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Difference between revisions of "Fire Tone Out"

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(→‎Related Links: added link to internet archive version of PDF for finding fire tones with Audacity)
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Applies to: [[BCT15]], [[BCT15X]], [[BR330T]], [[UBC3500XLT]] ,[[BCD996T]], [[BCD996XT]], [[BCD996P2]], [[BCD396T]], [[BCD396XT]], [[BC346XT]], [[BCD325P2]], [[BCD436HP]], [[BCD536HP]], [[SDS100]] and [[SDS200]]
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European: [[UBC3500XLT]] [[UBC800XLT]]
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Fire-Tone Out Operation allows the scanner to operate in a standby mode and respond to fire tone-outs, a system comprised of standardized two-tone sequential paging, short one-tone paging, and long group tone paging. You can save up to 10 settings. When you select a setting in standby mode, the scanner also monitors for any other setting that uses the same transmit frequency, modulation, and attenuation settings.
 
Fire-Tone Out Operation allows the scanner to operate in a standby mode and respond to fire tone-outs, a system comprised of standardized two-tone sequential paging, short one-tone paging, and long group tone paging. You can save up to 10 settings. When you select a setting in standby mode, the scanner also monitors for any other setting that uses the same transmit frequency, modulation, and attenuation settings.
  
See [http://www.wpascanner.com/wiki/index.php?title=Hardware:Tone_Out The Unofficial Fire Tone Out Tutorial & Guide].
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==Description and Use==
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See the following Easier to Read links for a full description of this function
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/BCT15/bct15.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read BCT15 Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/BCT15X/bct15x.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read BCT15X Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/330/330.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read BR330T Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/3500/3500.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read UBC3500XLT Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/996/996.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read (U)BC996T Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/996XT/996xt.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read BCD996XT/P2 Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/396/396.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read (U)BCD396T Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/396XT/396xt.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read (U)BCD396XT Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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* [http://new.marksscanners.com/346XT/346xt.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read BC346XT Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/325/325.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read BCD325P2 Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/800/800.shtml#Fire%20tone Easier to Read UBC800XLT Manual - Using Fire Tone Out]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/536/436_536.shtml#tone-out%20menu Easier to Read BCD436HP/BCD536HP Manual - Tone Out For Menu]
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*[http://new.marksscanners.com/SDS/100_200.shtml#tone-out%20menu Easier to Read SDS100/200 Manual - Tone Out For Menu]
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==Common Questions and Answers==
 
==Common Questions and Answers==
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* Currently only the Uniden DMA scanners are actually set up to react to a FTO. However, any scanner can be utilized to measure the FTO, using the right software (some suggested links are below). This includes Uniden scanners that don't have FTO capability, RS or GRE scanners, AOR, ect.
 
* Currently only the Uniden DMA scanners are actually set up to react to a FTO. However, any scanner can be utilized to measure the FTO, using the right software (some suggested links are below). This includes Uniden scanners that don't have FTO capability, RS or GRE scanners, AOR, ect.
  
'''What do I need to connect a scanner that isnt FTO capable to measure it? Is a discriminator tap needed?'''
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'''What do I need to connect a scanner that isn't FTO capable to measure it? Is a discriminator tap needed?'''
 
* No discriminator tap is required, as the tones are generally within a voice range of audio frequencies. A good clean connection from the PC to the soundcard is often all that is needed. See the [[Connecting Radios to Soundcards]] article for more on this subject
 
* No discriminator tap is required, as the tones are generally within a voice range of audio frequencies. A good clean connection from the PC to the soundcard is often all that is needed. See the [[Connecting Radios to Soundcards]] article for more on this subject
  
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'''Where can I find the tone outs for my area?'''
 
