Digital Code Squelch (DCS)

CDCSS or Digital Code Squelch (DCS) is a further development of the continuous tone-coded squelch system or CTCSS that uses a slow-speed, binary data stream passed as sub-audible data along with the transmission. Motorola calls this Digital Private Line or DPL.

DCS is a two way, 3-digit, digitally encoded code. Think of it as a two way password. You need the password to transmit and to receive a signal.

Let's take our Sutro repeater as an example: Once you set the frequency on your radio to 145.150 with DCS 664  you will  a) have the password to open our repeater and b) since our repeater is transmitting a DCS code of 664 you will be able to receive it while blocking other transmissions that don't contain the DCS code.

Our main W6PW repeater has changed from PL 114.8 to DCS 664.  Please find below instructions on how to set your radio to transmit/receive a DCS code. 

Yaesu VX-8DR

1) Press FW
2) Press SPSSQ [Mode]
3) This gets you SQL-Type
4) Rotate dial until you see DCS
5) Press SPSSQ to save [Mode]
6)  Press FW
7) Press Code [2 ABC]
​8) Rotate dial to 664
9) Press Code [2 ABC]  to save

Kenwood TH-F6A

1) Press Tone until DCS appears 
2) Press PTT
3) Press F, then Tone
4) Turn knob to select 664
5) Press MNU to store new setting

ICOM ID-51 Plus

1) Press Quick 
2) Select Tone
3) Press D middle
4) Select DTCS or DTCS((.))
5) Press MENU
6) Press DUP/TONE then D middle
7) Select DTCS CODE then press D middle
8) Rotate dial to 664
9) Press D middle to save, MENU ​to exit

Icom T70A

1) Press SET button (button A) 
2) Rotate Control Dial (the big one) to Code 
3) Rotate Volume Control dial to 664
4) Rotate Control Dial to dtCS P [DTCS Phase]
5) Rotate Volume Control dial to both N  [both normal]
6) Press H/M/L button (button C) to  exit SET mode
7) Press and hold the TONE button (button 0) until it beeps.
8) Repeat step 7 a few times until the middle item on top line of the display reads "DTCS"
(Note: you do not want "DTCS -R")

Baofeng UV-5R/UV-82/UV-5X3

1) Press Menu 
2) Type 10 to select R-DCS [Receiver DCS]
3) Press Menu again
4) Enter DCS code: D664N
5) Press Menu again to confirm and save
6)  Repeat step 1-5 but type 12 to set T-DCS 

Baofeng UV-3R

1) Tune to memory where W6PW is held
2) Press Menu/Lock to enter the settings mode 
3) Rotate TUNE to 2, TXMODE
4) Press UV
5) Rotate TUNE to 664N
6) Press UV again to save
7)  Press Menu to return to normal operation 

Yaesu FT-250R & FT-60R

1) Press [F/L] or ​[F/W]
2) Press [1 (SQ TYP)]
3) This gets you to SQL TYPE
​4) Rotate dial to DCS 
5) Press PTT ​to save
6) Press [F/L] or ​[F/W]
7) Press [2(CODE)]
8) Rotate dial to 664
9) Press [F/W] to save  

Yaesu FT1DR (press) / FT2DR (touch)

1) Press and hold DISP  for over 1 second
2) Select or touch SIGNALING
3) Select or Scroll to SQL-TYPE, press  DISP
4) Set or Roll to select DCS
5) Press DISP/BACK once 
6) Set or Scroll to DCS CODE
7) Press DISP, 
8) Rotate dial to 664
9) Press DISP/BACK three times to exit

Yaesu VX-6R

1) Press the F/W key
2) Press the [MODE(SP S)SQ TYP] key
3) Rotate dial to DCS
4) Press PTT to save
5) Press the F/W key
6) Press the [2(CODE)] key
7) Rotate dial to 664
8) Press the [2(CODE)] key to save

Wouxun KG-UV3D

1) Press Menu 
2) Type 17 to select R-DCS [Receiver DCS]
3) Press Menu again
4) Rotate dial to D664N [DCS code 664 Normal]
5) Press Menu again to confirm and save
6)  Repeat step 1-5 but type 18 (in step 2) to set T-DCS 
(Note: Be sure you choose D664N and not D664I)

Yaesu VX-3R

1) Press the F/W key
2) Press the [MODE] button
3) Rotate dial to DCS
4) Press PTT to save
5) Press and hold TXPO for 1 second
6)  Rotate dial to 24 DCS CD
7) Press TXPO to set the code
8) Rotate dial until you see DCS.664
9) Press PTT to save

Yaesu VX-7R

1) Press the MON/F key
2) Press the 8 (Tone) key 
3) Press the Main or Sub key until DCS appears 
4) Rotate dial to select TSQ/DCS/DTMF: 1 DCS SET
5) Press BAND key to adjust code
6) Press and hold TXPO for 1 second
7) Press the Main or Sub key to select 664
8) Press Band key, then PTT to save
If your radio is not included in this page don't worry. Check out your radio's manual and focus on the DCS section, hint: look for the keywords DCS and/or DTCS! When you figure it out, help me help others; send us [Antonis' email or contact us page] the steps in the format above and your radio brand and model number and I will include your instructions in this page. 

​Always remember:  DCS is an Encode/Decode system, so your receiver will remain muted until a matching DCS code is received on an incoming transmission.