PAGE 46 AR5000 OPERATING MANUAL
When the interval menu is selected the legend “
P-INTER
P-INTER
P-INTER
P-INTER
P-INTER
05
05
05
05
05
” is displayed (with 05 being the default of 5 seconds).
This numeric value in seconds determines how long the
AR5000 will wait between checking cycles before
re-sampling the priority frequency for activity (once the
priority facility has been activated). The default is “
05
05
05
05
05
”
(5 seconds) and the acceptable range is 01 ~ 60 seconds.
Rotate the
MAIN DIAL
or
SUB DIAL
until the desired value is
displayed. Once you are happy with the new selection
press
to accept the changes. The display will return
to SCAN, SEARCH, or VFO mode from wherever it
originated.
Note: If you should attempt to select a blank memory
channel, a low pitch beep error will sound when you press
(if the beep is on) and the display will return to
SEARCH, SCAN or VFO mode, from wherever it
originated.
(12) SEARCH
The AR5000 is equipped with various SEARCH modes
whereby an upper and lower frequency limit may be
defined and the AR5000 instructed to look for activity on
all frequencies in predetermined step size in an upward
or downward direction. The mode and channel step will
change automatically when set to the default of
AUTOMODE but data may be specified specifically if
preferred.
It is important that you do not confuse
SEARCH and SCAN modes.
SEARCH mode automatically TUNES THE RECEIVER
THROUGH ALL FREQUENCIES between two specified
frequency limits looking for active frequencies. SCAN
mode is uses SPECIFIC SPOT FREQUENCIES which
have been stored into memory.
The great advantage of SEARCH over manual tuning is
that it is so fast! There are many different facilities available
for SEARCH mode which will be explained in this section.
The search instructions may be programmed into banks.
There are a total of 20 programmable search banks so
that data entry and recall is simple and efficient.
Continuously active or busy frequencies such as amateur
band repeaters may be PASSED (skipped) and active
frequencies stored into memory. There is even an
AUTO-STORE facility where active channels are
automatically written to memory bank “
0
0
0
0
0
”.
When the AR5000 stops on a genuine active frequency
during search, the
key may be pressed to transfer
the displayed frequency to VFO-D where it may
be monitored for long periods of time or tuned.
Pressing
for more than 1 second will initiate the
process of storing the frequency into a memory channel.
Limitations of SEARCH mode
SEARCH mode is extremely effective for AM & NFM use
in the VHF and UHF bands. Searching the short wave
bands is usually ineffective due to the relatively high
background noise especially when propagation conditions
are good and bands open.
Searching using the modes of USB, LSB and CW will
produce mixed results depending upon frequency band
and whether any strong signals are encountered which
will affect the receiver’s AGC (Automatic Gain Control)
circuitry.
Usually, short wave band and SSB monitoring is carried
out with the squelch control open (fully anticlockwise) and
manual tuning by rotating the
MAIN DIAL
- not by scanning
or searching. Searching using the mode of WFM may
not be possible in certain frequency bands due to the level
of background noise and adjacent channel activity.
Fundamentally there are three types of search:
Manual search (VFO search) - VFO-A, VFO-B
Simple search (VFO search) - VFO-C, VFO-D,
VFO-E
Program search (bank search) - Search banks
00 ~ 19
12-1 Manual SEARCH between two VFO
frequencies (VA, VB)
The simplest form of controlled SEARCH is achieved
by programming different frequencies into VFO-A and
VFO-B.
1 Press the
key a few times until the legend “
VA
VA
VA
VA
VA
”
is displayed on the lower right corner of the LCD. Press
and hold the
key for more than one second so
that the “AUTO” legend is displayed to ensure the AR5000
is in AUTOMODE.
In this example let’s assume that the required search range
is 118.000 MHz to 136.000 MHz, the step size, mode etc
will be taken care of automatically as AUTOMODE is
engaged.
While the legend “
VA
VA
VA
VA
VA
” is displayed on the lower right
corner of the LCD (signifying that VFO-A is selected) key
in the lower frequency limit of 118.000 MHz
