Scanning Saved Frequencies
One common use for the IC–PCR1000 is as a scanner, repeatedly sampling a list of known frequencies for activity, and pausing to listen to active channels. MacR–1000 works with the lists you make from the frequency library to make your PCR1000 into a powerful scanner with unlimited memories.
In MacR–1000, “scanning” refers only to rapidly tuning through a pre-specified list of frequencies. This is distinct from rapidly tuning through a continuous band of frequencies, looking for any activity, which MacR–1000 calls “searching.”
To scan, open the Library window using the Library command in the File menu, or by pressing ⌘–L. Select a frequency list, or construct a new list by pressing the + button and dragging entries into it from the All Frequencies list.
![[Scan buttons in the Library toolbar]](ScanButtons.png)
If you want to scan only some of the frequencies in the list, use the check box found at the left of each entry. Only checked items will be scanned. You can check or uncheck all the entries in the displayed list by clicking the button with the checked or empty box (respectively) in the Library window’s toolbar.
To begin scanning, just press the Scan button in the Library toolbar. The button will stay depressed to indicate that scanning is in effect. MacR–1000 will tune to each checked frequency in the list for as long as it takes to detect a signal and resolve squelch issues, and will pause whenever a signal that breaks squelch is found.
The nature of the pause when a signal is detected is determined by your setting in the Preferences pane.
- You can listen to the frequency so long as it’s active, but no more than a set time limit. When that time limit expires, the scan resumes. Select Pause for a period of:, and choose a time limit, for this option.
- You can listen to the frequency as long as it is active. If it becomes inactive (as when one station stops transmitting and another takes a second or two to reply), MacR–1000 waits a set period of time for activity to resume. If that period expires with no new activity, scanning resumes at the next frequency on the list. To use this option, select Wait for a silence of: and choose a time limit for the wait.
You can examine other frequency lists while a scan is in progress. This will not disrupt the scan of the list that was visible when the Scan button was pressed. Any changes you make to the list being scanned will take effect immediately, during the scan.