Easier to Read BCT-15 Scanner Manual

It does have some cool features: Dynamic Memory, Scan with Search, Multi-Site Trunking, Close Call with Close Call Do Not Disturb and Close Call Hits with Scan, an adjustable 'Hold (scan)' time for each conventional system or trunking site and each custom/service search band, Search and Store (actually an old feature brought back), signal strength bars, and the ability to hold about 2500 tagged channels. You can store up to 500 different systems (if there is enough memory). The Bear Tracker Warning System and Location-Based scanning (with an optional GPS unit) in a mobile radio are nice addition too (set it and forget it). The scanner is made for the road. The 'Automatic Channel Setup' allows you to enter a frequency without having to change the step size from the default if the frequency is not the default step size. You can assign service and custom searches to 'Quick Keys' (vs. unlocking them) with search and scan. The 'Custom Screen' for Close Call is a plus if you live in a 'noisy' area allowing you to program specific ranges the scanner will ignore. You can program alerts for selected channels, POI's, dangerous roads/crossings, Close Call hits, and Tone-Outs with different alert sounds and adjustable volumes. Alert Plus/Mute allows you to listen to just the alerts or mute alerts. I have also been able to enter partial IDs for Motorola (Type I,IIi) and LTR systems, not just EDACS systems. One thing to remember is that IDs also go into channels (no more scan lists). And, of course, computer upload/download clone and control. You can assign any system, group, or search to a Quick Key allowing you to scan and/or search any combination of systems and search bands. There doesn't seem to be a limit to how many priority channels you can program (100 like the BCT15X?). When 'tone search' is enabled for searching or for a channel, it will search for CTCSS and DCS tones, not just one or the other. The Close Call and Weather Alert Priority features will run in the background while scanning and/or searching. You can reverse the display (and the scanner) to hear the speaker from the top (but it still sounds like the speaker is inside a box). It also comes with an AC adapter, computer cable, mobile mounting bracket, lighter cord, and a (worthless push-on 21" right angle whip) antenna. The firmware is upgradeable for re-banding. There is also the (optional; expensive) BC-RH96 remote head for those of you that wish to hide your scanner in the trunk.

Pretty powerful for a mobile scanner all in all.

Now the annoying stuff. Dynamic Memory has it's drawbacks because you have to build everything then program it. Alpha tagging is best left to the software. Startup Configuration can't be canceled once you start using it; the scanner remembers the last use configuration unless you use another, scans multiple trunking systems relatively slow even with the hold time set to 0 (especially if you have a lot of IDs programmed). Has the long squelch tail like the BR-330T that gives you the 'chop' at the end of each transmission (not like the nice clean 'click' of the Pro-97). The group's numbers don't show in the display (like the 330/396/996) unless you press FUNC. You have to hold on a channel first, to attenuate it. The channels and IDs aren't numbered so they can be hard to find if you have a lot of them in a group. There is no 'per channel' delay; you must set the delay for the whole system (all groups, all channels). Resetting the radio- how many of you can do that on the first try? The Fire Tone-Out works very well (after you find the tones) but because you can't scan channels at the same time why put it in a scanner that has so many other features? They should market a 'FTO' only scanner if that's the way it's going to work.

You will also need a better antenna. The stock whip isn't fabulous. RS has the Center-Loaded Telescoping Whip for $15 - better for VHF/UHF. The 800MHz Scanner Antenna for $25 - 100% better for 700+ MHz. You may be able to find others on the web but RS is convenient so you can buy it and take it back in the same day if you don't like it. Read the reviews for each at the site.

An overview of the features can also be viewed at my Trunking Radio Comparison Chart page.

Although the Uniden manual is actually very easy to read, it still has pieces of info in the wrong place, features not explained (that I found in the BCD996T manual), and can be somewhat vague on many other features. This manual has links to all operations, all the selections in the menu, is on a computer screen with links to related features, and is more fun than trying to hold and flip through a small book while trying to figure out the radio. So, I have written this manual for myself so I can actually use the scanners full potential and will share it with you.

As you have found out by now, this is a whole different scanner as far as scanners go. I have tried to write my manual to follow the menu sequences as closely as possible so you can find things a little easier in the radio.

It is also recommended that you download and install the latest firmware upgrade for the scanners if you don't have it. See checking Firmware Version. Another recommendation is the freeware FreeSCAN, a 'must have' for the radio.

For those of you who are new to trunking, dynamic memory, or haven't had a scanner in the last 10 years it is a good idea to read the respective sections on those topics. You really have to know how trunking works in order to program a trunking system. It won't do you any good to try to program a trunking system unless you know what the radio needs and is going to do with the data (control channel, IDs, LCN order, etc.).

I will assume you know how to obtain the basic information from the original manual such as following safety procedures, connecting the antenna, finding specs, etc. and concentrate on the main functions of the scanner.

I hereby absolve myself from anything that happens to anyone or the scanner as a result of the information you will be reading. You are welcome to copy and/or print these pages and use them in the scanning hobby as long as you don't change, redistribute, or charge/accept money for them. I have tried the best I can to make sure everything is accurate here but if I missed a step or you see something that's obviously wrong, please email me.

Check back often as this document will be updated and revised from time to time.

Main Features

Contents

Trunk Tracker III Operation - follows conversations on analog Motorola, W/N/SCAT EDACS, and LTR trunked radio systems in VHF/UHF, 800 MHz, and 900 MHz bands. The scanner can scan both conventional and trunked systems at the same time.

Bear Tracker Warning System - alerts you when channels normally used by public safety systems and 'mobile extenders' are in use nearby.

Alert Plus Scan - lets you listen to alerts only from channels in Bear Tracker systems or sites, Close Call, Weather (WX), and GPS.

Alert Mute - lets you disable alerts from Bear Tracker priority channels, Emergency Alert (for a Motorola ID), Close Call, Tone-Out, and GPS alerts.

State-by-State Preprogrammed Channels - lets you easily monitor activity on local Police, Department of Transportation, and Highway Patrol frequencies when you travel without having to program any channels.

