If I download a conventional system such as a statewide system should i avoid all channels/frequencies that are to far away to recieve? Will it speed up my scanning or due to not being close enough it nulls them? I know there is a location control as well but if I do not use that control? I am using the 536 as a base station so avoiding the channels that to far to receive won't bother me currently but I will be taking it mobile soon. Once I do this I would rather not be flipping back and fourth with avoiding/enabling channels every time I decide to use it for a few days as a base then back to mobile.
Once I get the gps unit I would set all systems to location control and leave them on?
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If the conventional system has departments that are "regional" and they have locations established (the Maryland State Police for example does), then I'd be inclined to download the whole system and set the location control to on, even at home.
You've probably set your home location by entering a zip code in your scanner. Thus your scanner will put those departments (thus associated channels) that are beyond range of your current location in an "avoid" condition (saving you the effort of doing that).
I'm in somewhat of a similar situation with the Kentucky State Police. I've found that my scanner will "avoid" the KSP locations that are too far away from my home to be received if I set the location control to on. If I set the location control to off, then it scans everything.
Your scanner does "location control" even without a GPS unit attached. When entering a zip code, you are telling your scanner where it is. All a GPS unit does is override the location setting you've entered. So it's kinda like having two "location control modes". One is a "manual location control", which is done by entering zip codes. The other is "automatic location control" where a GPS changes location as you move about.