BCT15X Lockouts, Quick Keys, Startup Keys & Number Tags

Summary: The shortcuts that let you turn systems and groups on and off quickly, start the scanner in different configurations and jump straight to a system or channel.

Quick Keys

Quick Keys enable or disable systems, sites, groups and search ranges while you scan. Disabled items are skipped. They only work in Scan mode, and entering one toggles the item: if it was enabled it becomes disabled, and vice versa.

System Quick Keys (SQK) cover systems, sites and search ranges, numbered 0 to 99. Several items can share the same SQK and will switch together.

• Assign to a conventional system: Program System, choose the system, Edit Sys Option, Set Quick Key.
• Assign to a trunked system: Program System, choose the system, Edit Site, choose the site, Set Quick Key.
• Assign to Close Call Hits: Close Call, Hits with Scan, Set Quick Key.
• Assign to a service or custom search: Search for…, Edit Service (or Edit Custom), choose the range, Search with Scan, Set Quick Key.
• To use SQK 0-9, tap that number in Scan mode. For SQK 10-99, tap the decimal point then the two digits (for example ./NO, then 32).

Group Quick Keys (GQK) cover channel groups inside the current system, numbered 0 to 9. Several groups in one system can share a GQK. They only affect groups in the system you’re currently in, and can be assigned even if the system has no SQK.

• Assign: Program System, choose the system, Edit Group, choose the group, Set Quick Key.
• Use: in Scan mode, go to the system, tap FUNCTION and then the number key.

Startup Keys

Startup Keys let you power the scanner up in a chosen configuration by locking and unlocking many systems, sites and search ranges at once. Each can be set to 0-9, or tap the decimal point for no Startup Key (the default, meaning that item is unaffected by any Startup Key).

To use one: turn the scanner off, press and hold the matching number key while powering on, and keep holding until the display shows Startup Config. Key No. n. The scanner then:

• Unlocks (and enables all Quick Keys for) any item whose Startup Key matches.
• Locks any item that has a different Startup Key.
• Leaves alone any item with no Startup Key.

For example, with four systems set to Startup Key 3 (locked), none (unlocked), none (locked) and 9 (unlocked), powering up holding 3 unlocks the first, leaves the two “none” systems as they were, and locks the fourth. Powering up holding 5 matches nothing, so both Startup-Key systems end up locked and the rest are unchanged.

Assign Startup Keys with Set Startup Key in the same places as Quick Keys (conventional Edit Sys Option, trunked Edit Site, and the Search with Scan menu for searches). Startup Keys are ideal for switching between, say, home, work and travel setups.

Number Tags

Number Tags let you jump directly to a system, search range or channel. A System Number Tag (SNT) and a Channel Number Tag (CHNT) each range from 0 to 999.

• SNT: Program System, choose the system, Edit Sys Option, Set Number Tag. For Close Call Hits: Close Call, Hits with Scan, Set Number Tag. For searches: Search for…, Edit Service/Edit Custom, choose the range, Search with Scan, Set Number Tag.
• CHNT: Program System, the system, Edit Group, the group, Edit Channel, the channel, Set Number Tag.

Duplicates are allowed but the scanner warns you. Channel tags work within their own system even if the system has no SNT.

To jump:

• To a system or search range: tap HOLD, enter the SNT and the decimal point, then tap MENU. Example: HOLD / 4 / . / MENU.
• To a channel in the current system: tap HOLD, enter the CHNT, tap MENU. Example: HOLD / 27 / MENU.
• To a channel in another system: tap HOLD, enter the SNT, the decimal point, the CHNT, then MENU. Example: HOLD / 4 / . / 27 / MENU.

If two systems share an SNT, or two channels in a system share a CHNT, repeating the entry steps through them in order.

Lockouts

Locking out a channel, group, system or frequency makes the scanner ignore it. There are three states: Unlocked, Temporary L/O (cleared next time you switch the scanner off and on) and Lockout (permanent). The Scan, Search and Hold modes each have LOCKOUT key actions (tap, double tap, press and hold, and the FUNCTION versions), listed in BCT15X Scan Mode, Search Mode & Hold Mode.

The search lockout list holds 500 frequencies (250 temporary plus 250 permanent). Review or clear them under Srch/CloCall Opt, Freq Lockouts, as described in BCT15X Searching: Service, Custom, Quick Search & Search Keys. Trunked talk-group lockouts are reviewed with Rvw ID:Srch L/O in the system options.