Easier to Read SDS100/200 Digital Scanner Manual

Uniden has finally produced a scanner with a readable and informative display - the SDS200. The ability to customize the information to see just what you want to is even better. The SDS100, handheld brother, has the same display format, just smaller and narrower. It also uses a battery pack instead of AA batteries.

The newer SDS100/200 models are basically programmed and work the same way as the 436/536 models with a few extra features. Basically the guts of the X36HP series with new features like 'Filters' for fine tuning reception issues. The True I/Q™ Receiver is supposed to be the best at 'simulcast and weak-signal environments' with 'improved digital performance in challenging RF environments'. A bigger and more informative, customizable display, a new "I/Q receiver that captures the complete signal waveform in 3 dimensions, allowing for improved error correction and digital signal recovery", "additional countermeasures to help in strong signal areas" that include "Wide Normal", "Wide Invert" and "Wide Auto" filter options for FM performance improvement, and optional (paid) upgrades that add multiple types of NXDN and DMR/MotoTRBO trunking, and EDACS ProVoice decoding.

The SDS200 also has a USB A port and a LAN port for direct Ethernet connectivity for streaming and control. The hand-held SDS100 uses a new Lithium Ion battery pack and has a water resistant case.

You can scan up to 256 Favorites Lists (but there are only 100 Quick Keys-available once for each Favorites List) along with, or just the database. The complete Radio Reference Database for the US and Canada is included on a 4 GB micro SD card with locations programmed so you don't need a GPS unit to scan by location. The included Sentinel software has been updated to accommodate the two new models.

For those of you who are new to trunking or haven't had a scanner in the last 10 years it is a good idea to read the respective sections on those topics. You really have to know how trunking works in order to program a trunking system. It won't do you any good to try to program a trunking system unless you know what the radio needs and is going to do with the data (control channel, IDs, LCN order, etc.).

You will also need a better antenna as the stock antennas aren't fabulous. Scanner Master has a large selection of quality antennas.

There are optional upgrades (for each scanner) that add multiple types of NXDN and DMR/MotoTRBO trunking, and EDACS ProVoice decoding.

And, thanks to the many people who have posted their valuable insight on the Radio Reference Forums and Yahoo groups.

Enjoy.

Main Features

Contents

Bigger, Customizable Display - Allows you to select the information you want to see in colors.

True I/Q™ Receiver – Designed to improve digital performance in even the most challenging RF environments. An I/Q receiver captures the complete signal waveform in 3 dimensions, allowing for improved digital error correction and signal recovery.

No Programming Required - Factory programmed micro SD card for all known radio systems in the US and Canada. The database is updatable with the included Sentinel software and Radio Reference updates the main database weekly.

Scan by Location - Allows you to set location(s) by zip/postal code or GPS coordinates for instant reception. The Auto-locate feature will find your location based on local trunked systems if you don’t know your zip code.

Favorites Scan - Allows you to organize your Systems into Favorites Lists. The scanner can scan multiple Favorites Lists and the Full Database at the same time.

micro SD card - For storing Favorites Lists, Profiles, all of your settings, Discovery sessions, and recording sessions.

Location Based Scanning - Connect to a GPS receiver (not included) for precise system selection and continuing reselection when you travel. The scanner can automatically Avoid and Unavoid Trunked Sites and Departments in Systems based on your current location as provided by an external GPS unit.

Range Control - Lets you set how far out from your current location the scanner will search for Channels in Favorites Lists and the Database. Location precision for Departments and Sites that allows you to define a location and range using rectangles instead just of a single circle.

Trunk Tracker X Operation - Scans APCO 25 Phase 1 and Phase 2, X2-TDMA, Motorola, EDACS, (EDACS Provoice, with $50 upgrade key), and LTR Standard trunked systems, as well as conventional analog and P25 digital channels. Conventional Digital Mobile Radio (DMR), MotoTRBO Capacity Plus, and MotoTRBO Connect Plus Trunked Radio Systems are also available with a paid upgrade key.

APCO 25 Phase I and Phase II Support - Allows you to receive transmissions with these decoding protocols.

Multi-Site Trunking - Lets you program the scanner to share trunked system IDs across multiple sites without duplicating IDs.

P25 One-Frequency Trunking - The scanner can follow individual talk groups on P25 single-frequency systems that use both NAC and TGID’s for squelch control and user identification.

Control Channel Only Scanning - With Motorola trunking frequencies, you do not have to program voice channel frequencies.

Instant Replay - Plays back up to 240 seconds (4 minutes) of the most recent transmissions.

Audio Recording - Capture transmissions for later playback.

Encryption Muting - APCO P25 encrypted voice is muted automatically.

Custom Alerts - You can program your scanner to alert when you receive, a Channel or Unit ID, a Close Call hit, an ID is transmitted with an Emergency Alert, or a Tone-Out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, 15 volume settings, 7 LED colors, and 3 flash patterns.

Multicolor LED Alert - The alert LED with 7 colors, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow, or White, can be used with your Custom Alerts.

Trunking Discovery - Monitors system traffic on a trunked radio system to find unknown IDs and can automatically record audio from and log new channels for later review and identification.

Conventional Discovery - Searches a range of frequencies to find unknown frequencies and can automatically record audio from and log new channels for later review and identification.

Scan by Service Types – Scan your channels by Service Type i.e. Fire, Police, Railroad, etc.

Analyze Mode - Has a system status graph and a LCN channel finder similar to those features found on the HomePatrol 1/2.

Scan Speed – 85 channels per second.

Search Speed – 80 steps/sec. except for 5 kHz steps. 250 step/sec. for 5 kHz steps.

Multi-Level Display and Keypad light - Makes the display and keypad easy to see in dim light with three light levels.

Temporary or Permanent Avoid - For Systems, Sites, Departments, Channels, Search Frequencies, Close Call hits, and Search with Scan Departments.

System/Channel Number Tagging - Number tags allow you to quickly navigate to a specific Favorites List, System, or Channel.

Start-up Configuration - You can program each of your Favorites Lists with a Startup Key (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those Favorites Lists assigned to the key will be enabled for scan.

Close Call© RF Capture Technology - Lets you set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions. Close Call Do-not-Disturb checks for Close Call activity in between channel reception so active channels are not interrupted.

Broadcast Screen - Allows the scanner to ignore hits on known broadcast frequencies including pager frequencies in search and Close Call modes. You can also program up to 10 custom frequency ranges that the scanner will ignore.

Fire Tone-Out Standby/Tone Search - Lets you set the scanner to alert you if a two-tone sequential page is transmitted. You can set up to 32 Tone-Outs. The scanner will also search and display unknown tones.

PC Programming – Use the included Sentinel software to manage your scanners Profiles, Favorites Lists, Databases, and firmware updates.

Priority/Priority DND Scan - Priority channels let you keep track of activity on your most important channels while monitoring other channels for transmissions. Priority DND checks priority channels only between transmissions.

Priority ID Scan - Allows you to set priority to talkgroup IDs.

Intermediate Frequency Exchange - Changes the IF used for a selected channel/frequency to help avoid image and other mixer-product interference on a frequency.

Individual Channel Volume Offset - Allows you to adjust the volume offset for each Favorites List channel.

Configurable Band Defaults - Allows you to set the step (5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz) and modulation (AM, FM, NFM, WFM, or FMB) for 31 different bands.

Repeater Find - Allows the scanner to try to switch to the repeater frequency if an input frequency is found.

Adjustable Scan/Search Delay/Resume - Set a delay up to 30 seconds or a forced resume up to 10 seconds for each channel or search.

Data Naming - Allows you to name each Favorites List, System, Site, Department, Channel, ID, Location, Custom Search, and SAME group, using up to 64 characters.

Duplicate Input Alert - Alerts you if you try to enter a duplicate name or frequency already stored in the scanner.

Quick Keys - You can assign up to 100 Quick Keys for each of your Favorites Lists, Systems, and Departments or Sites.

10 Custom Searches - Lets you program up to 10 custom search ranges.

Search Avoids - You can temporarily Avoid up to 250 frequencies and permanently Avoid up to 250 frequencies in any Search Mode or Close Call Mode.

Search with Scan Operation - Lets you include Custom Search ranges during scan operation.

3 Search Keys - You can assign 3 of the number keys to start a Custom Search, Close Call, or Tone-Out Search.

micro USB Port - For audio streaming, raw data output, and serial control modes in future software from 3rd party developers.

USB Type-A Port (SDS200 only) - For audio streaming, raw data output, and serial control modes in future software from 3rd party developers.

LAN Port (SDS200 only) - Direct Ethernet connectivity for streaming and control.

Quick Search - Allows you to start searching at the displayed frequency, or enter a frequency and start searching.

SAME Weather Alert/Priority - Lets your scanner alert you when a SAME weather alert is transmitted on a NOAA weather channel. You can also set a weather channel as a priority channel.

Built-in Battery Charger (SDS100 only) - Allows you to charge the battery pack in the scanner.

DIN-E and ISO Vehicle Mountable (SDS200 only) - Using the optional DIN-E sleeve or a standard ISO technique, the scanner can be easily mounted in most vehicles.

Understanding CTCSS/DCS/NAC

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Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) are two methods used to prevent interference by other radio communications. Your scanner can receive transmissions that use these codes (or more commonly referred to as tone codes).

CTCSS and DCS systems all use some form of coded squelch. Coded squelch techniques involve the transmission of a special 'code' signal along with the audio of a radio transmission. A receiver with coded squelch only activates when the received signal has the correct 'code'. This lets many users share a single frequency, and decreases interference caused by distant transmitters on the same channel. In all major metropolitan areas of the United States, every available radio channel is assigned to more than one user.

Public safety radio systems on the same frequency are usually set up at a distance of 40 miles apart, or more. This means that you may hear transmissions from a distant system when your local system is not transmitting. By programming the CTCSS tone for a local channel the scanner will not stop on transmissions from the distant system. With few exceptions, such as the VHF Aircraft and Marine bands, almost every other VHF or UHF radio system uses some form of coded squelch. By far, CTCSS is the most popular mode among non-trunked systems.

NAC, similar to CTCSS/DCS, has a 3 digit hexadecimal code that is broadcast along with the digital signal being transmitted. See also the Appendix for a chart.

For more information visit Radio Reference's respective pages on CTCSS, DCS, and NAC.

Understanding Trunking

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Trunking systems let a large group of 2-way radio users (or even different groups of 2-way radio users) efficiently use a set of frequencies. Instead of selecting a specific frequency for a transmission, the user’s radio selects a programmed trunking bank in the system when that user presses their PTT (push to talk) button. The trunking system automatically transmits the call on the first available frequency, and also sends (on a different frequency called a Data or Control channel) a code that uniquely identifies that transmission as a talkgroup ID (or just ID). So when you are trunktracking a system, you are listening to active IDs transmitting in the system (each using the first available frequency in the system). Trunking systems in general allocate and use fewer frequencies among many different users.

Since the trunking system might send a call and its response on different frequencies, it is difficult to listen to trunked communications using a conventional scanner.
These scanners let you monitor the control channel frequency so you can hear calls and responses for users and more easily "follow" conversations than with a conventional scanner.
RadioReference.com has an excellent page explaining the various types of trunking systems in more detail here.

Some systems covering a very large geographic area use multiple antenna sites that each operate on different frequencies and use the same talkgroup IDs for traffic. Each site will have its own set of trunking frequencies and is monitored like a single system. Each site can have its own quick key, so you can turn each individual site on or off (only) while you scan. Program your talkgroups into departments within that system and all talkgroups in the system are available to every site so they don't have to be reprogrammed for each site. Since all sites share all the talkgroups within the system, multi-site trunking is much more efficient than programming each site as a separate system.

These trunking scanners trunktrack the following types of systems:

DMR - Digital Mobile Radio (with DMR key)
MotoTRBO Capacity Plus (with DMR key)
MotoTRBO Connect Plus (with DMR key)
Hytera XPT (with DMR key)
Motorola Type I
Motorola Type II
Motorola Type IIi Hybrid
Motorola Type II Smartnet
Motorola Type II Smartzone
Motorola Type II Smartzone Omnilink Motorola Type II VOC
LTR Standard

P25 Standard
P25 X2-TDMA
P25 Phase I and Phase II
EDACS ESK
EDACS Standard (Wide)
EDACS Narrowband (Narrow)
EDACS Networked (Wide/Narrow)
EDACS Provoice (with Provoice key)
NXDN-Nexedge (with NXDN key)
NXDN-IDAS (with NXDN key)

	Motorola Systems/EDACS Systems	NXDN Systems
	LTR Systems	Understanding Multi-Site Trunking
	DMR/MotoTRBO/Hytera Systems	ID Formats/Types

Motorola/P25 and EDACS use a control (or data) channel, and voice channels shared by all the users. There may be 3 or 4 frequencies assigned as (primary or alternate) control channels but only one control channel will be active at a time. These scanners will allow you to program just Motorola/P25 control channels into the trunking system and the voice channels will automatically be found.
EDACS systems need all the frequencies for the system programmed and in the correct LCN (Logical Channel Number) order.

Motorola and EDACS systems can be either analog, digital, or mixed (digital and analog talkgroups).
Mixed Motorola systems should be programmed as Motorola systems and not P25 digital systems.
That way the channel options will allow you to select if it is digital or analog.

Motorola systems are limited to a maximum of 28 frequencies per system or site.
Ericsson EDACS systems are limited to 25 frequencies per system or site.

LTR systems work a little differently. LTR systems typically do not have a dedicated control channel. This type of system encodes all trunking information as digital sub-audible data that accompanies each transmission. The frequencies also have to be in LCN (Logical Channel Number) order or the correct 'slot' for the system to trunktrack properly. Each repeater has its own controller, and all of these controllers are synchronized together. Even though each controller monitors its own channel, one of the channel controllers is assigned to be a master that all controllers report to. Each of these controllers sends out a data burst approximately every 10 seconds so that the subscriber units know that the system is there. This data burst is not sent at the same time by all the channels, but happens randomly throughout all the system channels. LTR systems are limited to 20 frequencies per system.

Contents

Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) is a TDMA mode that has two voice (or data) paths per frequency. Each frequency has slot 1 and slot 2, and each can be used by different users. All DMR frequencies use Color Codes from 0 to 15 that are similar to CTCSS. All the frequencies for a site will have the same color. Each transmitter can have only one color code. Con+ and Cap+ systems can use different color codes on different frequencies. TGIDs are used with all DMR flavors. Encryption or scrambling may also be used.
Radio Reference has a more detailed page on DMR.
See also DMR and MOTOTRBO Tips for the BCDx36HP and SDS Scanners.

DMR has 3 Tiers of operation: Tier I for non-licensed conventional, Tier II for licensed conventional, and Tier III for trunking.
Each frequency in a site can be tied to a specific color code (i.e. if that frequency is used by two or more transmitters "in range").
Digital Mobile Radio basically has 6 different flavors.

Conventional Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) single site digital conventional frequency with low traffic.
The number of time slots used will determine if it is simplex or duplex.
Adding repeaters can increase coverage and expand capacity to up to 200 users per repeater.

Internet Protocol Site Connect (DMR) still conventional, but uses the Internet to extend system coverage.
They may have up to 15 low traffic sites with up to 200 users per site.
They operate exactly like Repeated Conventional except that there is a 2-second burst that is transmitted every 30 seconds.

Capacity Plus single-site MotoTRBO digital trunking may have as many as 1200 radio users.
There is a data burst that occurs every 3 to 10 seconds.
The color code is assigned per LCN and need not be the same for all frequencies.

Linked Capacity Plus is a trunked multi-site multi-channel configuration of MotoTRBO, which combines both the Capacity Plus and IP Site Connect configurations.
MotoTRBO trunks the logical channels of multiple MotoTRBO repeaters at multiple locations and combines the logical channels into one logical channel.
This allows radios to share the logical channels and increase the RF coverage area of a MOTOTRBO system. LCP allows up to 15 sites in a system.
Each site can have up to 6 trunked repeaters (12 logical channels) and 3 Data Revert repeaters (6 logical channels) per site.
They can handle up to 1200 users per site across 3 sites or up to 600 users per site across 15 sites.

Capacity Max Is like Linked Capacity Plus with enhanced features like priority and call queuing.
Each site can support up to 15 repeaters with up to 3,000 users per site.
Capacity Max offers a very smooth migration path from Linked Capacity Plus via software upgrades to repeaters and radios.
It also offers a good migration path for existing MPT1327 analogue trunked systems.

Connect Plus uses a dedicated control channel that transmits continuously and sends LCN and time slot information for channel.
They can support up to 250 sites, 420 repeaters, and up to15 repeaters with 2000 users per site.
There can be many linked sites in this system type and there are many multi-dozen site systems.

Hytera is basically an upgrade for Tier II without having to invest in Tier III equipment. A single XPT system can support up to eight repeaters at one site and provide up to 16 traffic channels, supporting up to 1,200 users. Each channel can be customized for voice or data. See also DMR XPT ‘Pseudo-Trunking’ explained.

NXDN (Next Generation Digital Narrowband) trunking is divided into Type-C and Type-D systems. See also NXDN at RadioReference.com.
Kenwood's brand for NXDN equipment (Type-C) is "NexEdge", while Icom's brand for NXDN equipment (Type-D) is "IDAS", or Icom Digital Advanced System.

Type-C (centralized control) systems work like Motorola system whereas they have a control channel and use decimal IDs.
A Radio Access Number (RAN) is used to identify sites. See also Understanding NexEdge Trunking on RadioReference.com.

Type-D (decentralized control) systems work a little like LTR systems and do not have a dedicated control channel.

Understanding Multi-Site Trunking

Some systems covering a very large geographic area use multiple antenna sites that each operate on different frequencies and use the same talkgroup IDs for traffic. Each site will have its own set of trunking frequencies and is monitored like a single system within a system and can also be assigned to a quick key. Since all sites share all the talkgroups within the system, multi-site trunking is easier to program than programming each site as a separate system.

