Re: Save our 2 Metre Band.
The issue with mandatory CTCSS is that it makes it near-impossible to go back to any call which you hear being made through a repeater which is not known to you, and equally difficult to try a speculative call yourself through the same repeater.
If it's one which seems to be in the area near to you may (or may not) have an idea what that area's CTCSS tone is, but you still have to delve into the radio's menus and dial it in, which is a 'busy' task which you shouldn't really be trying to do while driving. With 1750 you just had to arm or press your toneburst - it was that simple.
I'm not against the optional / alternative provision of CTCSS as that is actually easier to use on repeaters which are known to you, as you can have them programmed into memory channels complete with the required CTCSS tone. In those cases calling through a repeater is as easy as calling out on simplex.
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