TK-863G Scanning Problems

[kenwoodgeek]

Alright, so I purchased a TK-863G unit off of eBay, and I'm programming it up to put in a family member's car.

I've been able to navigate the KPG-76D software for it very well, for the most part, but when it comes to scanning, I'm completely clueless. The scan functions on this radio obviously work very different than every other Kenwood unit I have, and I'm getting frustrated trying to figure it out and match the operation to the other ones.

I have 3 conventional "systems", each with a list of "groups" (I don't know why they aren't just called channels). I have the "SCN" button programmed for scan, and the "D/A" button programmed for scan delete/add.

While I'm in a certain system, I want the radio to only scan the added channels in that system, and I want to be able to pick those channels using the scan add/delete button.

Right now, I have it programmed for "List type system scan", since the other option automatically scans, which I don't want. For some reason, on this option, my D/A button is disabled. When I'm on my first system of frequencies, I can hit the scan button, and the screen will read "Scan 1" and so on for the other systems, but the radio won't actually scan those systems. It will just listen on the first channel in that system, and everything else it will ignore.

I've tried turning group lockout to off on all the frequencies, but that just seems to make the radio scan automatically without the scan even on, which, again, I don't want.

So, is there a way to make it scan like this, and how can I program it to do that?

Thanks in advance.

 

[k9wkj]

are you planning to use it trunked?
if yes i havent a clue
if no...i found each channel must be programmed as a group so you only get 32 channels
dont know if im helpful or not....

 

[kenwoodgeek]

No, just conventional. Thanks for the information.

I think you mean each channel must be programmed as a system, because there are only 32 systems, each with groups in them which are the channels.

Either way, I'm done messing with the thing. I'm just going to not use the scan. Never seen a Kenwood with such weird programming before; this thing is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[k9wkj]

yes thats what i ment
each channel has to be a system
i guess i assumed mine scanned, but UHF is so light around here i never noticed if it worked or not
i have one 863 set on 446.200 as a 1200baud packet node (i got access to a stick at 150ft)
and i have one in a box here waiting for a need
i got them at different times at auction being advertized as a "kenwood cb"
one was $4
the other was $12 but came with a 12 amp astron PS

 

[kenwoodgeek]

Wow, did you get some sweet deals. I love when people advertise stuff having absolutely no idea what they're selling and basically screw themselves by giving the customer an unbelievable deal.

I got this one for $45 a few days ago, and it came in the mail today. It was definitely used in some kind of emergency vehicle, probably a police car or fire truck, and it had a light bar switch box/controller zip tied to the mounting bracket on top.

It was a good deal, being that they usually go for closer to $60.

 

[k9wkj]

maybe i wont tell you about the high power VHF Astro W9 i got for less than $10

or the 2 recapped VHF mid power Spectras and the two TK-830s and the 6 UHF maxtracs and the VHF 32 channel maxtrac I got in a box as trash

or the TK-6110-K2 for $7

and they just keep coming........

 

[kenwoodgeek]

Sweet, I've gotten some free ones, too, haha.

Local school bus company threw out two Kenwood TK-8150 units and one Kenwood NX-800H. Gave them to me. Nothing wrong with them at all.

 

[KK6ZTE]

Use fixed system scan. It'll operate more like a non-trunking Kenwood radio.

This parameter specifies the system Scan Type.

Fixed System Scan :
After the current system (the Revert system when scanning starts) is scanned, the transceiver starts scanning the next system that is not locked out ("System Lockout = No").
If no call is found within a set interval, the transceiver continues to the next added system. The systems for which "System Lockout" is set to "Yes" are not scanned.
A group Scan is performed for systems with groups that have group lockout set to "No".

Note :
System Lockout cannot be set for each system unless "Fix System Scan " is selected for this parameter.
"Scan List" is used instead of "System Lockout" when "Edit/Scan information/Scan Type" is set to "List Type System Scan".

List Type System Scan :
After the transceiver scans the current system (the Revert system when scanning starts), Scan proceeds in accordance with the "System Scan List" of the Revert system. A group scan is performed for each system.

Note :
A Scan List cannot be created for each system unless "List Type System Scan" is selected for this parameter.
"System Lockout" is used instead of "Scan List" when "Edit/Scan information/Scan Type" is set to "Fix System Scan".

Default :
Fixed System Scan

KPG-76D Help

 

[kenwoodgeek]

Thank you for that information, but can the fixed system scan be turned on and off with a button? I don't want it running all the time.

 

[KK6ZTE]

You're the one with the radio, not me. Try it and see. If not, switch it back.

 

[kenwoodgeek]

Alright then, haha. Will do.

 

[ramal121]

This is a LTR trunking based radio, even when used with conventional channels. You've discovered this as the radio is programmed by systems and groups.

Earlier LTR radios only allowed the user to add or delete systems for scan by a button on the front. To change what groups are scanned requires the programming software and select group lockout that way.
No way to change that on a 863.

Now with a TK-X80, it would do the same thing however if you changed the model type from trunking to conventional the radio magically changes to zones and channels and the scan would work more as you would expect it would. The 863 is stuck as a trunking radio so one group per system is the only way to get what you want.

 

[kenwoodgeek]

Got it, thank you very much for that information. I've got it working just the way I want without the scan, so I'll just leave it like that.

I'm glad that was cleared up, haha. I was getting awful frustrated with it yesterday.