Astro Spectra W3 Programming/Scanning

[nylawman]

Must an Astro Spectra W3 be programmed in Zones, or can 100 or so modes be programmed in sequence with P1, P2 and N/P scan designated "Operator Select?"

[Pj]

Haven't played with one in awhile, but you should be able to program in all 255 channels in one zone as op sel, but you are still limited to 15+1 channels in a zone that can be scanned. It works, but if you want to change scan assignments, be prepared to do a lot of button pushing to change the scan list if you have a channel in the middle you want to get to.

So, if you have all 255 channels in one zone, you can still only scan 16 of them, whereas if you program 16 channels per zone, in multiple zones, you can have a differernt scan list for each zone.

[tvsjr]

Unless the W3 is different, aren't scan lists assigned by conventional personality, not by zone?

[RKG]

PJs answer would be correct for analog Spectras (As, Bs, Cs and Es), but all of the Astro Spectras (Ws) I've ever seen program via the MTSX metaphor, where scan lists (still limited to 15+1 for non-trunked) are tagged per (i) conventional personality or (ii) trunked personality, and zone capacity is not limited to 16 (at least for some models). So I think NYlawman could do what he suggests, though I wouldn't recommend it.

The problem with a "long zone" -- as users of non-zonable analog Spectras learned -- is that channel ("mode") selection can be quite cumbersome. As a practical matter, grouping channels into logical zones can make the radio much easier to use.

[nylawman]

Thanks for your replies. I will program by zone, while all will start with the same basic 7 modes. I do currently use an analog Spectra A7, though, and can get to my (90 or so "long zone") modes easily via direct access. Since I am its sole user, I have my scanning process set to Operator select (for P1, P2 and N/P) and change it based on my location and need. I knew I was just always limited to 16I guess once I get used to the new program I can copy the redundant modes to each zone and break those remaining down as needed. It all makes sense. I just have not taken advantage Zone Programing over the years./ Charlie

[RKG]

If your A7 is zonable (you can tell from the "radiowide" page), you can make your life a bit easier. Assuming it is conventional (i.e., non-trunked), you can create zones and tag modes to as many zones as you like, but each zone can have its own scan list (which can be user programmable). You then create a button (I usually use Horn/Lights) that will, on first press, display the current zone's name, and on subsequent presses, step you up in zone. Once you get to the zone you want, do nothing for 5 seconds, and the radio switches to that zone.

Even if a bunch of zones have the same modes in them, it is useful to have a "home" scan list, a "south" scan list and a "north" scan list, and the zone feature means that you can effectively switch scan lists without going through the effort of going through the scan list programming procedure.

On a zonable Spectra, you define for "Home" both a home zone and a home mode, so that a single press of another button as you're driving home gets you back to "normal."

All in all, very useful.