Dynamically Allocated Channel Memory - organized into 'Systems', 'Sites', (within trunking systems), 'Groups' (within systems), and channels (within groups). Up to 500 systems, 1,000 total sites (max 256 per system), 20 groups per system, and 2,500 channels (250 max IDs per system, 1000 max conventional frequencies per system).

Multi-Site Trunking - lets you program the scanner to share trunked system IDs across multiple sites without duplicating IDs, and turn each site on and off independently so that you can select the best site to scan for your area.

Control Channel Only Scanning - allows you to enter just the control channels to trunktrack a Motorola system and the scanner will find the voice channels.

Trunking Activity Indicators - shows you trunking activity when you hold on a control channel.

Start-up Configuration - You can program each of your conventional systems, trunked sites, service searches, or custom searches with a 'Startup Key' (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those systems/sites/searches assigned to the key will be enabled for scan (groups are not affected).

Location-Based Scanning - using an optional GPS unit you can scan your systems based on a set range from your current location.

GPS (Location-Based) Alerts - notifies you when you are near an area you have programmed as a dangerous road, dangerous intersection, or a general point of interest.

AGC - helps automatically balance the volume level between different radio systems.

Search with Scan Operation - lets you include and/or assign quick keys to selected service/custom search ranges during scan operation.

100 Quick Keys - you can scan conventional systems/trunked sites and groups by assigning them to quick keys.

3 Search Keys - you can assign 3 of the number keys to initiate a search range.

Temporary Lockout - automatically unlock temporarily locked out channels/systems when you cycle power.

Temporary/Continuous Alert Mute - you can disable alerts based on a Bear Tracker priority channels, Emergency Alert, Close Call, Tone-Out, and GPS.

CTCSS and DCS Tone Decode - decodes and displays Continuous Tone Code Squelch System tones being transmitted and plays Digital Coded Squelch being received. Also, a tone code only receive option (per channel).

CTCSS/DCS Search - lets you search for CTCSS and DCS tones when it finds an active frequency in search and close call modes.

Close Call RF Capture Technology - lets you set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions. Close Call 'Do-not-Disturb' checks for Close Call activity in between channel reception so active channels are not interrupted.

Close Call Temporary Store - temporarily stores and scans the last 10 Close Call hits in the 'Hits with Scan' system.

Fire Tone-Out Standby - lets you set the scanner to alert you if a two-tone sequential page is transmitted. You can set up to 10 settings (transmit frequency, tone frequencies) then select one for standby monitoring.

Frequency/ID Search and Store - the scanner can be set to automatically store all active frequencies from a service or limit search in a conventional system you select or automatically store all new talk group IDs into a trunked system you select.

Custom Alerts - you can program your scanner to alert you when, a channel is received, you receive a Close Call hit, you receive a Bear Tracker alert, a talkgroup ID is transmitted with an emergency alert, you get close to a POI (Point of Interest)/Dangerous Road/Dangerous Crossing, or you receive a Tone-Out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns and also set the alert volume level independently from the main volume level.

Priority/Priority Plus Scan - priority channels let you keep track of activity on your most important channels while monitoring other channels for transmissions and you can scan just the priority channels.

Repeater Reverse - tells the scanner to try to switch to the repeater if an input frequency is found.

Broadcast Screen - allows the scanner to ignore hits on known broadcast frequencies including pager frequencies in search and Close Call modes. You can also program up to 10 custom frequency ranges that the scanner will ignore.

Text Tagging - you can name each system, site, group, channel, talk group ID, custom search range, location, Tone-Out, and SAME group, using up to 16 characters per name.

SAME Weather Alert/Priority - (with programmable FIP codes) lets your scanner alert you when a SAME weather alert is transmitted on a NOAA weather channel. The scanner also displays the alert type.

Adjustable Hold (Scan) Time per System/Search - allows you to adjust the length of time spent scanning each system or search.

Record-Out Jack - lets you can connect an output jack to a VOX controlled recorder or PC sound input to record the received audio on selected channels, systems, Bear Tracker operation, Close Call, Fire Tone-Out, and searches.

DIN-E and ISO Vehicle Mountable - using an optional DIN-E sleeve or a standard ISO technique, the scanner can be easily mounted in most vehicles.

Dimmer Circuit - a special wire lets you connect to the dimmer circuit of your vehicle so the vehicle's dimmer also dims the scanner's lighting.

PC Control/Clone - you can transfer data to and from your scanner or another scanner and your personal computer, and control the scanner using a computer.

3-Level Display and Keypad light - makes it easy to use the scanner at night.

Signal Strength Meter - shows the signal strength for the more powerful transmissions.

13 Service Searches - frequencies are preset in separate public safety, news, amateur radio, marine, railroad, air, CB radio, FRS/GMRS, racing, Military Air, FM broadcast, TV broadcast, and special (itinerant) searches to make it easy to find specific transmissions.

10 Custom Searches - lets you program up to 10 custom search ranges.

Quick Search - lets you search from the currently-tuned frequency or channel or enter a frequency and start searching.

Automatic Channel Setup - accepts frequencies on any valid channel step, even if it does not fall within the band plan's default steps.

Adjustable Channel/Frequency Step - allows you to set the step (5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz) for Quick search or Custom search or select auto mode.

Adjustable Scan/Search Delay - from 1 to 5 seconds or off (per system or search).

Attenuator - you can set the scanner's attenuator to reduce the input strength of strong signals by about 20 dB per channel, search band, close call band, or trunked system.

Data Skip - allows your scanner to skip unwanted (conventional) data transmissions and reduces birdies.

Duplicate Frequency Alert - alerts you if you try to enter a duplicate name or frequency already stored in the scanner.

Search Lockouts - you can lock out up to 500 frequencies (250 temporary, 250 permanent) in search or close call search.

Scanning Terminology

Contents

Channel- a programmed frequency or talk group ID location.

Scanning- the process of stepping through conventional channels in groups, which are in programmed 'systems'.

ID Scan Mode- the process of monitoring trunked systems for programmed active talkgroup IDs in ID groups, in programmed 'systems'.