Each site can also be programmed as a separate system and given a quick key, if preferred, so you can turn each individual site on or off while you scan but you will have to program the IDs for each site. This way you don't have to worry about the scanner finding one control channel in only one site and missing traffic on other sites.

ID Formats

Motorola IDs come in two formats: Type I and Type II. Each format displays and uses Talk Group IDs in slightly different ways. Type I/II hybrid systems use both Type I and Type II formats for Talk Group IDs.

Type I IDs are in the format BFF-SS where B is the block, FF is the fleet, and SS is the sub-fleet. Type I systems are usually organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets. For example, a valid fleet/sub-fleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department might be 000-12, where 000 identifies all police IDs and 12 identifies the Detective division. To properly trunk a Type I system, you have to program the fleet map for the system.

Type II IDs are identified by a 5-digit number.

EDACS IDs come in two formats: AFS (Agency-Fleet-Sub-fleet) and Decimal.

AFS IDs are in the form AA-FFS where AA is the agency, FF is the fleet, and S is the sub-fleet. EDACS systems are organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets and agencies. For example, a valid agency/fleet/sub-fleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department in an agency might be 06-101, where 06 identifies the agency (Police), 10 identifies the Police division (East side), and 1 identifies the Detective division.

Decimal IDs are shown as a decimal number from 0 to 2047.

You can find a chart showing Decimal and AFS equivalents here: Conversion Chart.

LTR IDs are in the format A-HH-UUU where A is the area code (0 or 1), HH is the home repeater (01-20), and UUU is the user ID (000-254).

DMR IDs are shown as 5 to (usually) 7 digit decimal numbers.

The first three digits designating the country, the fourth digit designates the province/state/region and the last three digits designate the user.

NXDN IDs come in two formats: NexEdge and IDAS.

Type-C IDs (NexEdge) are shown as a decimal number from 1 to 65519.

Type-D IDs (IDAS) are in the format HH-UUUU where HH is the home repeater (01-30), and UUUU is the user ID (0001-2000).

Understanding the Memory

Contents

All of the information contained in the scanner is stored on a micro SD card supplied with the scanner.
This includes Profiles, Favorites Lists, all the radio settings, and the Radio Reference database.

Profiles
A Profile is a group of settings that includes your Favorites List settings (download/monitor status, quick key status), location information (zip code, any saved locations, location range, GPS options), Service Type selections, Search and Close Call settings, weather settings, Tone-Out settings, and all your basic radio settings (display options, replay options, etc.).

The first time you use the scanner to set a location you will start to setup a profile. Only one profile at a time can be used in the scanner. You can create multiple profiles for different locations, Favorites List selection, or scanning preferences. The Sentinel software allows you to download your profile from the scanner, edit, save, and create new profiles to upload them back to the scanner.

Profiles also hold your Favorites Lists settings (not the actual lists) for monitoring and uploading to the scanner. If you delete a profile (in the software), your Favorites Lists will still be there. When you create a new profile, you can select which Favorites Lists will be associated (enabled or disabled) with the new profile.

Favorites Lists
Because the memory is based on the Radio Reference database we now have a different order of organization not like banks and channels in traditional scanners, but more like Dynamic Memory Architecture. You can now use Favorites Lists that follow RR database structure of Systems that contain Departments that hold the Channels (conventional frequencies or IDs) and then there are Sites to hold just the trunking frequencies, which generate the IDs.

Favorites Lists will allow you to store channels you find when you are scanning from the Full Database (the easiest way). They can contain channels from trunking systems and conventional systems. You can also manually add systems, (not single sites), departments and channels into Favorites Lists from the database as well as program new systems, departments, sites, and channels with the Sentinel software.

You can save up to 256 different lists in the scanner (and software) and associate them with any or all of your profiles. You can monitor one or more lists at a time and/or the Full Database. You can also export you lists to a file to share them. Deleting a profile will not delete the lists associated with a profile. However, deleting a Favorites List will delete it from all profiles.

Systems
Systems will hold all of your Sites, Departments, and Channels.

Departments
Departments are also created inside systems. Departments hold frequencies (channels) for conventional systems and IDs (also called channels) for trunked systems. Departments are typically used for the various Agencies that you listen to within a system. If you are familiar with DMA (Dynamic Memory Architecture) scanners, think of departments as being like 'channel groups'.

Trunking Sites
Inside systems are trunked sites hold the trunking frequencies for any trunking system and any band plan information needed. You will need at least one site for each trunked system and some systems can have several sites.

Understanding Quick Keys

Contents

Organizing your Quick Keys will be part of the planning. You will have to figure out which QKs to assign to your Favorites Lists, Systems, Departments, and Sites so you can scan them without a table of contents and with some sort of logic you can remember. Enabling/disabling QKs is not the same thing as Avoiding or Unavoiding Favorites Lists, Systems, Department and Sites.

Favorites List Quick Keys (FLQK)
Favorites Lists Quick Keys are used to enable or disable Favorites Lists for scanning. They are just the number keys on the scanner but once assigned to a Favorites List they become the QKs. Your Favorites Lists hold your Systems that also may have System QKs assigned to those Systems. Selecting a Favorites List will enable all (Unavoided) Systems in that list for scanning. Favorites List QKs can only be assigned once to any one Favorites List. If you don’t assign a QK to a list, it will always be enabled.
There are 100 Favorites List QKs (0-99) to use for your Favorites Lists.

System Quick Keys (SQK)
System Quick Keys are used to enable or disable conventional and trunking systems for scanning. You can assign any QK to one or more Systems, or program one or more systems with no QK assigned that will always be scanned unless you Avoid it. There are also 100 System QKs (0-99) to use for your Systems.

Department/Site Quick Keys (DQK)
You now also have 100 Department or Site QKs to assign to your Sites and/or Departments within your Systems. You can assign any QK to one or more Departments or Sites, or program one or more Department or Site with no QK assigned that will always be scanned unless you Avoid it. If you are going to be using some keys for Departments and some for Sites, you may want to do something like start numbering your sites at 50 so you don't mix them up with your departments.

Advice: Assigning a QK to a FL is a good idea but don't go overboard and assign QKs to all your 40 Systems, 125 Departments, and 300 Sites if you don't need to. Only assign QKs to what you may want to turn on or off. If you are always going to scan a Department or Site, leave it at the default (no QK) which will always enable it for scan. Using locations along with Location Control can also turn Departments or Sites on and off. If you are still bent on shutting stuff on and off, try creating a FL for some stuff on, and another for some stuff off. There's plenty of room on the SD card. To sum it up, don't make QKs any more complicated than they have to be.
See also Scanning Order for QK scanning order.

Search Quick Keys
You can assign any Search QKs (SRCH1, SRCH2, or SRCH3) to any (1) Custom Search, Tone-Out Search, or Close Call Only Search for quick access to your favorite searches.

Connecting the USB Cable

Contents

Turn on the scanner. When you connect the mini USB cable to the scanner ("Charge" port) and then to a USB port on your computer you will see "USB Cable Detected Select USB Mode" - "Mass Storage = "E" or Serial Port = ".".
Press E/yes to use Mass Storage mode for connection to the Sentinel software, database updates, firmware updates, and for reviewing Discovery sessions and recordings.
Windows should install drivers needed to read the SD card like an external drive and can be viewed in Windows/File Explorer.

Press .no when serial mode will be used for audio streaming, raw data output, and serial control modes in future software from 3rd party developers.
See also this post about connecting to the SDS200. Also Putting the SDS200 on wifi?

The mini USB cable or a micro USB cable can also be used to power the SDS100 with or without the battery pack. Plug the USB cable into the SDS100.
Press and hold the power button to turn on the scanner. Press .no when prompted to select "Serial Port".

Note: Remember to turn the scanner off before unplugging the USB cable so the scanner can write to the card before it shuts off.

Charging the Battery Pack (SDS100 only)

You can power the scanner by using the micro USB or a mini USB connector, but only the mini connector can be used for charging. You charge the scanner’s battery by connecting the scanner’s USB mini connector ("Charge" port) to a USB power source and powering off the scanner. The power source must be rated 1A or higher to charge at a full rate. It takes about 16 hours to fully charge the scanner with the 2000ma AC adapter supplied. If you connect to a PC or other lower-power USB source, charging will take longer or may not even charge at all. The red charging LED will appear to the right of the alert LED during charging and turn green when complete when the scanner is off.

The radio will charge and scan at the same time only with an adapter rated at 1000ma or more to prevent battery drain during operation.

Note: If the scanner gets too hot while charging, charging automatically stops.

Turning on the Scanner

Contents

(SDS100 ) Press and hold for about 2 seconds. If the screen is too dark, press to turn on the backlight. Rotate the scroll control clockwise and set the volume to around 10 o’clock. Press the scroll control to display the volume level. Turn the scroll control (within 10 seconds) to adjust the volume.

Press the scroll control again to close the volume level (or let it disappear after 10 seconds). Press Func then press the scroll control to display the squelch level.
Turn the scroll control counter-clockwise all the way then clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more. Press the scroll control again to close the squelch level.

(SDS200) Rotate VOL clockwise and set the volume to around 10 o’clock. Rotate the SQ knob counter-clockwise all the way, and then rotate the VOL knob to find a comfortable volume level. Rotate the SQ clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more.

The first time you turn on your scanner it will prompt you to set the clock. See Setting the Clock.

Note: Both of these scanners have a Real Time Clock (RTC) onboard powered by an internal battery. The internal battery will charge only when the scanner is powered on. It takes about 50 hours to trickle charge the internal battery up to a full charge, which will last for over a week. If the internal battery is depleted, you'll be prompted to enter the time upon power-up.

To begin scanning right away, press the Zip button to select your country and zip/postal code (See Data Naming to enter postcode).
The scanner will load channels for your area from the database and start scanning.

Navigating the Menus

Contents

The Menu knob lets you select options to set up and use the scanner. To select a menu item, press the Squelch/Menu knob and rotate the scroll control.
The currently-selected menu item is highlighted and reversed in the display. When the menu item you want to select is highlighted, press E/yes or the scroll control to select it.
To back up a level, press Menu.
To exit all menus and return to the previous mode press Avoid.

Data Naming

Contents

Name any Favorites List, System, Site, Department, Channel, Location, Custom Search, Recording Session, Tone-Out, or SAME group with up to 64 characters.

To Enter a Character, turn the scroll control to select the character you want.

Characters

Characters for a File/Folder Name are as follows: “A-Z, a-z, 0-9, _()-space“

and...
Recordings sessions, Discovery sessions/runs.

Characters for a Name Tag are as follows: “A-Z, a-z, 0-9, [\]^_`{|}~!”#$%&’()*+,-./:;<=>?@space “

Edit FL, Channel, Department, Site, System.
Edit Custom Menu.
Edit Location.
Edit Tone-Out.
Edit Review WX Alerts.
Edit Unit IDs.
Program SAME.

Key Operations

Contents

SDS100 only...

Power/Backlight	Press and hold to turn the scanner on or off.
	Press to toggle the backlight.
	Press Func then to use the key lock.

Scroll Control Vol,Squelch	Press then turn to adjust volume level in Scan Mode.
	Press to view battery level.
	Press Func then Vol turn to adjust the squelch.
	Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode.
	Turn to select characters with Data Naming.
	Turn to select Scan/Search direction and to continue Scan/Search in Scan/Search Modes.
	Turn to scroll Channels or Frequencies in Hold Modes.
	Turn in Department Pause to scroll Departments.
	Turn in System Pause to scroll Systems.
	Turn in Site Pause to scroll Sites in current system.
	Turn in Search Pause to select Custom Searches to enable in Search Mode.
	Turn to select next or previous recording in Replay Mode.
	Turn to resume Close Call Search in Close Call Only Mode.
	Turn to start a Quick Search in Close Call Hold Mode.
	Turn to select next Weather Channel in Weather Scan.
	Turn to select Tone-Outs in Tone-out Standby Mode.

Side Menu Button	Press to enter Menu Mode.
	Press to return one level in Menu Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Search Menu in Search Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Close Call Menu in Close Call Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Weather Menu in Weather Scan.
	Press Func then Menu for Waterfall Menu in Waterfall Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Tone-out Menu in Tone-out Standby/Search Mode.

Side Function Button

Press to enter Function Mode for 3 seconds.

SDS200 only...

Power/VOL/ Backlight	Turns the scanner on/off and adjusts the volume.
Power/VOL/ Backlight	Press to toggle backlight dimmer.
Squelch/Menu	Turn to adjust the squelch.
	Press to enter Menu Mode.
	Press to return one level in Menu Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Search Menu in Search Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Close Call Menu in Close Call Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Weather Menu/Weather Alert in Weather Scan.
	Press Func then Menu for Waterfall Menu in Waterfall Mode.
	Press Func then Menu for Tone-out Menu in Tone-out Standby/Search Mode.
Scroll Control/ Function	Press to enter Function Mode for 3 seconds.
	Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode.
	Turn to select a menu item in Menu Mode.
	Turn to select characters with Data Naming.
	Turn to select Scan/Search direction and to continue Scan/Search in Scan/Search Modes.
	Turn to scroll Channels or Frequencies in Hold Modes.
	Turn in Department Pause to scroll Departments.
	Turn in System Pause to scroll Systems.
	Turn in Site Pause to scroll Sites in current System.
	Turn in Search Pause to select Custom Searches to enable in Search Mode.
	Turn to select next/previous recording in Replay Mode.
	Turn to resume Close Call search in Close Call Only Mode.
	Turn to start a Quick Search in Close Call Hold Mode.
	Turn to select next Weather Channel in Weather Scan.
	Turn to select Tone-Outs in Tone-out Standby/Search Mode.

SDS100 and SDS200

Soft Key 1	Press to enter System Pause for 2 seconds then hold on a System in Scan Mode.
	Double Press System for hold without pause in Scan Mode.
	Double Press to release System Hold.
	Press to enter Search Pause for 2 seconds then hold on a Search in Search Mode.
	Double Press for Search Hold without pause in Search Mode.
	Press to release Search Hold.

Soft key 2	Press to enter Department Pause for 2 seconds then hold on a Department in Scan Mode.
	Double Press Department for hold without pause in Scan Mode.
	Double Press to release Department Hold.
	Press to enter Search Pause for 2 seconds then hold on a Search in Search Mode.
	Double Press for Search Hold without pause in Search Mode.
	Press to release Search Hold.
	Press Func then Department to hold/release Site in Scan Mode.

Soft Key 3	Press to hold/release a Channel, Frequency, CC hit, or Tone-Out.
	Press Func then Channel to toggle Modulation for Channel, Site, or Search, in Hold Modes.
	Press to pause in Replay Mode.

Number Keys	Press to select Favorites Lists in Scan Mode.
	Press 0-9 to use Direct Entry in Hold Modes.
	Press 0-9 to toggle custom searches on or off in Search Mode.
	Press 0-6 to toggle Close Call bands on or off in Close Call Only Mode.
	Press Func then 1, 2, or 3 to enable search keys in Scan Hold Mode.
	Press <4 to move the cursor to the left when editing text.
	Press Func then 4(ATT) to toggle channel/search/CC attenuation on/off in Receive/Hold Modes.
	Press Func then press and hold 4(ATT) to toggle Global Attenuation on/off in Scan Hold or Search Modes

	Press Func then 5(DIM) in Hold Mode to Set Dimmers.
	Press 6> to move the cursor to the right when editing text.
	Press Func then 6(WX) to toggle Weather Alert Priority in Hold Modes.
	Press Func then press and hold 6(WX) to enter Weather Scan.
	Press Func then 7(IFX) to toggle Intermediate Frequency Exchange for a channel/frequency in Hold Modes.
	Press Func then press and hold 8(REV) to view the repeater frequency in Hold Modes.
	Press Func then 9(DISP) in Hold Mode to toggle Simple/Detailed display modes.
	Press Func then press and hold 9(DISP) in Hold Mode to toggle Color/BW/WB display modes.


	Press Func then 0(LVL) to toggle the volume offset for a channel in Scan Hold Mode.

./NO PRI	Press to enter a decimal point for a frequency.
	Press to enter an 'i' when entering an I-Call ID.
	Press to delete current character with Data Naming/Direct Entry.
	Press twice to delete all characters with Data Naming/Direct Entry.
	Press twice to enter a hyphen when entering an ID.
	Press to cancel Confirm? prompt.
	Press Func then .no(Pri) to toggle Priority Modes.

E/yes Q. SRCH	Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode.
	Press to edit current Channel in Receive/Hold Modes.
	Press to add Channel to Favorites List in Receive/Hold Modes.
	Press to store a blinking CTCSS/DCS/NAC tone in Receive/Hold Modes.
	Press to store an ID in ID Search mode in Receive/Hold Modes.
	Press to store a Unit ID in Receive/Hold Modes.
	Press to 'Quick Store' a frequency in Search Modes.
	Press Func then E/yes to toggle ID Search Mode on/off in Scan Mode (Favorites Lists Only).
	Press Func then E/yes to start a Quick Search in Hold Modes.
	Press to store found tones in Tone-Out Search Mode.
	Press to select the current Tone-Out menu in Tone-Out Mode.

Avoid	Press to exit all menus and return to previous mode.
	Press to toggle Channel/Frequency Avoid status in Receive/Hold Modes.
	Press to toggle Avoid status in System, Department, or Site Pause.
	Press Func then Avoid to review all Scan Avoids in current Favorites List or Database in Scan Hold Mode.
	Press Func then Avoid to review all Search Avoids in Search Hold Modes.
	Press and hold to clear all Department/Channel Avoids in the current System in Scan Hold Mode.
	Press and hold to clear all Search Avoids in Search Hold Modes.
	Press Func then press and hold Avoid to clear all Avoids in the current Favorites List or Database in Scan Hold Mode.

Replay/Record	Press to Replay the last transmissions.
	Press Func then Replay to start/stop recording.
	Press and hold Replay to review recording sessions.

Zip/Services	Press to enter country-zip/postal code.
	Press Func then Zip to select Service Types.

