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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION / PLEASE READ
Sweep mode is where all the action takes place with the Xplorer. It is important to understand how the various settings will affect the way the
Xplorer operates. There are three functions of the Xplorer that will greatly influence how effective the Xplorer is for you. Those are Squelch,
Blocks, and Lockouts.
SQUELCH
This is the most critical of all settings. The factory default is set for internal squelch. This is a setting determined at the factory to be the best
for the Xplorer in most normal RF environments. You have no physical control over the squelch from the knob when it is set for internal
squelch. If you elect to change to external squelch and control via the knob please note that the squelch does not operate like the squelch of
a conventional receiver. You cannot adjust for noise level. You will need to adjust to determine where the optimal setting is for your partic-
ular RF environment by noting when it starts to lock onto signals as you make adjustments. Setting the squelch too high or too low can
adversely affect the way the Xplorer locks onto signals. In many cases, this will prevent the Xplorer from locking onto any signals in the
nearfield.
Because the Xplorer locks onto a signal that is 15dB above the background RF floor, there are occasions when it may lock onto the harmon-
ic of the actual fundamental frequency. The reason it does so is while the Xplorer was sweeping it detected that signal as being 15dB above
the background RF floor. You may notice this happens when testing a radio within a few feet of the Xplorer. In this case, it is recommended
that the squelch be adjusted higher so as to eliminate the harmonics.
BLOCKS
It is very important that you use this mode to its full potential. This mode allows you to lock out entire bands of frequencies, such as the FM
radio stations. Program in the frequency range of 88-108MHz and EXCLUDE from your sweep. This does not eliminate the background RF
from the frequencies you wish to block out. It only tells the Xplorer not to lock onto any of those frequencies. The RF from these transmit-
ters may still be present and can still affect how the Xplorer operates. What you have done is eliminated the need to lock out each individual
frequency as it is captured by the Xplorer.
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