ID Search Mode- the process of monitoring trunked systems for all active talkgroup IDs in ID groups, in programmed 'systems'.

Searching- the process of searching for active frequencies in quick search, service, custom search, Close Call search, Search and Store, or Close Call Auto Store.

Function Mode- the mode the radio is in when it's waiting for another key press or scroll.

Hold Mode- used for monitoring a single system, site, channel, frequency, or Close Call Hit.

Menu Mode- used for programming frequencies, IDs, trunking frequencies/systems/sites/groups/locations/fleet maps, and other 'system' settings.

GPS Display Mode- the mode the radio is in where you can see location information and information about your position relative to a selected POI (Point of Interest).

GPS Review Location Mode- If you have programmed data for a POI (Point of Interest), Dangerous Crossing, and a Dangerous Road, you can review each set on a screen dedicated to showing just that data.

Tone-Out Mode- the mode the radio is in when it's monitoring paging tones.

Understanding Dynamic Memory

Contents

The scanner's memory is organized in an architecture called Dynamic Allocated Channel memory. This type of memory is organized differently and more efficiently than the bank/channel architecture used by traditional scanners. Dynamic Allocated design matches how radio systems actually work much more closely and make it easier to determine how much memory you have used and how much you have left. No memory space is wasted.

Since you can only program one trunking system per bank in a traditional scanner, and let's say you only have 10 banks, you can only store 10 trunking systems. Also, since some trunked systems might have hundreds of talk groups, you would have to enter those systems into multiple banks in order to monitor and track all the ID's.

Instead of being organized into separate banks and channels, the scanner's memory is contained in a pool. You build the systems and groups then use as much memory as you need in the pool to store frequencies, talk group ID's, and alpha tags. With all previous scanners, you selected banks to scan that had channels stored in them. With this scanner, you select 'Systems' to scan that have channel 'Groups' stored within the 'Systems'. Conventional systems have frequency groups and trunking systems have ID groups (no more scan lists). For trunking systems, you have to create at least 1 'Site' (Motorola and EDACS only) or multiple sites first that hold the trunking frequencies for each site. The ID channel 'Groups' stored within the trunking systems can be used with all the sites.

You can store up to 20 'Groups' per 'System' with up to 250 frequencies or IDs in each 'Group'. You can have 1000 total channels per conventional system and up to 256 'Sites' and 750-1000 trunking frequencies per site (depending on the number of IDs in the system) if you have enough memory. You can have a maximum of 500 Systems, 1000 Sites, and 2500 Channels.

Understanding Quick Keys
There are 100 'System/Site/Search Quick Keys' (0-99) and 10 and 'Group Quick Keys' (0-9).

'Quick Keys' are used to turn conventional systems, trunking sites (not systems), channel groups, and custom/service searches on and off while scanning. This is not the same as locking out or unlocking systems/sites/groups/searches (which you can also do). They are just the number keys on the scanner but once assigned to systems/sites/groups/searches they become the 'Quick Key's. You can program one or more system/site/group/search to any quick key or, program one or more system/site/group/search with no quick key. Any conventional system, Close Call system, trunked site, group, service search, custom search, or 'Quick Save' system/group not assigned to a quick key (and/or not locked out) will be scanned.

My advice is to assign everything to quick keys so you don't have to remember what to turn off/on or what to unlock/lockout. There are no indicators in the display showing systems/sites/groups with no quick key so you won't know if they are being scanned unless you see (or don't see) them scroll by in the display.

Conventional Simplex and Repeater Systems

Contents

Simplex systems use a single frequency for both transmit and receive. Most radios using this type of operation are limited to line-of-sight operation. This type of radio is frequently used at construction job sites, and with inexpensive consumer radios such as GMRS/FRS radios. The range is typically 1-8 miles, depending upon the terrain and many other factors.

Repeater systems use two frequencies: one transmits from the radio to a central repeater; the other transmits from the repeater to other radios in the system. With a repeater based system, the repeater is located on top of a tall building or on a radio tower that provides great visibility to the area of operation. When a user transmits (on an input frequency), the signal is picked up by the repeater and retransmitted (on an output frequency). The user's radios always listen for activity on the output frequency and transmit on the input frequency. Since the repeater is located very high, there is a very large line of sight. Typical repeater systems provide coverage out to about a 25-mile radius from the repeater location.

Understanding CTCSS/DCS

Contents

Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) are two methods used to prevent interference by other radio communications. Your scanner can receive transmissions that use these codes (or more commonly referred to as tone codes).

CTCSS and DCS systems all use some form of coded squelch. Coded squelch techniques involve the transmission of a special 'code' signal along with the audio of a radio transmission. A receiver with coded squelch only activates when the received signal has the correct 'code'. This lets many users share a single frequency, and decreases interference caused by distant transmitters on the same channel. In all major metropolitan areas of the United States, every available radio channel is assigned to more than one user. Public safety radio systems on the same frequency are usually set up at a distance of 40 miles apart, or more. This means that you may hear transmissions from a distant system when your local system is not transmitting. By programming the CTCSS tone for a local channel the scanner will not stop on transmissions from the distant system. With few exceptions, such as the VHF Aircraft and Marine bands, almost every other VHF or UHF radio system uses some form of coded squelch. By far, CTCSS is the most popular mode among non-trunked systems.

For more information visit Radio Reference's respective pages on CTCSS and DCS.

Understanding Trunking

Contents

Trunking systems let a large group of 2-way radio users (or even different groups of 2-way radio users) efficiently use a set of frequencies. Instead of selecting a specific frequency for a transmission, the user’s radio selects a programmed trunking bank in the system when that user presses their PTT (push to talk) button. The trunking system automatically transmits the call on the first available frequency, and also sends (on a different frequency called a Data or Control channel) a code that uniquely identifies that transmission as a talkgroup ID (or just ID.) So when you are trunktracking a system, you are listening to active IDs transmitting in the system (each using the first available frequency in the system.) Trunking systems in general allocate and use fewer frequencies among many different users.

