AOR AR8600m Receiver Manual

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  as a short cut to ALL (which is the default) which will cause all receive modes to be
scanned in the specified scan group.  Use the main dial or ï ð keys to select the receive mode:
ALL, WFM, NFM, SFM, WAM, AM, NAM, USB, LSB, CW.
  to accept the changes and return to the display
prior to accessing the scan environment menu.  The ò key loops
back to the top of the SCAN-GROUP menu.
While scanning, only memory channels with the corresponding
receive mode will be scanned.  The legend “SCAN NFM” or
“SCAN AM” etc will be displayed indicating that only specific
modes will be scanned, the modes are displayed in REVERSE
CONTRAST highlighting.  If no channel contained within the bank
group matches the specified receive mode, the scan will be
aborted and the display will return to 2VFO mode with an error
beep sounding (if the beep is enabled).
7-8-6  Write protect of memory channels & banks
It is possible to write protect memory channels, whole memory banks, search banks and ‘globally
protect’ memory to prevent data being accidentally over-written.  Refer to section 11 of this manual
regarding the write protect options.
7-9  Select scan
Select scan enables you to ‘tag’ memory channels to make a temporary list of up to 100 channels for
scanning in a separate list called the SELECT SCAN LIST.  Memory channels from any of the 20
memory banks may be mixed together in any order and added to the select scan list.
7-9-1  Adding select scan channels in memory read
In memory read mode or when paused on an active channel in scan mode use the key sequence
    to toggle the select scan tag on/off, the legend “SEL” confirms
selection.  Even memories marked as channel pass may be added to the select scan list, the pass
status will be ignored by select scan.
7-9-2  Starting  / stopping select scan
To start select scan you must first have at least two memory
channels tagged for select scan.  
  
 to start select scan.  The legend “SEL” will be displayed
on the left hand side of the LCD to indicate that select scan is in
progress.  The memory channels will be displayed as select scan
progresses and each memory channel will display the legend
“SEL”.  The direction of scan can be reversed using the main dial
or ñ ò keys.
To stop select scan, 
  or  or 
Section  7-8-5, 7-8-6, 7-9, 7-9-1, 7-9-2 
						

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7-9-3  Select scan environment
The select scan environment may be customised in respect of DELAY, LEVEL, VOICE, FREE and
MODE.  The current SCAN-GROUP selection is used by select scan.  To access the scan group
environment menu 
   .  For further information regarding the scan
group environment please refer to 
section 7-8 of this manual.
7-9-4  Editing the contents of the select scan list
Although it is possible to review all 1,000 memory channels using
memory read to assess which memory channels are tagged for
select scan, a quicker method is available via the select scan
menu.
    to access the “SEL-SCAN”
menu.
One hundred select scan channels are available and numbered
from 00 to 99.  Use the main dial or ï ð keys to scroll through the
select scan list contents.  The select scan numbers are allocated in the order in which they were tagged
in memory read mode, the memory bank/channel number, frequency and any text comment is displayed.
Deleting singe select scan channels
To remove the displayed channel from the select scan list 
 .  The frequency is
removed from display (“SEL” tag is removed from the memory channel) and the position in the select
scan list will be filled with the next highest select scan channel number.  For example, if you have five
select channels listed and delete number “03”, channel number “04” will slide down to take its place
(any gap is filled) so that “04” will be renumbered as “03”, “05” will become “04” and so on.
Adding new select scan channels
It is possible to tag select scan memories in memory read mode, it is also possible to add additional
select scan channels using the select scan menu.
    to access the select scan
menu.
 the ï key to wrap around to the end of the select scan
list, the legend “SEL-SCAN xx --- ----.---- ------------“ will be
displayed where “xx” is the next available select scan channel.
The ‘dashes’ indicate that the channel is currently unused.
 ò to display the legend “BANK/CH SEL” inviting you to
select a memory channel to add to the select scan list.
Select the desired memory channel by keying a three digit location via the keypad or scroll through the
memory banks using the ï ð keys and main dial to scroll through the memory channels.
  to accept the displayed memory location to be added to the select scan list.
The memory data will appear alongside the select scan number.
Section 7-9-3, 7-9-4 
						

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If you wish to add more select scan channels  ð once to move upward to the new end of the
list and repeat the process.  
  or  to exit the select scan menu.
It is possible to delete the entire select scan list in one go using the DELETE menu, this is very useful to
enable rapid changes to the select scan list content.
7-9-5  Deleting all select scan channels
Although it is possible to review and delete select scan channels in memory read  and by using the
select scan menu, a quicker method is available should you wish to delete all select scan tags in one go.
This is particularly useful when you wish to start a new select scan list (making the select scan list
almost like a note pad).
The DELETE menu is used to delete all select scan channels in one go.  To access the delete menu
   .   the ò key four times to display the “DELETE SEL-CH”
menu.  If at least one select scan channel exists, a channel location will be displayed to the right of the
legend “SEL-CH Xxx” where “Xxx” represents the channel location, if no select scan channels exist the
legend “SEL-CH --” will be displayed.
  to delete the select scan list, the “SEL-CH --“ legend confirms deletion.
  or  or  or  or  to exit the delete menu.
&Note: Only the select scan ‘tags’ are deleted using this procedure, the memory channel
contents are not erased or altered in any other way.
Section  7-9-4, 7-9-5 
						

