Basic Settings Descriptions for Radio Programming

Modified on Wed, Dec 18 at 4:35 PM

Realize that the programmer for your radio reflects your radio. The RT Systems programmer takes all the options of a particular model out of the "black box" and puts them on the computer screen where they are easier to consider and experiment with.

There are no tricks here.

If your radio has an option, it will be in the program (with a very few limitations that cause problems for the radio when it starts up... yes, there are some of these).
If your radio does not have a certain feature, that option will not be in the program (again, with a very few exceptions).
The programming process is to set the options for the features of the radio just as you would from the radio's face.
No programmer can make your radio do what it is not designed to do. If you find software that will make your radio do "extra things", it threatens to damage the internal electronics of the unit and possibly render the radio useless.

Presented in this article is a list of many of the radio settings found in the RT Systems programmers along with a brief description of that setting. Please note that this is a general list: some radios may not have all of these settings, and some will have settings not described here. If you are uncertain about what a setting does on your particular radio, check the manual for the radio. You will find details specific to your particular model there.

For the absolute beginner, the most important settings are Receive Frequency, Offset Direction, Tone Mode, and CTCSS. In the programmer, select Edit | Simple mode to hide other settings that you don't need to consider... yet. You can come back to those later when you understand your radio and its functionality.

1) Receive Frequency- This is the most important column. A memory channel cannot be set up without it.

It is the frequency your radio listens on.
It is the frequency published for a repeater.

Once you type in the Receive frequency and press enter, the program may automatically set the transmit frequency, offset frequency and offset direction based on standards for the band.

2) Transmit Frequency- The frequency used to transmit to the repeater or to another radio.

This is the frequency the radio transmits on when you press the PTT.
Usually, this value is not published for a repeater. If it is, enter what you see in the publication exactly as you see it. If only a + or - is published, the programmer will enter the value for you. Watch for Offset Direction to match the published +(Plus) or -(Minus).
The transmit frequency is controlled by the Offset Frequency and the Offset Direction. See those sections for more explanation. If you are given a specific frequency, enter it in place of any value that appears automatically in this field.

This seems really complicated, but it is not. Just let the program take care of this entry. You'll be right many, many more times than not.

3) Offset Frequency- This is the difference between the Receive and Transmit frequencies. Generally, it is a standard value that will be set automatically. You don't have to do calculations in the RT Systems Programmer.

There are standards for the 2M, 440MHz and 6M bands that are already in the program.
Standards: 2M Band = 600 kHz / 440Mhz Band = 5.0 MHz / 6M Band = 500 kHz.
The program will complete this field automatically based on the band of the Receive Frequency
If the value you need is different from what the programmer uses, change the value manually by typing in the value you want for this channel. Or enter the Receive and Transmit frequencies and let the Programmer do the calculation for you.

Yes, this is real math... but you don't have to do it. The Programmer does those calculations for you. If you're curious, just subtract the receive and transmit frequencies to check the value of the offset frequency.

4) Offset Direction- Is the transmit frequency greater than (+ Plus), less than (- Minus) or the same as (Simplex) the receive frequency?

Plus / Minus - Many publications show a + or - with the repeater frequency indicating the Offset Direction.
The Programmer will automatically enter the Offset Direction when you enter the receive frequency and press enter or tab to leave the receive frequency field. Usually, the program will be right when it sets this column, just check for a Minus or -Dup for a - in a publication or a Plus or +Dup if the publication shows a +.
If the value you need is different from what the programmer uses, change the value manually by typing in the value you want for this channel. Or enter the Receive and Transmit frequencies and let the Programmer do the calculation for you.
Simplex - When you talk "radio to radio", Simplex is the correct entry for Offset Direction. Simplex causes the Receive and Transmit frequencies to be the same.
Split- Some repeaters operate with frequencies (Rx and Tx) that do not have a "normal offset" value.
In the information you are given, these will be identified as complete frequencies for receive and transmit. Split is the correct Offset Direction when available (It is not in many radios). Selecting Split will let you enter the receive and transmit frequencies you are given for a particular repeater.
If the radio does not offer Split, enter the Receive and Transmit frequencies and let the Programmer set up the Offset Frequency and Offset Direction for you. An error will be raised if the radio cannot handle the two frequencies entered. Check your information and try again.
No Transmit - Disable transmission on this channel. Not all radios offer a No Transmit option.
Note: If your radio does not offer No Transmit and you want to listen on a channel without the fear of transmission, set the Transmit frequency to one in the ham band that is not used in your area and set the power to low. Then if you do transmit, at least you will be in the part of the band where it's legal for you.

