IC-R20 Priority Watch

Summary: How to use the IC-R20’s priority watch to keep checking a channel while you listen or scan.

What It Does

Every 5 seconds the receiver checks for signals while you’re operating on a VFO frequency or scanning. There are three types:

• Memory channel watch: while on a VFO frequency, checks the selected memory channel (a channel with skip information can be watched).
• Memory scan watch: while on a VFO frequency, checks each memory channel in turn (the skip function or bank scan speeds it up).
• VFO scan watch: while VFO scanning, checks the selected memory channel every 5 seconds.

The watch resumes according to the scan resume settings. If the pocket beep function is on, the receiver selects tone squelch automatically when priority watch starts.

Priority Beep

You can be alerted with beeps and a blinking “S” when a signal arrives on the priority channel: choose BELL instead of ON.

Memory Channel and Memory Scan Watch

1. Set a VFO frequency.
2. Select the memory channel to watch, or (for memory scan watch) choose Memory mode or a bank and hold [MODE SCAN] to start the memory or bank scan.
3. Hold [8 SET], choose PRIORITY WATCH, and select ON or BELL.
4. Push [DUALWATCH] to exit set mode and start. “PRIO” shows and the receiver checks the channel(s) every 5 seconds.
5. Push [DUALWATCH] to cancel.

VFO Scan Watch

1. In Memory mode choose a bank if you like. Start any memory or bank scan first: it can’t be started after the VFO scan.
2. Hold [8 SET], choose PRIO, set ON or BELL and exit.
3. Push and hold [MODE SCAN] and choose ALL, BAND or PROG-xx, then release to start.
4. Push [DUALWATCH] to cancel the watch and the scan.

The priority watch setting is also in IC-R20 Set Mode Reference.