TX CTSS and RX CTSS

[davidmajors]

Hi, I am trying to setup my Baofeng GM-15 Pro. I came across TX CTCSS and RX CTCSS. The repeater has input tone: 156.7 and and output tone: 192.8

My question is TX CTCSS should be which number.??? and RX CTCSS ???
my repeater has the following info:

Open System

Type

462.725 MHz

Frequency

 

Input Tone

156.7 Hz

 

Output Tone

192.8 Hz

Online

Status

[SteveShannon]

Your transmit tone must match the input tone of the repeater. 
Your receive tone can either be left empty (to receive everything) or may have the output tone of the repeater. I would strongly recommend leaving it empty until you get transmit working anyway. 

[davidmajors]

Thanks for you reply. I am trying to understand TX CTCSS means input or output in reference to the repeater info I posted. That’s what I am trying to find out.

[SteveShannon]

52 minutes ago, davidmajors said:

Thanks for you reply. I am trying to understand TX CTCSS means input or output in reference to the repeater info I posted. That’s what I am trying to find out.

It’s relative. TX CTCSS is the tone transmitted (or output) by whichever radio is transmitting.  

One radio’s transmit (output) tone is another radio’s receive (input) tone.  

You must transmit with the correct tone because the repeater filters out all transmissions it receives that don’t have the correct tone  

But you don’t have to filter out transmissions on your receiver  You can leave the RX tone empty and receive all transmissions  

 

 

[davidmajors]

So in my case TX CTCSS is 192.8

based in the repeater information below 

 

Open System

Type

462.725 MHz

Frequency

 

Input Tone

156.7 Hz

 

Output Tone

192.8 Hz

Online

Status

[SteveShannon]

Just now, davidmajors said:

So in my case TX CTCSS is 192.8

based in the repeater information below 

 

 

Open System

Type

462.725 MHz

Frequency

 

Input Tone

156.7 Hz

 

Output Tone

192.8 Hz

Online

Status

No, your transmit tone must match the input tone for the repeater.  You must transmit using 156.7 Hz as the TX CTCSS. 

[davidmajors]

So TX CTCSS means the input and RX CTCSS is Output

[SteveShannon]

11 minutes ago, davidmajors said:

So TX CTCSS means the input and RX CTCSS is Output

Not exactly. TX CTCSS is the output of your radio and the input to the repeater. Your output goes to the repeater input. They must match. 

[davidmajors]

There is a TX CTCSS and RX CTCSS setting in my GM-15 Pro.

please tell me which number goes where in my Radio settings.

 

Input Tone

156.7 Hz

 

Output Tone

192.8 Hz

 

 

 

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, davidmajors said:

There is a TX CTCSS and RX CTCSS setting in my GM-15 Pro.

please tell me which number goes where in my Radio settings.

 

 

Input Tone

156.7 Hz

 

Output Tone

192.8 Hz

 

 

 

Use 156.7 Hz as the TX CTCSS. 
Leave RX CTCSS empty for now. 
 

[DONE]

OK, things to know about tones.

 They are REVERSE of what you might think.  The INPUT tone of a repeater is the OUTPUT tone of the subscriber radio. Meaning your mobile, portable or anything other than the repeater.

So the OUTPUT TONE of the repeater will be programmed as the INPUT TONE of the portable or mobile. 

When guys split the tones like this, it becomes a bit of a pain to figure out which is which. 

 

[SteveShannon]

5 hours ago, WRKC935 said:

OK, things to know about tones.

 They are REVERSE of what you might think.  The INPUT tone of a repeater is the OUTPUT tone of the subscriber radio. Meaning your mobile, portable or anything other than the repeater.

So the OUTPUT TONE of the repeater will be programmed as the INPUT TONE of the portable or mobile. 

When guys split the tones like this, it becomes a bit of a pain to figure out which is which. 

 

Thanks for trying to help him out.  Hopefully I didn’t drive him away frustrated.

[WSEZ]

I know this is an old thread and my question may seem silly or dorky but I'm not understanding why some repeaters only have a tx tone and no rx tone. Shouldn't it have both no matter what?

[Guest]

In my opinion yes they should have both but some owners have them set up so when you’re listening to the repeater you’re going to hear EVERYTHING in the channel,frequency.   I don’t  even bother with those repeaters as there is no way of knowing if some one is on simplex or the repeater and in my area Atleast there is loads of simplex traffic on 15-22. Errrgg. 

[WRYZ926]

There is no way I would run a GMRS repeater without using both RX and TX tones. Just like I always run both RX and TX tones on my radios too. As mentioned, you will get all of the simplex traffic if you don't.

[WSEZ]

I think understand now, you need a tx-ctcss to activate the repeaters but the rx-ctcss limits the receiving to just that repeater and no one else.

[WRYZ926]

Yes that is how it works. The catch is if someone on the same simplex channel as the repeater output is using the same tone then you will hear them too.

I had to laugh when we first put our GMRS repeater online when some of the guys were complaining about hearing a bunch of kids. The first thing I asked them is if they were using the RX tone on their radios. And of course they were not.

[SteveShannon]

8 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

There is no way I would run a GMRS repeater without using both RX and TX tones. Just like I always run both RX and TX tones on my radios too. As mentioned, you will get all of the simplex traffic if you don't.

I live in a very low traffic (GMRS traffic) area.  I might leave the RX tone out so I could avoid doubling with someone on simplex.

[WRYZ926]

There is quite a bit of simplex traffic in my rural area. GMRS is popular with the farmers. And simplex traffic really increases during the firearms deer season which starts this weekend. And some of the conversations from the hunters is not suitable for women and children. I won't even scan the different channels for the next few weeks for that reason.

[koni13]

Just picked up a set of UV 15 Pro GMRS radios. I frequently pick up receptions on people talking based on line of sight. My question to enable communicating via repeaters do I need to set up or program R/T CTCSS codes to talk and receive? Understanding many of the frequencies are preset for GMRS, making sure I don't screw up the presets enabled per factory on radios. 

 

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, koni13 said:

Just picked up a set of UV 15 Pro GMRS radios. I frequently pick up receptions on people talking based on line of sight. My question to enable communicating via repeaters do I need to set up or program R/T CTCSS codes to talk and receive? Understanding many of the frequencies are preset for GMRS, making sure I don't screw up the presets enabled per factory on radios. 

 

CTCSS or DCS are not preconfigured. You’ll have to set them. 
The only thing that is preconfigured are the channel frequencies and repeater frequencies with offsets. 
Repeaters can be programmed with many different tones or codes. 

[koni13]

Thanks assuming reason could not connect and communicate via repeater, although do pick up traffic here in there based on line of sight in areas.  

[koni13]

FOr the UV15 Pro does it matter if selecting a DIY or any number repeater number on radios frequencies. Or best selecting an empty channel to save and then go thru the process to set CTCSS and RTCSS modes to communicate with repeaters in my area. 

[RayDiddio]

On 10/1/2022 at 8:56 AM, SteveShannon said:

Thanks for trying to help him out.  Hopefully I didn’t drive him away frustrated.

I don't see how you could have. You were succinct in your replies and patiently helpful, as always. He is clearly just new to this and confused like some people get.

Wait until he wants to advance and gets his first DMR radio, hehehe.