Set Your Location

Contents

Press Menu then scroll to Set Your Location and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

Note: You may receive distant systems in other states that have a range that overlaps your area when using the database. This is due to the structure of the database.

Enter Zip/Postal Code	Set Up GPS		Edit Location
Auto Locate	Set Range		Save Location
Set Manual Location		Understanding Range

Enter Zip Code This will set the center of a zip/postal code as your location (not your exact location) and a default location range of 20 miles.
You can then set the range, edit the location name, and save the location.

Select your country USA or Canada and press E/yes.
Enter your zip code or see Data Naming to enter a post code.

Note: You can also press the ZIP button to enter your zip/postal code.

Auto Locate The Auto Locate feature works by trying to monitor any Motorola or P25 system in your area that is also in the Radio Reference Database. The scanner will then set your location based on the system(s) it receives. This will set the center of the discovered radio tower as your location (not your exact location) and a default location range of 30 miles. You can then set the range, edit the location name, and save the location.

Press E/yes or .no to accept the location. Press Menu to cancel.

Set Manual Location This will set your exact location. You can then set the range, edit the location name and save the location.

Input Latitude - Using the keypad, enter your latitude.
Press .no to toggle N or S, and press E/yes.
Input Longitude - Using the keypad, enter your longitude.
Press .no to toggle E or W, and press E/yes.

Set Up GPS Sets the location format and serial port baud rate.

Location Format

DMS:DDD˚MM’SS.ss or DEG:DDD.dddddd.

Set Serial Port (front and rear micro USB ports for the SDS200), default is 4800 bps for a GPS device.

Off, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200 bps.

Set Range This setting allows you override the default range setting for your current location to increase or decrease the number of Trunking Sites and Channel Departments you can receive when you are scanning from the Full Database and when you are scanning Favorites Lists with Use Location Control enabled. The default (and recommended) setting is 0 miles. See also Understanding Range.

Enter the range (0-50) and press E/yes.

Understanding Range

1. There are actually two range settings. Your 'Location range' and the range you can program for each Department or Site. The 'Location range' (I think) is designed for scanning the 'Full Database' where you can't program ranges for Departments and Sites. You can program a range for each Department/Site in Favorites Lists so you will receive Departments/Sites that have a range equal to your Location range plus the programmed range of the Departments/Sites. For example, if your Location range is set to 10 miles and a Department/Site range is set to 30 miles, and that Department/Site is less than 40 miles away from your current location setting, it will be enabled in your Favorites List according to both range settings.

2. The range settings will only work with Favorites Lists that have Use Location Control set to On and with Departments/Sites that have locations and ranges programmed.
Location Control is always enabled when scanning from the Full Database which has locations and ranges programmed for everything.

3. If you use Add Current dB Channels from a list with a 20 mile range (selected location by zip/postal code) and then set the range to 30 miles, Location Control will not add the other channels included in that extra 10 mile range.

Edit Location This allows you to create, edit, and recall locations.

New Location or Saved Location

Edit Name See Data Naming.

Use Location

This will set the location as current for scanning the Database and Favorites Lists with Use Location Control enabled.

At Confirm? Press E/yes or .no.

Delete Location

You can only delete saved locations. The last location set will be retained for use when scanning the Database.

At Confirm Delete? Press E/yes or .no.

Set Location Information See Set Manual Location.

Set Range Enter the range (0-50) and press E/yes.

Save Location This will save the current location, the range, and set the location as current for scanning the Database and Favorites Lists with Use Location Control enabled.

See Data Naming to name the location.

Using the Database

Using the Database is a great way to select what you want to hear without having to program anything but does require a lot of fine tuning to hear just what you want to hear. Advertised as 'Put in your zip code and just scan' has caused a lot of newbies and vets alike considerable frustration. I will help you understand just what happens and why.

The Database is great if you are traveling and want to quickly find something to scan without using the software or, you are not proficient in programming or, don't know what there is to hear in your area or, you want to see what else there is to hear in your area.

To Use the Database:
1. You must first set a location. Don't forget to read Understanding Range.
2. Press Menu. At 'Set Scan Selection' press E/yes.
3. Scroll to Select Lists to Monitor and press E/yes.
4. At Full Database press E/yes to turn it On. The Database is really just another big Favorites List. Scroll to any/all other lists and make sure they are Off if you don't want to have to figure out what else is being scanned.
5. Press Menu to return and scroll to Set Nationwide Systems and press E/yes. The scanner will load the Database and prompt you to select which nationwide systems to include with the Database.

At this point you may want to turn them all off by scrolling to each and pressing E/yes so they show Off.
You won't know what's in each system until you start scanning and there may be many systems within a system type and hundreds or thousands of channels. You can always come back later and enable them as you please.

6. Press Menu 3 times to back all the way out and you should be in scan mode.
Notes:

1. Some sites/departments will have a very large programmed range which means you may hear stuff from another state.
2. Some channels will have service types that (according to you) are not correct and you won't want to hear them.
3. You can't edit anything in the database (including setting quick keys).
4. You can't search for unknown TGIDs in trunked systems.

7. You will want to select your service types next. This will turn off a lot of stuff you may not want to hear.

8. Now you can start Avoiding (locking out) any other systems/sites/departments/channels you don't want to hear.

It may be easier to hold on stuff first rather than trying to catch it in scan mode. See Scan Hold first then Avoiding Transmissions.
It would also be easier to create a new Favorites List and then Add Current dB Channels to the list. You can see everything you have more clearly in the programming menus.
With everything in a Favorites List you can also start assigning QKs, checking range values, service types for channels, and edit other things you want to change.

Selecting Service Types

Contents

Make sure you enable the Service Type for the channels you want to listen to. Each channel can be tagged with a "Service Type" that allows you to hear specific services such as Fire, EMS, and Police when you are monitoring the Full Database and/or your Favorites Lists. The Appendix has a list of Service Types and their general descriptions.

Not all service types are enabled when you create a new profile or when you set your location in the scanner. By default only EMS Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, Law Dispatch, Custom 1, and Multi-Dispatch are enabled.

Press Func then the Zip/Services button.
Scroll to each Service Type and press E/yes to enable or disable.
Press System or Avoid to exit.

When the scanner displays a Service Type that is not in the Favorite Lists, the scanner will display a "---" indication.

Display Options

Contents

Press Menu then scroll to Display Options and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

	Backlight Options	Set Scan Display Mode (Simple/Detailed)
	Customize	Set B/W or Color Mode
	Set ID Format (P25/MOT)	Viewing the Battery Level
	Set ID Format (EDACS)

Backlight Options The scanner will turn on/off the LCD and the Keypad backlight automatically according to backlight settings.
You can override these settings and turn on the backlight by pressing Vol on the SDS200, or the light button on the SDS100.

Set Timer Determines how the backlight acts with squelch and key presses.

Squelch (event)

Off - The backlight stays off when the squelch opens (default).
5 sec - The backlight stays on 5 seconds after the squelch opens.
10 sec - The backlight stays on 10 seconds after the squelch opens.
15 sec - The backlight stays on 15 seconds after the squelch opens.
Open Squelch - The backlight stays on only when the squelch is open.

Keypress (event)

15 sec - Turns the backlight on for 15 seconds when you press any key.
30 sec - Turns the backlight on for 30 seconds when you press any key.
60 sec - Turns the backlight on for 60 seconds when you press any key.
120 sec - Turns the backlight on for 120 seconds when you press any key.
Infinite - The backlight stays on until you press again.

Set Dimmer(s)

Scroll to select brightness percentage on the SDS100.
Scroll to select Low, Middle, or High Dimmer on the SDS200 then select brightness percentage for each.

Set Dimmer Mode (SDS200)

Manual Default mode (on startup).

High, Middle, or Low.

Auto (For vehicle use)

+ Polarity - If the orange wire gets 12V when you turn on the headlights.
- Polarity - If the orange wire is switched to chassis ground when you turn on the headlights.

Set Key Backlight Toggles the keyboard light.

Scroll to select On, or Off.

Flash w/Backlight Off Flashes the alert light every 5 seconds to let you know the scanner is still alive when the display is off.

Scroll to select On, or Off.

External Power (SDS100)

Backlight On - The backlight stays on with the USB cable plugged in.
Backlight Off - The backlight will use backlight settings.

Customize

The SDS gives you many options for items to show in the display as well as text and background colors for each item.
Trunking/Conventional modes share the same display field colors, but each scan mode can be set to display different data items.
Some display modes or display fields only allow you to change the colors and not all data items fit into all the different display fields.

To Customize the Display select MENU > Display Options > Customize > then select the display you want to customize.
                Set Simple Conventional
                Set Simple Trunk
                Set Detail Conventional
                Set Detail Trunk
                Set Search/CC Mode
                Set Weather Mode
                Set Tone Out Mode

The scanner will display a sample preview display for each mode selected.
Remember, background and text colors are reversed when selected. You will have to scroll away to see the actual display.
Scroll to highlight each option you want to modify and press:

Item (soft key) to change the item displayed in the field. Scroll to the option to display then press E/yes to save and return.

T-Color (soft key) to change the text color for the field. Scroll to select text color then press E/yes to save and return.

B-Color (soft key) to change the background color for the field. Scroll to select background color then press E/yes to save and return.
or press E/yes or Scroll Control to select.

The charts below show which display options are available and in which locations.

=Colors only

Detail Scan Mode

Simple Scan Mode

F	Option 1	Option 2	Option 3	Option 4	SIG	BAT
FL QK			Option 7	Option 8	KEY	DIR

System QK	Option C 1
Dept QK	Option C 2

System Name

System Option

AVOID

Department Name

Dept Option

AVOID

Scanning.../ID Scanning.../ID Searching ...

Channel Name

Channel Option

AVOID

Option A 1	Option B 1
Option A 2	Option B 2
Option A 3	Option B 3
Option A 4	Option B 4
Option A 5	Option B 5

Icon1

Icon2

Icon3

Icon4

Icon5

Icon6

Icon7

Icon8

Icon9

Icon10

ITEM

SP1

T-COLOR

SP2

B-COLOR

F	Option 1	Option 2	Option 3	Option 4	SIG	BAT
SP0	Option 5	Option 6	Option 7	Option 8	KEY	DIR

System Name
2 lines

System Option

AVOID

Department Name
2 lines

Dept Option

AVOID

Scanning.../ID Scanning.../ID Searching ...
2 lines

Channel Name
2 lines

Channel Option

AVOID

Option A 1

Option B 1

Icon1

Icon2

Icon3

Icon4

Icon5

Icon6

Icon7

Icon8

Icon9

Icon10

ITEM

SP1

T-COLOR

SP2

B-COLOR

Search/Weather/Tone-Out Modes

F	Option 1	Option 2	Option 3	Option 4	SIG	BAT
Search			Option 7	Option 8	KEY	DIR

0 - - - - - - - - 9	Option C 1
	Option C 2

Custom Search Name/Quick Search 2 lines	Weather Mode	Tone-Out Name
Frequency

CTCSS/DCS/NAC

Modulation

AVOID

HOLD

Lower Frequency:
Upper Frequency:
Step:

SAME #

Tone A:
Tone B:

Option A 1	Option B 1
Option A 2	Option B 2
Option A 3	Option B 3

Icon1

Icon2

Icon3

Icon4

Icon5

Icon6

Icon7

Icon8

Icon9

Icon10

ITEM

SP1

T-COLOR

SP2

B-COLOR

*= 2 different locations

Scan Info

Status Info

Trunked Info

Options 1-8	System/Dept/Channel Options	Options A/B 1-5, C 1-2		Icons 1-10
(Empty)	(Empty)	(Empty)	*Site ID	(Empty)
Attenuator ATT	*CTCSS/DCS/NAC/Color Code/RAN/Area	Battery Voltage BATT	*Site Name	Broadcast Screen SCR*
Broadcast Screen SCR*	*Favorites List Name	*CTCSS/DCS/NAC/Color Code/RAN/Area	*System Type	*Close Call
*Close Call	*Frequency	Digital Error Count D-ERROR	System/Network ID Sys/Net ID*	*GPS
Date	Number Tag FF-SS CC*	*Favorites List Name	TDMA Slot Slot*	IF Exchange IFX*
Digital Status P25, etc.	RF Sub System ID RFSS ID*	Filter	*TGID	Modulation NFM*
*GPS	*Service Type	*Frequency	Unit ID UID*	*P-Channel
IF Exchange IFX*	*Site ID	Latitude -97.0483, NO GPS	*Unit ID Name	Priority Scan PRI*
Modulation NFM*	*Site Name	LCN	Unit ID Name (1)	REC REC*
*P-Channel	*System Type	Longitude 104.8292, NO GPS	Unit ID Name (2)	*Repeater Find REP
Priority Scan PRI*	System/Network ID Sys/Net ID*	Noise	Unit ID Name (3)	Volume Offset V+1*
REC REC*	*TGID	Number Tag FF-SS CC*	Unit ID Name (4)	*WX Priority WX
*Repeater Find REP	Unit ID UID*	RF Sub System ID RFSS ID*	USB1 Vbus Voltage
Squelch	*Unit ID Name	RSSI	USB2 Vbus Voltage
TDMA Slot Slot*	*Volume & Squelch	RSSI Graph	*Volume & Squelch
Time	*WACN	*Service Type	*WACN
Volume
Volume Offset V+1*
*WX Priority WX

Set ID Format Sets the ID display format.

Set ID Format (Mot/P25)

Decimal Format or Hex Format. The default setting is Decimal.

Set ID Format (EDACS)

AFS Format or Decimal Format. The default setting is AFS.

Set Scan Display Mode

Scroll to Simple Mode or Detailed Mode and press E/yes. The default setting is Simple Mode.
You can also toggle display modes by holding on any channel and pressing Func then 9(DISP).

Set B/W or Color Mode

Scroll to Color Mode or Black w/White Text or White w/Black Text and press E/yes. The default setting is Color Mode.
During most modes you can switch between color, black on white, and white on black modes by holding on any channel and pressing Func then pressing and holding 9(DISP) for 3 seconds. Black and white modes provide better visibility under direct sunlight.

View the Battery Level (SDS100 Only)
To view the battery level (in volts) press the scroll control and look at the small numbers in the upper right of the display.
Press the scroll control again to close the volume level or let it disappear after 10 seconds.

A Look at the Display

Contents

Certain areas of the display are customizable. You can select certain items you want and where you want them to appear.

Simple Conventional

Simple Trunk

Detailed Conventional

Detailed Trunk

Close Call

Search

Trunked Discovery

Conventional Discovery

Weather

Analyze

LCN Finder

Tone Out


appears to show Function Mode.
F0-9: shows the first digit of the current Favorites List QK on the left with the blinking second digit on the right in Scan Mode.
	A non-blinking number on the right indicates the QK is enabled waiting to be scanned.
	A - (dash) means nothing is enabled for, or assigned to the QK.
	An * (asterisk) means the QK is disabled.
*SITE HOLD appears in Site Hold Mode.*
▲ or ▼ appears to show the Scan or Search Direction.
GPS appears when connected to a GPS unit.
REC appears when enabled and reversed when Recording.
appears to show the signal strength.

PRI appears in Priority Mode.
appears reversed in Priority DND Mode.

appears and blinks if the battery is low. (SDS100 Only)

appears if the Close Call Priority feature is on.
is reversed in Close Call DND Mode.

S=NN shows the squelch level for three seconds when you turn SQ (SDS200 only).

V=NN shows the volume level for three seconds when you turn SQ.

V.VV shows the battery level (in volts) when you press VOL (SDS100 Only).

S0-9: shows the first digit of the current System QK on the left with the blinking second digit on the right in Scan Mode.
	A non-blinking number on the right indicates the QK is enabled waiting to be scanned.
	A - (dash) means nothing is assigned to the QK.
	An * (asterisk) means the QK is disabled.
D0-9: shows the Department QK (Conventional system) or Site QK (trunked system).
0-9: shows the Custom Search key status in Search Mode.

V+1 shows Volume Offset for the channel in Receive/Hold Modes
shows Volume Offset for the channel in Function Mode

IFX appears if Intermediate Frequency Exchange is enabled for the frequency in Receive/Hold Modes.

ATT appears to show channel attenuation in Receive/Hold Modes.
appears to show search attenuation in Search Mode.
G-ATT appears to show global attenuation.

P25 appears if the channel is receiving digitalized voice in Receive/Hold Modes

P2 appears if the channel is receiving Phase II along with Slot #.
PRV appears if the channel is receiving ProVoice.
DMR appears if the channel is receiving DMR Tier I/II, an FDMA transmission, which usually is a repeater output (2).
DMRs appears if the channel is a TDMA DMR transmission, which always is either the input to a repeater or a simplex frequency (2).
CAP appears if the channel is receiving a Capacity+ system.
CON appears if the channel is receiving a Connection+ system.
DT3 appears if the channel is a Tier III control channel.
S1/S2 appears to show DMR slot assignment.
NX4 appears if the channel is receiving a 4800 NexEdge system.
NX9 appears if the channel is receiving a 9600 NexEdge system.
ND4 appears if the channel is receiving NXDN 4800 Direct Frequency Assignment.
ND9 appears if the channel is receiving NXDN 9600 Direct Frequency Assignment.
NXD appears if the channel is receiving unknown NXDN.
IDS appears if the channel is receiving an IDAS system.
XPT appears if the channel is receiving a Hytera system.

LNK appears when data is received on a voice channel in Receive/Hold Modes.

DAT appears when data is received on a control channel in Receive/Hold Modes.

ENC appears if the channel is receiving encrypted voice and is muted in Receive/Hold Modes.

WX appears if the Weather Alert Priority feature is on.

Search with Scan appears to show the Search with Scan system in Scan/Hold/Receive Modes.

Avoid/Hold shows System Avoid/Hold status next to System name in Hold/Pause Modes.

Temporary Avoids appear reversed in the display.

Avoid/Hold shows Department Avoid/Hold status next to Department name in Hold/Pause Modes.

Temporary Avoids appear reversed in the display.

Scanning… appears for a conventional system in Scan Mode.