Since Offset Direction for the repeater is set on a standard by the frequency coordinators, only very occasionally will this be different from what the programmer sets. But double checking never hurts.

5) Operating Mode - The type of radio transmission. These are in general Analog, Digital or HF. The Operating mode of the transmission must match that of the receiving equipment for the signal to be heard.

Wide FM - Frequency modulation. This mode has a +/- 75 kHz deviation. This is the mode set by broadcast FM radio stations.
FM - Frequency modulation. This mode has a +/- 5 kHz deviation. This is most commonly used in amateur radio. This is occasionally referred to as Wide FM but that's a bit of a misnomer, as Wide FM most correctly refers to broadcast FM stations. Do not use this for radio communications (ham or otherwise).
FM Narrow - Narrow Frequency modulation. This mode has a +/- 2.5 kHz deviation. It is used in amateur radio, but is not as common as FM. FM Narrow is better for listening to emergency communications that have not gone to digital or trunking systems.
Note: Do not stress over FM and FM Narrow for Operating Mode. FM can talk to FM Narrow and FM Narrow can talk to FM. The sound may be a little distorted or weak, but you will be heard and understood.
AM - Amplitude modulation. This is used for listening to aircraft and airport communications. Many radios offer this mode to allow you to listen to these transmissions, but do not have the electronics necessary for transmission in AM mode.
DN - Digital Narrow. Found in Yaesu Fusion radios for digital communications that don't involve voice transmissions.
VW - Voice wide. Found in Yaesu Fusion radios for digital voice communications.
DV - Digital Voice. Found in Icom DStar radios for DDtar communications (Voice and data) and Kenwood DStar radios for DStar communications that do not involve repeater use.
DR - Digital Repeater. Found in Kenwood DStar radios for DStar communications through a repeater.
USB - Upper Sideband: A type of single sideband (SSB) modulation often used with frequencies above 10 MHz.
LSB - Lower Sideband: A type of single sideband (SSB) modulation often used with frequencies below 10 MHz

There are others that you will see mainly in HF radios. Refer to the operating manual for the radio for availability of a particular operating mode in a given radio.

6) Name - This does not affect channel operation at all. It is simply an identifier for the channel. Usually about 6 characters but up to 16 in some newer models.

In some radios this information replaces the frequency on the display. In others it accompanies the frequency. Check the manual for your radio to fine an easy way to toggle between frequency and name for those models where the type is exclusive. There is usually a one button press that will reveal the other information when you need it.

Show Name - Display of the name depends on either a check box per channel (see the Show Name column), or a global setting that turns them all on. That global setting is found by clicking on Settings|Radio Menu Settings at the top of the screen then changing an option from those shown on the Settings screen. This difference is another reflection of the different ways the radios are designed.

7) Tone Mode - This option allows you to set an outgoing/incoming tone that is used to access a repeater, or to mute unwanted signals.

If the repeater you want to use requires a PL or DPL, your signal will not be heard through the repeater without the appropriate tone setting.

If you only wish to listen to a channel (such as an emergency frequency), you do not need to worry about tone settings: they do not improve reception in any way.

