METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PRIORITY CHANNEL SCAN IN A RADIO

A priority channel scan for use in radios capable for receiving at least two channels, wherein one of the channels is a priority communications channel. The radio periodically interrupts communications on the non-priority channel for very brief moments to allow monitoring of the priority channel for the presence of digital code word segments. These digital code word segments are stored until the complete code word can be reconstructed and compared against stored code words. When a match occurs, the radio switches to the priority channel to allow reception of a priority message occurring thereon.