The pcpscan uses normalscan as a basis for running with an additional bit of extra code to perform a frequency sweep along one beam. This mode of operation will scan through the radar's FOV much like during normal operations but with a slightly shorter sounding time. Then at the end of the scan, the radar will jump to one specific beam and jump through predetermined frequency bands. The sounding on each frequency will last for less than a second. Also, during the whole control program, the radar is using a range separation of 15 km.

The tests of the code at Blackstone is a warm up for developing and distributing code for all of the northern hemisphere radars to use during several periods in mid to late Jan. 2012.