BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD436HP Priority Scan Question

[Gunner_Ed]

Hello,

The user manual that came with my 436 is not specific about this, but I am trying to prioritize a couple of trunked talk groups, but NOT any conventional channels. When I enable "Priority Scan" I have 3 choices: OFF, Priority DND or Priority Scan. When I enable DND or Scan, but I only have "Priority ID" enabled for the trunked system and flagged a couple of talk groups as "P-Ch" (i.e. no conventional channel), I get an error message that "no priority" enabled... But if I leave that setting to "OFF", are all those prioritized talk group ID's actually be prioritized? I cannot tell the difference...

The owner's manual leaves a lot to be desired, but this scanner is otherwise impressive. Please advise how those setting actually function as I would like them to.

Thanks in advance!
/Ed

 

[doctordialtone]

Please advise how those setting actually function as I would like them to.

Read here:
bcd436hp trunking Priority scan

and Here:
Priority Scanning

 

[dave3825]

I myself don't do priority scanning but this is from the easier to read manual. Priority Scanning

 

[Gunner_Ed]

Thank you, both! So my choice of talk group ID priority will actually be prioritized over other talk groups only IF the system has prioritized the same IDs.
And conventional systems are not required to prioritize talk groups.

Appreciate the guidance!
/Ed

 

[werinshades]

Thank you, both! So my choice of talk group ID priority will actually be prioritized over other talk groups only IF the system has prioritized the same IDs.
And conventional systems are not required to prioritize talk groups.

Appreciate the guidance!
/Ed

Trunking Priority only works on the system you're monitoring, and only when a transmission is concluded on a non-Priority talkgroup if the scanner detects an active transmission on the Priority talkgroup it will "jump" to it. I use it all the time on my trunking systems.

 

[ofd8001]

Priority "stuff" is confusing.

Priority Scan is applicable only to conventional systems (not TRS). At least one conventional frequency must be accessible to the scanner that is marked as a Priority Channel. (They may be "inaccessible" due to location control, channel/department/system Avoid, etc.). If the scanner can't find a conventional frequency marked as a Priority Channel, it will say something like Priority Channel Not Found. I believe you can press any key to continue scanning - not a fatal error in other words.

If you want priority scanning for a trunked system, which really isn't true priority scanning, you go about that differently. It even has a different name Priority ID Scan.

The Trunked System has to be designated for priority (Priority ID Scan On). Then you also have to mark those desired channels as priority channels, P-Ch on.

Priority ID scan does not interrupt an in-progress transmission to see if there is activity on a priority talkgroup. Only when you are monitoring the control channel will the scanner "jump" to a priority talkgroup. For example, you are holding on Police 1, but the cops are quiet. Fire 1 is active and you have it as a Priority Channel. The scanner will jump off Police 1 to listen to Fire 1.

 

[werinshades]

Priority "stuff" is confusing.

Priority Scan is applicable only to conventional systems (not TRS). At least one conventional frequency must be accessible to the scanner that is marked as a Priority Channel. (They may be "inaccessible" due to location control, channel/department/system Avoid, etc.). If the scanner can't find a conventional frequency marked as a Priority Channel, it will say something like Priority Channel Not Found. I believe you can press any key to continue scanning - not a fatal error in other words.

If you want priority scanning for a trunked system, which really isn't true priority scanning, you go about that differently. It even has a different name Priority ID Scan.

The Trunked System has to be designated for priority (Priority ID Scan On). Then you also have to mark those desired channels as priority channels, P-Ch on.

Priority ID scan does not interrupt an in-progress transmission to see if there is activity on a priority talkgroup. Only when you are monitoring the control channel will the scanner "jump" to a priority talkgroup. For example, you are holding on Police 1, but the cops are quiet. Fire 1 is active and you have it as a Priority Channel. The scanner will jump off Police 1 to listen to Fire 1.

What he said....

 

[Gunner_Ed]

Thanks. I appreciate everyone's response.