WHAT

What's a PL Code????

PL = Private Line
CTCSS = Continues Tone Coded Squelch System
DPL = Digital Private Line
DCS = Digital Coded Squelch

PL / CTCSS or DPL / DCS refers to the several different types of sub-audible codes that can be transmitted on a channel frequency by a group of radios using that frequency. A sub-audible code is a very low audio signal between 50-300 Hz (transmitted at a very low level/below hearing range) that your receiver system filters out and decodes to allow your radio/scanner to listen only to the station transmitting the code and to block out all others on that frequency. It does this by automatically controlling your radio's squelch system. This is very useful if you only want to hear your local Police or Fire department since channel frequencies are always shared in different counties or states. Example: Everett, MA Fire = 154.310 MHz PL 186.2, Brockton, MA Fire = 154.310 MHz PL 94.8.
A good example of how this system helps stop confusion and improves safety is when one department makes a call and another department on the same channel frequency 25 miles away doesn't accidentally respond or have its operations interfered with. Not all radio systems use these codes, especially countywide or statewide fire or police networks, since they want every radio monitoring or transmitting to be able to communicate with every other radio in the network.

CTCSS / PL LIST

All 38 TIA/EIA standard tone frequencies
and 11 non-standard tones *

DCS / DPL LIST

All 104 TIA / EIA tone frequencies

67.0 Hz
69.3 Hz*
71.9 Hz
74.4 Hz
77.0 Hz
79.7 Hz
82.5 Hz
85.4 Hz
88.5 Hz
91.5 Hz
94.8 Hz
97.4 Hz
100.0 Hz
103.5 Hz
107.2 Hz
110.9 Hz
114.8 Hz
118.8 Hz
123.0 Hz
127.3 Hz
131.8 Hz
136.5 Hz
141.3 Hz
146.2 Hz
151.4 Hz

156.7 Hz
159.8 Hz*
162.2 Hz
167.9 Hz
171.3 Hz*
173.8 Hz
177.3 Hz*
179.9 Hz
183.5 Hz*
186.2 Hz
189.9 Hz*
192.8 Hz
196.6 Hz*
199.5 Hz*
203.5 Hz
206.5 Hz*
210.7 Hz
218.1 Hz
225.7 Hz
229.1 Hz*
233.6 Hz
241.8 Hz
250.3 Hz
254.1 Hz*

023
025
026
031
032
036
043
047
051
053
054
065
071
072
073
074
114
115
116
122
125
131
132
134
143
145

152
155
156
162
165
172
174
205
212
223
225
226
243
244
245
246
251
252
255
261
263
265
266
271
274
306

311
315
325
331
332
343
346
351
356
364
365
371
411
412
413
423
431
432
445
446
452
454
462
464
465
466

503
506
516
523
526
532
546
565
606
612
624
627
631
632
654
662
664
703
712
723
731
732
734
743
754