The Waris (HT1250, HT1550) Motorola portables will take something like 128 channels (in "zones" of 16 channels per zone).
Each channel can be affiliated with a scan list (i.e., different scan lists for different channels; radio scans the list associated with the "selected" channel).
Each scan list can contain up to 16 members. One member can be "selected," which means that if Scan List A is associated with Channel X, when Channel X is "selected" and scan is invoked, Channel X is temporarily added to the scan list. (In fact, I always program "Selected Channel" as member of all scan lists.)
Each scan list can have up to two priority channels, which are themselves prioritized (i.e., either takes priority over non-priority channels, and Priority Two takes priority over Priority One). Radio can be programmed so that transmission during scan is either (a) on the selected channel (even if scan has "landed" on something else) or (b) on the landed channel (a/k/a "talkback scan"). (I always program transmit steering to "selected channel," otherwise coms on the selected channel can be difficult and unintended transmissions on a "landed" channel will happen.)
Any channel may be programmed for Quik Call (Motorola's name for Type 99 or two-tone signalling). Comes in two modes: Call Alert (like a pager; gives audible/visual indication that radio was paged) or Sel Call (i.e., "voice paging," like a Minitor, in that radio is muted on channel unless and until the QC tones have been received).
That said, if you have radio in scan, then even if the alert channel is in the scan list, the alert is likely not to be received. The reason for that is that two-tone signalling is time sensitive, and entering a QC-programmed channel after the tone sequence has started will fail to meet the QC timing criteria and not be decoded as valid.
(A lot of my clients issue "take home" portables to members. Where a QC system is used for alerting those with "call back" responsibility, that channel is always programmed for "no scan" (as well as "RXO"). Member can leave the radio on all the time, without bothering family with routine dispatch traffic and without the risk that someone will pick it up and press the key. On receipt of a QC, radio will now unmute to all traffic, and members get the message without Dispatch or Fire Alarm having to go to the effort of making phone calls. Works well.)
The Waris portables are not considered "public safety grade," though a lot of public safety agencies have used them with great success. They are comparatively inexpensive (under $1,000 most places). They will send and receive MDC ID.
That said, if you ask my recommendation (and take into account that my purchase recommendations are always for public safety use and usually for fleets of radios), I'd go with either XTS2500 or XTS5000. These are current top of the line radios, will remain a "current product" longer than the Waris portables, can hold a lot more channels (modern systems are gravitating toward channel-heavy "interoperability" channel plans), are capable of modalities to which systems are gravitating, and are more physically robust. Downside is that the radios are more expensive, and some featuers that come standard on Waris portables require extra cost "flash" upgrades on XTS portables.
Sorry for the long answer; I didn't have time to write a short one.
