Scanning is the ability of radio to, while selected on one channel or talkgroup, monitor activity on other channels / talkgroups. While the selected channel is idle, the radio will broadcast activity it receives on the scanned channels. A radio can only listen to one channel / talkgroup at a time.
Read general information about scanning on BRICS.
Learn about scanning priority.
Programming Scan Lists
Learn how to set up scan lists on the XTS2500 and XTS5000 portables.
The scan programming process for these two models is the same.
Learn how to set up scan lists on the XTS1500 Model 1.5 portable.
This model has a no keypad and is programmed differently.
Learn how to set up scan lists on the XTL 5000 mobile radio.
This radio is used in Butler County fire apparatus.
General Scanning Information
It is not possible to scan between systems.
Talkgroups attached to the statewide system (e.g. BRICS, MARCS, Warren Co) are all part of the same system. Hamilton County, Cincinnati and Montgomery County have separate systems. Conventional channels are a separate system.
- Example: You can not be on a BRICS/MARCSIP talkgroup and scan Hamilton County.
- Example: You can not be on 8 CALL 90 and scan a Butler County talkgroup.
You can scan while using local talkgroups, depending on agency policy.
Depending on your policy, you can scan while using your MAIN and local OPS talkgroups.
You can not scan while engaged in an incident on FIRE or TAC talkgroups.
This was an operational decision during the templating process. If you have scan switched on, your radio will simply stop scanning while selected on FIRE and TAC talkgroups.
- Example: You can not scan while using 09 FIRE 11.
(But you can scan 09 FIRE 11 while on your A-1) - Example: You can not scan while using 09 TAC 05.
We do NOT use “talkback scan”.
If you press your PTT button while hearing traffic on a scanned talkgroup, you will transmit on your selected talkgroup, not the scanned talkgroup. You do not need to worry about accidentally transmitting on a scanned talkgroup.
A scan list can have a maximum of 15 items.
Each system has a separate scan list – one for BRICS/MARCS talkgroups, one for Hamilton County talkgroups, etc. On BRICS, your main channel (located in A-1) can not be removed from the scan list. See “Scanning Priority” below.
You can only scan things on the same tower / group of towers.
Butler County dispatching talkgroups only broadcast on BRICS towers. Warren County dispatching talkgroups only broadcast on Warren County towers. While they’re part of the same overall system, and can be in the same scan list, the radio will never hear the Warren County talkgroup while attached to the BRICS tower, and vice versa. If you were to switch to a Warren County dispatch talkgroup, your radio would roam to their towers – and you’d hearing scanned BRICS dispatching talkgroups.
Scanning Priority
Your radio is capable of scanning up to fifteen talkgroups. Priority scan allows the radio to switch to a talkgroup that is more important when several talkgroups are active. There are three levels used to determine the priority for scanning.
The first priority talkgroup is your SELECTED TALKGROUP. Any time you are scanning, received radio traffic on the talkgroup you have selected with the zone and channel controls will always be the highest priority. You shouldn’t miss traffic on your selected talkgroup by scanning, in most circumstances.
Your second priority talkgroup is your MAIN talkgroup (Zone A, Channel 1). This is a fixed selection and can not be deleted or changed by the user. You shouldn’t miss your main talkgroup because of another scanned talkgroup, in most circumstances.
All remaining scan items are considered non-priority. These are user-selectable using the above instructions.