User's Manual

20-496 Owner’s Manual Draft Page 26/78
4. If desired, set the priority channel mode. You can set a priority channel for CTCSS or DCS operation with
a programmed code.
Programming a Weather Channel as Priority
1. Press WX.
2. Select the weather channel you want to program as the priority channel by pressing WX repeatedly until
the desired weather channel is displayed.
3. Press FUNC, and then PRI. Pri Channel flashes on the bottom line two times.
Activating the Priority Feature
Press PRI while scanning or manually parked on a channel. PRIon (or PRIwx if you set the priority to a
weather frequency) appears on the bottom line of the display, and P will appear in the top line while
scanning or parked on a channel in manual mode. If the scanner detects activity on the priority channel, Pri
Channel appears in the scanner’s display. If the scanner detects the 1050 Hz weather alert tone in Priority
WX mode, the display will show Weather ALERT and the scanner sounds an alert tone (see “SAME
Standby Mode” on Page XX). Press WX to listen to the weather alert message.
Notes:
. This scanner cannot set a channel as the priority channel if the channel's receive mode is MO or ED.
. In the event of a weather or other hazard warning, a 1050 Hz tone is transmitted prior to the message.
The scanner detects the presence of this tone during the sampling process. The scanner sounds an
audible alert and switches to the weather frequency if the alert tone is detected.
. Because the scanner does not priority sample the weather channel while monitoring trunked talkgroup
calls, it is possible that the 1050 Hz alert tone may be missed between sample intervals when trunked
systems are being scanned. We recommend the use of a dedicated RadioShack Weatheradio® during
times when severe weather notification is critical for your safety, such as when boating or when you know
that the potential for severe weather exists in your area.
. To turn off the priority feature, press PRI.
Programming Channels for CTCSS and DCS Operation
Your PRO-2096 scanner features an advanced, DSP based CTCSS and DCS decoder. CTCSS and DCS
allow you to program frequencies into your scanner that are used by more than one group in your area and
listen only to the group that is of interest to you by specifying the group’s specific CTCSS or DCS code.
CTCSS and DCS can also help reduce instances where interfering signals cause your scanner to stop on
one channel.
There are two ways you can program your scanner to operate with CTCSS and DCS. If you know the