ID Scanning/Searching… appears for a trunked system in Scan Mode.

Channel Name appears in Receive/Hold Modes.

Avoid/Hold shows Channel Avoid/Hold status next to Channel name in Hold/Pause Modes.
Temporary Avoids appear reversed in the display.

appears for a priority channel.

Channel Service Type appears in Receive/Hold Modes
appears in Receive/Hold Modes with Disp.

TGID appears for a trunked site in Receive/Hold Modes.

Tone/Code for a conventional channel in Receive/Hold Modes.
Blinking Tone/Code indicates Tone/Code Search.
****** appears to show tone/code lockout in Hold Mode.

Unit ID appears in Receive/Hold Modes with Disp.

Frequency, Mode for a conventional channel in Receive/Hold Modes

Favorites List Name appears when scanning any Favorites List in Scan/Hold/Receive Modes.
appears when scanning a Conventional System in Scan/Hold/Receive Modes.
appears when scanning a Trunked System in Scan Mode.

Full Database when scanning the Full Database in Scan/Hold/Receive Modes.

SCR appears if one or more broadcast/custom screen bands are turned on in Receive/Search Modes.

REP appears if Repeater Find is enabled in Receive/Search Modes.

Tag: NN.NNN.NNN shows Number Tag Info for a Favorites List in Function Mode.
shows Number Tag Info for a Favorites List in Receive/Hold Modes.

Settings

Contents

Press Menu then scroll to Settings and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

Adjust Key Beep	Global Auto Filter	Replay Options
Set Clock	Band Defaults	Restore Options
Upgrade	Auto Shutoff	See Scanner Info
Battery Options (SDS100 only)	LAN Settings (SDS200 only)
Site NAC Operation	Set Audio Off Time (SDS200 only)

Adjust Key Beep Allows you to turn the key beep on or off and adjust the volume level. Auto sets the alert beep to the master volume level.

Off, Level 1-15, or Auto

Set Clock Sets the clock for the display and the default tag for recordings.

Set Date

Set Year Enter the year (2013-2099).
Set Month Enter the month.
Set Day Enter the day.

Set Time

Set Hour Enter the Hour (0-23).
Set Minute Enter the minute.

Set Time Zone

Scroll to your time zone.

Daylight Saving Advances the clock one hour during DST when On.

On or Off

Upgrade Allows you to enter upgrade keys for Provoice, NexEdge, DMR, and the Waterfall feature.
See this link for more info on upgrades.

Battery Options (SDS100 only)

Set Battery Save Turns off RF power for 1 second and turns it on 300 ms to extend the battery life in Channel Hold Mode for a Conventional System (without Priority Scan), and in any Search Hold mode when there is no transmission over 1 minute.

On or Off

Set Battery Low

Set Alert

Set Alert Tone - 640, 780, 920, 1060, 1200 (Hz).

Set Alert Interval - 1-60 (seconds). Default is 15 sec.

Set Alert Volume - 1-15 or Auto. Default is Auto.

Set Voltage Sets when the low battery alert goes off.
3100-3400 (mV). Default is 3300mV.

Set Charge While On - allows you Enable or Disable charging with the scanner on.

Site NAC Operation This allows the scanner to ignore a transmission from a different trunk system that utilizes one or more of the same frequencies that your site uses.

This allows you to have the scanner ignore or use programmed NAC codes for trunking systems. The default setting is Search.

Scroll to Use Site Nac or Ignore Site NAC and press E/yes.

Global Auto Filter Sets the filter for all Departments, Sites, Custom Searches, CC Mode, and Weather Scan which can then be overridden for each if desired.

Scroll to Global, Normal, Invert, Auto, Wide Normal, Wide Invert, Wide Auto, or Off and press E/yes.

Band Defaults This allows you change the ‘Auto’ values you can select while programming frequencies, searches, etc. to whatever you feel Auto should be for each band (vs. the radio defaults). Since all of the step and modulation settings default to Auto, this allows you to skip those settings when programming. See also Default Bands.

Scroll to each band you wish to edit and press E/yes.

Set Modulation

AM, NFM, FM, WFM, or FMB (Broadcast).

Set Step

Auto, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, or 100 kHz.

Auto Shutoff Allows you to set the scanner to shut off after a set time.

Off, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 min, 1, 2, 3, hours.

LAN Settings (SDS200 only) Direct ethernet connectivity for streaming and control.
Note: The scanner will want to restart if you make any changes and exit the menu.

Set IP Assignment

Disable - turns LAN off.
Auto (DHCP) - uses current DHCP setting.
Manual

Set IP Address - allows you to enter IP address.

Set Subnet Mask - allows you to enter Subnet Mask.

Set Default Gateway - allows you to enter Default Gateway.

Set DNS Server - allows you to enter DNS Server.

Set FTP Server

Set Read only Account

Set Account - allows you Enable or Disable account.

Set User Name - enter user name for the FTP account.

Set Password - enter password.

Set Writable Account

Set Account - allows you Enable or Disable account.

Set User Name - enter user name for the FTP account.

Set Password - enter password.

Show IPs (and MAC address) Shows IP connection info.

Set Audio Off Time (SDS200 only) An "AMP OFF Timer" setting that determines how long the amplifier stays on after a transmission ends.
If you hear hum between transmissions, change this from Infinite to one of the available settings.

Scroll to and press E/yes.

Set Audio Off Time

Infinite, 100, 500ms; 1-5, 10, or 30 sec.

Replay Options The Replay function allows you to hear the last few transmissions heard.
The Record function will record all transmissions heard so you can listen to them later.
You can set the scanner to Replay or Record, but not both.

You can set how long a period Replay records from 30 seconds to 240 seconds or off.
While you can replay any recording immediately and continue replaying it, you cannot save it for future listening.
To enable Replay press Replay.

When you begin Recording, your scanner adds the Replay recording buffer to the recording.
These recording sessions are saved and can be replayed from the Review Recordings menu.
Each session will hold up to 100 transmissions before auto creating a new one.
You can also rename and delete recording sessions through the Review Recordings submenu.
Note: The battery pack is required in the scanner for the replay and recording features to work.

While there is no way in the Sentinel Software to download recordings from the scanner (??), other software like ProScan and Arc536 will.
You can still plug the scanner into a computer and copy them from the SD card.
To enable/disable Recording press Func then Replay.

Set Replay Duration How far back in real time recordings are kept.

Off, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, or 240 sec.

Review Recordings You can also press and hold Replay to review recordings.

Turn the Scroll Control to select sessions.

Play Session Press E/yes to play. Press Channel to pause/resume replay. Press Replay to exit.

Delete Session

At Confirm Delete? Press E/yes or .no.

Rename Session See Data Naming.

Restore Options Allows you to clear all user data (full reset) or reset just profile settings to default.

Clear User Data

(Full Reset) will delete all Favorites Lists, locations, reset all profile options to default, clear all Avoids, delete all recording sessions, all discovery logs, and all weather event records.

Note: Pressing and holding 2, 9, and Dept (softkey2) when you power on the scanner will also clear all user data.

Reset User Settings

Will only reset all profile settings and Favorites List will be saved.

See Scanner Info This will show you how much memory is in use, the firmware version, and scanner serial number.

Planning Favorites Lists

Contents

Understanding Profiles
A profile contains all your configuration settings as well as your Favorites Lists and settings, Systems, Avoids, etc., and is a complete image of what is in your scanner. Other settings such as range, service types selected, enabled Favorites Lists, weather settings, display and audio settings also define a profile. Remember that all Favorites Lists are common to all profiles. Enabling and disabling Favorites Lists within a profile is part of defining a profile. Deleting a profile will not delete the lists associated with a profile. However, deleting a Favorites List will delete it from all profiles.

You automatically start to create a profile once you enter your location. If you create a new profile in the software, your Favorites Lists will be included (but not enabled) with the new profile. The scanner only holds one profile at a time. Others can be created and uploaded to the scanner with the Sentinel Software.

Startup Keys
You can program each of your Favorites Lists with a Startup Key (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those Favorites List(s) assigned to the key will be enabled for scan. Systems are not affected. See also Using Startup Keys.

Number Tags
Numbers tags will allow you to tag each Favorites List, System, and Channel to locate easier in hold mode. Number tags can range from 0 to 99 for Favorites Lists and Systems, and 0-999 for Channels. You can assign number tags to channels even if the Favorites List does not have a number tag but, without a Favorites List number tag, you can only navigate to these channels while holding or scanning in that Favorites List. See also Using Number Tags.

Alerts
You can program your scanner to alert you when, a Channel or Unit ID is received, you receive a Close Call hit, an ID is transmitted with an Emergency Alert or you receive a Tone-Out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, 15 volume settings, and for the LED Alert Light, set 7 colors, and 3 flash patterns.

Worksheets
I have put together complete pdf worksheets ready to print to help you plan your Systems, Close Call, and Fire Tone-Out, etc. settings. Even if you don't fill them out, they are a good check list for programming.

Sentinel Profile Worksheet Favorites Lists Worksheet Settings/Tone Out Worksheet
Conventional Worksheet Motorola P25 Worksheet Motorola 800/900 Worksheet Motorola VHF/UHF Worksheet
EDACS Worksheet LTR Worksheet NXDN Worksheet DMR Worksheet

Manage Favorites Lists

Contents

Favorites Lists hold all your Systems, Sites, Departments, and Channels. You should assign a Quick Key to every Favorites List to quickly enable or disable the list.

New Favorites List/List Options

Press Menu then scroll to Manage Favorites and press E/yes.

To Create a New Favorites List scroll to New Favorites List and press E/yes.

To Edit a Favorites List scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

Review/Edit System		Review Avoids
Set FL Quick Key		Stop All Avoiding
Set FL Number Tag		Add Current dB Channels
Set FL Startup Key		Rename
Use Location Control		Delete
	Understanding Location Control	Information

Review/Edit System See Programming Systems.

Set FL Quick Key This assigns a QK to the Favorites List and will scan the list when the key is enabled. You can only use a FL QK once. The default setting is . (no QK). If you don’t assign a QK to a Favorite List, it will always be scanned unless you turn it off in Select Lists to Monitor.

Scroll to the QK number (0-99 or . for no QK).

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit QK will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc., then scroll to second digit.

Set FL Number Tag This allows you to number a Favorites List so you can access it quickly from Channel Hold Mode. The default setting is no number tag (blank).
See also Using Number Tags.

Enter the number tag (0-99) (Press .no to clear display).

Set FL Startup Key This allows you to turn on the scanner with the Favorites List enabled for scan. The default settings are all keys Off. See also Using Startup Keys.

Scroll to each key (0-9) and press E/yes to enable. Press Menu to save.

Use Location Control This enables Location Control for the Favorites List. The default setting is Off. See also Understanding Location Control.

On or Off

Understanding Location Control

Location Control allows you to enable or disable channels scanned in a Favorites List based on your location. Actually, it enables/disables Sites and Departments in Favorites Lists (as long as they have locations programmed) based on your current location and location range settings. Location Control is always enabled when scanning Sites and Departments from the Full Database.

Location Control can also save you the task of assigning, remembering, and enabling/disabling QKs to your Departments and Sites.

To use Location Control, you have to enable it for each Favorites List (default is Off). You also need to have locations programmed for Sites and Departments in each list (you can’t program a location for a system).

With 'Use Location Control' set to On, the scanner only sees Departments/Sites with programmed locations. Any Department/Site with no location information programmed will not be scanned.
If you append (add) a System/Department to a list from the Database, the location information will be brought in with each System/Department you append (double check location and range info).

With 'Use Location Control' set to Off, the scanner will enable all Sites and Departments in your Favorites List no matter what the location range or Site/Department range is set to.

You don’t need a GPS to scan by location if all of the following apply:
1. You have 'Use Location Control' set to On for each Favorites List you want to use with Location Control.
2. You set (by zip/post code, Auto Locate, or manually), a location.
3. Your Departments and Sites have locations and ranges programmed.

The scanner then compares your location data with Site and Department data to determine which channels to scan. Conceivably, you could program everything you want to hear into one Favorites List and scan just by selecting locations rather than enabling/disabling lists. If you are traveling long distances hooking up a GPS device would be a better way to go.

Review Avoids This allows you to review all Avoids for the Favorites List. Temporary Avoids appear reversed in the display. See also Review Scan Avoids.

Scroll to each entry and press E/yes to Stop Avoiding.

Stop All Avoiding This will Stop Avoiding all Channels, Departments, and Systems in the Favorites List. See also Clear All Scan Avoids.

At Confirm? Press E/yes or .no.

Add Current dB Channels This allows you to add all channels enabled for scan to the Favorites List. This good to use after you have optimized the Full Database when selecting a location.

At Confirm? Press E/yes or .no.

Notes: 1. Any Avoided Systems, Sites, Departments, or Channels will not be added.

2. When adding channels from the Full Database, only channels that are inside the set location range, and from the selected Service Types are added to the new list.

3. When adding channels from a Favorites List that has ‘Use Location Control’ set to On, only channels that are inside the set location range, and from the selected service types are added to the new list.

4. When adding channels from a Favorites List that has 'Use Location Control' set to Off, only channels that are from the selected service types are added to the new list.

Rename This allows to you rename the Favorites List. See Data Naming.

Delete This will delete the Favorites List. At Confirm Delete? Press E/yes or .no.

Information This will show you the file size and number of Systems in the list.

Programming Systems

Contents

Note for Motorola/P25 systems: If you are not sure if the system is Motorola or P25, look at the system type in the RR database for your system. Only those systems tagged as "Project 25 Phase I or Project 25 Phase 2" are Project 25 systems. Any system type that includes the word "Motorola" should be programmed as a Motorola system, even if it uses some or all digital channels.

See also this link Programming and Using DMR and MotoTRBO Systems at the Uniden Twiki.

New System/System Settings
Press Menu then scroll to Manage Favorites and press E/yes.
Scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
Scroll to Review/Edit System and press E/yes.

To Create a New System scroll to New System and press E/yes.
Scroll to P25 Trunk, P25 X2-TDMA, P25 One Frequency, Motorola, MotoTRBO Trunk, DMR One Frequency, NXDN Trunk, NDXN One Frquency, EDACS, LTR, or Conventional and press E/yes.
At Confirm? press E/yes or .no.

See also Understanding DMR for DMR systems.
See also this post at RR about P25 One-Freq Trunk systems.

To Edit System Settings scroll to the System and press E/yes.

Edit Name See Data Naming.

Edit Sys Options See below.

Edit Site See Programming Sites.

Edit Department See Programming Departments.

Edit Unit IDs

Note: You can also save any Unit ID in the display by pressing E/yes.

New Unit ID/Edit Unit ID

Enter the ID and press E/yes.

Edit Name See Data Naming.

Set Alert Tone

Alert 1-9 or Off.

Set Level

Level 1-15 or Auto (the master volume level).

Set Alert Light

Set Color

Off, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow, or White.

Set Pattern

On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink.

Delete Unit ID

At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

Copy System Copying a system will copy all Sites, Departments, Channels, and settings including QK assignments into the current Favorites List.

See Data Naming to name the new system.

Delete System

At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

System Options
Press Menu then scroll to Manage Favorites and press E/yes.
Scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
Scroll to Review/Edit System and press E/yes.
Scroll to the System you want to edit and press E/yes.
Scroll to Edit Sys Options and press E/yes.
Note: Not all options will appear for all types of systems.

Contents

Set System Quick Key	Edit Fleet Map (Motorola Type I/lli Systems only)	Emergency Alert (Motorola/EDACS only)
Set System Number Tag	Priority ID Scan	Review ID Avoids
Set Avoid	Set Status Bit (Motorola Type II only)	Clear All ID Avoids
Set Hold Time	Set End Code (Motorola Type II only)	Digital Waiting Time (Conventional only)
ID Search

Set System Quick Key This assigns a quick QK key to the System and the scanner will scan the System when the key is enabled. The default setting is . (no QK).
If you don’t assign a QK to a System, it will always be scanned unless you Avoid it.

Scroll to the QK number (0-99 or . for no QK).

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit QK will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc., then scroll to second digit.

Set System Number Tag This allows you to number a System so you can access it quickly from Scan Hold Mode. The default setting is no number tag (blank).
See also Using Number Tags.

Enter the number tag (0-99) (Press .no to clear the display).

Set Avoid This determines whether a System will be scanned or not (even if the system is enabled). Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power.
The default setting is Stop Avoiding.
See also Avoiding Transmissions.

Stop Avoiding, Temporary Avoid, or Permanent Avoid

Set Hold Time This sets (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner will scan the System before moving on to the next system. All (Unavoided) channels will be scanned at least once regardless of this setting. The scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires.
The default (and recommended) setting is 0 seconds.

Enter the hold time 0-255 (sec.) and press E/yes to save.

ID Search This sets whether the scanner searches for all IDs in a trunking system (On), or scans only programmed IDs (Off). The default setting is Off.
See also Toggle ID Scan or ID Search.

On or Off

Edit Fleet Map (Motorola Type I/lli Systems only) This allows you to program a fleet map for Motorola Type I Systems. You must program a system fleet map in order for the scanner to properly track and display talk group IDs. Defaults to 0 for all blocks (Motorola Type II system).

Block 0 Scroll to the size code (0-14) and press E/yes.
The next available block is prompted to select the next size code (0-14).
Repeat for each block as needed (0-7).

Note: If you select size code 12, 13, or 14, these restrictions apply:

12 can only be assigned to Blocks 0, 2, 4 or 6.
13 can only be assigned to Blocks 0 and 4.
14 can only be assigned to Block 0.

Since these size codes require multiple blocks, you will be prompted for the next available block.
Example: If you assign Block 0 as 12, the scanner prompts you for block 2, the next block available, instead of block 1.

Priority ID Scan (no P25-One Freq) This allows you to use Priority Scan with IDs in the System. The default setting is Off. See also Priority Scanning.

On or Off

Set Status Bit (Motorola only) This sets how your scanner works with Status Bits (also called S-bits), letting you control how the scanner interprets and displays Motorola talk group IDs.
The default setting is Ignore.

