1. Turn Off Data Skip
The Data Skip feature is designed for use particularly when you are searching a range of frequencies that includes paging broadcasts (such as those found in the 152-153, 158-159, and 454-455 MHz ranges). Since most people will not scan a paging channel or search a range with pagers (who wants to listen to annoying, incoherent tones?), it's best to simply turn Data Skip off.

With Data Skip on, you will occasionally find that transmissions will suddenly drop and the scanner will resume scanning when it actually should be holding on a channel. Data Skip will at times determine a sound, or lack of sound, is part of a paging transmission and will force the scanner to resume scanning or searching. Simply by turning Data Skip off you will avoid this nuisance.

To turn Data Skip off, go into the System Menu, scroll down to Data Skip, select it, and then select off.

2. LTR Trunking Programming
From Brian Cathcart:

You can figure out the channels for LTR systems with the 780xlt.  Just yesterday I had to figure it out, and here are the steps I took: 

1. Dedicate a bank to LTR trunking, and set it accordingly through the menu.

2. Enter the frequencies you want to figure out.  The order doesn't matter at this point (they will matter later when you want to track them, but for now they don't).

3. Press and hold TRUNK after entering each frequency, "L" should appear above the frequency.

4. When a transmission comes on the channel (not including the sync pulse that comes every 10 seconds or so), press TRUNK.  You should then see the LTR codes appear.  DO NOT press SCAN during this process, in fact it's best to have the frequency parker in MANUAL mode.  The reason for this because pressing SCAN will put the scanner into trunk tracking mode, and when it sees activity on the freq, and those freqs are in the wrong channel spot, it ignores them and you hear nothing.  Of course, if the freq you have in channel 1 is repeater 1, then you will hear activity.  I had a system yesterday that started at 6.

I was able to map out 2 systems yesterday. Once I had the correct channel numbers, I put those freqs into the proper channels and was able to trunk-track the system.

The Scanner Dude - Brian J. Cathcart - KE4PMJ
South Florida Trunking Guide - 4th Edition
Palm Beach County Frequency Directory - NEW 4th Edition! On CD-ROM too!

3. Save a Bank for the Playground:

Most people use Banks of the scanner for segragating types of systems or frequencies. For example, you may put Fire channels in Bank 1, Police in Bank 2, a local trunked system in Bank 3 and so on. Save a bank in the radio for experimenting and playing. I always save Bank 10 for this purpose. I load it with whatever system or service happens to trip my trigger that day. If I am investigating an unknown Trunked system I will enter the control channel and track it with the 780's fantastic Control Channel Only feature. By using my Experimental bank I don't disturb the banks used for known systems and reduce the chance of messing up all the work I put into alpha tagging talkgroups or channels.

4. VFO? Sure, Why not!

There has been some questions about the 780 not having a vfo. There is a way to tune a freq in vfo without entering it into a channel first.

1: Press the vfo select to freq mode.

2: Enter the freq. you want to tune. (DO NOT PRESS [E] !!)

3: Turn the vfo knob and that's it. So if you actually filled all 500 channels in your 780, this technique will work for you, because it won't store it in a channel. Just press MANUAL or SCAN to exit.

5. Need more than 100 Talkgroups?

If you feel a bit confined by the 100 talkgroup limit try this: Copy your system frequencies into a second or even third bank. Then enter the additional talkgroups into those added banks. You might wish to organize the different banks along geographical, type of service, or other logical breakdown. Then monitor both or all three banks as you wish. You could duplicate important talkgroups into every bank so as not to miss your favorite stuff. Although this can use up lots of memory just avoid putting ham radio, CB, FRS, marine, rail and other standard frequencies into memory channels as these are already covered in the special search function. Then you can have plenty of room for trunking activity.

(Thanks: Steve Bowyer, Vancouver, WA)

6. Need thicker glasses?

Here's a neat little trick for people who don't use alpha labels or have a problem seeing the 780's display.

When you enter a freq. You can also enter the freq in the alpha display too except you can space the freq out. Then activate the screen mask.

THAT"S IT !!

Now you can read the freq on the 780 from across the room.

Hope this helps the visually challeged.

Thanks Bob, KC5VOA

7. Can't reach the back of the radio?

Sometimes the radio is mounted in a vehicle or office so that it is difficult to reach the back of the radio to attach a programming cable. Go to a local electronics store and get a straight thru DB9 Male to DB 9 Female cable (the same as used for programming) and attach one end to the radio before mounting. Coil the cord under the seat or out of the way. When it is time to program the radio with a computer just pull out the cable and connect it to the computer.

The cable can be left attached to the radio unused with no problem. If needed a second cable can be used to connect to the computer.