I just bought a pair of Midland GXT900s. I had a couple basic questions I was hoping someone could answer:
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Privacy codes (CTCSS vs. DCS) - is one better than the other? Why would you pick one over the other?
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Privacy codes - Do they keep others from listening in on your conversation?
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Scramble - what is the purpose of this?
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Group - Does this act like a privacy code in a way? How is it different?
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Delay in transmission - I have noticed that choosing a privacy code or a group setup causes a slight delay in transmission to other receivers. It has the effect of clipping the first couple words of the transmission. Is this normal? Is there a work around?
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VOX - there is a huge delay in transmission regardless of sensitivity. It is an unusable feature. Anyone else experience this?
Thanks.
1: Helps you to hear only transmissions directed to you. They provide no real privacy, since those with no codes set can hear you. DCS could be better, since fewer radios have this function.
2: answered above… NO. If they have no codes turned on, they ca hear you. All it does is prevents you from hearing traffic not set on the same code you are using.
3: Prevents those without the same feature from understanding what you are saying. These radios use “speech inversion”, which makes your signal unintelligible to radios without this feature. Not foolproff, but better than nothing.
4: Uses CTTCSS and/or DCS (in a range outside the main codes) to allow for more selective calling. Useful for communications among different groups using the same channel. I think it is more adept for commercial communications. Again… those without any codes set can hear you.
5: Normal. It takes a slight amount of time for the radio to decode the tone and open the squelch. No work around. Key the radio, wait a second before transmitting.
6: Again normal. Not a defect in the radios. Not the most useful feature. Sometimes a “dragged out” first word, or going “uh” before your transmission helps.