BCD160DN Searching: Service Search, Custom Search, Quick Search & Search Keys

Summary: How to search for activity on the BCD160DN with preloaded service searches, ten custom ranges, Quick Search and the three search keys, plus the search options.

Search Options First

Menu, Search Options has three settings:

• Freq Lockouts – Unlock All, and RVW Search L/O (review the locked-out search frequencies). Up to 400 search frequencies can be locked out (200 temporary, 200 permanent).
• Broadcast Screen – ignore hits on common broadcast and pager frequencies. Set All Band On/Off, Set Each Band (Pager, FM, UHF TV, VHF TV, NOAA WX and custom Bands 1-10) or Program Band (Band 1-10, set lower and upper limits).
• Tone/Code Search – Off, CTCSS or Color/RAN/Area (search for tones and digital codes on active frequencies).

Service Search

Service lists are preprogrammed with the frequencies allocated to each service: Public Safety, Media, Ham Radio, Marine, Railroad, Air Band, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS/MURS, Racing, FM Broadcast, Military Air, plus three blank custom lists. Some services are split into service banks: Public Safety into Low, High, UHF and 800 MHz; Ham Radio into 10 m, 6 m, 2 m, 1.25 m, 70 cm and 33 cm; Railroad into standard, split and data; airband is 8.33 kHz.

There are three ways to start one:

1. FUNC then svc/8, choose a service, press Yes/E.
2. Menu, Search for…, Service Search, choose a service.
3. Assign a service to a search key in advance and press FUNC then that key. By default sr2 is Public Safety.

Turn service banks on and off with the number keys (at least one must stay on; an error tone sounds if you try to turn off the last one). While a transmission is received, press Hold to hold and turn the scroll control to step frequencies; press Yes/E to store a frequency; L/O locks out temporarily, twice quickly permanently.

Set Service List lets you rename a service list (Edit Name) and choose up to 10 services for its banks (Select Service). You can change the names and combinations, but the frequencies inside each service can’t be edited, and modulation for a service can’t be overridden with FUNC + 9.

Edit Service settings, per service (not per frequency): Set Delay Time, Set Attenuator, Digital Waiting.

Custom Search

Ten custom ranges (Custom 1-10, searched as SRC 1-10) can be edited under Search for…, Edit Custom. The defaults are:

• Custom 1: 25.0000-27.9999 MHz
• Custom 2: 28.0000-29.6999
• Custom 3: 29.7000-49.9999
• Custom 4: 50.0000-53.9999
• Custom 5: 137.0000-143.9999
• Custom 6: 144.0000-147.9999
• Custom 7: 406.0000-419.9999
• Custom 8: 420.0000-449.9999
• Custom 9: 450.0000-469.9999
• Custom 10: 806.0000-960.0000

For each range: Edit Name, Edit Srch Limit (lower and upper), Set Step (Auto, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, 100 kHz), Set Delay Time, Set Modulation (Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM, FMB; FUNC + 9 overrides), Set Attenuator (FUNC + 7; press and hold for global) and Digital Waiting.

Quick Search

Start searching at a frequency you choose.

• Method 1: press HOLD on a channel or frequency, then FUNC + SCAN/srch. Turn the scroll control to change direction.
• Method 2: Menu, Search for…, Quick Search, enter the start frequency and press Yes/E.

The scanner rounds your entry to the nearest valid frequency, and shows Out of Band if it’s invalid. Set Quick Search (under Search for…) sets the delay time, attenuator and digital waiting for Quick Search.

Search Keys (sr1-sr3)

Number keys 1, 2 and 3 can each start a Custom Search, Weather Channels, Tone-Out, Band Scope or a service list. Set them under Menu, Search for…, Set SR1-3 Keys: choose the SR key, then the item (or Not Assign). Defaults: SR1 Custom 1, SR2 Public Safety, SR3 Band Scope. An error tone sounds if you press an unassigned key. Start one with FUNC + 1, 2 or 3.

Storing What You Find

Press Yes/E on an interesting frequency to store it (see BCD160DN Programming Channels & Banks).