Transceiver with off hook scanning

Abstract

A transceiver that allows scanning to occur with the microphone in an off hook position. The transceiver includes a main unit, external microphone, and hook for holding the microphone. The external microphone includes a push-to-talk button, which may be pressed in order to allow audio signals to be converted into electrical talk signals and sent to the main unit. The main unit scans a plurality of channels according to a predetermined sequence. One channel is designated as a 'priority' channel. Scanning continues when the microphone is off hook. When the unit detects channel activity on a specific channel that it is monitoring at a particular time, it discontinues the scanning both during the channel activity and for a predetermined wait period after the absence of such activity on the specific channel. Should a talk signal occur within the wait period following activity on the specific channel, the talk signal is processed on the specific channel. However, the talk signal may occur during scanning rather than soon after channel activity on the one specific channel. In this case, the talk signal is processed on the priority channel rather than on any other specific channel. The decision to process and transmit the talk signal on a specific channel or on the priority channel is made 'automatically,' depending on when the push-to-talk button is depressed.