Tone Modes include:

None - No outgoing tone or incoming squelch mode is applied.
Tone - A CTCSS (or PL) tone is applied to outgoing transmissions. No incoming squelch mode is applied. This may also be known as Encode. This setting will allow you to access most repeaters and is our recommended setting in most cases, so you don't hinder incoming signals.
T-Sql - (Tone Squelch) A CTCSS (or PL) tone is applied to outgoing transmissions AND used to block incoming signals unless they carry the same tone value. This may also be known as Encode/Decode. This setting will allow you to access most repeaters, but if not set up properly, you may accidentally block (mute) all incoming signals. Not recommended unless you're told specifically that you need it.
Note: More repeaters today (2021) are using Tone Squelch in an attempt to block noise on their frequency. This option is being more widely used now but should still only be used if you are told that the repeater is set up for it. Otherwise use Tone until you learn more about this functionality, so you don't miss conversations from your new friends.
DCS- A DCS (or DPL) code is applied to outgoing transmissions AND incoming signals are blocked (muted) unless they have the same DCS code assigned. DCS is not commonly used in amateur radio It is much more common with professional and emergency frequencies.
D Code - A DCS (or DPL) code is applied to outgoing transmissions Only. Incoming signals are not blocked.
T DCS - A CTCSS tone is applied to outgoing transmissions AND a DCS code is used for incoming signals. Very rarely used, you will likely never need this setting.
D Tone> - A DCS code is applied to outgoing transmissions and incoming signals use a CTCSS tone for squelch. Very rarely used, you will likely never need this setting.
User CTCSS - Allows you to specify a CTCSS tone other than the standard list available.

8) Setting values for the Tone Mode to use- This is the actual frequency value that the Tone Mode will use to access the repeater or block an incoming signal (or noise).

These columns are not active (and the numbers in them do not matter) unless you selected an appropriate setting for Tone Mode. Once Tone Mode is set, the appropriate columns will become active for you to complete. If the number in the column is greyed out, you cannot change it and the value is not important to the radio.
CTCSS: Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System. This is the specific analog tone you want to use. This value is sent to the repeater when Tone Mode is set to Tone and sent to the repeater AND (in many radios) used to block incoming signals if the Tone Mode is set to T-Sql. (It gets complicated with all the ways these radios do this!!)

Rx CTCSS: This column has two uses depending on how Tone Mode is set and the radio's manufacturer and age.
In newer radios, RX CTCSS AND CTCSS will become active when Tone Mode is set to TSql. If that is the case, Rx CTCSS is the value that the radio uses to block incoming signals. (It's the tone FROM the repeater).
In most Icom radios, this is the only value used for TSQL. This value is sent to the repeater AND used by the radio to block incoming signals and noise. > In these radios, the CTCSS column is not active when setting TSql.
In radios that do not have an RX CTCSS column, the value set in the CTCSS column is used to send to the repeater AND block incoming tones. This is true of many older radios.

DCS/Rx DCS: DCS stands for Digital Coded Squelch. You may also see it referred to as Digital Private Line (DPL). DCS is essentially the same as CTCSS. An Analog channel can use a DCS code. DCS codes are not often used in amateur radio. These columns will become active when Tone Mode is set to DCS or D Code.

9) DCS Polarity - DCS Polarity is another part of the DCS code. In addition to the number (e.g. 023 or 255), each DCS code has a polarity. I won't go too much into the theory here, but there are two different options for polarity: Normal (sometimes referred to as +) and Reverse (sometimes referred to as inverse or -). An example normal DCS code might be listed as 432 or +432, and the corresponding inverted code might be listed as -432. If a repeater is listed as requiring a DCS code but no polarity is specified, it's generally safe to assume normal polarity. Polarity must match between radios just as the DCS value must match for everything to work together. Options include:

Both N: Both transmit and receive DCS are set to Normal polarity.
TN-RR: Transmit DCS is Normal, Receive DCS is Reverse. Rarely used.
TR-RN: Transmit DCS is Reverse, Receive DCS is Normal. Rarely used.
Both R: Both transmit and receive DCS are set to Reverse polarity.

10) TX Power - How much power the radio puts into a transmission. A higher setting means the signal will go farther, but the radio will heat up more and/or drain the battery faster. The actual power output will vary from radio to radio. Check your radio's manual for specific setting values. Handheld radios typically range from 0.5 W to 5 W, mobile and base station style radios can often reach 50 to 100W.

11) Squelch Mode - The radios that display this column have unusual requirements for setting up squelch. To squelch a signal based on CTCSS or DCS, set both the Tone Mode setting, and the squelch mode.

We have found this to be a requirement for any of the Tone Modes that involve an incoming tone. This setting is not so important for an outgoing tone.

