IC-R30 Scanning: VFO, Memory, Tone & Near Station Scans

Summary: The IC-R30’s scan types, how to start them, program scan edges and links, group link, skipping and the scan timers.

Scan Types

VFO scans (in VFO mode):

• ALL – the entire frequency range.
• BAND – the selected band.
• P00-P49 (Program scan) – one of your program scan ranges.
• P-LINK 0-9 (Program Link) – several program ranges in turn.
• Auto MW – stores any signal found in the A: Auto MW CH group (A000-A199).

Memory scans (in Memory mode; at least two channels must be stored):

• ALL – all memory channels.
• Mode – only channels with the same receive mode as the current one.
• Near Station – up to 50 stations within 160 km (100 miles) of your GPS position, using position data stored in the memory channels. (The Basic Manual says all memory channels are scanned regardless of the skip setting, while the Advanced Manual says channels set to SKIP or PSKIP are left out of the near station list.) Before using it, get your own position from the GPS or enter it manually (GPS, GPS Set, GPS Select). “No station found.” shows if none is within range.
• GROUP LINK – the groups you’ve linked (at least two).
• GROUP 00-99, A, S – the selected group.

Tone scan searches for the tone or DTCS code of a station using tone squelch, in VFO or Memory mode.

Starting and Stopping

1. Choose VFO or Memory mode.
2. Push [SCAN] and choose a scan type (hold [SCAN] to repeat the last scan). The decimal point and icon blink.
3. Rotate [DIAL] to change direction. Push [SCAN] again to cancel. In a program scan [BAND] jumps to the next range.

During a scan hold [SQL] and rotate [DIAL] for the squelch. A VFO scan uses the selected mode and tuning step; memory scans use each channel’s own settings. VSC stops scans only on voice. Scan Stop Beep sounds when a scan stops.

Scan Timers (Scan menu; separate for A and B)

• Pause Timer (default 10 s): 2-20 seconds or HOLD (stay until the signal disappears).
• Resume Timer (default 2 s): 0-5 seconds, or HOLD. Set it shorter than the Pause Timer. A duplex scan resumes after a fixed 200 ms.
• Temporary Skip Timer (default 5 min): 5, 10 or 15 minutes, While Scanning, or While Powered ON.

Program Scan Edges

Up to 50 ranges (00-49), each with lower and upper frequency, name, tuning step, mode and RF gain. MENU, Scan, P-Scan Edge, choose a blank range, push [QUICK], Edit, set FREQ LOW, FREQ HIGH and the rest, then <<Write>> and YES. A blank TS, MODE or RF GAIN uses the current VFO setting, so set them to suit; if unsure, use Auto. The two edges must differ. Clear empties a range.

Program Link

MENU, Scan, Program Link, choose 0-9, push [QUICK], Add each program range, then [ENTER]. Add only appears when two or more ranges exist. Defaults include 137.000-174.000 and 400.000-470.000 MHz and vary by version.

Group Link

MENU, Scan, Group Link: pick a group and [ENTER] to tick or untick it; [QUICK] switches all on or off (default all ticked). It is separate for A and B.

Skipping

• Skip channel: while a VFO scan is paused hold [SKIP] until two short beeps: the frequency is stored in S: SKIP CH (PSKIP) and the scan resumes. There’s an error beep if there’s no blank channel.
• Channel skip setting: OFF, SKIP or PSKIP (see IC-R30 Memory Channels: Groups, Writing & Editing).
• Program Skip (default ON) enables PSKIP in VFO scans.
• Temporary Skip: while paused, push [QUICK], Temporary Skip. Up to 5 are held (the oldest drops off) until the timer ends, the scan is cancelled or the receiver is turned off.

Auto Memory Write Scan

When a signal is received it is stored when the scan resumes. If no blank A channel remains the scan cancels. Scan, Auto MW SCAN Memory Clear (OFF, Display Dialog, ON) decides whether the A group is cleared at the start.

Weather Channels (USA Version)

Push [QUICK], Weather CH, choose one of the 10 NOAA channels, or [SCAN] to scan them. A weather alert tone is checked every 5 seconds and “WX” and “ALT” blink on an alert. Not on European receivers.