15
Feature Highlights
frequency, it stops on that frequency as long as the
transmission lasts. If you think the frequency is
interesting, you can program it into one of the banks.
If not, you can continue to search.
Conventional Scanning
Conventional scanning is a relatively simple concept.
Each group of users in a conventional system is
assigned a single frequency (for simplex systems) or
two frequencies (for repeater systems). Any time one
of them transmits, their transmission always goes
out on the same frequency. Up until the late 1980’s
this was the primary way that radio systems
operated.
Even today, there are many 2-way radio users who
operate using a conventional system:
•
Aircraft
•
Amateur radio
•
FRS/GMRS users
•
Broadcast AM/FM/TV stations
•
Many business radio users
When you want to store a conventional system, all
you need to know is the frequencies they operate
on. When you are scanning a conventional system,
the scanner stops very briefly on each channel to
see if there is activity. If there isn’t, the scanner
quickly moves to the next channel. If there is, then
the scanner pauses on the transmission until it is over.
Simplex Operation
Simplex systems use a single frequency for both
transmit and receive. Most radios using this type of
operation are limited to line-of-sight operation. This
type of radio is frequently used at construction job
sites, and with inexpensive consumer radios such as
Understanding Scanning