There are 5 squelch mode settings.

Carrier - No squelch is used.
CTCSS/DCS - Squelch is opened if the incoming transmission has the proper CTCSS tone or DCS code, as set in the Tone Mode setting.
OS - Squelch is opened if the correct Optional Signal is received, as set in the Optional Signal setting. This is generally a DTMS, 2-Tone, or 5-Tone signal at the start of the transmission.
CTCSS/DCS And OS - Squelch is only opened if the correct CTCSS/DCS tone/code AND the correct Optional Signaling tone is received.
CTCSS/DCS Or OS - Squelch is opened if either the correct CTCSS/DCS tone/code OR the correct Optional Signaling tone is received.

The following settings are less common for radios in amateur radio lines. Again, if available in the radio the option will appear in the programmer. Some of these are in the Settings file. access that from Settings| Radio Menu Settings at the top of the screen.

Skip - The Skip setting marks the channel to be skipped during scanning. This is a good option to avoid stopping on a channel that is always noisy or busy. Check to omit... leave unchecked to include in memory scanning.
Scan Add - Scan Add is just another name for skip. Here, if active (selected or checked) the channel is included in a memory scan. If off or not selected, the channel is omitted.
Third option P-Scan - P-Scan or Select is used when available to mark a select group of channels for scanning. Channels with this indication will be scanned as normal during a memory scan but will be the only channels included in a special scanning operation. Check the manual for your radio to get details about starting this special scanning operation.
Busy Lock - Busy Lock or BCLO (Busy Channel Lock Out is for use when TSQL or DCS is in use on the channel. Those Tone Modes keep you from hearing other transmissions on the frequency. If you transmit, the other conversation will be interrupted. Be sure to engage BCLO if you are using TSQL or DCS on a channel to prevent you from causing interference especially if you are using a tone squelch option for quiet listening.
Step - The value that the frequency changes when you tune away from the receive frequency of the memory channel. You should almost never need to change this setting, nor will it affect your reception and transmission if you do. This is a useful setting for VFO modes but is largely useless when the radio is in memory mode.
Squelch Level - This option affect quiet listening. A higher number will quiet the radio against background or "white" noise. This is an option you need to know how to change from the face of the radio since an adjustment may be necessary at any time.

Display Mode - This option determines the information of the channels that is displayed on the face of the radio.

Channel: - Shows only channel number. Be careful with this selection. It can reduce the functionality of the radio including limiting access to the menu and other functions you may consider useful in the field.
Channel + Frequency- Shows channel number and frequency. The channel number is usually shown to the right of the frequency or in the upper left corner of the display.
Channel + Name - The Name entered on the spread sheet of the programmer and the channel number are shown. The channel number is usually shown to the right of or above the name. Note: If a name has not been entered, the radio will default to a channel number for that channel.

Clock Shift - This is an option that you will activated if told to by an experience operator or by a technician helping you with noise on your radio. When activated spurious response birdies are eliminated. It does not affect reception or transmission quality except to remove noise that is being generated within your own radio and you hear with the incoming signal.

Talk Around - This option causes to transmit and receive on the Receive Frequency. It is used to transmit on the same frequency that a repeater transmits on if the repeater is down or you're unable to hit it for whatever reason. This is a radio-to-radio function. Remember, the person trying to hear you will have to be close enough to receive your signal. Note: This setting should not be activated in almost all cases. If you activated it accidentally, you will suddenly not be able to access any of the repeaters that you had been using in the past.

Bank - A way to organize your channels into sets with like functions (i.e., those for home, a vacation location, the parade you help with each year, the search and rescue groups... those you want to use without the others interfering with the activity). Banks are great for getting really good use from your radio.

Bank Channel Number: Only in Icom radios, you can arrange channels in a bank in a different order than they are listed in the main memory. It is perfectly fine to leave this setting blank. If left blank, the programmer will automatically assign these channels to the same order in which they're listed on the spreadsheet.

Comment - Information for you that is held in the file. The cokmment is not a part of the radio's programming and does not affect channel operation. Some users like to print out their frequency lists for reference, and the comment field can be filled with a little more information on the channel.

09/21/2024