Common Conventional Programming Questions

On the Radio Reference Database, there are some terms used that may be unfamiliar to the new scanner user and some data that you don’t need. Most of the time, if you mouse over the column heading in the database, you will get the answer to your question. If this doesn't work, please see our Glossary article. Some common terms include:

• What is CTCSS?
• What is DCS?
• What is Simplex?
• What is Duplex?
• What is a Repeater?
• What is SAME?
• What is an input frequency and an output frequency?

• ''I see two frequencies for the agency I want to monitor, which one do I put in my scanner?''
  • This would indicate one of two things in the RR Database.
    • If the channel is listed with a R in the Type column, then just program one in the Frequency column.
      • See Repeater, Output frequency, and Input frequency for further details.
    • If the channel is listed with a B or BM in the Type column, then you really need to program both, as this would indicate this is a Duplex channel, where normally the base station will be on the frequency designated in the Frequency column and the mobile will be on the frequency in the Input column.

• ''There is a column called Tone and it has funny numbers in it, do I need to worry about this?''
  • It all depends. What those are, are CTCSS and DCS values. If your scanner can accept them it will reduce outside interference from what you are interested in hearing. This means the agency you are programming uses that tone (or code) to limit reception/interference from other agencies that may be licensed on that frequency. Some scanners cannot use these tones and some agencies do not use them either. It really comes down to a personal choice on your part.