Yes - the scanner treats all received IDs as unique IDs.
Ignore - the scanner rounds all IDs down to the next interval of 16.

Set End Code (Motorola only) This sets how the scanner handles the transmission end code sent by most Motorola Systems. The default setting is Ignore.

Analog - The scanner recognizes only analog end transmission codes.
Analog+Digital - The scanner recognizes analog and digital end codes.
Ignore - The scanner waits for the carrier to drop before leaving a channel.

Emergency Alert (Motorola/EDACS only) This sets how your scanner alerts you to IDs that have the emergency flag set. The default setting is Off.

Set Alert Tone

Alert 1-9 or Off.

Set Level

Level 1-15 or Auto (the master volume level).

Set Alert Light

Set Color

Off, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow, or White.

Set Pattern

On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink.

Review ID Avoids This allows you to review Avoided IDs in the System. Temporary Avoids appear reversed in the display.

Scroll to the ID and press E/yes to Stop Avoiding.
Nothing Avoided appears if nothing is Avoided.

Clear All ID Avoids This allows you to Stop Avoiding all Avoided IDs in the System.

At Confirm? press E/yes or .no.
Nothing Avoided appears if nothing is Avoided.

Digital Waiting Time (Conventional only) This setting gives the scanner time to determine if channels on Conventional Systems have digital or analog transmissions. During this time, the scanner will evaluate the received signal and, if it detects digital data, will open squelch immediately. If digital is not detected before the delay expires, the scanner will open squelch at the end of this delay. This is to prevent "false decode" problems. This setting only affects conventional channels with an Audio Type set to All.
The default setting is 400 ms.

0 to 1000

Note: Any analog transmissions will lose the first part of the transmission up to the wait time you set here.

Programming Departments

Contents

New Department/Department Options

Press Menu then scroll to Manage Favorites and press E/yes.
Scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
Scroll to Review/Edit System and press E/yes.
Scroll to the System and press E/yes.
Scroll to Edit Department and press E/yes.

To Create a New Department scroll to New Department and press E/yes.

To Edit an Existing Department scroll to the Department and press E/yes.

	Edit Name	Set Location Information
	Set Department Quick Key	Set Avoid
	Edit Channel	Delete Department
	Set Filter (Conventional only)	New Department

Edit Name

See Data Naming. Tip: add QK number to name.

Set Department Quick Key This assigns a QK to the Department and the scanner will scan the Department when the key is enabled. When assigning DQKs it is important to remember that they are not in the 'Set Quick Key Status' menu and can only be enabled/disabled in the software or in Scan/Hold modes so they should be used accordingly.
The default setting is . (no QK). If you don’t assign a QK to a Department, it will always be scanned unless you Avoid it.

Scroll to the QK number (0-99 or . for no QK)

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit QK will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc., then scroll to second digit.

Edit Channel

See Channel Options.

Set Filter (Conventional only) This allows you to set a Filter for the department. This setting will override the Global Auto Filter.

Scroll to Global, Normal, Invert, Auto, Wide Normal, Wide Invert, Wide Auto, or Off and press E/yes. Global will use the Global Auto Filter setting.

Set Location Information This allows you program a location for the Department with Use Location Control enabled or with a GPS.
You can program a circle with a radial range or multiple rectangles as a location.
See Set Up GPS first to setup your GPS format.

Circle

Set Latitude

Enter the latitude. Press .no to toggle N or S, and press E/yes.

Set Longitude

Enter the longitude. Press .no to toggle E or W, and press E/yes.

Set Range See also Understanding Range.

0-6000.

Rectangles

New Rectangle

Latitude -Top Left

Enter the latitude. Press .no to toggle N or S, and press E/yes.

Longitude -Top Left

Enter the longitude. Press .no to toggle E or W, and press E/yes.

Latitude - Right Bottom

Enter the latitude. Press .no to toggle N or S, and press E/yes.

Longitude - Right Bottom

Enter the longitude. Press .no to toggle E or W, and press E/yes.

Stored Rectangle

Edit Rectangle See New Rectangle above.

Delete Rectangle

At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

Set Avoid This determines whether a Department will be scanned or not. Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power. The default setting is Stop Avoiding.
See also Avoiding Transmissions.

Stop Avoiding, Temporary Avoid, or Permanent Avoid

Delete Department

At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

New Department See New Department.

Programming Sites

Contents

New Site/Site Options

To Create a New Site scroll to New Site and press E/yes.

To Edit an Existing Site scroll to the Site and press E/yes.

Note: Not all options will appear for all sites.

Edit Name	Set Modulation (no P25)	Set P25 NAC Option (no P25 X2)
Set Site Quick Key	Set Attenuator	Set Location Information
Set Site Type (EDACS only)	Set Filter	Digital Waiting Time (Motorola only)
Edit Band Plan (Motorola/P25 only)	Set Avoid	Delete Site
Set Frequencies		New Site

Edit Name

See Data Naming. Tip: add QK number to name.

Set Site Quick Key This assigns a QK to the Site and the scanner will scan the Site when the key is enabled. When assigning Site QKs it is important to remember that they are not in the 'Set Quick Key Status' menu and can only be enabled/disabled in the software or in Scan/Hold modes so they should be used accordingly.
The default setting is . (no QK). If you don’t assign a QK to a Site, it will always be scanned unless you Avoid it.

Scroll to the QK number (0-99 or . for no QK)

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit QK will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc., then scroll to second digit.

Set Site Type (EDACS only) EDACS Wide is the same as EDACS Standard and uses a 9600 baud control channel. EDACS Narrow-band sites use a 4800 baud control channel. The default setting is Wide.

Wide or Narrow

Edit Band Plan (Motorola/P25 only) Band plans are required so the scanner can correctly determine the voice channel frequencies.

P25 Systems

Explicit mode systems (which comprise most systems in use) include all information needed to determine voice frequencies on the control channel, leave all entries blank. The system will automatically detect the band plan and fill in the entries. Implicit systems need you to supply the systems band plan for the scanner to correctly determine voice frequencies.

Select Plan - Scroll to each Band 0-9, A-F (as needed), and press E/yes.

Input Base Freq - Enter the base frequency press E/yes.
Input Spacing - Enter the step size and press E/yes.

Press Menu to return and repeat for each band plan as needed.

Motorola Systems

800/900 Standard or 800 Splinter (analog 800Mhz systems with frequencies between 866-869 MHz ending with 0 instead of 5 e.g. 852.1250, not 852.1375).
The scanner will use the regular Motorola band plan.

Motorola Rebanded and Motorola VHF/UHF Systems

These systems require a Custom band plan. Custom band plans require that you enter both a lower and an upper base frequency value.
The lower base frequency (or base) is always the base frequency as provided in the Radio Reference Database.
Use this Excel spreadsheet to calculate the upper base frequency value. If you don't have Excel you can download and install a viewer here.
The upper base frequency can also be found using the Band Plan Calculator at the online Wiki.

For Standard 800 MHz Rebanded Systems, you need to set Band Plan 1 and Band Plan 2 as follows:

Band Plan	Lower Base Freq	Upper Base Freq	Offset	Polarity	Spacing
1	851.025	854.000	440	+	25 kHz
2	851.0125	868.9875	0	+	25 kHz

	For Motorola Rebanded and Motorola VHF/UHF Systems, select the Custom option.
	Select Plan 1-6 (as needed) for each Band Plan.

Set Base Freq

Input Lower - Enter the lower base frequency and press E/yes.

Input Upper - Enter the upper base frequency and press E/yes.

Set Offset

Input Offset - Enter the offset and press E/yes.

Select Polarity - Scroll to + (default) or - and press E/yes.

Set Spacing - Scroll to the step size and press E/yes.

Press Menu to return and repeat for each band plan as needed.

Set Frequencies This is where you program trunking frequencies for the Site.

New Frequency/Edit Frequency. Enter the frequency and press E/yes.

For EDACS, DMR, NXDN, and LTR sites only:
Input LCN - Enter the LCN number and press E/yes. See also LCN Finder.

	Set Color Code (DMR only). Scroll to select and press E/yes. Defaults to Search.
	Set RAN/Area (NXDN only). Scroll to select and press E/yes. Defaults to Search.

Delete Frequency At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

Set Modulation (no P25) This setting selects the modulation used for the Site. The default setting is Auto. See also Site Modulation.

Auto, NFM, or FM

Set Attenuator This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on the Site by about 20dBs. The default setting is Off. See also Attenuation.

On or Off

Set Filter This allows you to set a Filter for the site. This setting will override the Global Auto Filter.

Scroll to Global, Normal, Invert, Auto, Wide Normal, Wide Invert, Wide Auto, or Off. Global will use the Global Auto Filter setting.

Set Avoid This determines whether a Site will be scanned or not. Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power. The default setting is Stop Avoiding.
See also Avoiding Transmissions.

Stop Avoiding, Temporary Avoid, or Permanent Avoid

Set P25 NAC Option (no P25 X2) This allows you to have the scanner search for NAC codes or you can program a specific code for the System.
The default setting is Search.

Search - The scanner opens squelch for any digital signal and displays the NAC being used blinking.
Set P25 NAC - The scanner shows and opens squelch only for signals that include the programmed NAC.

See Data Naming.

Set Location Information This allows you program a location for the Site to use with Use Location Control enabled or with a GPS.
You can program a circle with a radial range or multiple rectangles as a location.
See Set Up GPS first to setup your GPS format.

Circle

Set Latitude

Enter the latitude. Press .no to toggle N or S, and press E/yes.

Set Longitude

Enter the longitude. Press .no to toggle E or W, and press E/yes.

Set Range See also Understanding Range.

0-6000.

Rectangles

New Rectangle

Latitude -Top Left

Enter the latitude. Press .no to toggle N or S, and press E/yes.

Longitude -Top Left

Enter the longitude. Press .no to toggle E or W, and press E/yes.

Latitude - Right Bottom

Enter the latitude. Press .no to toggle N or S, and press E/yes.

Longitude - Right Bottom

Enter the longitude. Press .no to toggle E or W, and press E/yes.

Stored Rectangle

Edit Rectangle See New Rectangle above.

Delete Rectangle

At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

Digital Waiting Time (Motorola only) This setting gives the scanner time to determine if channels on Conventional Systems have digital or analog transmissions. During this time, the scanner will evaluate the received signal and, if it detects digital data, will open squelch immediately. If digital is not detected before the delay expires, the scanner will open squelch at the end of this delay. This is to prevent "false decode" problems. This setting only affects conventional channels with an Audio Type set to All.
The default setting is 400 ms.

0 to 1000

Note: Any analog transmissions will lose the first part of the transmission up to the wait time you set here.

Delete Site At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

New Site See New Site.

Programming Frequencies/TGIDs

Contents

Quickly Storing a Frequency/ID

In Scan Mode press Channel to hold on any channel.
Enter the Frequency or ID and press E/yes.
See also Edit Frequency or ID.

Notes: You can also save any Frequency/ID in the display by pressing E/yes.
You have to enter a TGID/frequency in the proper format for the system you are holding on. Example: You can’t enter a Motorola Type II TGID when holding on an LTR system.
Quick Save is not allowed for I-Call IDs.

Store a Frequency into a “Quick Save” Favorites List

At Quick frequency save? Press E/yes.

The scanner will save the Frequency in a Favorites List called Quick Save Favorites List, in a System called Quick Save System, in a Department called Quick Save Department (with no quick keys assigned).

Store a TGID into a “Quick Save” Department in Current System

At Quick TGID Save? Press E/yes.

The scanner will save the ID in a Department called Quick Save Department (with no quick key assigned) in the current system.

Store a Frequency or ID into an Existing Favorites List

At Quick frequency/TGID Save? Press .no.

Select Favorites List Scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
Select System Scroll to the System and press E/yes.
Select Department Scroll to the Department and press E/yes.

After storing the Frequency/ID, you will be at the Channel Options menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don’t want to edit the channel settings press Avoid to return.

New Channel/Channel Options
Press Menu then scroll to Manage Favorites and press E/yes.
Scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
Scroll to Review/Edit System and press E/yes.
Scroll to the System and press E/yes.
Scroll to Edit Department and press E/yes.
Scroll to the Department and press E/yes.
Scroll to Edit Channel and press E/yes.

To Create a New Channel scroll to New Channel and press E/yes.
At Input Frequency/TGID enter the frequency or ID and press E/yes.
See also Edit Frequency or ID

To Edit an Existing Channel scroll to the Channel and press E/yes.

Note: You can also edit any Channel in the display by pressing E/yes.

Note: Not all options will appear for all channels.

Contents

	Edit Name	Set Delay Time
	Edit Frequency or TGID	Set Priority
	Set TDMA Slot (DMR 1 Trunk only)	Set Alert
	Set Audio Type (Conventional/Motorola only)	Set Avoid
	Set Channel Number Tag	Volume Offset
	Set Modulation	Delete Channel
	Set Attenuator	New Channel
	Set Service Type

Edit Name See Data Naming.

Edit Frequency or TGID See also Entering IDs for partial IDs.

Enter the frequency or ID and press E/yes to save. Press .no for a hyphen.

To enter an I-Call ID (no LTR), press .no once for an 'i' then enter the ID and press E/yes.

To enter a Wildcard I-Call (any) ID (no LTR), press .no once for an 'i' then enter 0 and press E/yes.

To enter Hexadecimal IDs, see Data Naming.

To program a Unit ID, see Edit Unit IDs.

Notes: If the channel is already stored in the group TGID or Frequency Exists Accept? (Y/N) appears. Press .no to return.
You can also Avoid wildcard and partial IDs.

Set TDMA Slot (DMR 1 Trunk only)

Select Any for either or slot 1 or 2.

Set Audio Type (Conventional/Motorola only) Select All if this channel might contain both digital and analog signals.
If you are sure the channel is analog, set the channel to Analog Only.

All - The scanner determines whether the audio is analog or digital.

Digital Only - The scanner will receive the channel only if it is carrying digital audio.

Digital Code Option (Conventional only)

Search - the scanner searches and displays any digital code received.
Set P25 NAC - allows you to program a NAC code. See Data Naming.

	Set DMR Color Code (DMR only) allows you to program a Color Code.
	Set NEXEDGE RAN (NXDN only) allows you to program a RAN (Random Access Number).
	Set IDAS Area (NXDN IDAS only) allows you to program an IDAS Area (Icom Digital Advanced System) Area.

Note: You can also store a (blinking) code when receiving the frequency in scan mode by pressing E/yes.

Analog Only - The scanner will only receive analog audio.

Set CTCSS/DCS (Conventional only)

Search - The scanner searches and displays any CTCSS or DCS tone.

Note: You can also store a (blinking) CTCSS/DCS tone/code when receiving a frequency in scan mode by pressing E/yes.

CTCSS - the scanner only opens squelch if the CTCSS tone you select is also present with the signal. Scroll to the desired CTCSS tone you want present with the signal. Press E/yes to save.
DCS - the scanner only opens squelch if the DCS code you select is also present with the signal. Scroll to the desired DCS code you want present with the signal. Press E/yes to save.
Set Lockout - the scanner does not stop on the channel if the tone/code you select is present. Scroll to CTCSS or DCS and press E/yes.

Scroll to the desired tone/code you want locked out and press E/yes to save.

Set Channel Number Tag This allows you to number a Channel so you can access it quickly from Channel Hold Mode. The default setting is no number tag (blank).
See also Using Number Tags.

Enter the number tag (0-999) (Press .no to clear display).

Set Modulation (Conventional only) This setting selects the modulation used for the channel. The default setting is Auto. See also Channel Modulation.

Auto, AM, FM, NFM, WFM, or FMB (FM Broadcast)

Set Attenuator (Conventional only) This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on the Channel by about 20dB. The default setting is Off.
See also Attenuation.

On or Off

Set Service Type This sets the Service Type for The Channel. The Appendix has a list of Service Types and their general descriptions. Default is Custom 1.

Scroll to the Service Type and press E/yes.

Set Delay Time This sets (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel. A negative delay will force a resume after that number of seconds. The default setting is 2 seconds.

-10 -5, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 30 sec.

Set Priority This sets the channel as a priority channel while scanning. The default setting is Off. Note: To use Priority ID Scan you must also enable Priority ID Scan for each System. See also Priority Scanning.

On or Off

Set Alert This setting controls when and how the scanner alerts you if the channel becomes active. The default setting is Off.

Set Alert Tone

Alert 1-9 or Off.

Set Level

Level 1-15 or Auto (the master volume level).

Set Alert Light

Set Color

Off, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow, or White.

Set Pattern

On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink.

Set Avoid This determines whether a channel will be scanned or not. Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power. The default setting is Stop Avoiding.
See also Avoiding Transmissions.

Stop Avoiding, Temporary Avoid, or Permanent Avoid

Volume Offset This sets the Volume Offset for the Channel. See also Channel Volume Offset.

-3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, or +3

Delete Channel At Confirm Delete? press E/yes or .no.

New Channel See New Channel.

Set Scan Selection

Contents

Press Menu then scroll to Set Scan Selection and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

Select Lists to Monitor This setting enables or disables your Favorites Lists, Search with Scan, and the Database for scanning. You must first enable each list here, before you can enable the quick key for the list or you will see 'Nothing to Scan' in the display. Note: You will also need to set a location to enable the Full Database.

Scroll to each Favorites List, the Full Database, or Search with Scan and press E/yes to enable or disable.
For Search with Scan, see also Search with Scan and Edit Custom Search.

Manage Quick Key Status This is one way to enable or disable your System QKs and Favorites Lists QKs. The other way is using the number keys on the keypad.
Department/Site QKs can only be enabled/disabled with the keypad (or in the software). See also Selecting Quick Keys.

Favorites Quick Key

Scroll to each Favorites List QK and press E/yes to enable or disable. Press Menu to return.

System Quick Key

Scroll to each Favorites List and press E/yes.

Favorites List

Scroll to each System QK and press E/yes to enable or disable. Press Menu to return.

