TRX-2E Keypad, Rotary Encoder & Controls

Summary: What each key and the rotary encoder on the TRX-2E does, and the quick Fn shortcuts.

The Keys

• POWER/BACKLIGHT (bottom right of the head) – press and hold until the display reads “release button” to turn on or off. A brief press shows the backlight level; turn the rotary encoder to change it.
• MENU – options for what you’re currently doing, and the Main Menu.
• WX – instant access to a Service Search of your choice. It’s set with the WxK setting (see TRX-2E Searching: Spectrum Sweeper, Service & Limit Search).
• ATT – cycles the attenuator between Per Object, Global and Global Attenuation On.
• PRI – toggles priority for the selected or active object. Fn + PRI switches Priority Mode on or off while scanning.
• SKIP – temporarily disables the current object; press again to restore it. It can be programmed to lock out permanently (Global Settings). While editing text, SKIP clears all text at and to the right of the cursor. In Playback it stops the current recording or moves to the next. In many menus it cancels or aborts a pending change.
• Fn – alternate key functions.
• Play/Pause/SEL – controls Scan, Pause and Playback, and selects, enables or disables options in menus.
• Four-way push pad – navigation while browsing objects and menus.
• Alphanumeric keypad – enters frequencies, talkgroup IDs and names. While scanning, pressing 1 to 200 toggles that scanlist on or off.

Toggling Scanlists While Scanning

Each key press must be within 2 seconds of the last. To toggle several scanlists, press the decimal point once as a separator and twice to end the sequence. To toggle scanlist 9 press 9. To toggle 9, 11 and 22 press 9 . 11 . 22 (or add one or two closing points).

The Rotary Encoder

The multi-function knob at the top right of the head turns left and right and can be pressed. Its function depends on context.

• Knob Dflt (Global Settings) chooses whether it defaults to volume or squelch. Knob T/Out sets the timeout, from 1 to 10 seconds.
• Factory default is volume while scanning. One press temporarily switches to squelch control, and after 5 seconds (settable) of inactivity it reverts. It works the same way the other way round if squelch is the default.
• Squelch: when the level is high only stronger signals get through; too low and the squelch stays open, so the scanner scans slowly or stops on noise. The ideal setting is between 9 and 11. If it’s scanning very slowly or stopping on noise, raise the squelch level until normal scanning returns.
• In menus it scrolls the items and a press selects. When entering text it scrolls through the characters and a press selects one.
• It also adjusts the backlight after a brief POWER press.

Quick Function Access Keys

• Fn + Up arrow – top of the menu list. Fn + Down arrow – bottom of the list.
• Fn + 0 – Tune mode. Fn + 1 – Scan mode. Fn + 2 – Program Menu.
• Fn + 3 – Sweeper menu. Fn + 4 – Service Search menu. Fn + 5 – Limit Search.
• Fn + 6 – Playback mode. Fn + 9 – Object search.