'''Where can I find the tone outs for my area?'''
* The RadioReference database has this information stored at the county level. Look at your county, then examine the tabs at the top for 'Files' or 'Codes'. On occasion, these values are kept in spreadsheets available in the 'Downloads' tab. As they are being moved out of the database, check the [[:Category:FTOs|Fire Tone Outs]] category for articles that cover this topic by area.
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* Check the [[:Category:FTOs|Fire Tone Outs]] category. All areas are listed alphabetically. 
  
'''The Fire Tone Outs for my area arent in the database. How can I find them?'''
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'''The Fire Tone Outs for my area aren't in the wiki. How can I find them?'''
* Fire personnel are often reluctant to give out this information. Try asking in your state forum, or in one of the many Yahoo groups set up by states and regions. A list of these can be found [[Collaboration Gateway|here]]. Alternately you can use software (below) to discover the correct tones
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* Fire personnel are often reluctant to give out this information. Try asking in your state forum. You can also set your scanner's "A" and "B" tones both to "0" (zero) and that sets it to Tone Search mode. The scanner will then display decoded tones accurate enough to program into the radio for use.
  
'''Im missing calls; decoding doesnt seem to be reliable. How can I fix this?'''
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'''I'm missing calls; decoding doesn't seem to be reliable. How can I fix this?'''
* Per UPman, setting the wrong mode will affect the accuracy of the decoding. Try changing the modulation from Auto to one of the other 2 modes, dependent on what the correct default is for the frequency being monitored.
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* Per UPman, setting the wrong mode will affect the accuracy of the decoding. Try changing the modulation from Auto to one of the other 2 modes, dependent on what the correct default is for the frequency being monitored. On VHF-Lo (25-50 MHz.) use "FM" mode, on VHF-Hi (140-174 MHz.) and UHF above 400 MHz.) use NFM for most situations.
  
 
'''What tone frequencies are used and why are some tones longer than others?'''
 
'''What tone frequencies are used and why are some tones longer than others?'''
* Midian Electronics has a [http://www.midians.com/html/tone_signaling.asp tone signaling chart] of the various industry standard tone signaling formats.
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* Midian Electronics has a [http://www.midians.com/tone-signaling-charts signaling chart] of the various industry standard tone signaling formats.
  
 
==Software known to decode Fire Tone outs==
 
==Software known to decode Fire Tone outs==
* Counter.exe (found in the files section of several Yahoo groups, such as the BCD396 group)
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* Counter.exe
 
* [http://comtekk.us/two-tone-decoder.htm ComTekk Two Tone Decoder]
 
* [http://comtekk.us/two-tone-decoder.htm ComTekk Two Tone Decoder]
* [http://radioetcetera.googlepages.com/twotoneprogram Two Tone Detect]
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** You can read TWhitson's review of this software [http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75508 here]
* [http://www.personainternet.com/~northscan/files.html WinTone]
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* [[TwoToneDetect]]
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* [http://www.butelsoftware.com ARC-XT PRO V1.4 and up will log detected FTO tones]
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* [http://www.techmind.org/audio/#mustun Musical Tuner]
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* RADIO ID on the iTunes store will decode over the air audio of two tone codes
  
Also see [http://radioetcetera.googlepages.com/FindingTonesWithAudacity.pdf Guide to Using Audacity to Find Fire Tones].
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== Related Links ==
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*[http://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/ToneOutMode Fire Tone Out]  Uniden TWiki
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*[http://radioetcetera.googlepages.com/FindingTonesWithAudacity.pdf Guide to Using Audacity to Find Fire Tones] (dead link, but the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201022034648/https://08dc3a78-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/radioetcetera/FindingTonesWithAudacity.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7coTzke24YbC2oAy9SJ4UTTWGYFtJj0q6wkpwwL4kI27O30zAmMF36U8KT4v9_H-WasZTFAzRgwoakZpts_J1llG31aA_DdOWMcZJCE4n5Q3mmygAhZLMt8Qt2PaR_EqoBtsR6EbQ1onOW-MS1cytSggsY3QquU3KtDE3fqlz-9vZ1FayKyKtWxU_YzRNsR1ZdfNMEgnjr5K8FosOQMLl1xTkvTSz311eRi3z4n9wq-cmg1cmVY%3D&attredirects=0 Internet Archive has a copy] of the PDF)
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*[[Tone Signaling]]
  
