In this video I attempt to explain when CT(CTCSS) and DCS Privacy tones are useful, and what they actually do. Buy your very own Rocky Talkie here: bit.ly/4bfs3nZ Link to Rocky Talkie's manual: cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/024...
Great question, and while I also have a set of T800’s, I don’t have a lot of experience with them. As a rule, I’ve always been impressed with Motorola public safety radio, but found their programming to be very unfriendly. The same is true in my opinion for the T800. I attempted to set up two radios to share location and text abilities on a trip about a year ago. The friend I was working with gave up out of frustration so we scrapped the idea. I am sure lots of people have used them successfully, but I have not. Have you looked at the GoTenna system? I use the GoTenna Pro X public safety version, and have really enjoyed them. If you have three or more devices they create a mesh network, extending your range. Still not super simple, but purpose built for sharing location and text ability.
If you can hear on the rocky talkie but not on the retrevis that means that the PL, CT, DCS codes don’t match. Try setting them to zero on both radios first. Then go to the manuals for each and match the values of the code numbers, not just the numbers. I hope this helps.
@@mgkmn1 I can’t tell you how to do it on your other radio, but from the factory Rocky Talkies have the right one set to 0 for the first 22 channels. Check out my other video titled “can I use my rocky talkie to talk with other radios?” It covers the how to.
ok so here is my question, how do you make it to where no body can here you? so lets say i go on a hiking trip with 4 people all with radios, and we want no one to here our chatter? how would you do this.
So the only way to do this is through encryption, but encrypted communications are banned by the FCC on FRS/GMRS/HAM frequencies. Depending on how far apart you plan on being from your group, there are devices made by GoTenna or Bear Tooth which allow you to text, talk and create a mesh network which is much harder to listen to. The other option is to get retired public safety radios, but that’s a huge undertaking unless you know somebody who is capable of programming those types of radios.
Well then, privacy tones makes no sense to me. If it stops me from hearing other radio transmissions, then what if there's a bear on the trail up ahead and a third party transmits this information in the open, I'll never hear it, and I'll be ignorant of the danger that lies ahead and like all those people who are dropping dead because they took the axe-ins, when someone find my dead body they're gonna say, "Lemme guess, he had on privacy tones, right?"
If you are interested in hearing everything people have to say, you should also engage the scan function and it will sweep over the different channels to hear. Just imagine though, if there are 100 people talking at once, nobody can understand that, this is just a way to cut though if there is a ton of folks talking
I agree. Privacy codes are dumb. You'd think it would be the opposite, making your conversation private. Totally useless in my opinion. But I don't mind if I hear some chatter.
your right may be a good I dea to leave open by the way you need to be close a nuff to talk range on all frs radios is two miles then everyone can talk
That's a good thought, but still not completely accurate. A filter implies that it ONLY lets through what is supposed to get through. Once a privacy tone unlocks the squelch of a radio, it will let everything on that frequency through, regardless of the privacy tones being used. So it's really only a filter to initially open the squelch, but once it's open, its open.
@@AdventureCruiser not true. Remember these are shared channels with higher powered GMRS radios. If you are talking to another FRS radio and he is somewhat distant, and you are using a privacy squelch tone, a much stronger GMRS signal could key up on the same channel with another privacy code or even no privacy code and could completely override your other stations transmission. Since the overriding signal will mute your squelch you will suddenly hear nothing. A far better option is for everyone, including GMRS stations to NOT use privacy codes. You could then hear that your other station is getting "walked on" by the strong station and communicate with the interfering GMRS station. You could then break in and request your other party could move to a clearer channel. Additionally you might encounter electrical interference that can trash your ability to hear. With privacy codes you don't hear the interference because it would silence the speaker. With no privacy code you could hear the interference and search for a quieter channel. A good way to operate is with privacy codes off. Although filtering out the audio from undesired transmissions sounds nice, you could be muted by an stronger source of interference and NOT even be aware it is there. So in essence you are deaf AND unaware. A far better option is to use no codes and be aware. If a channel is busy, just break in and move to a quiet channel. As a rule of thumb, channels 8-14 are your best bet. GMRS radios (possible sources of interference) are limited to only half a watt on those channels. On channels 1-7 they are allowed 5 watts, and on channels 15-22 GMRS are allowed a full 50 watts. At that power level they might crush your low powered FRS signals. At least channels 8-14 levels the playing field with equal low power restrictions. Yes it is boring, but detecting and evading possible sources of interference is critical to maintaining effective radio communications. That said, I think the privacy codes are very misleading to every day consumers and are best not to be used.
@K9WLW Radio so, which part are you saying isn’t true? To some extent I think see what you’re saying about a more powerful and different PL closing the squelch of an FRS radio, but I’ve only seen that technology in public safety radios where they call it “reverse PL” where a PL or CTCSS/Dcs can not only open the squelch but more importantly, close it at the end of a transmission to presumably decrease the burst of static as your radio realizes it is no longer receiving a signal. I think I understand what you’re driving at, but in my experience I’ve had radios let in any transmission once the PL tone has opened the “door”. As a matter of fact, I experienced this today while in Moab and both transmissions were a little garbled from overlayed modulation, though the closer (I.e. more powerful station) prevailed, so I don’t really understand your issue with my summary. I agree that it would be most polite to not use a code, but my intent isn’t to rewrite the FCC rules or guidelines but rather explain what things do, and the biggest point I wanted to make is that Privacy Tones (or PL) really aren’t private. Sorry if we disagree on some of the details, but I think we can agree that the main point is that it isn’t private.
Not entirely true. It’s absolutely not private, it doesn’t keep others from hearing you, but it does give you privacy in that it blocks much of the unwanted interference and conversations.
you are right jest leave it off that's a stuped thing thay put in to confuse every one my radios dont have that becouse my radios are for off and I am on a repeter my base is 45 watts output
