IC-R15 Scanning: VFO, Memory & Tone Scans

Summary: The IC-R15’s scan types and how to start them, set scan edges and links, and skip unwanted frequencies.

Scan Types

VFO scans search for signals in a range:

• Program scan (P00-P24) – repeatedly scans one of your Program Scan Edge ranges.
• Program Link (P-LINK0 to 9) – scans several program ranges in turn.
• Band – repeatedly scans the selected band.
• All bands – scans everything.
• Auto MW – stores any signal found into an Auto Memory Write channel (Auto MW CH 000-199).

Memory scans check stored channels: Favorite, Current Group, Group Link, Category/Group and ALL. You need at least two memory channels stored (and two checked groups for Group Link).

Tone scan searches for the tone or DTCS code of a station using tone squelch; usable in FM and FM-N only, in VFO or Memory scans.

Starting and Stopping

1. Enter VFO or Memory mode first.
2. Push [SCAN] to open the Scan Type Select window (hold it 1 second to repeat the last scan).
3. Choose a scan type. The decimal point and the scan icon blink.
4. Rotate [DIAL] to change direction; push [CLEAR] to cancel.

During a scan, hold [SQL] and rotate [DIAL] to adjust the squelch. A VFO scan uses the tuning step and mode selected; a memory scan uses each channel’s own settings. When a signal is received the scan pauses for the Pause Timer (2-20 s or HOLD, default 10 s) and resumes after the Resume Timer (0-5 s or HOLD, default 2 s) once it disappears. Rotating [DIAL] while paused resumes. A beep can sound on stopping (Scan Stop Beep). VSC can be used so scans stop only on voice.

Program Scan Edges

Up to 25 ranges (00-24), each with a lower and upper edge, a name, a tuning step and a mode. MENU, SET, Scan, Program Scan Edge, choose a blank range, push [QUICK], Edit, set FREQ LOW and FREQ HIGH (push [V/MHz] for 1 MHz steps), NAME, TS and MODE, then <<Write>> and YES. A blank TS or MODE uses the current VFO setting, so set them to match what you expect to hear. At least one range must be entered before a Program scan will start, and the two edges must differ. Clear empties a range.

Program Link

MENU, SET, Scan, Program Link, choose link 0-9, push [QUICK], Add each program range, then [ENT]. You need two or more edges for Add to appear. The USA defaults include 118.000-136.991 and 222.000-400.000; defaults vary by version.

Group Link

MENU, SET, Scan, Group Link: choose a link, then groups 00-99; [ENT] ticks or unticks each (all are ticked by default). [QUICK] switches all on or off.

Skipping

• Skip channels (SKIP CH 00-99): while a VFO scan is paused, push [SKIP], Add to SKIP MR Group; the scan resumes. If there’s no blank channel you get an error beep.
• Channel skip settings: in Memory mode choose the channel, [QUICK], SKIP: OFF, SKIP (skipped in memory scans) or PSKIP (skipped in both VFO and memory scans).
• Program Skip (SET, Scan, Program Skip, default ON) enables PSKIP in VFO scans.
• Temporary skip: while paused push [SKIP], Set Temp SKIP. Up to 20 are held (the oldest drops off). It lasts for the Temporary Skip Timer (5, 10 or 15 min, or While Scanning, or While Powered ON; default 5 min), or until Cancel Temp SKIP in the Quick Menu.

These settings are separate for the A and B bands. See IC-R15 SET Mode Reference.

Auto Memory Write Scan

Starting it normally offers to clear the Auto MW CH contents first; SET, Scan, Auto MW SCAN Memory Clear (OFF / Display Dialog / ON) controls this. If no blank Auto MW channel is left, the scan cancels itself.