Set Nationwide Systems (Full Database Only) This setting enables or disables Nationwide Systems in the Full Database, only when the Full Database is enabled.

Scroll to each Nationwide System and press E/yes to enable or disable.

Set All Lists Off/On These settings disable or enable all Favorites Lists, Search with Scan, and the Full Database for scanning.

Press E/yes to toggle each setting.

Manage Full Database

Contents

Press Menu then scroll to Manage Full Database and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

Review Avoids You can review all Database Avoids and Stop Avoiding each one. Temporary Avoids appear reversed in the display.
Note: The Full Database must be enabled to Review Database Avoids.
See also Review Scan Avoids.

Scroll to each System, Department, or Channel and press E/yes to stop avoiding.

Stop All Avoiding This will stop avoiding all Systems, Departments, Sites, and Channels in the Full Database. See also Clear All Scan Avoids.

At Confirm? press E/yes or .no.

Information This will show the database version in the scanner.

Using Startup Keys

Contents

You can program each of your Favorites Lists with a Startup Key (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those Favorites List(s) assigned to the key will be enabled for scan. Systems are not affected. Caution: If you press the wrong key when you press the power key to set your startup configuration, and that wrong key doesn’t have any Favorites Lists assigned to that key, you will start up your scanner with all systems Avoided-Nothing to Scan. You will have to re-power the scanner with the correct Startup Key, or re-enable them in Set Scan Selection>Select Lists to Monitor.

1. Turn the scanner off.

2. Press and hold the number key that corresponds to the startup key when you turn the scanner on.

3. Continue holding the number key until the scanner display shows the number of the startup key configuration.

The scanner then checks all Favorites Lists and:

1. Favorites Lists that are assigned to the Startup Key pressed are changed to Monitor Status On.

2. Favorites Lists that are not assigned to the Startup Key pressed are changed to Monitor Status Off.

Note: You can't cancel Startup Configuration, i.e. have your scanner startup with all systems unlocked the way they were before you used a Startup Configuration (unless you reset your systems, sites, and search ranges to 'no startup key').

Priority Scanning

Contents

Conventional Priority Scan When the scanner is scanning a Conventional System, it interrupts scanning, based on the Priority Interval and Max Channels settings, to check priority channels for activity. The more channels you have set to priority, the longer the interruption will be. The Favorites List(s) and System(s) containing the priority channel(s) have to be enabled (and not Avoided) or the scanner will display Priority Scan No Channel.

Conventional Priority DND The scanner checks priority channels, based on the Priority Interval and Max Channels settings, only when not receiving other conventional channels so there is no interruption in scanning with conventional systems.

Priority ID Scan This function is similar to conventional priority although there is no interruption during the transmission. Priority ID Scan is always on for a system if enabled in the system setting. Priority is checked in between transmissions, when the scanner is receiving the control channel, and during the channel delay period. The scanner can only look for priority IDs in the trunked system it is currently scanning.

Preemptive Priority ID Scanning For Motorola systems that have channel priority active on the system, if you flag a channel as priority and the system also has that TGID identified as a priority channel, the scanner will preempt any current transmission if the TGID becomes active.

The highest priority is for channels in System QK 0. The lowest priority is for channels in System QK 99. Priority for channels in the same Department follows the order in which they were created.

To Use Priority Scan you must first set your Priority Channels.
To Use Priority ID Scan you must enable Priority ID Scan for each system.

To Toggle Priority Modes in Scan Mode press Func then .no(Pri) to select On, DND On, or Off.

Priority Options

Press Menu then scroll to Priority Scan and press E/yes.

Set Priority Sets the Priority Mode. You can also toggle these modes in Scan Mode by pressing Func then .no(Pri) in Scan Mode.

Off - The Priority feature is off.

Priority DND - The scanner checks conventional priority channels only when not receiving other conventional channels.

PRI appears in the display reversed-.

Priority Scan - The scanner checks conventional priority channels.

PRI appears in the display.

Set Interval This sets (in seconds) how often the scanner will check the priority channels.

1-10 sec.

MaxChannels/Pri-Scan This sets the maximum number of priority channels that are scanned during one priority scan interrupt. If there are more priority channels than the value you select, the channels are divided into more than one group and the scanner scans each group in turn. Example: If you set the maximum channels to 20 and there are 100 priority channels, the scanner checks those 100 channels in groups of 20 and takes a total of 5 intervals to complete the priority scan.

1-100

Scanning Checklist

Contents

Scanning Checklist:
1. A location has to be set in Set Your Location to monitor the Full Database or FL's with 'Use Location Control' set to On.
2. You must enable at least one Favorites List or the Full Database in Select Lists to Monitor.
3. Favorites Lists, Systems, Departments and/or Sites with QKs assigned to them must be enabled with QKs or in Manage Quick Key Status.
4. Any FL with Use Location Control set to On must have locations programmed for the Departments and Sites.
5. Make sure ID Search is On for the system if no IDs are programmed.
6. Service Types for the channels you want to monitor must be set to On.

Any Favorites List not assigned to a quick key, not Avoided, and set to On in Select Lists to Monitor will be scanned.

Any System, Department, or Site not assigned to a QK and not Avoided, will be scanned.

If you are programming everything in Sentinel first and sending it to the scanner:

Edit Profile>Scan Selection tab: Make sure 'Monitor' and 'Download' are On for FL's you want to scan. Check or uncheck 'Monitor Full Database'.

Edit Profile>Service Types tab: Make sure Service Types you want to monitor are checked. Custom 1 is needed for miscellaneous channels.

Edit Profile>Location Settings tab: Make sure you have a location programmed for scanning the Full Database or FL's with 'Use Location Control' set to On.

Edit Profile>Quick Key Status tab: Make sure FLQKs are checked for FL's you want to monitor.

Edit Favorites List>System QK Status tab: Make sure SQKs are checked for systems you want to monitor.

Edit Favorites List>System>Options tab: Make sure 'ID Search' is On if no IDs are programmed.

Edit Favorites List>System>Dept/Site Quick Keys Status tab: Make sure Department/Site QKs are checked for departments/sites you want to monitor.

Edit Favorites List>System>Dept/Site>Location tab: Make sure Departments/Sites have locations programmed if 'Use Location Control' is set to On for the FL.

Scanning

Contents

With previous scanners, you selected banks to scan. With this scanner, you select Favorites Lists, Systems, Departments, and Sites to scan by assigning Quick Keys to them.
See also Understanding Quick Keys.

Scanning is performed with a mixture of FLQK order and SQK order. The scanner will not scan all Systems in one Favorites List and then move to the next List.
For each Favorites List, starting with 0, the scanner will scan each 0 SQK in FLQK order and then move to the next set of SQKs for each list.
All Department and Site QKs are scanned with each System.

Example:
FLQK 0, SQK 0, DQK 0-99; FLQK 1, SQK 0, DQK 0-99….
FLQK 98, SQK 99, DQK 0-99; FLQK 99, SQK, 99, DQK 0-99.
Systems, Departments, and Sites with the same QK are scanned in order of creation.
Conventional Channels in Departments are also scanned in order of creation.

The Database is scanned next, in order of creation. Then, Systems with no QK (including created Quick Save Systems) are scanned in order of creation.

Next, the ‘Search with Scan’ System, containing any Custom Searches or the Close Call Hits Department, is scanned in order (if Unavoided; Hits with Scan last).
‘Close Call Hits’ is a special department that automatically stores the frequencies found by Close Call. If the ‘Close Call Hits’ department has no frequencies, the scanner will not scan the system.

The scanner scans a system for the duration you set using the System Hold Time option. For trunked systems, the scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, the current transmission ends, and the channel delay expires. Conventional systems operate similarly, but all (Unavoided) channels are scanned at least one time regardless of the hold time setting.

IDs are not really scanned. The scanner checks for any activity in the trunking system and:

Will display all IDs when ID Search Mode is set to On.
Will display only programmed IDs when ID Search Mode is set to Off.

Change Direction or Resume Scan	Store a Channel from the Database	Close Call Hit
Selecting Quick Keys	Advanced Channel Memory	New Zip/Postal Code Location
View Current QK Status	Store a Search Frequency	Direct Frequency/ID Entry
View Any QK Status	Attenuation	Using Number Tags
Toggle Display Modes	Modulation	Review Scan Avoids
Replay the Last Transmissions	Select Service Types	Clear Scan Avoids in Current System
Start/Stop Recording	Intermediate Frequency Exchange	Clear All Scan Avoids
Review Recordings	View Repeater Frequency	Custom Search by Search QK
Toggle ID Scan or ID Search	Channel Volume Offset	Quick Search at Current Frequency
Scan Hold	Scan Priority Modes	Weather Scan
Avoiding Transmissions	Weather Alert Priority	Tone-Out Standby/Search
	Close Call Modes

Change Direction or Resume Scan
Turn the Scroll Control.

Contents

Selecting Quick Keys Leading 0’s not required but will show QK status.
See also View Current QK Status and View Any QK Status. See also Understanding Quick Keys.

Notes: You can press Menu or Avoid to cancel any entry. If you make a mistake entering numbers, you can use the scroll control to backup and correct entries.
If you disable all System QKs or all Department/Site QKs in a Favorites List, you will need to use the full entry that includes the FL to enable the QK.
Example: 3.1.4 to re-enable Department/Site QK 4. (..4 won't work).

Favorites List Quick Key Press the number key(s) assigned to the Favorites List, then press E/yes.

Example: 4, E/yes toggles FL 4.

System Quick Key in the Current List Press .no, the number key(s) assigned to the System(s), then E/yes.
Example: .3, E/yes toggles all Systems with SQK 3.

System Quick Key in a Different List Press the number key(s) assigned to the Favorites List, .no, the number key(s) assigned to the System(s), then E/yes.
Example: 0.4, E/yes toggles all Systems with SQK 4 in FL 0.

Department/Site Quick Key in the Current List Press .no, the number key(s) assigned to the System(s), .no, the number key(s) assigned to the Department(s) or Site(s), then E/yes.
Example: .2.4, E/yes toggles all Departments/Sites with QK 4, in all Systems with SQK 2.

Department/Site Quick Key in a Different List Press the number key(s) assigned to the Favorites List, .no, the number key(s) assigned to the System, .no, the number key(s) assigned to the Department(s) or Site(s), then E/yes.
Example: 3.1.4, E/yes toggles all Departments/Sites with QK 4, in all Systems with SQK 1, in FL 3.

Department/Site Quick Key in the Current System Press .no twice, the number key(s) assigned to the Department(s) or Site(s), then E/yes.
Example: ..3, E/yes toggles all Departments/Sites with Department/Site QK 3.

View Current QK Status

Scan Menu

Favorites List QK - F# is first digit of current FLQK.
Blinking number on the right is second digit of current FLQK.
Scanning FL 1.

System QK - S# is first digit of SQK.
Blinking number on the right is second digit of current SQK.
Scanning SQK 1.

Department/Site QK - D# is first digit of current Department/Site QK.
Blinking number on the right is second digit of current Department/Site QK.
(Will not blink if only Department or Site)
Scanning Department/Site QK 1.

View Any QK Status Use the examples below. Press Avoid to exit the QK Navigation screen, or .no until display clears.
Notes: Leading 0's required to view complete status. You can press Menu or Avoid to cancel any entry.

Scan Menu Contents

.. shows status of SQKs in current FL.

..# shows status of Department/Site QKs #0-#9 in current System.

FLQKs 0-9 - Press 0.

FLQKs 10-19 - Press 1. FLQKs 20-29 - Press 2, etc.

FLQKs 0-3 On in Select Lists to Monitor and On in Set QK Status.
FLQKs 4-6 On in Select Lists to Monitor and Off in Set QK Status.
FLQKs 7-9 Off in Select Lists to Monitor (or not assigned).

FLQKs 10-13 On in Select Lists to Monitor and On in Set QK Status.
FLQKs 14-19 Off in Select Lists to Monitor (or not assigned).

FLQK 0 - SQKs 0-9 Press 0.0.

FLQK 33 - SQKs 40-49 Press 33.4.

FLQKs 0-3 On in Select Lists to Monitor and On in Set QK Status.
FLQKs 4-9 Off in Select Lists to Monitor (or not assigned).
SQKs 0-3 On in Set QK Status,
4-9 Off in Set QK Status (or not assigned) in FL 0.

FLQKs 30-33 On in Select Lists to Monitor and On in Set QK Status.
FLQKs 34-36 On in Select Lists to Monitor and Off in Set QK Status.
FLQKs 37-39 Off in Select Lists to Monitor (or not assigned).
SQKs 40-43 On in Set QK Status,
44-49 Off in Set QK Status (or not assigned) in FL 33.

FLQK 0 - SQK 0 - Dept/Site QKs 0-9 Press 0.0.0.

FLQK 1 - SQK 1 - Dept/Site QKs 0-9 Press 01.01.0.

FLQKs 0-3 On, 4-9 Off (or not assigned) in Select Lists to Monitor.
SQKs 0-3 On in Set QK Status,
4-9 Off in Set QK Status (or not assigned) in FL 0.
Dept/Site QKs 0-3 On, 4-7 Off, 8 and 9 not assigned in System 0.

FLQKs 0-3 On, 4-9 Off (or not assigned) in Select Lists to Monitor.
SQKs 0-3 On in Set QK Status,
4-9 Off in Set QK Status (or not assigned) in FL 1.
Dept/Site QKs 0-3 On, 4-9 not assigned in System 1.

FLQK 50 - SQK 13 - Dept/Site QKs 80-89 Press 50.13.8.

FLQKs 50-53 On in Select Lists to Monitor and Off in Set QK Status.
FLQKs 54-59 Off in Select Lists to Monitor (or not assigned).
SQKs 10-13 On in Set QK Status, 14-19 Off (or not assigned) in FL 50.
Dept/Site QKs 80-83 On, 84-87 Off, 88 and 89 not assigned in System 13.

Toggle Display Modes

Scan Menu Contents

To toggle between Simple and Detail displays, press Channel (softkey3) to hold on any channel. Press Func then 9(DISP).
To toggle between Color, B/W, and W/B displays, press Channel (softkey3) to hold on any channel. Press Func then press and hold 9(DISP) for 3 seconds.

Replay the Last Transmissions See also Replay Options.

While scanning, press Replay.
Turn the Scroll Control to select recordings.
Press Channel to pause/resume replay. Press Replay to exit.
Note: Replay is not available when recording is enabled.

Start/Stop Recording When you begin recording, your scanner adds the Replay recording buffer to the recording.
These recording sessions are saved and can be replayed from the Review Recordings menu. See also Replay Options.

While scanning, press Func then Replay.

Review Recordings

While scanning, press and hold Replay. Scroll to the session and press E/yes.
At Play Session press E/yes. Turn the Scroll Control to select recordings.
Press Channel (softkey3) to pause/resume recordings. Press Replay to exit.

Toggle ID Scan or ID Search

While scanning each Trunked System, press Func then E/yes.
Note: ID Search is not available with the Database.

Scan Hold

Channel Hold

Press Channel (softkey3) to hold on a Channel. You can now scroll all Channels.
Press Channel (softkey3) to release Channel Hold.

Department Hold

Press Dept (softkey2) to pause for 2 seconds then hold on any Department.
(Department is reversed in the display for Pause Mode)
Double press Dept (softkey2) to hold without a pause.
Press Dept (softkey2) then quickly scroll to any Department in Pause Mode.
Double press Dept (softkey2) to release Department Hold.

System Hold

Press System (softkey1) to pause for 2 seconds then hold on any System.
(System is reversed in the display for Pause Mode)
Double press System (softkey1) to hold without a pause.
Press System (softkey1) then quickly scroll to any System in Pause Mode.
Double press System (softkey1) to release System Hold.

Site Hold

Press Func then Site (softkey2) to hold on any Site in the current System.
Press Func then Site (softkey2) and quickly scroll to the Site in Pause Mode.
(Site is reversed in the display for 2 seconds in Pause Mode)
Press Func then Site (softkey2) to release Site Hold.

Avoiding Transmissions Avoids are common to every System in the Favorites List. Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power.
See also Review Scan Avoids.

Scan Menu
Contents

Channel Avoid

When the Channel is in the display or in Channel Hold Mode:
To Temporary Avoid press Avoid.
To Permanent Avoid press Avoid twice quickly.

Department Avoid

When the Department is in the display or Department Hold Mode:
To Temporary Avoid press Dept then quickly press Avoid.
To Permanent Avoid press Dept then quickly press Avoid twice.

System Avoid

When the System is in the display or in System Hold Mode:
To Temporary Avoid press System then quickly press Avoid.
To Permanent Avoid press System then quickly press Avoid twice.

Site Avoid

In Site Hold Mode (Func then Dept):
To Temporary Avoid press Func then Site and quickly press Avoid.
To Permanent Avoid press Func then Site and quickly press Avoid twice.
Press Func then Site to release Site Hold.

Store a Channel from the Full Database

See Add to Favorites List in the Advanced Channel Menu below.

Advanced Channel Menu While the channel is in the display, press E/yes.

Edit Current Channel - Then see Channel Options.

Add to Favorites List

At Saving channel to Favorites List, press E/yes.
Scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
For a New Favorites List Then see Data Naming.

The channel will be saved in the new or stored list with the channel’s System and Department (and all Sites in the System for an ID).

Save Sub Audio/P25 NAC - CTCSS Tone, DCS/NAC Code, Color Code, or TDMA slot (blinking).

At Are you sure?, press E/yes.

Save Talk Group ID Into the current System, Unknown Talk Group ID with ID Search.

At Are you sure?, press E/yes.
At Select Department, scroll to the Department and press E/yes.
New Department Then see Data Naming.

After storing the ID, you will be at the Channel Options menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don’t want to edit the settings press Avoid to return.

Save Unit ID - The Unit ID will be stored in the current system.

At Are you sure?, press E/yes.

After storing the Unit ID, you will be at the Edit Unit ID menu to complete the settings for the Unit ID. If you don’t want to edit the settings press Avoid to return.

