BCDx36HP analog programming

[peterh1]

Hi all
I have just got a new BCD536hp. It’s taking some getting used to, but I am gradually getting an idea of the programming structure (FL/system/department/programs).
I am only interested in simple analogue frequencies e.g. airband (I am not in USA/Canada). My question is - what is likely to be the best structure to set up for scanning? – at the moment I am thinking to have only one system, and group the frequencies into departments (e.g. by likely communication group), which can then be “avoided” as required, and all this in a single FL. (I understand can make a new FL later from this dataset). I know I would be using only a small subset of the scanner structure possibilities. Does that sound logical? – I just don’t want to waste too much time on this now, as even with sentinel it is quite laborious. (Have watched some youitube videos and searched the forums but many threads seem to concentrate on more complex/digital programming, and even the easier to read manual is mainly about detail, which I am sure I will find very useful later.)
Thanks
Peter
UK

 

[Voyager]

Yes. That's exactly what I would do to organize them.

 

[troymail]

The nice thing about the ability to program the way you want is that if you don't like the way you did it the first time, and you come up with a better idea later (you will), you can create another programming arrangement at any time. A year later and I'm constantly creating new configurations.

Rather than heavy use of Avoid, you might want to put different channels into separate quick keys. While it is easy to hit Avoid, t's much easier to enabled/disable quick keys than to try and re-enable (stop avoiding) individual channels later. Also, upon power cycle, etc. unless you've done a permanent avoid, those channels will return when you power cycle.

Bottom line is there are as many variations as you can imagine.

 

[Voyager]

Rather than heavy use of Avoid, you might want to put different channels into separate quick keys.

I think you meant different Departments. You can't assign Quick Keys to channels.

 

[troymail]

I think you meant different Departments. You can't assign Quick Keys to channels.

Are you sure?

If I create a department with 1 channel in it, I've effectively created a QK for that channel....

 

[Voyager]

I seriously doubt that. I bet you're thinking of Number Keys which you can create for FLs, Systems, and Channels.

 

[troymail]

I seriously doubt that. I bet you're thinking of Number Keys which you can create for FLs, Systems, and Channels.

Let it go

 

[Voyager]

Guess I was right...

I know for a hard fact Quick Keys are only assignable to FLs, Systems, or Departments.

 

[troymail]

Guess again

 

[Voyager]

OK. If you are saying you assigned a Quick Key to a Channel, please list the menu tree so I can do the same.

I know it starts with:
MENU button
MANAGE FAVORITES
select FL
REVIEW/EDIT SYSTEM
select system
EDIT DEPARTMENT
select department
EDIT CHANNEL
select channel

Then what do I select?

 

[Voyager]

Your pics show how to assign a Quick Key to a DEPARTMENT, not a Channel.

 

[troymail]

Your pics show how to assign a Quick Key to a DEPARTMENT, not a Channel.

Yes exactly. You can create a department with one channel in it and effectively assign a QK to a single channel. Why is this so hard for you to understand?

 

[Voyager]

Because you are not assigning the Quick Key to the channel - you are assigning it to the Department. Why is THAT so hard to admit?

As for a setup which uses one Channel per Department, that is very inefficient and limits you to 100 channels in your System.