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Nothing to Scan

From The RadioReference Wiki

"Nothing to Scan" will appear on these scanners under various situations, each of these has a different solution. Here are explanations of what it means, and how to fix it. We will address all that we're aware of and how to fix the problem or avoid it completely in the future. It is a message which is often asked about: either after "Programming Uploading" or when a problem arises with Users Enabling/Disabling System & Group Quick Keys, in Uniden's Dynamic Memory Architecture scanners.

For a better understanding of all sets of the Quick Keys go to our Uniden Scanners Systems, Sites and Groups or Multi Site Trunking for a better understanding of Quick Key usage.


For All Uniden DMA Scanners

1. 'All Systems are Disabled' - This happens if you toggle all currently programmed systems to Off. Since you have turned everything off, the scanner has nothing to do; the solution is to Enable a System and the scanner will happily carry on scanning.

  • Disabled all SQKs - how to re-enable?
    • While in SCAN mode, press a number to enable SQK 0-9, or ".##" to enable SQK 10-99

2. 'All Groups are Disabled' - This is different than above and seems to cause the most problems with people understanding what has happened. The best way to understand this is a hypothetical situation. Say you are scanning a single conventional system programmed to one SQK (System Quick Key), let's use SQK #3 for example. All other SQK's are disabled and this system has 3 groups of frequencies on GQK's 1, 2, & 3. If you disable all three GQK's the radio will then properly state it has "Nothing To Scan" because you have turned everything off. The problem that seems to confound everyone at this point is that in addition to the "Nothing To Scan" begin displayed, the GQK disabled icons " * " are no longer displayed either. In other words although the System shows to be active (the #3 is showing along with "S0:"), there are no groups displayed. The solution is quite easy, press and hold the <Function> key, turn the scroll knob and find the system covered by SQK #3, the GQK icons will be present and while still holding the <Function> key press 1, 2, or 3 and the scanner will be able to scan again.

  • You can avoid this "disappearing icons" situation in two ways:
    • A. Don't ever disable all GQK's in a conventional system.
    • B. Program at least one frequency in the "default" group (one not assigned a GQK #) and do not lock it out. It can be a frequency you want to monitor for this system or it can be a frequency that is unlikely to have anything on it (like 1300 MHz).
Note: This problem does not happen on Trunking systems because the scanner will always Scan the Frequencies programmed, even if you disable (or indeed lock out) all of the TGID's.
  • Disabled all GQKs - how to re-enable?
    • While in SCAN mode, 'hold in the FUNC knob, scroll to the system (by turning the FUNC knob), and while holding the FUNC knob, hit the number of the GQK you want to enable.

3. 'Nothing in the scanner' - If the scanner has nothing programmed in it, of course it has nothing to scan, so this is most obvious reason. The solution is to program some Systems and scan away.

4. 'Everything is locked out' - This happens if everything in the enabled Systems are actually locked out. Note there is a difference between locked out and disabled. Locked out happens if you program something as Locked or press the <L/O> key. Disabled happens if you press a Quick Key (System or Group) and toggle the System or Group Off. The solution in this instance is to unlock something in a System so that the scanner has something to do.

  • Locked out all GQKs - how to unlock?
    • Locked out GQKs must be unlocked via the MENU. MENU / PROGRAM SYSTEM / (select system) / EDIT GROUP / (select Group) / SET LOCKOUT / UNLOCK
  • Locked out all SQKs - how to unlock?
    • There are 2 methods:
  1. While in SCAN mode, push and hold in the FUNC knob, scroll to the system (using the knob), and while holding the knob in, hit L/O.
  2. Via the MENU - MENU / PROGRAM SYSTEM / (select System) / EDIT SYSTEM OPTION / SET LOCKOUT / UNLOCK


For the HPx, x36HP and SDS Series

  1. A location has to be set in 'Set Your Location' to monitor the Database.
  2. You must enable at least one Favorites List or the Full Database in 'Set Scan Selection>Select Lists to Monitor'.
  3. Favorites Lists or Systems with QK's assigned to them must be enabled with QK's or in 'Set Scan Selection>Manage Quick Key Status'.
  4. Make sure 'ID Search' is On for the system if no IDs are programmed.
  5. Service Types for the channels you want to monitor must be set to On.
  6. Any FL with 'Use Location Control' set to On must have locations programmed for the Departments and/or Sites.


If you are programming everything in Sentinel first and sending it to the scanner
  • Edit Profile>Scan Selection tab: Make sure 'Monitor' and 'Download' are On for FL's you want to scan.
  • Check or uncheck 'Monitor Full Database'.
  • Edit Profile>Service Types tab: Make sure the Service Types you want to monitor are checked.
  • Custom 1 is needed for miscellaneous channels.
  • Edit Profile>Location Settings tab: Make sure you have a location programmed for scanning the Full Database or FL's with 'Use Location Control' set to On.
  • Edit Profile>Quick Key Status tab: Make sure FLQK's are checked for FL's you want to monitor.
  • Edit Favorites List>System QK Status tab: Make sure SQK's are checked for systems you want to monitor.
  • Edit Favorites List>System>Options tab: Make sure 'ID Search' is On if no IDs are programmed.
  • Edit Favorites List>System>Dept/Site Quick Keys Status tab: Make sure Department/Site QK's are checked for departments/sites you want to monitor.
  • Edit Favorites List>System>Dept/Site>Location tab: Make sure Departments/Sites have locations programmed if 'Use Location Control' is set to On for the FL.
  • Also see the X36 Nothing to Scan Checklist Thread
  • See the SDS100 Nothing to Scan After DB Update Thread

thanks to trucker for this update