Since the trunking system might send a call and its response on different frequencies, it is difficult to listen to trunked communications using a conventional scanner. These scanners let you monitor the control channel frequency so you can hear calls and responses for users and more easily "follow" conversations than with a conventional scanner.

This trunking scanner trunktracks the following types of systems:

Motorola Type I
Motorola Type II
Motorola Type IIi Hybrid
Motorola Type II Smartnet
Motorola Type II Smartzone
Motorola Type II Smartzone Omnilink

EDACS Standard (Wide)
EDACS Narrowband (Narrow)
EDACS Networked (Wide/Narrow)
EDACS SCAT
LTR Standard

When you program Motorola and EDACS system frequencies into the scanner, one frequency is the control (or data) channel, and the rest are voice frequencies shared by all the users. There may be 3 or 4 frequencies assigned as (primary or alternate) control channels but only one control channel will be active at a time. These scanners will allow you to program just Motorola control channels into the trunking system and the voice channels will automatically be found (but not programmed). EDACS systems need all the frequencies for the system programmed and in the correct LCN (Logical Channel Number) order.

The control channel is continually transmitted to the field units and has a sound similar to listening to a boat engine over the phone (in manual mode; you won't hear this when you are trunking the system.) This control channel is also a good check to see if you can trunktrack the system. If you can't hear a control channel when you step through the trunking frequencies (in manual mode), you either don't have all the frequencies or are too far away to receive the control channel and the system. Motorola systems are limited to a maximum of 28 frequencies per system or site. Ericsson EDACS systems are limited to 25 frequencies per system or site. Motorola and EDACS systems can be either analog, digital, or mixed (digital and analog talkgroups). Mixed Motorola systems should be programmed as Motorola systems and not P25 digital systems. This scanner can't monitor digital systems.

LTR systems work a little differently. LTR systems typically do not have a dedicated control channel. This type of system encodes all trunking information as digital subaudible data that accompanies each transmission. The frequencies also have to be in LCN (Logical Channel Number) order or the correct 'slot' for the system to trunktrack properly. Each repeater has its own controller, and all of these controllers are synchronized together. Even though each controller monitors its own channel, one of the channel controllers is assigned to be a master that all controllers report to. Each of these controllers sends out a data burst approximately every 10 seconds so that the subscriber units know that the system is there. This data burst is not sent at the same time by all the channels, but happens randomly throughout all the system channels. If you listen to the frequencies of an LTR system in manual mode (not trunking), on every channel in the system you will hear this data burst that will sound like a short blip of static like someone keyed up and unkeyed a radio within about 500 msec. LTR systems are limited to 20 frequencies per system.

Trunkscanning is basically scanning IDs that are programmed into ID locations (same concept as frequencies into channels). You can then trunkscan just the programmed IDs. Trunktracking is searching for all IDs in a system (same concept as searching for frequencies in a band).

Understanding Multi-Site Trunking

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Some Motorola and EDACS systems covering a very large geographic area use multiple antenna sites that each operate on different frequencies and use the same talkgroup IDs for traffic. Each site will have its own set of trunking frequencies and is monitored like a single system. Each site can have its own quick key, so you can turn each individual site on or off while you scan. Program your talkgroups into channel groups within that system and all talkgroups in the system are available to every site so they don't have to be reprogrammed for each site. Since all sites share all the talkgroups within the system, multi-site trunking is much more efficient than programming each site as a separate system.

Radio Reference.com has an excellent page explaining the various types of trunking systems in more detail here.

Understanding IDs

Contents

IDs are what you see instead of frequencies when you monitor a trunking system.

Motorola IDs come in two formats: Type I and Type II. Each format displays and uses talk group IDs in slightly different ways. Type I/II hybrid systems use both fleet-subfleet and 5-digit formats for talk group IDs.

Type I IDs are in the format FFF-SS where FFF is the fleet and SS is the sub-fleet. Type I systems are usually organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets. For example, a valid fleet/subfleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department might be 000-12, where 000 identifies all police IDs and 12 identifies the Detective division. To properly trunk a Type I system, you have to program the fleet map for the system.

Type II IDs are identified by a 5-digit number.

EDACS IDs come in two formats: AFS and Decimal.

AFS IDs are in the form AA-FFS where AA is the agency, FF is the fleet, and S is the sub-fleet. EDACS systems are organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets and agencies. For example, a valid agency/fleet/subfleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department in an agency might be 06-101, where 06 identifies the agency (Police), 10 identifies the Police division (East side), and 1 identifies the Detective division.

Decimal IDs are shown as a decimal number from 0 to 2047.

You can find a chart showing Decimal and AFS IDs here: Conversion Chart.

I-Call IDS (Motorola/EDACS only) are direct unit-to-unit transmissions that are not heard by other system users. I-call IDs are usually 6-digit IDs (ex: 700152).

LTR IDS are in the format A-HH-UUU where A is the area code (0 or 1), HH is the home repeater (01-20), and UUU is the user ID (000-254).

Turning on the Scanner and Setting the Squelch

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Note: this applies to a fresh scanner right out of the box or one that has been reset.

Rotate VOL clockwise to turn on the scanner and set the volume to around 6-8. The scanner should start scanning one of the preprogrammed states after the welcome screen disappears. Press Hold. Find a comfortable volume level. Rotate the SQ knob counter-clockwise all the way then clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more. Press Hold to resume scanning.

Right away you may want to check these settings in the 'Settings' menu. Set Backlight/Dimmer, Adjust Key Beep, Adjust Contrast, and Set Serial Port (if you plan to upload/download).
See also turning off the Bear Tracker features to disable some of the default Bear Tracker features and alerts.

The only things you will be able to scan right out of the box are the preprogrammed states in the scanner. You will, however, be able to use the Bear Tracker System and do a service search, custom search, weather scan, auto search and store, close call search, or close call auto store.

