TRX-1 Searching: Spectrum Sweeper, Service & Limit Search

Summary: The three ways the TRX-1 can find active frequencies you haven’t programmed, and how to save what you find.

The Three Searches

• Spectrum Sweeper – sweeps rapidly through frequency ranges in 1 MHz blocks. The guide says it is more sensitive than the frequency-counter method used in some scanners, and lets you lock out and keep searching in the same band.
• Service Search – searches the frequencies used by Public Safety, Aircraft, Railroad, Amateur, CB, Marine and FRS/GMRS/MURS. These lists are the US ones.
• Limit Search – searches a range you define.

Spectrum Sweeper

1. Main Menu, Search, then Spectrum Sweeper.
2. Choose All Bands or Public Safety and press right to start.
3. Press MENU to stop and open the Sweeper menu, where you can choose fewer bands.

Service Search

1. Search, Service Search, choose a service and press right.
2. Press MENU to stop and open the service menu.

Limit Search

1. Search, Limit Search; the search starts immediately.
2. Press MENU, scroll to Lo, press right, enter the lowest frequency and press SEL. Do the same for Hi.
3. Press right to continue the search, or MENU to stop.

Saving a Found Frequency

Press MENU and choose Store Channel, then SEL. The frequency is added to the default scanlist and named after the search type.

Search Settings

Press MENU while a search is running:

• All searches: Atten (on/off), Zeromatic (on/off) and Delay (how long to wait after a transmission).
• Spectrum Sweeper: Special Mode skips a 1 MHz block where you have skipped five or more frequencies (useful near many strong transmitters), and Frequency Ranges focuses the search.
• Service Search: Frequency Ranges and Rx Mode (automatic, or forced AM or FM; works in the aircraft and amateur bands).
• Limit Search: Lo and Hi.

Saving Found CTCSS, DCS or NAC Codes

Codes are imported with library objects. If missing, the scanner can identify them during a search: when a CTCSS or DCS code is found, press MENU, then Store SQ code, then SEL. From then on the scanner only stops on transmissions with a matching code. A valid code is shown on the bottom line of the display (for example CTCSS 127.3). Simple Display must be unchecked to display and save found codes.

Searching Elsewhere

The service lists and Public Safety sweep are US-oriented. For UK use, the Limit Search is the most useful, with Rx Mode set for the band. Airband is AM; check TRX-1 Specifications & Frequency Coverage for the steps used in each band.