17
Setting Frequency Options
Before you can use your trans-
ceiver, you must set your trans-
ceiver to a VHF business band
frequency you have a license to
use. Then you can select a preset
CTCSS (Continuous Tone Control
Squelch System) frequency and
set your transceiver to use it.
Here is what you need to do to set
your transceiver to use a business
band frequency and CTCSS:
þ Select a business band frequen-
cy you have a license to use then
set your transceiver to that fre-
quency (see “Selecting a Busi-
ness Band Frequency” on
Page 18).
À Select a CTCSS frequency then
set your transceiver to the code
that uses that frequency (see “Us-
ing a CTCSS Frequency” on
Page 18).
Your transceiver’s default CTCSS
frequency is 100 Hz. You can se-
lect one CTCSS frequency at a
time. If you do not want to use a
CTCSS frequency, simply do not
set your transceiver to use one.
About CTCSS
CTCSS helps eliminate interfer-
ence between different users of
the same frequency, letting you
talk and listen to people who are
using other transceivers set to
the same frequency and CTCSS
code. This is like having a sub-
channel within a channel, giving
you greater communication flexi-
bility. When you set a CTCSS
code — there are 38 to choose
from — and turn on your trans-
ceiver’s CTCSS, the transceiver
transmits a tone with your trans-
mission, letting you communicate
with anyone who has a transceiv-
er set to the same frequency and
code. This tone is too low for you
to hear, but other transceivers
can detect it.
If CTCSS is turned on and set to
the same tone on the receiving
transceiver, it only receives those
transmissions that include the
tone. If two different groups oper-
ate transceivers in the same area
on the same frequency, they do
not hear each other’s broadcasts
if they both use CTCSS and each
select a different CTCSS fre-
quency.
19-1217.fm Page 17 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 1:18 PM