Navigating the Menu

The scanner's menu lets you select options that let you set up and use the scanner using the Menu key. To select a menu item, rotate the scroll control clockwise or counterclockwise. The currently-selected menu item is highlighted with a bar on the display. When the menu item you want to select is highlighted, press E(Yes) or ● (the scroll control) to select it. To back up a level, press Menu. To exit all menus press L/O or SCAN.

Keypad and Knob Controls

Contents

Each of the knobs and keys on the BCT15 produce several different results depending upon how you activate them. You can, for example, rotate the knobs as well as press them. Some keys provide one operation when briefly pressed while pressing and holding a key or knob gives a different result. Many controls and keys behave differently depending on the mode your radio is in when you use the key or control.

Key

Function(s)

1. VOL/Mute

Turns the scanner on/off and adjusts the volume.
Press to toggle temporary Alert Mute on or off in Any Mode.
Press and hold to turn continuous Alert Mute on; press to cancel Alert Mute in Any Mode.
Press ● then VOL to toggle through the backlight intensities in Any Mode.

The blue light flashes with a Close Call hit.
The red light flashes once then stays on for a weather or Bear Tracker alert. (for about 3 minutes)
The red light flashes once then stays on for a weather alert. (for about 3 minutes?)
The red light stays on for a Dangerous Road/Crossing alert until canceled (locked out).

2. SQ(Squelch)/State

Turn to adjust the squelch.
Press to select a state in Any Mode.
Press ● then SQ to start Fire Tone-Out in Any Mode except GPS.

3. ●/Scroll Control

Press to enter Function Mode for 4 seconds. Press and hold to lock Function Mode. Press again to unlock.
Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode.
Turn to scroll to a menu item in Menu Mode.
Turn to select scan/search direction and to continue scan/search in Scan/Search Modes.
Turn to select channel or frequency in Scan/Search Hold Modes.
Turn to select characters when editing text.
Turn to select POIs in GPS Display Mode.
Turn to select locations GPS Review Location Mode.
Turn to select Tone-Outs in Tone-Out Standby.
Press and turn to scroll to systems/sites/searches in Scan Mode.
Press ● then turn ● to skip to the location that starts with the next letter of the alphabet in GPS Review Location Mode.

4. POL(DOT)

Press to toggle (selected) State frequencies or Dept. Of Transportation frequencies or both, on or off in Scan Mode.

5. HP(

)

Press to toggle Highway Patrol or Bear Tracker Operation or both, on or off in Scan Mode.

6. GPS

Press to switch to GPS mode in Any Mode.
Press and hold to store (overwrite) current location (with a GPS device connected) in GPS Display/Review Location Mode.
Press ● then GPS to toggle POI displays in GPS Display Mode.

7. L/O

Press to toggle the lockout status of a channel in Scan Mode.
Press to toggle the lockout status of a frequency in Search Mode.
Press to toggle the lockout status of a location in GPS Review Location Mode.
Press and hold to unlock (and enable) all groups and channels in a system in Scan Hold Mode.
Press and hold to unlock all channels for your State in Bear Tracker Hold Mode.
Press and hold to unlock all frequencies of all search ranges/Close Call in Search Hold Mode.
Press and hold to unlock all locations of the current type (POI, DRD, or DXG) in GPS Review Location Mode.
Press ● then L/O to review and unlock search frequencies in Search/Close Call Only Modes.
Press ● then L/O to toggle the lockout status of a conventional system/site/search in Scan Hold Mode.
Press ● then Press and hold L/O to unlock (and enable) all systems, groups, channels, and search ranges in Scan Mode.
Press ● then Press and hold L/O to unlock all locations of all types (POI, DRD, or DXG) in GPS Review Location Mode.
Press to exit Menu Mode or return to the last mode.

8. Number Keys

Enter any frequency/ID then Hold to go directly to in Scan/Search Hold Modes.
Press 0-9 to toggle single-digit system/site/search quick keys on or off in Scan Mode.
Press 0-9 to toggle custom searches on or off in Search Mode.
Press 4 to move the cursor to the left when editing text.
Press 6 to move the cursor to the right when editing text.
Press ● then 0-9 to toggle group quick keys on or off in Scan Mode.
Press ● then 1(Pri) to toggle priority modes in Scan Hold Mode.
Press ● then 2(Wx) to toggle weather alert priority on/off in Scan Hold Mode.
Press ● then press and hold 2(Wx) to start Weather Scan in Scan Hold Mode.
Press ● then 2(Wx) to switch to Weather Alert in Weather Scan Mode.
Press ● then 2(Wx) to switch to Weather Scan in Weather Alert Mode.
Press ● then 3(

) to toggle Close Call DND, Close Call Priority, or Close Call Off in Any Mode except GPS.
Press ● then press and hold 3(

) to start Close Call Only mode in Scan/Search Hold Mode.
Press ● then 4(Srch 1)-6(Srch 3) to turn search keys on in Any Mode except GPS.
Press ● then 7(Att) to toggle the attenuator on/off for a conventional channel in Scan Hold Mode.
Press ● then 7(Att) to toggle the attenuator on/off for a trunked site in Scan Hold Mode.
Press ● then 7(Att) to toggle the attenuator on/off in Search/Close Call Only/Tone-Out/Weather Modes.
Press ● then press and hold 7(Att) to toggle global attenuation on/off in Any Mode except GPS.
Press ● then press and hold 8(Rev) to view the repeater frequency in Scan/Search/Close Call Only Hold Modes.
Press ● then 9(Alert) to toggle 'Alert Plus' on or off in Any Hold Mode except GPS.
Press ● then 0 to toggle display modes (1 or 2) in Scan Hold Mode.

9. (.)No

Press to cancel an error or warning message.
Press before entering a 2-digit system/site/search quick key to turn on or off in Scan Mode.
Press to enter a decimal point for a frequency while programming.
Press to enter a hyphen when entering an ID while programming.
Press to enter an 'i' when entering an 'I-Call' ID while programming.
Press twice to delete current character when editing text.
Press 3 times to delete all characters when editing text.
Press to enter a hyphen when entering an ID while programming.
Press to enter an 'i' when entering an 'I-Call' ID while programming.
Press ● then (.)No to view the trunking activity indicators when scanning a trunked site in Scan Mode.

