Audible tones on repeater

[WSEA699]

Hi all! I was on a local repeater recently and every so often there were tones coming through like the ones on fire calls. Thoughts?

Thank you in advance!

[BoxCar]

Probably the station ID being broadcast in Morse Code.

[SteveShannon]

9 minutes ago, WSEA699 said:

Hi all! I was on a local repeater recently and every so often there were tones coming through like the ones on fire calls. Thoughts?

Thank you in advance!

Could be as @BoxCar suggested, but maybe a user is sending dtmf tones.

[WSEA699]

Definitely not morse code so it's probably dtmf tones. Thank you!

[Guest]

Are you sure it’s a gmrs  repeater and not a public safety repeater? 

[WSEA699]

100% sure, it's the Ashland, MO repeater. I live in Columbia, MO which is 13 miles north and using the repeater I can reach my family here in town which I can't do with simplex. I love technology!

[SteveShannon]

29 minutes ago, WSEA699 said:

Definitely not morse code so it's probably dtmf tones. Thank you!

DTMF are the same tones you hear when you dial a phone.

[WSEA699]

That's exactly what it sounded like. What would be the reason for transmitting dtmf tones on a gmrs repeater?

Thanks again!

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, WSEA699 said:

That's exactly what it sounded like. What would be the reason for transmitting dtmf tones on a gmrs repeater?

Thanks again!

DTMF tones are frequently used to control repeater functions.  Or someone simply doesn’t know how to use their handheld radio.

[WSEA699]

[WRXB215]

2 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

DTMF tones are frequently used to control repeater functions.  Or someone simply doesn’t know how to use their handheld radio.

Yep, sometimes people just start pushing buttons to see what will happen.

[WRYZ926]

You can also use DTMF tones to call specific radios too. And the Ashland GMRS repeater is an excellent one and at a good location. I can get into it from Montgomery County which is about 50 miles east of Columbia. I do struggle a little getting into the Ashland repeater with 20 watts but normally do fine at 50 watts.