EDACS systems often provide users with an 'Emergency'
mode on their radios. Users in trouble can alert the dispatcher
and other units and get priority access to the radio system.
When a user activates Emergency mode, EMERGENCY will
flash the display during the entire transmission. At the
beginning of each transmission it will sound a distinctive
emergency alert tone three times. To turn Emergency Alert
ON/OFF, enter into the Menu mode. Select 2:SCAN
OPTION / 2:TRUNK - select Bank number -
9:EMERGENCY ALT / 1:ON or 2:OFF by rotating the
VFO and pressing E.
Patch Tracking
The BC250D can follow EDACS patched talkgroups.
EDACS systems sometimes bring several talkgroups together
in a 'Patch'. A patch might be used by a police agency at night
to provide a single channel with a single dispatcher for a wide
area. A patch is created when a single, temporary talkgroup
substitutes for the original talkgroups. While the patch is
running, which may be for hours or days, the original
talkgroups cease to be used. If you were monitoring one of
these talkgroups, you might think there was no traffic, but in
fact the talkgroup was operating at the different temporary
number.
If a talkgroup in your Scan List is patched, your scanner will
continue to receive it under its new identity until the patch has
ended. When a patch is being received, the radio will display
PATCH ID, and will show the temporary common talkgroup
plus all the included talkgroups in a cycling display.
The BC250D is limited to following two patches.
The temporary talkgroups used for patches are usually found
in AFS code 15-xxx, and sometimes 00-xxx.
EDACS SCAT
With the EDACS SCAT feature turned “ON”, the data stream
transmissions will be eliminated allowing you to clearly
monitor the voice communications on EDACS SCAT systems.
To monitor EDACS SCAT systems you only need to turn this
feature 8:EDCS SCT. ON with designated frequency.
You do not need to enter group ID’s.
Note: As EDACS SCAT is different from the other tracking
feature, and it is not a feature which the scanner
tracks any ID, you do not need to program Talk Group
ID in the Menu mode.
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