10. E(Yes)

Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode.
Press to store a (blinking) CTCSS/DCS tone in Scan Mode.
Press to store an ID in 'ID Search' mode while scanning a trunked system in Scan Mode.
Press to 'quick store' a frequency in Search/Close Call Only/Weather modes.
Press to enter the Menu mode for a displayed channel in Scan Mode.
Press to enter the Menu mode for the current Tone-Out in Tone-Out Standby.
Press to enter 'Review Location' menu in GPS Display Mode.

11. Scan/Search

Press to start/continue/resume scanning in Scan/GPS Modes.
Press to start/continue/resume searching in Search Mode.
Press ● then Scan/Srch to start a 'quick search' at the current frequency while scanning a conventional system in Scan Mode.
Press ● then Scan/Srch to change from 'ID Scan' to 'ID Search' while scanning a trunking site in Scan Mode.

12. Hold/Resume

Press to hold on a channel, frequency, search, Close Call hit, or Tone-Out Search. Press again to resume.
Press to recall the last Close Call Hit in Close Call Only Mode.
Press and hold to hold on a system in Scan Mode. Press and hold to resume.

13. Menu

Press to enter Menu Mode.
Press to return to previous menu.
Press to return to GPS mode in Review Location Mode.
Press ● then Menu to go to the 'Edit' menu for the current system in Scan Mode.
Press ● then Menu to go to the 'Search for...' menu in Search Mode.
Press ● then Menu to go to the 'Close Call' menu in Close Call Only Mode.
Press ● then Menu to go to the 'WX Operation' menu in Any Weather Mode.
Press ● then Menu to go to the 'Edit' menu for the current POI in GPS Display Mode.
Press ● then Menu to go to the 'Tone-Out for...' menu in Tone-Out Standby.
Press ● then Menu to go to the 'Set Bear Tracker' menu if in the Bear Tracker Mode.

14. BNC Antenna Connector
15. External Speaker Jack
16. 9-pin Serial Port for GPS and PC Communication
17. DC Power IN 11V-16.6V

A Look at the Display

Contents

Conventional Display Mode 1

Conventional Display Mode 2

Generic Display Mode

Trunking Display Mode 1

Trunking Display Mode 2

Group Indicators in Function Mode

The display has indicators that show the scanner's current operating status. The display information helps you understand how your scanner operates.

Top Line

appears when you press ● to select Function mode in Any Mode.

appears and blinks when you press and hold ● to lock Function mode in Any Mode.
DSKP appears when data skip is on in Scan/Search Modes.
HOLD appears in Hold Mode.
L/O appears if the system/site/group/channel/frequency/search/location is locked out in Hold Mode.
PRI appears in priority mode and blinks in priority plus mode in Scan Mode.

appears to show the signal strength of the receiving channel or frequency.
GPS appears if the scanner is connected to a GPS device and receiving a signal in Any Mode.

2nd Line

shows the name of the currently scanned site or conventional system in Scan Mode.
shows the name of the currently searched custom/service search in Search Mode.
will alternate the conventional system name and channel group name for a conventional system in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
will alternate the site name and channel group name for a trunking system in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
will alternate the custom search name and system name for a trunking system for a 'C-Ch only Search' in Receiving or Search Hold Modes in display modes 1 and 3.
will alternate the custom search name and 'SID' for a trunking system for a 'C-Ch only Search' in Receiving or Search Hold Modes in display mode 2.

3rd Line

will scroll 'SCAN' (for a conventional system), 'ID SCAN', or 'ID SEARCH' (for a trunked system) and show an up or down arrow to indicate the scan direction in Scan Mode.
will display the search frequency range/channels and an up or down arrow to show the scan direction in Search Mode.
shows the frequency or ID (or text tag if programmed) for a channel in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
shows the search frequency (and the channel number for CB, Rail, and FRS/GMRS/MURS service searches) in Search Receiving/Hold Modes.
shows the ID (with C-Ch only on) in Search Receiving/Hold Modes.

4th Line - Display Mode 1

appears when receiving a conventional priority channel in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
shows the acquired control channel frequency of a trunking site in Scan Mode.
shows the modulation and attenuation (if on) of a non-acquired trunked site in Scan Mode.
shows the voice channel of a trunked site in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
shows the receive modulation of the conventional channel in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
shows the receive modulation of the custom/service search in Search Mode.
ATT appears if the channel/search is attenuated in Receiving or Hold Modes.
shows the tone code (if received) for a conventional frequency if programmed and blinks in CTCSS/DCS search mode in Receiving or Hold Modes.

4th Line - Display Mode 2

shows the acquired control channel frequency of a trunking site in Scan Mode.
shows the modulation and attenuation (if on) of a non-acquired trunked site in Scan Mode.
shows the ID for a trunking site in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
shows the frequency for a conventional channel in Scan Receiving/Hold Modes.
shows the receive modulation of the custom/service search in Search Mode.
ATT appears if the search is attenuated in Receiving or Search Modes.
shows the tone code (if received) for a conventional frequency if programmed and blinks in CTCSS/DCS search mode in Receiving or Hold Modes.

5th Line

S0-9: shows the first digit of (systems/sites/search assigned to) the currently scanned quick key on the left with the blinking second digit (1-0) on the right in Scan/Receiving Modes.
S0-9: shows the first digit of the system/site/search quick key assigned to the displayed channel on the left with the second digit (1-0) on the right in Function Hold Mode.

a non-blinking number on the right indicates the quick key is enabled waiting to be scanned.
a - (dash) means nothing is assign to the quick key.
an * (asterisk) means the quick key is turned off.

appears if the Close Call 'Priority' feature is on in Any Mode except GPS and Tone-Out.

appears if the Close Call 'Do-Not-Disturb' feature is on in Any Mode except GPS and Tone-Out.
SCR appears if one or more broadcast/custom screen bands are turned on in Search/Receiving Modes.
REP appears if repeater reverse is turned on in Search/Receiving Modes.

