IC-R20 Scanning

Summary: The IC-R20’s scan types, how to start them, programme scan edges, set the resume behaviour and use skips and the auto-memory write scan.

Scan Types

The scan speed is about 100 channels per second for VFO scans and about 20 per second for memory scans.

• Full scan (ALL) – the entire frequency range (some ranges are excluded by version).
• Band scan (BAND) – the selected band.
• Programmed scan (PROG-00 to 24) – between two user-programmed edges.
• Memory scan – the memory channels, except those set to skip.
• Bank scan (BANK-A to Z), all bank scan (ALL) and bank link scan (BANK-LINK).
• Auto-memory write scan – any VFO scan storing busy frequencies.

You need two or more memory or bank channels for a memory or bank scan.

Starting a VFO Scan

1. Push [VFO MHz] (and choose a band if needed) and set the squelch.
2. Push and hold [MODE SCAN] and rotate [R-DIAL] to choose ALL, BAND or PROG-xx.
3. Release [MODE SCAN] to start. The scan pauses on a signal; rotate [R-DIAL] to change direction or resume; push [DUALWATCH] to stop.

The tuning step chosen for each band is used during the scan.

Starting a Memory or Bank Scan

Push [MR S.MW] for Memory mode (choose a bank with [BAND] for a bank scan), set the squelch, then push and hold [MODE SCAN] and rotate to ALL, BANK-LINK or BANK-x, and release.

Programming Scan Edges

Scan edges are programmed like memories into 00A/00B to 24A/24B. Set the frequency, hold [MR S.MW] for 1 second, choose the edge (00A-24A), and hold [MR S.MW] again (the B edge is selected next if you keep holding). If both edges have the same frequency, the programmed scan won’t work.

Auto-Memory Write Scan

1. Start a VFO scan (ALL, BAND or PROG).
2. Push [MR S.MW] to turn auto-memory write on or off (the memory symbol blinks).
3. When a signal is received the scan pauses, the frequency is stored in an auto-memory write channel (two short beeps) and the scan resumes. When all 200 channels are full the scan cancels with a long beep.

To recall them, push [MR S.MW] until the auto-write symbol shows and rotate [R-DIAL]. You can only clear the whole group (hold [5 SKIP] for 1 second), not a single channel, so copy useful ones to regular memory first.

Skipping

• Memory channels: in the memory write condition choose SKIP with [8 SET] and pick SKIP (skipped in memory and bank scans), PSKIP (skipped in memory/bank scans, and the programmed frequency is skipped in VFO scans) or OFF. Quick method: hold [5 SKIP] and rotate [R-DIAL].
• Skip frequency in VFO mode: hold [5 SKIP] for 1 second to turn the frequency skip function on or off (PSKIP shows), or to store a paused frequency as a skip frequency while scanning.
• Hold [5 SKIP] in memory mode to cycle SKIP, PSKIP and none.

Resume Conditions (Expanded Set Mode)

Turn the expanded set mode on (SET EXPAND). Then:

• SCAN PAUSE (default 10 s): 2-20 seconds in 2-second steps, or HOLD until the signal disappears.
• SCAN RESUME (default 2 s): 0-5 seconds after the signal disappears, or HOLD (rotate [R-DIAL] to resume manually).
• SCAN STOP BEEP (default OFF): a long beep each time a signal stops a scan.

See IC-R20 Set Mode Reference.