IC-R8600 Scanning

Summary: The IC-R8600’s scan types and how to start them, adjust the speed and resume behaviour, and set up programmed, delta-F, memory and priority scans and skips.

Scan Types

• Programmed scan – repeatedly scans between two scan edge frequencies (P00A/B-P49A/B), starting at the lower edge. It won’t start if both edges are the same.
• Fine Programmed scan – as above, but when the squelch opens the scan slows and the step becomes 10 Hz.
• delta-F scan – scans a span around a centre frequency (from the VFO or a memory).
• Fine delta-F scan – as above, with the 10 Hz fine step.
• Auto Memory Write scan – a Programmed scan that stores each frequency it finds in A000-A199.
• Memory scan – repeatedly scans memory channels (blank channels are skipped; two or more channels needed).
• Select Memory scan – scans only channels tagged as select channels 1-9.
• Mode Select Memory scan – scans only memory channels with the current receive mode.
• Priority scan – checks a chosen memory channel periodically while receiving on the VFO.
• Tone scan – finds a tone or DTCS code (see IC-R8600 Tone Squelch, Digital Squelch, Descrambler & Decryption).

Starting and Stopping

Push SCAN for the SCAN START screen and touch a scan type, or hold SCAN for 1 second to repeat the last scan. Rotate the MAIN DIAL to change direction (right for up, left for down); push SCAN again or touch [STOP] to cancel. Use TYPE/SET on the SCAN screen to choose the type, SELECT to choose the item to edit (channel, edges, mode, filter, tuning step) and START.

Scan speed: push DIAL A and touch SCAN SPEED, rotate 1 (slow) to 30 (fast). It can’t be changed during a fine scan.

Resume Settings

• Pause Time: 1-30 seconds (then resumes even if the signal remains) or HOLD (waits for the signal to end).
• Resume Time: 0-5 seconds after the signal ends, or HOLD (stay paused for the pause time).
• Scan Resume (hold DIAL A for 1 second): OFF cancels the scan when a signal is received; ON pauses then resumes.

Programmed Scan

MENU, SCAN, TYPE/SET, PROG; SELECT the edge pair, the lower and upper frequency, mode, filter and tuning step, and EDIT them (stored in the Program Scan Edge channel); then START or hold SCAN. While it runs touch FINE to toggle fine scanning.

delta-F Scan

TYPE/SET, dF: set the centre frequency and span. It won’t start if the tuning step is wider than the span. The scan starts from the centre, then the upper and lower edges. FINE toggles fine scanning.

Auto Memory Write Scan

TYPE/SET, AUTO, set the edge details, then START (a dialog asks whether to clear group A first). Channels in group A are packed towards the top. If no blank A channel remains the scan cancels.

Memory, Select Memory and Mode Select

• Memory scan: TYPE/SET, MEMO, choose the group (“ALL” for every group) and edge channels, START.
• Select Memory scan: first assign select numbers: touch the memory channel number, choose the channel, and touch SELECT repeatedly for star 1-9 (or none). Then TYPE/SET, SEL, choose the group and select number. Touch SELECT for 1 second to cancel one or all select settings. You can’t assign scan edge channels.
• Mode Select Memory scan: choose the mode first, then TYPE/SET, MODE.

Priority Scan

Choose a memory channel first. TYPE/SET, PRIO: choose the priority preset No. 0-9 (up to 10 group and channel pairs), the group and channel, then START or push the PRIORITY SCAN key (“PRIO” shows). It checks the channel every 1-15 seconds (PRIO INTVL on DIAL A). Hold the key 1 second to monitor the priority channel.

Skip Settings

• Skip frequency: while a VFO-scan signal is received and the scan is paused, hold the skip key for 1 second to store it in S00-S99 as PSKIP. Cancel it by choosing the channel and touching SKIP to cycle SKIP, PSKIP and none.
• Skip channel for memory scan: MENU, MEMORY, choose the channel, SKIP: OFF, SKIP (skipped in memory scans) or PSKIP (skipped in VFO and memory scans). You can’t assign scan edge channels.
• Temporary Skip: while a scan is paused push QUICK, Temporary Skip. Up to 5 are held (the oldest is dropped) for the Temporary Skip Timer (5, 10 or 15 minutes, default 5), or until the scan is cancelled or the receiver turned off.

Scan Setting Screen

TYPE/SET, SET: Temporary Skip Timer, SKIP function (ON; OFF leaves only temporary skip), Auto MW SCAN Memory Clear (Display Dialog, OFF or ON), Display SCAN Screen (at SCAN START) (ON) and MAIN DIAL Operation (SCAN) (Up/Down, or OFF to cancel on rotation).