PL & Courtesy Tones

How the Dual PL, Link/Local System works:

Virtually all C.A.R.L.A. systems (unless noted otherwise) have two input PL's, the Link PL and the Local PL

If you use the Link PL, your audio is carried over the entire network of repeaters, and you will be able to hear the audio from any other repeaters in the network currently in link mode. If you wish to have a local conversation on the repeater just use the Local PL. Your audio will come out only on the local system and you will not hear link audio coming from other repeaters in the network. When you finish your local conversation, the link will automatically re-establish itself in several seconds.

A couple of things to keep in mind:
  1. If you pause for an extended time during your local conversation the link audio may come back. Just key up with the Local PL to mute any incoming link traffic and continue your local conversation.
  2. Remember, if there is a conversation in progress elsewhere on the network, you will not interfere with it if you hold a conversation on the repeater while using the Local PL.
  3. If you want link audio to come back right away just "kerchunk" the repeater you're on with the Link PL.
  4. There is a different courtesy tone for local traffic and incoming link traffic so you'll be able to distinguish from which direction the audio traffic is originating.
We've also prepared a visual guide to help explain the operation of the Dual PL system:

C.A.R.L.A. Dual PL Guide (PDF, Opens in a new window)


What the various Courtesy Tones mean:

The C.A.R.L.A. system uses several different courtesy tones to help indicate to our users what is going on on the repeater that they are listening to. Among other things, this plays an important part in helping our users to audibly identify which PL, Link or Local, they are using. Please note that although this covers the courtesy tones you will hear 99% of the time, you may occasionally hear other courtesy tones not listed here, that usually exist for a specific purpose. As always, listening before and during your conversation will help you learn what each courtesy tone means.