Exceptional Bank Management - Select up to 99 banks to scan at one time, containing up to 1000 frequencies each, quickly, easily, and without having to leave scanning screen. Banks include descriptive fields up to 25 characters for each bank, incremental search and tagging of banks for easy identification, lookup and selection.
Group File Management - Provides up to 4000 groups of 99 banks, each group with separate and customizable configuration, frequency, bank, radio service code and alarm files.
SmartScantm - Allows you to instantly and automatically focus on changing events! Key frequencies are assigned as triggers. When activity is detected on one of these key frequencies, Probe activates an assigned bank of frequencies, called a "SmartBank", for a specified amount of dwell time. A SmartBank can be any bank of a few frequencies or as many as 1000. For each key frequency, you can choose whether the SmartBank is the only bank scanned (exclusive mode), or is added to current banks scanned (non-exclusive mode). The length of dwell time spent in either mode can be tailored to your own situation. If activity is detected within the SmartBank of frequencies during the dwell time, the dwell timer is reset so you can continue to monitor the action.
For example, you can designate the air emergency frequency 121.5000 as a key frequency. When it becomes active, you can have your scanner exclusively scan just those frequencies related to the air emergency frequency, like the local tower, ground control, rescue squad and air port security, or you can include them with the other frequencies being scanned in the non-exclusive mode. Once the actions settles down, normal scanning resumes. This is just one of many uses for SmartScan.
TacScantm - The benefit of TacScan is quite noticeable, particularly when you are scanning a large number of frequencies. While you can use the standard "delay" features on a normal scanner, they are usually too short to be effective. You could use Probe's extended delay features, but applying a lengthy delay can result in hearing less traffic. With TacScan, your odds of hearing a response to a dispatch are greatly improved. When you are searching a large number of frequencies, you will hear more activity and less dead air. Find, identify and log those "new" frequencies more quickly!
TacScan assigns an active frequency to a priority position in the scanning list for a specified period of time. When and how the frequency is assigned as a TacScan frequency is based on the settings for TacScan. You can set TacScan on "auto", or use Probe's logging features, as a trigger so a frequency found active is assigned to the TacScan scanning list. You can also manually assign an active, or last active frequency to the TacScan list right from the scanning screen.
Hypergroupstm - This feature was rated as "hot" by Probe users. You can switch between any 10 "Groups" on the fly directly from the scanning screen! Assign any of the "F1" through "F10" keys to your 10 favorite groups. Once scanning, pressing "Alt-H" provides a pick list of groups. Or you can use the key combination of <Alt> and any of the preassigned "F" keys to go directly to a group.
Hyperbankstm - "Imagine having ten scanners sitting on your desk." reports John McColman from AOSC Journal in his review of Probe. With just one simple keystroke, this new feature immediately activates any combination of 99 scanning banks. Each of the ten available Hyperbanks can be customized with a description so you can easily remember what each Hyperbank is designed to monitor. Hyperbanks allows the Optoscan / Optocom to become a tactical system, where it is quickly and easily reconfigured to the needs of the moment. Rather than switching through various screens, or deactivating and activating banks, you only have to press one function key and go. Thus, with the ten function keys having separate bank selections, it is like having ten scanners available, all at the touch of one key.
Let's say you have any number of banks setup to suit your interests. There's a bank for fire, another for media and another for local government. You can configure the "F1" key to activate these three banks and describe it as "Fire" . Other banks could include your favorite frequency banks such as federal law enforcement, local and state law enforcement. Configure the "F10" key with these banks and describe it as "Favorite Frequencies". When a major event occurs, press "F1" and the fire, media and local government banks are immediately activated. When everything is finished, press "F10" and you are back to your normal configuration.
Hypersettingstm - In addition to Probe's ability to "memorize" (save) various bank selections to one "Hyperbank key", Probe provides the option of memorizing Probe's 85 "Settings" into the same key. A Hyperbank key not only controls bank selections, but controls most of the scanning operations, features and functions instantly.
VFO Keys - This feature provides immediate access for those most important frequencies from the scanning screen or the manual tuner. Up to 10 individual frequencies can be assigned to the "F1" through "F10" keys - called "VFO Keys". In addition to a frequency, each VFO key can store the mode, tone, step rate and a description for each frequency. There's also a handy VFO key pick list. Once a VFO key is pressed, the associated frequency is immediately tuned in the "Manual Tuner" where it can be changed, or stepped up or down based on the step rate you programmed into the VFO key. Tone squelch control is also provided.
