DCS is digitally coded squelch. With the usual PL tone, you can hear the 
tone usually, just barely in the background, but it is there. with DCS, it's 
some sort of digital tone, I'm not totally sure how it works since you can't 
hear it but other than that it works the same. The commercial world had that 
for a long time before ham radio had it and I still only know of a couple 
repeaters at most using it, mine being one of them.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2014 10:02 AM
Subject: Re: question


> Related to this issue, in some radios (and I believe this applies to some
> Kenwoods), there also is a DCS option.
>
> Anyone know what DCS is?
>
> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Jim Shaffer
> Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2014 10:00 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: question
>
> As regards the tones transmitted, the answer is yes.  However, if using
> CTCSS, your receiver is muted until the tone is received.  So if you, for
> example, have two repeaters on the same frequency, hopefully with 
> different
> PL tones, you can use your radio's CTCSS feature to only unsquelch when 
> your
> chosen repeater transmits.
> --
> Jim, KE5AL
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Pearson
> Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2014 8:41 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: question
>
> Hi all:
>
> I often hear the terms pl/ctcss used as they're separat entities.  Aren't
> they just interchangeable terms for the same thing(distinctions without a
> difference)?
>
> Happy Chrimble, and thanks for any clarification.
>
> 73,
>
>
>
> David S. Pearson-wa4dsp
>
>
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