RadioReference.com and other websites will often already have the proper codes listed so a little research
may be all you need.
Searching and Sweeping
All scanners allow you to search between a set of frequencies in order to find new (to you at least)
channels. Some, including the PSR600, also have preset search protocols, called Service Search, which
scan thru a set of commonly used channels for specific types. The PSR600 has a limited set of Service
Searches that include a generic “Public Safety” group, Aircraft, Marine, Ham Radio, CB and a group of
miscellaneous radio channels called FRS/GMRS/MURS/DOT. This last group is often used by families,
small businesses and others for low power local communications.
Surprisingly GRE did not include any type of Service Search for racing operations, race fans are among the
biggest buyers of scanners. The generic nature of the Public Safety Service Search reflects the modern use
of many of these channels by different types of agencies. Gone are the days of segregated Police, Fire,
Conservation, Highway and Special Emergency allocations, now all the frequencies are in a single pool that
has reduced the segregation of use. Uniden has a more extensive list of service search options.
Service Searches (“SRVC”) are entered into a Scan List just like any other Scannable Object. The Service
Search frequencies themselves are not editable by the user but you can lock out freqs when scanning a
Service Search.
The GRE also has the standard Limit Search that allows you to search all channels between a pair of
frequencies. You can also lock out frequencies in Limit Searches.
Spectrum Sweeper is a nearfield frequency detector that allows you to find nearby transmitters. There are a
couple different modes. All-Band allows you to search all frequencies the radio is capable of while the
Public Safety Mode allows you to concentrate your search on the bands commonly assigned to police, fire
etc. These bands are parts of the Low and High VHF bands, part of the UHF band and part of the 800 band.
The ZeroMatic option allows you to set the radio to look for the actual frequency used by the transmitter
instead of stopping on the first valid hit it finds. Let’s say there is a strong transmitter on 155.4750 in your
area. A strong signal might cause a hit on 155.470 and the radio would stop there with the hit. ZeroMatic
checks to see if the same signal is actually on a nearby or adjacent frequency and causes the radio to go to
the actual frequency.
The PSR600 also displays any received CTCSS, DCS or NAC code received during a Search Event.
Let there be Light (and it was pretty cool…)
The PSR600 has an LED on the upper center of the front panel that is visible from above or in front. In fact
it is really visible from the next county. This is actually 3 LED’s (red, green and blue) that sit behind a
single prism, These LED’s combined can make almost any color light, depending on your settings. At its
maximum brightness you can just about use it to read by.
Combined with an audible alert tone you can create innumerable combinations to advise you of different
activities. For example, you can set the LED to flash red when a CloseCall hit is found and green if your
favorite channel comes up. You can even set it to stay on indefinitely after activation, so if a rarely used
channel pops up you will know that it was active, even if you weren’t around to hear it.
There are so many settings for the Alert System (LED and audible) that as you use the radio you can add
different combinations as you learn the radio. While it seems daunting at first, it can come in handy
eventually. Like so many other advanced features this might never be useful for some but indispensable for
others.
Power
