://arrl.com/find-a-club

[WyoJoe]

11 hours ago, WRPL668 said:

How can I tell if there any ham folks in my area.

I would start with nearby repeaters for your area. An easy way to get a list of repeaters is to download and use the program "Chirp." It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and can be used for programming a whole slew of radios.

And if your radio isn't supported? You can still use Chirp to build a file of local ham repeaters, or distant ones, or whatever you choose.

How? Open Chirp. On the menu, select Radio > Query Data Source > RepeaterBook > RepeaterBook Political Query

From there, select the state, the county, and the band, and Chirp will build a file for you of those repeaters from the query.

You can then open the file and see the location of each repeater and the configuration information for it.

If you have a compatible radio, you can even copy and paste the information into a new file to write to your radio. If you don't have a compatible radio, you would have to manually enter that information into the radio or use another software program to program the radio. Unfortunately, most of the other software applications won't allow you to copy and paste from Chirp.

 

[WRPL668]

Thanks for the help. Got a lead on a local club nearby an going to try that. 
My radio is still very quiet. 
bob