DCS Guide

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.

When DCS is used, our code is always 023. Not all of our sites use this code. Please check the website to see if the site you are flying uses DCS and always do a radio check as part of your pre-flight to ensure it is working.

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 023
  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 023
  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 023
  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 023
  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"
    9. (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: D023N
  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 023N
  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 023
  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 023
  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 023
  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 D023N [DCS code 023 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 D023N and not D023I)
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.023
  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 023
  8. Press Band key, then PTT to save