XTS 2500i Scan Questions

[bpdkop21]

Anyone have any idea how to field program a priority into a scan list? The manual says nothing that helps. In order to monitor fire & ems traffic, as well as adjacent counties, we must scan. But there apparently is no 'home' or priority setting so we miss traffic from our dispatch. Any ideas? This is a MARCS radio by the way.

 

[wlmr]

If you're talking about programming via the keypad, when you select a talkgroup, hit the select again and you'll see a small dot appear at the bottom right of the lightning bolt. Your radio has to have that function available via the software programming.

The other half of the issue is that unless the system has your dispatch talkgroup entered as a priority talkgroup, the scanner won't know to leave whatever it's listening to and go back to your dispatch talkgroup. Scanning in trunking systems is different than how scanning worked in older non-trunked systems.

 

[ILMRadioMan]

Thats not really all correct, wlmr.

There are a few steps to take, some of which wlmr touched on.

1) When the radio is programmed, at the very least, the "non-priority members" section must be set as "operator select". Also you can set "operator select" on priority channels.

2) Once you do so, you can adjust the scan list 3 different ways:

1. Set a side button. Press and hold that side button to put it into program mode.
2. Set one of your ABC switch positions to scan program.
3. If it is a model 2 / 3 set one of your menu options to "program".

3) Once you are in programming mode, there are couple of settings to remember

1. A "Z" is actually the scan symbol. (Its not really a Z, just looks like one.)
2. You can press "Sel" (select) to add a talkgroup to a list, or adjust its priority.
3. A solid dot next to the Z, means priority 1.
4. A blinking dot next to the Z is a priority 2.
5. "Del" removes it from the list.

 

[wlmr]

You're right, I'd forgotton all the various ways that scan has to be programmed and can be implemented.

I think I'm right about priority scan not getting you all the way there without the talkgroup also being set for as a priority talkgroup in the trunking system. The radio won't leave whatever talkgroup it's scanned over to and listening to without that being set. Correct?

 

[ILMRadioMan]

Incorrect.....kinda

That is its design, and it purported operation.

And I have seen it happen many times, where the priority channel kicks out the non-priority.

However, I have seen it not work too.

Generally what I have seen is if there is constant "modulation / audio", the priority channel wont come in. But if there is even a moment of silence, then the priority channel will kick up.

But it "CAN" work .

 

[ILMRadioMan]

And that list didnt take into consideration Type 1's with no screen, where a solid red, blinking red, and green are the indicators for scan priority.

 

[wlmr]

My experience is with all digital P25 system (9600 control channel - not 3600). We've observed that at long as someone is affiliated with a priority talkgroup at the site the radio is affiliated on, the radio leaves the traffic it's been listening to and jumps to the priority traffic. When you're talking audio/modulation, is this for an analog or mixed mode voice channel system?

Sure would be so much easier if all users could be told to not use scan!

 

[ILMRadioMan]

My experience is with all digital P25 system (9600 control channel - not 3600). We've observed that at long as someone is affiliated with a priority talkgroup at the site the radio is affiliated on, the radio leaves the traffic it's been listening to and jumps to the priority traffic. When you're talking audio/modulation, is this for an analog or mixed mode voice channel system?

Sure would be so much easier if all users could be told to not use scan!

It has been on pure P25 7.x, Smartzone Mixed mode, and Smartnet Analog (I have the luxury of all 3)

 

[wlmr]

So the hang-until-silent situation exists for all three types?

 

[ILMRadioMan]

So the hang-until-silent situation exists for all three types?

I havent really tested on the smartnet.

But it seems to be that way for the Mixed mode system strongly.

However the P25 system seems to work according to the codeplug, regardless of voice.

 

[wlmr]

Kinda looks like the major concern for the original poster is the dispatch talkgroup he's supposed to listen to better be set for priority in the system, otherwise he could spend too much time scanned over and listening to something else. As you pointed out, how well even that will work for him is problematic.

Scanning is great fun as an offline activity - for a life and death situation, stay on the channel you're supposed to be on!

 

[ILMRadioMan]

Yea agreed....we have many customers that love scan, but we almost always encourage them to NOT scan.

Scan DOES work quite well regularly, but you just never want to miss anything.

 

[johnmhames]

Does anyone have a link to download user manual? XTS 2500i Model III

 

[wa6ylb]

Anyone have any idea how to field program a priority into a scan list? The manual says nothing that helps. In order to monitor fire & ems traffic, as well as adjacent counties, we must scan. But there apparently is no 'home' or priority setting so we miss traffic from our dispatch. Any ideas? This is a MARCS radio by the way.

There are four settings for Priority scanning.

Selected channel - What the knob is pointing to within a zone;
Fixed - to the scan list number - means, of the 15 channels in your list, which one is fixed as pri.
Disabled - no pri at all.
Op select... You need a button (Pri1) to tell it this is your new Pri1.
-------
"Disabled

Fixed: The Priority 1 channel is selected from the CPS Priority 1 Member field and cannot be changed by the radio-user.

Operator

Selectable: Uses the CPS selected Priority 1 Member, however the radio-user is able to modify this choice. This is only true when a programmable "Pri1" button-press has been defined.

Selected

Channel: The radio uses the current Channel Selector selected channel as the Priority #1 member.

Note: First Priority and Second Priority may not both be set to the Selected Channel.


I hope that helps.
B.