BCD436HP/536HP Searching: Quick Search, Custom Search & Search Keys

Summary: How to search for activity with Quick Search, ten Custom Searches and three Search Keys, and the options that shape a search.

Search/Close Call Options

Review Menu, Srch/CloCall Opt first – it applies to Quick Search and Close Call:

• Freq Avoids – review avoided frequencies or Stop All Avoiding.
• Broadcast Screen – ignores common broadcast, paging and other nuisance sources in Custom Search, Quick Search and Close Call. Default Pager On. Set All Band On/Off, Set Each Band, Program Band (Band 0-9 with lower and upper limits).
• Repeater Find – tunes to a repeater output when a signal is heard on the input. Default Off.
• Set Delay Time – -10, -5, 0, 1, 2 (default), 3, 4, 5, 10 or 30 seconds.
• Set Attenuator – about 20 dB; default Off.
• Set Audio AGC – analogue/digital; default Off.
• P25 Waiting Time (default 400 ms), P25 Threshold Mode (Auto/Manual/Default) and Level (0-20, default 8).

Quick Search

Starts at the displayed frequency, or one you enter, and runs up to 1300 MHz or down to 25 MHz before starting over. From the current frequency: hold with Channel, Func + E/yes, E/yes at Quick Search?, then Channel to release. From a new frequency: hold, enter the frequency, Channel to set it, Channel to release.

Custom Search

Menu, Search for…, Edit Custom sets the 10 ranges (Custom 0-9): Edit Name, Edit Srch Limit, Set Delay Time, Set Modulation (Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM, FMB), Set Attenuator, Set Step (Auto, 5-100 kHz), Set Audio AGC, P25 Waiting Time, P25 Threshold Mode/Level, and Search with Scan (Set Avoid and Set Hold Time 0-255 seconds).

Start one with Search for…, Custom Search. While it runs: turn the scroll control to change direction or resume; press the number keys to enable or disable each range; Channel holds a frequency; direct entry works when held.

Search Keys

Keys 1, 2 and 3 each start a Custom Search (0-9), a Tone-Out search or a Close Call search, set under Search for…, Set Search Key. Start with Func + 1, 2 or 3 from a Hold mode.

Search with Scan

A special system that includes Custom Searches and the “Hits with Scan” department in Scan mode. Enable it in Select Lists to Monitor and the Search for menu. Set System Avoid controls it.

Tools While Searching

• Avoid: Avoid once (temporary), twice (permanent). Up to 250 temporary and 250 permanent search avoids. Review: hold, then Func + Avoid. Clear all: hold, then press and hold Avoid.
• Attenuation: Func + 4 per band; Func + press and hold 4 global.
• Modulation: Func + Channel (MOD) per band.
• IFX: Func + 7. Repeater frequency: Func + press and hold 8.
• Replay and record as when scanning.
• Search menu: Func + Menu. Close Call modes: BCD536HP SQ; BCD436HP Func + Avoid. Weather Alert Priority: Func + 6.

Storing a Frequency

• Quick Save Department: press E/yes; Quick Frequency Save appears; E/yes again.
• Existing department: E/yes, ./no at Saving to Quick Dept, then choose the list, system and department.
• You reach Edit Channel; press Avoid to go back to searching.