[Elecraft] [K3] Scanning for repeater tones.

[Ken G Kopp]

Nate,

I'll preface this by stating that I'm the repeater coordinator for
Montana,  and a retired career 2-way radio tech.

It's common for repeaters to require a CTCSS tone for access,  but is
-very- rare to find one in the amateur world that also transmits the CTCSS
tone.  Out of almost 300 I have in Montana I'm aware of none.  The ARRL
Repeater Directory lists the tone required if it's needed for accessing a
repeater.

Yes, one can listen to the station that's accessing the repeater and
perhaps ascertain the frequency of the CTCSS tone, but this is difficult to
do since the tones are in the sub - audible range.  There -are- scanners
and amateur transceivers that can do this and of course professional test
equipment.

BTW ... CTCSS stands for "Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System".  The tones
are standardized and are the same for all brands of 2-way radios but each
has their own trade marked names ... (Motorola = PL /  Private Line), GE =
CG / Channel Guard), etc.

A Google search will tell you more.....

73

Ken - K0PP