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(8)  Search mode
In search mode, the AR8600 is programmed to automatically tune between two specified frequency
limits looking for activity.  Please refer to section 1-3 of this manual if you do not fully understand the
terminology of SEARCH.
8-1  Search types
The AR8600 is equipped with two types of search:-
VFO SEARCH = search from the current frequency in VFO mode.
Please refer to 
section 4-3 of this manual for further information.
PROGRAM SEARCH = search between user programmed limits.
8-1-1  Program search overview
There are 40 program search banks (referred to simply as search banks) which can be programmed with
specific parameters:
l LO (lower) start frequency
l HI (upper) stop frequency
l Receive mode (or set to AUTO MODE)
l Receive tuning step (or set to AUTO MODE)
l Step adjust
l Frequency offset
l Attenuator status
l Noise limiter status
l Text comment
l Write protect
l CTCSS tone (if the CT8200 SLOT CARD option is used)
The program search banks are identified by upper case letters A - T and lower case letters a - t.
To help with identification, each bank may be labelled with an alphanumeric text comment.
Section 8, 8-1, 8-1-1 
						

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To assist testing in the factory, several search banks may be programmed with data (which can be easy
deleted or overwritten).  This pre-programming is useful to ease familiarisation during the early days of
operation… so that when you push a key there is something already programmed to work!
8-2  Starting program search
Presuming that data is already stored into a search bank…
 the  key to start the program search
process.  The LCD legend “SRCH” will be displayed and as
long as the squelch is closed, the search process will start
from the lower frequency limit and will progress toward the
upper frequency limit.  When the program limit is reached,
the search loops around and starts the process again.
&Note: If no search banks have been
programmed, the search process will not operate.
8-2-1  Reversing the direction of search
To reverse the direction of search use the main dial or ñ ò keys, this is useful to
enable you to search back over and over an interesting point of the search process.
8-2-2  Forcing the search to resume
If the AR8600 stops on an unwanted busy frequency,  the  key
or use the ñ ò keys or main dial to force the search process to resume from the
current frequency displayed.
8-2-3  Stopping the search
While the search process is in progress (not stopped),   to stop searching and transfer
the current frequency to the single VFO for monitoring or tuning from.  To exit the search process
 the  key for memory read mode or the  key for 2VFO mode (displaying the
data on-screen before search was started).
Section 8-1-1, 8-2, 8-2-1, 8-2-2, 8-2-3 
						

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8-2-4  Copying an active frequency to the VFO or memory location
It is convenient to transfer an active frequency from search to VFO or memory for periods of extended
listening.
Copy to VFO
When the search process is stopped on an active frequency, 
 the  key to transfer the
current receive frequency to the single VFO where it may be monitored.
Write to memory
When the search process is stopped on an active frequency, 
 the  key to write the
current receive frequency into the first available empty memory location (or you may select a specific
location from the 1,000 memory channels available).
8-3  Selection of search bank
There are 40 search banks, while searching use the ï ð keys to step through search banks which
contain data, alternatively you may use the numeric keys (with assigned letters and shifts).  If no data is
programmed in the nominated search bank, the next bank containing valid data will be used.
Recalling search banks A - J is very simple involving only one key push, for this reason it is suggested
that these banks are used for primary search tasks.
While searching, 
 the numeric key corresponding to the required search bank:
A *
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
&Note: When bank “A” is selected via the keypad, a delay of around two seconds will be
encountered before the 
 key is acted upon, this is because the  key also
has a special ‘SHIFT’ command status when selecting banks K - T and k - t.
Tip: to search “A” instantly,    
Section 8-2-4, 8-3 
						

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Recalling banks K - T requires use of the ‘SHIFT’
command before the letter key, this ‘shift’
command is the use of the 
 key before a
second numeric key is pushed.  You must key
quickly or bank “A” will be selected, the timeout
while using the ‘shift’ key is around two seconds:
K
 
L 
M 
N 
O 
P 
Q 
R 
S 
T 
Recalling banks a - j requires use of the ‘CASE’
command before the letter key, this ‘case’
command (selecting upper or lower case bank
letters) is the use of the 
 key before a
second numeric key is pushed.
a
 
b 
c 
d 
e 
f 
g 
h 
I 
j 
Recalling banks k - t requires use of the ‘case’
and ‘shift’ command before the letter key:
k
  
