AOR AR2300 Operating Manual page 10

Terminology
Search & Scan
If you have not used a wide band receiver before or are not familiar with the terminology used, it is very
important to understand the difference between SEARCH and SCAN modes.
SEARCH: The AR2300 provides several operations where transmissions (active frequencies)
may be automatically located by sweeping the receiver over a wide frequency range, either from
the currently displayed frequency traveling upwards (or downwards) in a specified tuning
increment (step) or by sweeping over-and-over between two specified frequency limits. This
process is known as SEARCHING, as the name implies, can take a long time to find
transmissions due to their 'often intermittent' and brief nature. For this reason, it is best to slice
large frequency ranges into smaller, more manageable pieces where they may be intensely
monitored.
When examining large frequency segments, it is common to find that 90% of the frequencies are
inactive and only a small number of the remaining constitute what you really want. Searching still
remains the best way to initially locate active and interesting transmissions (in conjunction with a
good frequency listing and band plan).
SCAN: Once active transmissions have been identified (either by searching or by using a good
frequency guide), it is more efficient to store the data into memories which can be rapidly and
automatically monitored in succession, stopping when activity is encountered. This is a much
more efficient means of monitoring the most wanted frequencies as you have targeted 100% of
what you most want to hear.
By contrast, searching is very inefficient for day-to-day monitoring.
Note: For the search & scan functions to operate properly, it is very important to advance
the squelch to cancel background noise. This is because the AR2300 believes that it has
found an active frequency when the squelch opens. Advance the squelch control
clockwise until the background noise is just cancelled, this is known as the "threshold"
position. If the squelch control is advanced too far, weaker signals may be missed.
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