6th Line

GRP shows the group quick keys (1-0) for each conventional system/site with (groups assigned to) the currently scanned quick key blinking in Function Mode.
GRP shows the group quick key for the displayed channel in Function Hold Mode.

appears and blinks when temporary alert mute is on and stays on with continuous alert mute in Scan/Receiving Modes.
ALT+ appears when Alert Plus is on in Scan/Receiving Modes.
BT appears if the Bear Tracker feature is enabled in Scan/Receiving Modes.
HP appears if Highway Patrol frequencies are enabled in Scan/Receiving Modes.
POL appears if Police frequencies are enabled in Scan/Receiving Modes.
DOT appears if Dept. of Transportation frequencies are enabled in Scan/Receiving Modes.
WX appears if the weather alert priority feature is on in Any Mode except GPS and Tone-Out.
GPS alert information appears if connected to a GPS device and receiving a signal in Scan or Search Modes.

BCT-15 Auto Step Sizes/Auto Modulation

Contents

Frequency Range	Step (kHz)	Mode	Band	Frequency Range	Step (kHz)	Mode	Band
25-28	5	AM	CB/Business	174-216	50	WFM	VHF TV
28-29.680	20	NFM	10 Meter Ham	216-225	20	NFM	1.25 Meter Ham
29.7-50	10	NFM	VHF Low	225-400	25	AM	UHF Air
50-54	20	NFM	6 Meter Ham	380-400	12.5	NFM	Military Trunked
54-72	50	WFM	VHF TV	400-420	12.5	NFM	Federal Trunked
72-76	5	FM	Astronomy	420-450	12.5	NFM	70 cm Ham
76-88	50	WFM	VHF TV	450-470	12.5	NFM	UHF Standard
88-108	100	FMB	FM Broadcast	470-512	12.5	NFM	UHF TV
108-137	25	AM	Commercial Air	764-776	12.5	NFM	PS Trunked
137-144	12.5	NFM	Military Land Mobile	794-806	12.5	NFM	PS Trunked
144-148	5	NFM	2 Meter Ham	806-824	12.5	NFM	Public Service
148-150.7875	12.5	NFM	Military Land Mobile	849-869	12.5	NFM	PS Trunked
150.800-162	5	NFM	VHF High	894-956	12.5	NFM	UHF Hi, 33 cm Ham
162-174	12.5	NFM	Federal	1240-1300	25	NFM	UHF Hi, 25 cm Ham

When you select 'AUTO' for a channel or mode’s modulation or step, the above values are used. Although TV bands are listed, the scanner cannot decode digital TV audio.

Settings Menu

To Edit Settings press Menu. Scroll to 'Settings' and press E/●.
Scroll to the settings and options below (in Blue) and press E/●.

Set Backlight	Adjusting the Display Contrast	Set Serial Port
Adjust Key Beep	Set GPS Format	Cloning
Set Audio AGC	See Scanner Info	Scanner Reset

Set Upside-Down

% Memory Used

Firmware Version and Serial Number

Contents

Set Backlight you can also press ● then 'VOL' to toggle your desired level from Off, Low, Medium, and High. Or, you can also do this in the menu. Set the dimmer to Auto if you are going to hard-wire your scanner inside your vehicle.

Scroll to 'Set Backlight' and press E/●.
At 'Set Dimmer' scroll to1 of 2 options and press E/●.

(For vehicle use) Scroll to 'Auto' and press E/●.
Scroll to 1 of 2 options and press E/● to save and exit.
'+ Polarity' - if the orange wire gets 12V when you turn on the headlights.
'- Polarity' - if the orange wire is switched to chassis ground when you turn on the headlights.

(For non-vehicle use) Scroll to 'Manual' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'High', 'Middle', 'Low', or 'Off' and press E/● to save and exit.

Adjust Key Beep this setting turns the key beep on or off and adjusts the volume level.

Scroll to 'Adjust Key Beep' and press E/●.
At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Audio AGC (Requires firmware 1.06 or newer). This setting helps balance the audio level you hear as you listen to different radio sources so you can hear them at a similar volume.

Note: It is important that you correctly set the modulation type for the channel you are programming. If you program a channel as NFM that is transmitting in FM mode, the audio will sound too loud as compared to correctly programmed channels. Similarly, if you program a channel as FM that is transmitting in NFM mode, the audio will be too quiet as compared to correctly programmed channels. Incorrectly matching the modulation setting to the actual modulation used is the biggest reason for unbalanced audio between channels.

Scroll to 'Set Audio AGC' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Turn on the Audio AGC option.
Press ● then hold VOL for two seconds. The scanner displays the current ANALOG AGC RESPONSE TIME parameter setting.
Rotate the scroll control to change the setting.
Press ● and rotate the scroll to select another setting.
Press the scroll knob to exit.

ANALOG AGC RESPONSE TIME:
Range: -4 to +6 (0 is default)
This parameter determines how frequently the AGC factor updates. Decreasing this value makes AGC respond faster, but could result in "pumping." A higher value decreases the response time.
ANALOG AGC REFER GAIN:
Range: -5 to +5 (0 is default)
This parameter determines the reference level that AGC attempts to adjust the volume to.
ANALOG AGC GAIN RANGE:
Range: 0 to 15 (6 is default)
This parameter controls the total dynamic range of the AGC adjustments. A larger value allows a wider variation in volume.

Set Upside-Down this setting allow you to reverse the display so you can mount the scanner upside-down and hear the speaker from the top.

Scroll to 'Set Upside-down' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Contents

Adjusting the Display Contrast this setting controls the display's contrast (how light or dark it appears).

Scroll to 'Adjust Contrast' and press E/●.
At 'Contrast 1-15' scroll to the preferred contrast level and press E/● to save and exit.

Set GPS Format allows you to set the GPS format to DD,MM,SS or decimal degrees (DD.000000), time format, time zone, and units.

Scroll to 'Set GPS Format' and press E/●.

Scroll to 'Pos Format' and press E/●.