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Return to the [[Uniden DMA FAQ]]
  
Return to the [[Uniden DMA FAQ]]
 
 
[[Category:RR Glossary]]
 
[[Category:RR Glossary]]
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[[Category:Medical Glossary]]
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[[Category:Receivers Glossary]]
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[[Category:Scanners Glossary]]
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[[Category:Signal Analysis and Decoding Glossary]]
 
[[Category:DMA Radios Hints and Kinks]]
 
[[Category:DMA Radios Hints and Kinks]]
[[Category:FTOs]]
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[[Category:Scanners FAQ]]
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[[Category:Uniden Scanner Features]]

Revision as of 20:43, 2 August 2021

Applies to: BCT15, BCT15X, BR330T, UBC3500XLT ,BCD996T, BCD996XT, BCD996P2, BCD396T, BCD396XT, BC346XT, BCD325P2, BCD436HP, BCD536HP, SDS100 and SDS200

European: UBC3500XLT UBC800XLT


Fire-Tone Out Operation allows the scanner to operate in a standby mode and respond to fire tone-outs, a system comprised of standardized two-tone sequential paging, short one-tone paging, and long group tone paging. You can save up to 10 settings. When you select a setting in standby mode, the scanner also monitors for any other setting that uses the same transmit frequency, modulation, and attenuation settings.

Description and Use

See the following Easier to Read links for a full description of this function


Common Questions and Answers

Can a non-Uniden DMA scanner be set up to measure or react to a FTO?

  • Currently only the Uniden DMA scanners are actually set up to react to a FTO. However, any scanner can be utilized to measure the FTO, using the right software (some suggested links are below). This includes Uniden scanners that don't have FTO capability, RS or GRE scanners, AOR, ect.

What do I need to connect a scanner that isn't FTO capable to measure it? Is a discriminator tap needed?

  • No discriminator tap is required, as the tones are generally within a voice range of audio frequencies. A good clean connection from the PC to the soundcard is often all that is needed. See the Connecting Radios to Soundcards article for more on this subject

Can I use the scanner and FTO at the same time?

  • No, only one function can be active at a time. Use as a scanner, or monitoring for a FTO, but not both.

Why is my FTO scanning the FTO memories?

  • The scanner is showing you all systems it is actively looking for. A tone alert on ANY will alert you whether that is the one currently displayed or not. The unit will alert on any tone on the same frequency (and mode).

I don't know the tone timing for my local paging system for FTO use

  • This is no longer an issue. Later firmware releases deleted the need to know this information.

Where can I find the tone outs for my area?

  • Check the Fire Tone Outs category. All areas are listed alphabetically.

The Fire Tone Outs for my area aren't in the wiki. How can I find them?

  • Fire personnel are often reluctant to give out this information. Try asking in your state forum. You can also set your scanner's "A" and "B" tones both to "0" (zero) and that sets it to Tone Search mode. The scanner will then display decoded tones accurate enough to program into the radio for use.

I'm missing calls; decoding doesn't seem to be reliable. How can I fix this?

  • Per UPman, setting the wrong mode will affect the accuracy of the decoding. Try changing the modulation from Auto to one of the other 2 modes, dependent on what the correct default is for the frequency being monitored. On VHF-Lo (25-50 MHz.) use "FM" mode, on VHF-Hi (140-174 MHz.) and UHF above 400 MHz.) use NFM for most situations.

What tone frequencies are used and why are some tones longer than others?

  • Midian Electronics has a signaling chart of the various industry standard tone signaling formats.

Software known to decode Fire Tone outs

Related Links

Return to the Uniden DMA FAQ