It seems Ron, N9EE, is quite proud of the fact that his repeater doesn't
use tone squelch. Ron, you are most fortunate to be able to do that. For the
rest of us lets get real. From my modest station I can normally hear five
or six repeaters on 146.76. Using tone I can work any one of them should I
choose to do so as they all use different tones. Think of the chaos that
would result if they all were carrier access.
Our friends in commercial two way radio figured out about FIFTY years
ago that they could get ten time the channel loading using tone squelch. So
why are hams so resistant to implementing it? To me it make a lot of sense
to use tone squelch.
About six years ago at the meetings of the Illinois Repeater Association
(general membership, not just the board members) the idea of mandatory tone
squelch (CTCSS or DPL) on all repeaters was suggested. After much
discussion, a couple of years later the general membership voted, almost
unanimously, to proceed with this plan. As of the end of 2005, all Illinois
repeaters (29 mhz on up) were required to have available some kind of access
other than carrier squelch. Although there are some hold-outs, most think it
is a resounding success. Basically, what it means is that any repeater using
carrier squelch will get no protection from interference from users of
coordinated repeaters, as far as the IRA is concerned.
So what about mobiles or other transients? The ARRL and others publish
directories that are reasonably up to date. Info is available on line. Most
repeaters repeat during their hangtime for emergencies.
I don't have a lot of sympathy for those who pi** and moan about their
HR2-B not having tone capabilities. Retire it. If you can afford to spend
$75 to fill your gas tank maybe you can afford to buy a rig less than thirty
years old. Or pick up a tone board off of ebay for $20 if you are really in
love with your old rig. (Actually, I have a working G-Strip Motorola base
that can use the local repeater because it has the right reeds in it. It's
probably 45 years old and still useful. And it came that way, with TONE
SQUELCH!)
Friends don't let friends use carrier squelch (on repeaters).
73,
Al, K9SI