Store a Search Frequency
(Search with Scan)

Scan Menu
Contents

Press E/yes. Then see Storing Search Frequencies.

Attenuation

Conventional Channel Attenuation - Press Channel to hold on the channel.
Press Func then 4(ATT) to toggle attenuation. Press Channel to resume.
Site Attenuation - Press Func then Dept (softkey2) to hold on the Site.
Press Func then 4(ATT) to toggle attenuation. Press Func then Site (softkey2) to resume.

Global Attenuation - Press Channel to hold on any channel.
Press Func then press and hold 4(ATT) to toggle global attenuation. Press Channel to resume.

Modulation

Conventional Channel Modulation - Press Channel to hold on the Channel.
Press Func then MOD (softkey3) to toggle modulation.
Press Channel to release Channel Hold.

Site Modulation Press Func then Dept (softkey2) to hold on the Site.
   Press Channel to hold on any Channel.
   Press Func then MOD (softkey3) to toggle modulation.
   Press Channel to release Channel hold.
   Press Func then Site (softkey2) to release Site Hold Mode.

Select Service Types

Press Func then Zip/Services.
Scroll to each Service Type and press E/yes to enable or disable.

Intermediate Frequency Exchange See also Intermediate Frequency Exchange.

Press Channel to hold on the channel.
Press Func then 7(IFX) to toggle on or off. Press Channel to resume.

View Repeater Frequency for a Conventional Channel

Press Channel to hold on the channel.
Press Func then press and hold 8(REV). Press Channel to resume.

Channel Volume Offset

Press Channel to hold on the channel.
Press Func then press 0(LVL) to toggle +1, +2, +3, -3, -2, -1, or 0.
Press Channel to resume.

Scan Priority Modes

Press Func then .no(PRI) to toggle Priority Mode Off, On, or DND On.

Weather Alert Priority

Press Channel to hold on any channel.
Press Func then 6(WX) to toggle on or off. Press Channel to resume.

Close Call Modes

Scan Menu
Contents

Press Func then toggle Close Call (soft key1) to change CC Off, CC Pri, or CC DND.

Close Call Hit See Using Close Call.

*New Zip/Postal Code Location*
	Press Zip/Services. Select your Country, and enter a zip/postal code. See also Set Your Location.

Direct Frequency/ID Entry

Press Channel to hold on any Channel.
Enter the Frequency/ID and press Channel.
Press to Scan (soft key1) to exit.

Using Number Tags

If two Favorites Lists have the same number tag, they will be selected in sequence. The first time you select the number tag, the scanner will go to the first Favorites List assigned to that number tag; if you select the same number tag again, it will go to the 2nd Favorites List assigned to that number tag, and so on. The same rule applies to System and Channel number tags (So don't start with 0 for all your systems and channels).

Go To Number Tag (Leading 0’s not required)
Press Channel to hold on any channel.
Enter the Favorites number tag, .no, the System number tag, .no, then the Channel number tag and press Channel.
Press Channel to resume.
Examples:
2.5.6 to go to Channel 6 in System 5 in Favorites List 2.
1.10.36 to go to Channel 36 in System 10 in Favorites List 1.
.10.36 to go to Channel 36 in System 10 in current Favorites List.
..36 to go to Channel 36 in current System.
2. to go to Favorites List 2 (1st channel in 1st department in 1st system).
2.5. to go to System 5 in Favorites List 2 (1st channel in 1st department).

Review Scan Avoids
You can Review Avoids for the Database or for each Favorites List.

Scan Menu
Contents

Press Channel to hold on any channel.
Press Func then Avoid and scroll to select each Avoid. Temporary Avoids appear reversed in the display.
Press E/yes to Stop Avoiding.
Press Avoid to return. Press Channel to release Hold Mode.
See also Manage Full Database and Manage Favorites Lists. See also System Options to review ID Avoids.

Clear Scan Avoids in Current System

Press Channel to hold on any channel in the current System.
Press and hold Avoid.
Press Channel to release Hold Mode.

Clear All Scan Avoids See also Manage Full Database and Manage Favorites Lists.

You can Clear all Avoids for the Database or for each Favorites List.
Press Channel to hold on any channel in the current Favorites List or the Database.
Press Func then press and hold Avoid.
At Stop Avoiding All Systems?, press E/yes.
Press Channel to release Hold Mode.

Custom Search by Search Quick Key

Press Channel to hold on any channel.
Press Func then 1(SRCH1), 2(SRCH2), or 3(SRCH3), to start a Custom Search, Close Call Only, or Tone-Out Search assigned to a Search Key.
Then see Searching.

Quick Search at Current Frequency

Press Channel to hold on the frequency.
Press Func then E/yes. At Quick Search? Press E/yes.

Weather Scan

Press Channel to hold on any channel.
Press Func then press and hold 6(WX).

Tone-Out Standby/Search

Assign Tone-Out Standby/Search to a Search Key.

Using Filters

Contents

Filters were introduced as a firmware update and are used to fine tune reception problems adding additional countermeasures to help in strong signal areas (especially for VHF/UHF). Three RF high pass filters (HPF) were available, "Normal" (always use HPF), "Invert" (always use inverted HPF), and "Auto" (try HPF then if no signal detected to open squelch, try inverted HPF). If 'Auto' is selected, conventional scan and search speed will be greatly slowed, as every frequency on which a signal is not detected on first pass will be rescanned using the inverted HPF setting.(3)

Another firmware update added "Wide Normal", "Wide Invert" and "Wide Auto" filter options for FM performance improvement. When you pick this setting, the filter becomes weaker for interference on a nearby frequency. However, the linearity of the IF can be maintained even when there is strong interference within the band, and the reception may be improved in some cases.(3) Another update gave us an 'Off' option.

Because there has been little documentation released from Uniden, they are basically trial and error. They work differently for different transmissions and locations so one setting may work for one person and not the other for the same system. Choosing the right filter may improve performance for some systems.
You can set filters only for conventional Departments and trunked Sites.

The Global setting will set all Searches, Departments, and Sites which can then be overridden for each Search and Close Call, Department option, or Site option if desired.

With that said, all I can do is refer you to interesting links that may help you out.

Using Filters What is the difference with all the filters in the sds100 scanner?
Global Filter Modes BCD436HP vs. SDS100 Missing Transmissions SDS100 Questions

Using a GPS

Contents

You can connect the scanner to a NMEA compatible GPS device and set the scanner to automatically Avoid and Unavoid Departments and Sites based on your current location. This frees you from having to manually enable and disable Departments and Sites as you change locations. The scanner uses the data, supplied by an (optional) attached GPS unit, that allows the radio to automatically unlock and lockout sites/departments based on latitude and longitude. It uses the (programmed) center of the site/group, and the (programmed) range - the radius of a circle around the latitude and longitude up to 125 miles from that center. Or, you can use multiple rectangles to define scanning areas.
The GPS device must have a serial (RS-232) output, and be capable of outputting standard NMEA-0183 v3.01 compliant location data, and GGA/RMC data sentences at 4800 bps.

For the SDS100, use the mini USB jack (USB2) under the flap to connect to the scanner.
The SDS200 has a 'phone' type jack and another micro USB jack on the rear.
You should select a baud rate of (4800 bps) for the serial port in the Set Your Location menu.

ScannerMaster also offers a Universal GPS kit for many different Uniden scanners.

For all Favorites Lists with 'Use Location Control' set to On, all Sites/Departments with locations set and not within range of your current location will be temporarily Avoided.
For all Favorites Lists with 'Use Location Control' set to Off, all Sites/Departments without locations set will still be scanned.

A good application of this feature would be to set the longitude and latitude for each multi-site system transmitter as usually you can receive at least a handful in any given location. Set the scan range to 0 for your location and the scanner will automatically Avoid or Unavoid Sites when in and out of range.
It may also be relevant to set different locations/ranges for the Departments within the site.

You can find the physical location of antennas using the databases available at Radio Reference or the FCCs Antenna Structure Registration site.
Both sites list the latitude, longitude, and height of the antenna and both sites can map the exact location for you.

Once the scanner completes the initial GPS review, if you move into or out of an area covered by a Site/Department, the scanner will Avoid and Unavoid Sites and Departments according to Range settings for the scanner and Sites/Departments. If you cycle power, all Sites/Departments are Unavoided until the scanner reacquires the GPS signal and completes the initial GPS review.

Note: If you unplug your GPS device or it loses reception to satellites, the scanner will use the last known location as the current location.
See also Set Your Location to set your Location, Range, and relevant GPS options and Understanding Location Control and Understanding Range.

Using Analyze

Contents

Analyze allows you to view signal strength, signal quality and activity on sites in trunked systems.
There is a 'Power Plot' feature that allows you to view frequency strength for up to 16 seconds.
It also has a LCN finder for EDACS, DMR, NXDN, and LTR systems.
Each site and system has to be enabled for scan (QK on, not avoided) for analyze to use them.

System Status
At 'Input System Name' press E/yes to see enabled systems, or scroll to enter the first letter of system if many and press E/yes.
At 'Select Site' scroll to select site press E/yes.
The display will show the control channel signal strength, the control channel decode quality, and the level of system activity.

LCN Finder
At 'Input System Name' press E/yes to see enabled systems, or scroll to enter the first letter of system if many and press E/yes.
At 'Select Site' scroll to select site press E/yes.
The LCN finder will help to determine the correct LCN assignments for each frequency. It will also overwrite any existing LCN numbers if you save the results.
If the control channel signal is lost for more than 10 seconds, the LCN finder will reset.
This function depends on the system having voice traffic to determine the correct LCNs. The more traffic, the faster it will complete. The LCN Finder makes an attempt to determine the correct LCN assignments for the programmed frequencies on a site. Best results are achieved when the site is not extremely busy.

For a Capacity Plus system to find another LCN, there must be at least two simultaneous comms on the system. For LTR sites each LCN is determined immediately when it becomes active. For EDACS sites the scanner evaluates the correlation between channel grants and frequency activity.

The scanner will notify you when all LCN number are found. You can tap Save to save the LCN's for the frequencies or tap Cancel.
If the Finder does not finish or you want to exit, press to Scan (softkey1) to save what you have.
Pressing Func then Menu will return you to the Analyze Menu.

Because the process uses statistical correlation it can result in false finds, especially on a busy site. Running the LCN Finder several times is recommended.

Discovery Mode

Contents

Trunking Discovery Mode allows you to monitor a trunked radio Site for channels not currently in the database.
It can automatically record audio and log newly discovered channels for later review and identification.

Conventional Discovery Mode lets you monitor a range of frequencies that are not already known to be in use in your area. This includes frequencies used conventionally as well as in trunked radio systems. It can automatically record audio and log newly discovered channels for later review and identification so that you can more easily identify the users.

Both modes allow you to listen while discovering, have the option to compare hits to the Database, and log all hits or just new hits.
You can create and save several sessions with different settings. You can also download sessions using the 'Discovery Log Viewer' in the Sentinel Software.

Every time you start a session you create a 'Run'. Review Discovery allows you to review the Run results, resume Runs, or restart saved Discovery Sessions.

If you use the Auto Store option, Discovery will create a new Favorites List called Trunking Discovery, or Conventional Discovery.
Each Session will create a new System, and each Run will create a new Department for IDs or frequencies found.

Before using this mode, set your location and location range, and enable the Database or Favorites Lists to use for Discovery.

New Session

Press Menu then scroll to Discovery and press E/yes.
Scroll to Trunking Discovery or Conventional Discovery and press E/yes.
Scroll to New Session and press E/yes.

Conventional Discovery

Input Session Name - Enter the Name and press E/yes. See Data Naming.

Trunking Discovery

Input System Name - Press E/yes to display enabled systems and scroll to system. Press E/yes to select.

Notes: To select the trunked system:
1. The trunked system must be enabled in 'Select Lists to Monitor',
2. The system/site QKs must be enabled for scan in 'Set Quick Key Status' (if assigned to one), and
3. The service types for channels in the system must be enabled.

Select Site - Scroll to the Site to use in the system and press E/yes.
Input Session Name - Enter the Name and press E/yes. See Data Naming.

Session Options

Press Menu then scroll to Discovery and press E/yes.
Scroll to Trunking/Conventional Discovery and press E/yes.
Scroll to the Discovery Session and press E/yes.

Edit Session Name	Set Logging	Set Auto Store
Set Limit Frequencies	Set Compare to Database	Delete Session
Set Modulation	Set Record Duration	Change System
Set Step	Set Time-Out Timer	Start Discovery
Set Delay	System Info	Review Discovery

Edit Session Name This allows you to name a Session.

See Data Naming.

Set Limit Frequencies (Conventional Only) This sets the lower and upper frequencies for the conventional discovery session.

Set Lower Limit - Enter the lower limit.
Set Upper Limit - Enter the upper limit.

Set Modulation (Conventional Only) This sets the modulation for the conventional discovery session.

Auto, AM, FM, NFM, WFM, or FMB (FM Broadcast)

Set Step (Conventional Only) This sets the step size for the conventional discovery session.

Auto, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, or 100 kHz.

Set Delay This sets the Delay when monitoring a site or frequencies.

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 sec.

Set Logging This will log all hits or just new hits.

All or New Only

Set Compare to Database Select On to compare hits against all channels currently enabled (Database and Favorites Lists) and the scanner will not record hits for known channels. Only new channels will have audio recorded (if recording is enabled). Select Off to treat all hits as new channels.

On or Off

Set Record Duration This sets the max record duration of the transmission.

None 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 300, or 600 sec.

Set Time-Out Timer This is used to keep a stuck channel from stealing the whole Run in a session.

Off, 10, 30, or 60 sec.

System Info (Trunking Only) This will show you the Database used, the system type, system used, and site used.

Set Auto Store This turns Auto Store on and will create a Favorites List called Conventional or Trunking Discovery.

On or Off

Delete Session This deletes the session.

At Confirm Delete? Press E/yes or .no.

Change System (Trunking Only) This allows you to select or change the System and Site used for the session.

Input System Name

Press E/yes to display enabled systems and scroll to system. Press E/yes to select.
Notes: To select the system:
1. The trunked system must be enabled in 'Select Lists to Monitor',
2. The system/site QKs must be enabled for scan in 'Set Quick Key Status' (if assigned to one), and
3. The service types for the channels in the system must be enabled.

Select Site

Scroll to the Site to use for the session.

Start Discovery
Before using this mode, set your location and location range, and enable the Database or Favorites Lists to use for Discovery.

Press Menu then scroll to Discovery and press E/yes.
Scroll to Trunking/Conventional Discovery and press E/yes.
Scroll to the Discovery Session and press E/yes.
At Start Discovery press E/Yes.
To Exit Discovery Mode press to Scan (soft key1).

Press Avoid to Avoid a hit.
Press Menu to stop and review the Run information. See Review Discovery.

Review Discovery

In Review Discovery mode, you can review the results of discovery mode runs, resume runs, or restart saved discovery sessions.
You can download and review sessions in the Sentinel software. You can also listen/copy recordings from the SD card in "Mass Storage" mode.
Download sessions using the 'Discovery Log Viewer' in the Sentinel Software.

Press Menu then scroll to Discovery and press E/yes.
Scroll to Review Discovery and press E/yes.

Scroll to Trunking/Conventional Discovery Results and press E/yes.

Scroll to select each Run and press E/yes.

Review Run Results

Summary - List by each frequency.

Detail - List by each hit.

Restart this Run - Delete all log files.

Restart? Press E/yes or .no.

Resume this Run - Continue without deleting log files.

Resume? Press E/yes or .no.

Delete this Run

Confirm Delete? Press E/yes or .no.

Rename this Run

See Data Naming.

Run Information

This will show you the location info, range, the Database used, the system used, system type, site used, and other Session options.

Search/Close Call Options

Contents

These are the settings you should look at before you perform a Quick Search, or Close Call Search.

Press Menu. Scroll to Srch/CloCall Opt and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

Freq Avoids	Set Delay Time	Set Filter
Broadcast Screen	Set Attenuator	Digital Waiting Time
Repeater Find

Freq Avoids This allows you to review Avoided Frequencies or Stop Avoiding all Frequencies for Searching and Close Call search.
Temporary Avoids are noted with a T.

Stop All Avoiding See also Clear All Search Avoids.

At Confirm? Press E/yes or .no.

Rvw Search Avoid See also Review Search Avoids.

Scroll to the Frequency and press E/yes to Stop Avoiding.

Broadcast Screen Automatically ignores transmissions that are on common broadcasts, paging systems, and other annoyance radio sources during Custom Search, Quick Search, or Close Call Search. You can select common bands you want to ignore or program custom bands. The default setting is Pager On.

Set All Band On/Off Turns Broadcast Screen On or Off for All Bands.

Set Each Band

Scroll to each Band and press E/yes to enable or disable.

Program Band

Band 0-9 Select for each band.

Set Lower Limit - Input the lower frequency limit.

Set Upper Limit - Input the upper frequency limit.

Press Menu to return and repeat for each band as needed.

Repeater Find Sets whether the scanner tries to tune to a repeater output frequency when it detects a transmission on a repeater input frequency in Search and Close Call modes. Turning this feature on can let you hear both sides of the conversation on the output frequency. The default setting is Off.

On or Off

Set Delay Time Determines how long the scanner waits after a transmission ends before resuming Quick Search and Close Call Search operations.
A negative delay will force a resume after that number of seconds. The default setting is 2 seconds.

-10, -5, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 30 sec. or Off.

Set Attenuator This controls the attenuator for Quick Search and Close Call operations by about 20dB. The default setting is Off. See also Search Attenuation.

On or Off

Set Filter Sets the Filter for Search and Close Call operations. This setting will override the Global Auto Filter.

Global, Normal, Invert, Auto, Wide Normal, Wide Invert, Wide Auto, or Off. Global will use the Global Auto Filter setting.

Digital Waiting Time This setting gives the scanner time to determine if frequencies have digital or analog transmissions. During this time, the scanner will evaluate the received signal and, if it detects digital data, will open squelch immediately. If digital is not detected before the delay expires, the scanner will open squelch at the end of this delay. This is to prevent "false decode" problems. The default setting is 400 ms.