Automark and Autolock - These features provide a method for easily identifying which frequencies and tones are in use in your area. An excellent tool for professional users responsible for frequency / tone coordination and spectrum analysis. "Automark" automatically highlights (marks) frequency records on file based on the number of "hits" recorded in the log file. Coupled with enhanced functions in the frequency viewer, you can copy or move either the marked or unmarked frequency records from a specific bank, or from the entire frequency file, to a different bank or group. Like "Automark", "Autolock" locks out active frequencies based on the number of "hits" allowing the program to concentrate more time checking on the remaining frequencies for activity.
Modulation / No Modulation Controls - Similar to the "sound squelch" function found on many scanners but with much more selectivity and control. "Limit Modulation" exits the current active frequency if it detects constant modulation and resumes scanning according to your timed settings. "Limit No Modulation" works in the opposite manner. Probe can automatically resume scanning after detecting open carriers, birdies, data channels, and even automatically "Templock" a troubled frequency without touching the keyboard.
Extensive Frequency Management Tools Built In - Frequency file viewer and editor provides expanding, contracting and locking columns for easy viewing. Column order of frequency data can be customized to suit your needs. Provides multiple sorting options for different ordering of data. Incremental searching for fast lookups. Create subsets and print frequency data. Speed entry and instant duplication check for new frequency data. Direct access to frequency file and full screen frequency data editor accessible right from the scanning screen!
One of the many unique frequency management tools is the "Compare / Copy" function. This feature allows you to copy selected frequency data from one group into another. After the selected records are copied, they are compared to the other records in the current group. Those which are duplicated elsewhere in the group are "marked" (highlighted) and those which are new are unmarked. You can easily delete the marked records if you only want to view the new records, or delete the unmarked records to see the duplicates. For those new records you wish to keep, you can reassign them to their appropriate banks. This make sharing frequency files with others a snap. You can "Copy / Compare" their frequency files with yours making it easier to update and synchronize frequency files. Another benefit is being able to combine one group with another while eliminating unnecessary duplication.
Imports FCC Data - Probe utilizes FCC data better than any other software by importing more of it. Works with FCC Data on CD ROM such as "Percon" and "Scannerbase". Built-in FCC radio service descriptions and codes provided. Breaks down FCC data by putting each service type into an individual bank. Automatically fills in bank descriptions with FCC radio service descriptions for easy selection of which radio services to scan. Uses latitude and longitude data for calculating distance from monitoring location to transmitter. Built-in radius search function allows you to import just those frequencies in your area. Frequencies which can't be tuned or are out of the tuning range of the scanner are automatically eliminated. Duplicate frequencies are only tuned once when scanning. Duplicate licensee records can be deleted by using a special "Dupecheck" function while scanning.
Imports CSV Data - CSV data, a common data format, can be imported directly into Probe. You control what data goes where. Also allows importing frequencies from a regular text file where frequencies are delimited by carriage returns and line feeds.
Log all or specific frequencies / tones / DTMF data - Log is readily viewed and printed during scan session. Logging includes time and date stamp and options for logging individual or cumulative transmissions of DTMF data. Accumulated air time and average signal strength included. Immediate access tot he log directly from the scanning screen and instantly tune a logged frequency. A "Minimum Airtime" setting eliminates logging frequencies due to short squelch openings and repeater delays that may otherwise hold the frequency open.
More on-line data for active frequencies - Scanning screen includes licensee name, address, city, state, county, radio service type and description, callsign, transmitter latitude, longitude, group name, log file name, bank number and bank description.
More on-line status indicators - Status indicators and data include scanning speed, current active frequency, CTCSS / DCS / DTMF codes, modulation, signal strength, log, record, alarms, priority, delays, current time, SmartScan, SmartBank, and an active log of the most recent frequency activity.
Unique "Lite Bar" and "Manual" tuning Functions - "Direct access on-line tuning" from both the frequency and log file viewers provide immediate tuning of highlighted frequency or log record. Manual mode provides variable tuning directly from scan screen; acts like a "tuning knob". Tone control, signal strength, and DTMF readout included. You can even toggle the Optoscan's / Optocom's "5 kHz search window" for center tuning.
Optocom Features - Upload and download frequency data to and from the Optocom. Control volume and squelch directly from the keyboard.
These are just a few of the many features Probe has to offer. Other features include:
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