I am new to scanners and want to get a hp-1 unit. The manual seems to indicate you can listen to a favorites list. Does that mean it monitors all the channels in that list and plays if something is transmitted on one of the channels? Is there a way to set priorities in case there is simultaneous activity on multiple channels?
Hi gtscee
Welcome to Radio Reference.
With the HP-1, you can set your listening preferences (various service types for fire, PD, EMS, & other classifications), a range (the distance "outward" from your location that interests you), then enter your zip code, or city name. The scanner will then create a Favorites list of all frequencies & trunked systems (with their talkgroups) that matched the service types you selected. It will pickup any system or frequency whose transmit range overlaps with the range you selected.
Once that list is created, you can scan it. That will take a very few minutes (say 5 or so). Or, using the Sentinel software (included with the scanner), you can append frequencies or trunked systems, that are in the RadioReference database, to your favorites list. Using the software, you can also manually add frequencies that are not currently in the database.
The HP-1 does not have a "priority" feature. However, you can easily hold on a single conventional channel (or talkgroup), or on a "department (say, for a city, the database has it divided in Police Department & Fire Department), or hold on a specific "system" (like everything in a given city- all departments, or a county, or a trunked system).
You also have a "Replay button" to review the last xxx seconds of audio (the length is selectable (in set increments) from 30 seconds to 240 seconds (4 minutes). Or, you can simply record everything to review later.
