User's Manual

Table Of Contents
3-14 Viking™ VP600 Portable Radio Operating Manual
General Operation
3.11 Radio Operating Modes
Each selectable channel can be programmed for the conventional (analog or Project 25
digital), SmartNet/SmartZone, or Project 25 digital trunking operating mode. For example,
Zone 1/Channel 1 could be a conventional channel, Zone 1/Channel 2 a P25 Trunking
channel, and so on. More information on these modes follows.
Note All operating modes utilize certain functions that are activated/deactivated by pressing
and holding a particular key/button or switch. The “hold” interval is preset. When
instructed to “press and hold”, do so until the desired action occurs. For other operations
(not specified “press and hold”) only momentary pressing is required.
The user has the ability to use two different timers for Emergency mode (Conventional
system) - one to enable and one to disable emergency mode, preventing accidental
enabling and disabling of emergency mode. With Emergency Press and Hold enabled,
emergency mode is enabled when the Button Press/Hold Duration Timer expires. In both
cases, emergency mode is cancelled when the Button Press/Hold Emergency Cancel Timer
expires.
3.11.1 Conventional Mode
This is a non-trunked operating mode which accesses independent radio channels. There is
no automatic access to several channels. Selecting a conventional channel selects a
transmit and receive frequency and other channel parameters such as squelch control
coding.
Conventional channels can be either standard (analog), Project 25 (digital) or mix mode.
With digital operation, the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) converts the audio signal to
digital data packets. Another difference is that analog channels use Call Guard (CTCSS/
DCS) squelch control and Project 25 channels use a Network Access Code (NAC) and
talkgroup ID codes.
With Project 25 operation, a NAC is transmitted which must match the NAC programmed
in the repeater or base station equipment and the radio(s) being called for communication
to occur. In addition, to receive standard group calls, the receiving radio must be
programmed to detect the transmitted talkgroup ID code.
With conventional operation, a busy channel condition is detected automatically if the
busy channel lockout (transmit disable on busy) feature is programmed. Otherwise, it must
be detected manually. An out-of-range condition is not indicated by special tones or
messages as with trunking operation because there is no initial data exchange with the
repeater that allows this condition to be detected. Operating features unique to
conventional channels are described in Section 5.