0 to 1000 ms

Note: Any analog transmissions will lose the first part of the transmission, up to the wait time you set here.

Search for…

Contents

Press Menu. Scroll to Search for… and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

Edit Custom Search

Set Search Key

Search with Scan

Edit Custom Search
You can edit the 10 Custom Search ranges. The default custom search range names appear as Custom 0, Custom 1, and so on. See also Broadcast Screen and Repeater Find.

Custom 0-9 Select for each Custom Search.

Edit Name See Data Naming.

Edit Srch Limit

Set Lower Limit - Enter the lower limit.
Set Upper Limit - Enter the upper limit.

Set Delay Time

-10, -5, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 30 sec.

Set Modulation

Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM, or FMB (Broadcast)

Set Attenuator

On or Off

Set Step

Auto, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, or 100 kHz

Digital Waiting Time

This setting gives the scanner time to determine if frequencies have digital or analog transmissions. During this time, the scanner will evaluate the received signal and, if it detects digital data, will open squelch immediately. If digital is not detected before the delay expires, the scanner will open squelch at the end of this delay. This is to prevent "false decode" problems. The default setting is 400 ms.

0 to 1000 ms. Note: Any analog transmissions will lose the first part of the transmission, up to the wait time you set here.

Search with Scan

This setting allows you to enable the Custom Search in the ‘Search with Scan’ system. See also Select Lists to Monitor and Search with Scan in the Search for… menu.

Set Avoid

Stop Avoiding, Temporary Avoid, or Permanent Avoid

Set Hold Time Sets how long to search.

Enter the hold time 0-255 (sec.) and press E/yes to save.

Note: 0 will scan the complete range.

Set Search Key The scanner has three search keys that you can assign to a search range. The search keys are number keys 1, 2, and 3. This allows you to start a Custom, Tone-Out, Waterfall, or Close Call Search without having to go into the menus.

Search Key 1-3

. (nothing assigned), Custom Search 0-9, Tone-Out, or Close Call.

Search with Scan This is a special system that allows you to include Custom Searches and the ‘Hits with Scan’ department in Scan Mode. To search and scan at the same time you have to enable Search with Scan in Select Lists to Monitor, "Stop Avoiding" the Search with Scan System with this setting, and "Stop Avoiding" each Custom Search Department in Edit Custom Search and/or the Hits with Scan Department in Close Call Options.

Set System Avoid

Stop Avoiding, Temporary Avoid, or Permanent Avoid.

Searching

Contents

Quick Search

Allows you to start searching at the displayed frequency, or enter a frequency and start searching from that frequency in Search Hold or Channel Hold.
Quick Search will search all the way up to 1300 MHz or all the way down to 25 MHz then start over.

To Start a Quick Search from the Displayed Frequency:

Press Channel to hold on the Frequency.
Press Func then E/yes. At Quick Search? Press E/yes.

To Start a Quick Search from a New Frequency:

Press Channel to hold on any Channel or Frequency.
Enter the new frequency then press Channel to set the starting frequency.
Press Channel again to release Hold Mode and start searching.

To Exit Searching press to Scan (soft key1).

Custom Search

Allows you to search the scanners 10 programmed frequency ranges. See also Search/Close Call Options and Search for Menu.

Press Menu. Scroll to Search for... and press E/yes.
Scroll to Custom Search and press E/yes.
You can also start a Custom Search assigned to a QK by holding on any Channel in Scan Mode and pressing Func then 1, 2, or 3.
To exit Custom Search press to Scan (soft key1).

Change Direction or Resume Search

Turn the Scroll Control.

Select Custom Search Bands

Press the number keys to enable or disable each Custom Search band.

Replay the Last Transmissions You can set how long a period Replay records from 30 seconds to 240 seconds (4 minutes). See also Replay Options.

While searching, press Replay.
Turn the Scroll Control to select recordings.
Press Channel to pause/resume replay. Press Replay to exit.
Note: Replay is not available when recording is enabled.

Start/Stop Recording With your scanner, you can record transmissions. When you begin recording, your scanner adds the Replay recording buffer to the recording.
These recording sessions are saved and can be replayed on demand. See also Replay Options.

While searching, press Func then Replay.

Review Recordings

While searching, press and hold Replay. Scroll to the session and press E/yes.
At Play Session press E/yes. Turn the Scroll Control to select recordings.
Press Channel to pause/resume recordings. Press Replay to exit.

Frequency Hold

Press Channel to hold on a Frequency.
You can now scroll all Frequencies.
Press Channel to release Hold Mode.

Avoiding Search Frequencies

Avoids are common to all Searches.
Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power. See also Review Search Avoids.

To Temporary Avoid press Avoid.
To Permanent Avoid press Avoid twice quickly.

Storing Search Frequencies

Store a Frequency into a “Quick Save” Favorites List

Press E/yes when the Frequency is in the display.
At Quick Freq/TGID Save? Press E/yes.

The scanner will save the Frequency in a Favorites List called Quick Save Favorites List, in a System called Quick Save System, in a Department called Quick Save Department (with no quick keys assigned).

Store a Frequency into an Existing Favorites List

Press E/yes when the Frequency is in the display.
At Quick Freq/TGID Save? Press .no.

At Saving channel to Favorites List, press E/yes.
Select Favorites List Scroll to the Favorites List and press E/yes.
For a New Favorites List See Data Naming.
Select System Scroll to the System and press E/yes.
Select Department Scroll to the Department and press E/yes.

After storing the Frequency/ID, you will be at the Channel Options menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don’t want to edit the channel settings press Avoid to return.

Search Attenuation

Band Attenuation Press Func then 4(ATT) for each band.

Global Attenuation Press Func then press and hold 4(ATT).

Modulation

Press Func then Mod (softkey3) for each band.

Intermediate Frequency Exchange See also Intermediate Frequency Exchange.

Press Channel to hold on any Frequency.
Press Func then 7(IFX) to toggle on or off. Press Channel to resume.

View Repeater Frequency

Press Channel to hold on any Frequency.
Press Func then press and hold 8(REV). Press Channel to resume.

Weather Alert Priority

Press Func then 6(WX) to toggle on or off.

Close Call Modes

Press Func then toggle Close Call (soft key1) to change CC Off, CC Pri, or CC DND.

Close Call Hit See Using Close Call.

Direct Frequency Entry

Press Channel to hold on any Frequency
Enter the frequency and press Channel. Press to Scan (soft key1) to exit.

Review Search Avoids

You can Review Avoids for all Searches including Close Call. See also Freq Avoids.
Press Channel to hold on any Frequency in any Search Mode.
Press Func then Avoid and scroll to select each Frequency.
Temporary Avoids are noted with a T.
Press E/yes to Stop Avoiding.
Press Avoid to return. Press Channel to release Hold Mode.

Clear All Search Avoids

Press Channel to hold on any Frequency in any Search Mode.
Press and hold Avoid. Press Channel to release Hold Mode. See also Freq Avoids.

Search Menu
Press Func then Menu.

Close Call

Contents

Your scanner's Close Call feature lets you set the scanner so it detects, alerts you to, and displays the frequency of a nearby strong radio transmission. You can set the scanner so the Close Call feature checks for a Close Call hit every 2 seconds in the background while you are scanning or searching or use Close Call Only mode. You can also select the frequency band(s) to look for transmissions. When the scanner detects a Close Call hit, it alerts you according to the alert settings.

Close Call ‘Do-Not-Disturb' will only check for close call signals when you are not receiving transmissions.

'Hits with Scan' is a special system that automatically stores the last 10 Close Call hits until you cycle power.

The Close Call feature works well for locating the source of strong local transmissions such as mobile and handheld two-way radios in areas with no other strong transmission sources. Performance is increased with higher transmit power, a receive antenna tuned to the target band, and a low background RF level.

The Close Call feature works better with some types of transmissions than others. It might not correctly display frequency information for transmitters using a highly directional antenna (such as an amateur radio beam antenna) or if there are many transmitters operating at the same time in the same area.

Close Call Options

Important! There are many options and settings in Search/Close Call Options that affect and compliment the settings for Close Call. Please review those first.
Note: Close Call does not operate in Weather Scan or Tone-Out Standby/Search.
Press Menu. Scroll to Close Call and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

	Hits with Scan	Set CC Bands
	Set CC Mode	Using Close Call
	Set CC Alert

Hits with Scan This is a special Department that automatically stores the last 10 close call hits and allows you to scan them. To scan the 'Hits with Scan' department you have to enable Search with Scan in Select Lists to Monitor, "Stop Avoiding" the Search with Scan System, and "Stop Avoiding" the Department with this setting. The scanner will delete the frequencies in this department when you turn the power off. To store each frequency, you will have to 'Hold' on the department then 'Hold' on each channel in the department and use the 'Advanced Channel Menu' to 'Add to Favorites List'.

Set Avoid

Stop Avoiding, Temporary Avoid, or Permanent Avoid

Set Hold Time Sets how long to scan Close Call during each scan cycle.

Enter the hold time 0-255 (sec.) and press E/yes to save.

Set CC Mode selects the Close Call mode when scanning or searching.

Off- Close Call is turned off.
CC DND- Close Call checks for frequencies every two seconds between transmissions.
CC Priority- Close Call checks for frequencies every two seconds.

Note: You can also toggle these modes by pressing Func then Close Call (soft key1) in most modes.

Set CC Alert This allows you to set an Alert Tone, Alert Light, and sets the Pause time for Close Call when you receive a hit.

Set Alert Tone

Alert 1-9 or Off.

Set Level

Level 1-15 or Auto (the master volume level).

Set Alert Light

Set Color

Off, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow, or White.

Set Pattern

On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink.

Set CC Pause - How long the scanner displays the Close Call Hit.

3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, sec. or Infinite.

Set CC Bands lets you select the Close Call bands to be searched.

Scroll to each Band and press E/yes to toggle On or Off.
Press Menu to return.

	VHF Low 1 - 25-54 MHz	VHF High2 - 225-320 MHz
	VHF Low 2 - 54-108 MHz	UHF - 320-512 MHz
	Air Band - 108-137 MHz	800MHz+ - 758-960, 1240-1300 MHz
	VHF High1 - 137-225 MHz	(Cellular frequencies not scanned)

Using Close Call

Press Menu and scroll to Close Call then press E/yes. At Close Call Only press E/yes.
You can also assign it to a Search Key. See Set Search Key.
To exit Close Call Only press the to Scan soft key.

You will see activity on the 7 bands in the display. Bands with a * (asterisk) under them are turned off.

When the scanner detects a Close Call signal, the hit will appear for the length of time set in Close Call Pause or until the signal is lost.

Toggle Close Call Bands

Press the number keys to enable or disable each Close Call band.

Cancel a Hit

Turn the Scroll Control.

Holding on a Hit

Press System, Department, or Channel to hold on the Close Call Hit.
Press Channel to cancel Hold Mode.

View Last Hit

Press System, Department, or Channel to recall the last hit.
Press Channel to cancel Hold Mode.

Replay the Last Transmissions Your scanner Replay feature acts as an instant replay of the transmissions you’ve just heard. You can set how long a period Replay records from 30 seconds to 240 seconds (4 minutes). While you can replay those recordings immediately and continue replaying them, you cannot save them for future listening. See also Replay Options.

While searching, press Func then Replay.

Review Recordings

During Close Call, press and hold Replay. Scroll to the session and press E/yes.
At Play Session press E/yes. Turn the Scroll Control to select recordings.
Press Channel to pause/resume recordings. Press Replay to exit.

Avoiding Hits See also Review Search Avoids.

Avoids are common to all Searches.
Temporary Avoids cancel when you cycle power.
To Temporary Avoid, press Channel to hold, then Avoid.
To Permanent Avoid, press Channel to hold, then Avoid twice quickly.
Press Channel to cancel Hold Mode.

Storing Hits

Press Channel to hold on the hit. Then see Storing Search Frequencies.

Close Call Attenuation

Band Attenuation - Press Func then 4(ATT) for all bands.
Global Attenuation - Press Func then press and hold 4(ATT).

Modulation

Press Func then MOD (softkey3) for all bands.

Intermediate Frequency Exchange See also Intermediate Frequency Exchange.

Press Channel to hold on any Frequency.
Press Func then 7(IFX) to toggle on or off. Press Channel to resume.

View Repeater Frequency

Press Channel to hold on any Frequency.
Press Func then press and hold 8(REV). Press Channel to resume.

Quick Search at Current Frequency

Press Channel to hold on the Frequency.
Press Func then E/yes. At Quick Search?, press E/yes.
Press Channel again to release Hold Mode and start searching.

Weather Alert Priority Mode

Press Func then 6(WX) to toggle on or off.

Close Call Menu Press Func then Menu.

Weather Operation

Contents

Weather Options

Press Menu. Scroll to WX Operation and press E/yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/yes.

	Program SAME	Weather Scan
	Set Delay Time	Weather Alert
	Set Attenuator	Review WX Alerts
	WX Alt Priority

Program SAME SAME (Specific Area Messaging System) is a system developed by the National Weather Service to reduce the number of alerts received by consumers by allowing them to hear alerts only for the counties they are interested in. Each alert contains information about the type and severity of the alert, as well as the specific geographic locations affected by the alert. See also SAME Event Codes.

To receive SAME alerts, you can program up to 5 groups of 8 FIPS codes.

To find the FIPS codes for your scanner call the NWS toll free at 1-888-697-7263 (follow the instructions you hear) or see NWR Station Search.

SAME 0-4 Select for each SAME group.

Edit Name See Data Naming.

Edit County

Code 1-8 Select for each FIP code.

Enter the FIPS code and press E/yes to save.

Set Delay Time Sets the number of seconds the scanner should wait after a transmission stops before moving on to the next channel during weather scan.
A negative delay will force a resume after that number of seconds. The default setting is 2 seconds.

-10, -5, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 30 sec.

Set Attenuator Sets the attenuator (20 dB) for weather operation. The default setting is Off.

On or Off

Weather Alert Priority Turning the weather alert priority feature on allows the scanner to check the weather channels every 5 seconds for a 1050 Hz weather alert signal and still scan or search.
If you should receive an alert, you will hear a loud warbling then the weather channel audio.

On or Off

Note: You can also toggle weather alert priority in scan or search modes by holding on any channel and pressing Func then 6(WX).

Weather Scan

Press Channel to hold on any channel/frequency.
Press Func then press and hold 6(WX).
You can also start Weather Scan from the WX Operation Menu.
To exit Weather Scan press to Scan (soft key1).

The scanner starts scanning the preprogrammed weather frequencies and stops on the first good signal.
If the signal is lost, the scanner resumes searching for another weather transmission.

Change Channel

Turn the Scroll Control.

Attenuation

Press Func then 4(ATT).
Global Attenuation Press Func then press and hold 4(ATT).

Intermediate Frequency Exchange See also Intermediate Frequency Exchange.

Press Func then 7(IFX) to toggle on or off.

Store Frequency

See Storing Search Frequencies.

Weather Menu Press Func then Menu.

Weather Alert

This setting turns on Weather Alert and determines which types of signals will trigger an alert. See also Program SAME.
Press Menu and scroll to WX Operation.
Scroll to Weather Alert and press E/yes.
To exit Weather Alert press to Scan (soft key1).

Alert Only - The scanner will scan all the weather channels and immediately sound a weather alert siren when it detects the 1050 Hz weather alert tone.
Press any key to stop the siren which opens the squelch and the scanner remains on the weather channel.

SAME 0-4 - The scanner sounds a weather alert siren for any programmed counties.
The scanner displays warning level as "Warning WX", "Watch WX" or "Advisory WX" and it displays decoded Event Code.
When an alert is received, press any key to listen to the alert.

All FIPS - The scanner sounds a weather alert siren for any county.
The scanner displays warning level as "Warning WX", "Watch WX" or "Advisory WX" and it displays decoded Event Code.
When an alert is received, press any key to listen to the alert.

The scanner will mute and scan only the weather channels.
When an alert is received, press any key to listen to the alert.
Warning! If you receive an alert it will be at FULL volume.

Review WX Alerts

Replay and review WX/SAME alert event results. The scanner drops these alert events after the alert time expires.

Weather alerts are always recorded and you can review the alerts in the WX Operations menu by scrolling to Review WX Alerts.

Tone-Out For...

Contents

Your scanner can be set to respond to fire tone-outs, a system comprised of standardized two-tone sequential paging, short one-tone paging, and long group tone paging.
Fire-Tone-Out will monitor up to 32 different channels for paging tones (two-tone sequential, single tone, and group tone).
For more information on Fire Tone-Out see this webpage at Radio Reference.

Tone-Out Standby Mode is used if you use programmed tones.

Tone-Out Search Mode is used if you don’t know the tones.

All Tone-Outs (channels) that have the same frequency (and modulation and attenuation) as the one you select will also (and only) be monitored so you can monitor up to 32 Tone-Out channels for one frequency.

In this case, the scanner displays each Tone-Out channel for two seconds. It does not scan them; Tone-Out monitors the frequency for all Tone-Out channels with the same frequency.

Regardless of the current display, the scanner will alert on any received tone out that matches a stored setting (channel) for the frequency.

Tone-Out Setup

Press Menu. Scroll to Tone-Out for... and press E/yes.
Scroll to Tone-Out Setup and press E/yes.
Scroll to Tone-Out 0-31 and press E/yes.

	Edit Name	Set Delay Time
	Set Frequency	Set Alert
	Set Tone	Fire Tone-Out Standby/Search

Edit Name See Data Naming.

Set Frequency

Edit Frequency

Enter the frequency and press E/yes.

Set Modulation

Auto, NFM, FM

Set Attenuator

On or Off

Set Tone To search for tones, leave the tones for A and B at 0.

Edit Tone A and press E/yes. Enter the tone and press E/yes to save.
Edit Tone B and press E/yes. Enter the tone and press E/yes to save.
Press Menu to return.

For two-tone pages, enter the tones (in Hz) for tone A and tone B.
For one-ton