l  
m  
n  
o  
p  
q  
r  
s  
t  
Section 8-3 
						

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8-4  Programming a search bank
Each of the 40 search banks may be programmed with
different frequency limits, receive modes, step size etc as
listed in 
section 8-1-1 of this manual.
    to access the
“SRCH-PROG” menu.
Use the main dial or ï ð keys or keypad to select the
bank you wish to program or over write.  (The ò key is
used to move through the menu).
 ò
LO  Input the lower startfrequency in MHz format
(don’t push enter)
 ò
HI  Input the higher end frequency in MHz format
(don’t push enter)
 ò
MODE SET Use the ï ð keys or main dial to select
receive mode, the 
 key is used as a short cut to “AUTO”.
&Note: If the receive mode is set to “AUTO”, the receive mode,
channel step, step-adjust, frequency offset will be taken from the
pre-programmed auto band plan data, for this reason the
detailing will not be required while programming so is skipped…
the next menu will be TEXT INPUT.
 ò
STEP  Assuming that a receive mode other than “AUTO” was selected, you will be presented
with the “SET STEP” menu.  Use the main dial or ï ð keys to select the required tuning step
from the following: 0.05 kHz (50 Hz), 0.1 kHz (100 Hz), 0.2 kHz (200 Hz), 0.5 kHz (500 Hz),
1.00 kHz, 2.00 kHz, 5.00 kHz, 6.25 kHz, 8.33 kHz, 9.00 kHz, 10.00 kHz, 12.50 kHz, 20 kHz,
25.00 kHz, 30 kHz, 50 kHz, 100.00 kHz.  Alternatively a step size may be entered in kHz format
via the keypad in multiples of 50 Hz in the range of 50 Hz to 999.95 kHz (do not push enter).
Section 8-4 
						

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&Note: If a step-adjust value is already programmed into the search bank, the step-adjust
menu will be automatically displayed when accessing the step input menu.
STEP ADJ+  If you with to manually enter a step-adjust value for tracking unusual band plans
 , the “STEP ADJ+” legend will be displayed.   ò to move the cursor
to the “ADJ+” line and enter a step-adjust value using kHz format (do not push enter).  You can
use the ñ key in this menu to move back to STEP size selection.
&Note: Step-adjust value will be calculated automatically by the AR8600 if a manual entry is
not made.  The CPU calculates if the selected tuning step size is divisible into the search bank
start and end frequency limits and sets step-adjust accordingly.
 ò to access the TEXT INPUT menu.
TEXT  The cursor will be positioned in the bottom left corner of the
LCD.  If an unwanted text comment exists 
  to
delete the character
highlighted by the cursor
and the remainder of the
line to the right of the cursor
position.  Add text if you
wish.
 ò to access the PROTECT menu.
PROTECT  It is possible to protect a search bank to prevent
accidental over-writing of data.  
  to toggle the
write protect status on/off (default is off).
To accept the data input 
 .
Alternatively 
 ò to return to the top of the menu or   to abort.  The
LCD will revert to its previous display (VFO, search or scan mode).
To start SEARCH 
 , use the ï ð
keys or keypad to select search bank.
The attenuator, noise limiter or AFC can be toggled
on/off during the search process.
Section 8-4 
						

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8-5  Locking out unwanted active frequencies (PASS)
It is possible to lock out (PASS) unwanted frequencies while in program search mode, this is useful to
eliminate unwanted permanent transmissions.  It is important to understand the PASS facility before
using the 
 key or transmissions may be missed.
While stopped on an unwanted frequency  , the search process will resume.  It will
appear that all frequencies are still searched, however locked out frequencies will be ‘passed over’, the
search will not stop on locked out frequencies but the squelch may momentarily open causing a short
burst of audio before the frequency is passed… if several consecutive active frequencies are locked out,
an audio ‘chuff… chuff… chuff…’ may be encountered.
Locked out PASS frequencies are assigned PASS CHANNEL NUMBERS, there are a total of 50 PASS
channels for each search bank.  Frequencies ± 10 kHz from the assigned pass frequency will be
skipped, carefully consider the implications of locking out ± 10 kHz when using USB, LSB and CW.
When you attempt to exceed the limit of 50 pass channels per bank an error beep will be emitted (if
beep is enabled).  The locked out frequency will be relevant to the current search bank only… i.e. if you
lock out 124.500 MHz in search bank “A”, this frequency will not be locked out of any other search bank
and may be searched as usual in any other bank.
8-5-1  Search pass menu
It is possible to review, delete and add pass channels using the SEARCH PASS menu.
If you are currently searching 
 , the “SRCH PASS” menu will be displayed along with
current bank letter.  From any other point 
 , the VFO-PASS menu will be displayed,
 ò to access the “SRCH PASS” menu, use the
ï ð keys at display the desired search bank letter.
If pass channels have already been tagged for the current search
bank the legend “PASS xx” will be displayed where “xx”
indicates that data is present.  If no pass frequencies have been
tagged, the legend “PASS 00 ----.----” will be displayed.
The ï ð keys, main dial or keypad may be used to change
search bank.  
 the ò key to access the review section
of the menu, the frequency pass contents of the displayed bank
may be reviewed using the ï ð keys or main dial.
To delete the displayed pass frequency key in a nul value
(0 = zero) 
  .  The frequency pass
channel will be deleted and the list will reshuffle.  The frequency
is once again available in search mode.
Section 8-5, 8-5-1