Scroll to 'DMS:DDD MM"SS.ss' or 'DEG:DDD.dddddd' and press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Time Format' and press E/●.

Scroll to '12H' or '24H' and press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Time Zone' and press E/●.

Scroll to 'Your Time Zone' and press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Unit' and press E/●.

Scroll to 'mile' or 'km' and press E/● to save and exit.

Press Menu to return.

Set Serial Port allows you to set the baud rate for the front and rear serial ports. You typically set the front port to match the speed used to communicate with your PC (default 115200 bps) and the back port to the speed used to communicate with an attached GPS device (default 4800 bps). Note that the back port is male. You may need a gender changer and a null modem adapter to use a typical DB9 serial cable from the rear port.

Scroll to 'Set Serial Port' and press E/●.
At 'Set Baud Rate' press E/●.

Scroll to 'Set Front Port' and press E/●.

Scroll to Off, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200 and press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Rear Port' and press E/●.

Scroll to Off, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200 and press E/● to save and exit.

Press Menu twice to return.

% Memory Used this setting lets you view the amount of memory left in the scanner.

Scroll to 'See Scanner Info' and press E/●.
Scroll to '% Memory Used' and press E/●.
Press Menu twice to return.

Contents

Firmware Version and Serial Number allows you to view the firmware version. It is recommended that you download and install the latest firmware upgrade for the scanner if you don't already have it. Uniden has a new Wiki where you will find all the information necessary to upgrade your firmware.

Scroll to 'See Scanner Info' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Firmware Version' and press E/●.
Press Menu twice to return.

Cloning to clone (copy) data from one (same) scanner to another, use one of the included data cables to connect the two scanners. Plug the DB9 end into the rear port of one scanner and the other end into the front port of the other scanner. Then set up both scanners:

For each scanner, press Menu. Scroll to 'Wired Clone' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Wired Clone' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Slave' and press E/● for the destination scanner.
At 'Select Comm Port' scroll to the port the Slave scanner is using.
Scroll to 'Master' and press E/● for the source scanner.
At 'Select Comm Port' scroll to the port the Master scanner is using.
Press Scan/Srch on the Slave scanner then on the Master scanner. The master scanner checks to make sure the slave is properly connected and ready to receive, then begins the data transfer. When the transfer is finished, both scanners display a 'Complete' message. Reboot the slave scanner to load the new settings. Note: All settings and data saved on the Slave scanner will be erased.

Scanner Reset to initialize the scanner's memory, turn off the scanner. Then press 2, 9, and Hold while turning it on (remember the game called Twister?).

Important! This deletes all programmed data.

Using Bear Tracker Scanning

Contents

The most frustrating thing about this radio is right out of the box, all Bear Tracker features are on by default which makes no sense at all if you don't know how to turn them off. My advice is to disable everything and start from there.

Press POL and HP until all the icons (PL, DT, HP, and BT) disappear from the display to turn off all preprogrammed frequencies. This will give you 'Nothing to Scan' in the display. Now you can jump into programming your frequencies.

The scanner includes state-by-state preprogrammed frequencies designed to provide you with good general radio coverage targeted to the state you are in.

Press POL once to turn on a state. Press SQ(State). Scroll to 'Your State' and press E/● to save and exit. Press POL until all icons disappear again.
Note: District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the Canadian provinces don't work in my scanner (??).

Bear Tracker Warning System

Most highway patrol vehicles on the road today are equipped with a secondary radio system known as a 'mobile extender' or 'vehicular repeater'. Whenever the dispatcher transmits to any vehicle in the district, a mobile extender in every car within the district is activated.

The Bear Tracker Warning System monitors these frequencies used by mobile extender radios as well as car-to-car, aircraft-to-car, and other special-purpose frequencies. When enabled, the scanner checks for activity on these frequencies for your state every 2 seconds. Whenever you are within an approximate three-mile radius of Highway Patrol/State Police units using a mobile extender unit, the BT display icon begins to blink, the Bear Tracker LED lights, you can select an alert tone, volume level, or no alerts. The scanner scans all the channels of the Bear Tracker system. Alert channels are also scanned along with any programmed priority channels.

Bear Tracker Scanning

When you have selected a state and then one or more of the services, each enabled service's icon is displayed on the lower part of the display. When they are disabled, the icons disappears from the display. When the scanner detects a signal in an enabled service, the icon blinks. After scanning your programmed systems, the scanner will scan the enabled state-by-state agencies, then resume scanning your programmed systems. The scanner also gives you the option to assign any (conventional) system(s)/trunked sites(s) to your selected state.

Normal reception will be interrupted periodically to search for signals in the enabled searches. The number of channels checked during state-by-state searches is set in the Max Priority Scn setting. The more channels you have the scanner check during a priority check, the longer the audio dropout during reception of other channels.

POL includes Police and Sheriff services.
DOT includes the states' Department of Transportation services.
To select Police press POL once.
To select DOT press POL twice.
To select both press POL 3 times.
To select none press POL 4 times.
HP includes the Highway Patrol, State Police, State Patrol, and State Intercity.
BT activates the Bear Tracker Warning system.
To select HP press HP once.
To select BT press HP twice.
To select both press HP 3 times.
To select none press HP 4 times.

To Edit Bear Tracker Warning Options press Menu. Scroll to 'Set Bear Tracker' and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below (in Blue) and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

	Set Attenuator	Set Record
Set Hold Time	Set Alert Level	Max Priority Scn

Set Delay Time

Set Alert Tone

Assign a System/Site to a State

Contents

Set Hold Time sets the amount of time the scanner will scan the Bear Tracker frequencies before moving on to the next (unlocked and enabled) system/site. If you select 0, the scanner stays for at least 1 second.

Scroll to 'Set Hold Time' press E/●.
Enter 0-255 (seconds) and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Delay Time selects (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel. The default setting is 2 seconds.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/●.
Scroll to the desired delay time (1-5 seconds or Off) and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Attenuator This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals by about 20 dB. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Alert Level This setting sets the volume level for the Bear Tracker warning alert. The default setting is Auto.

Scroll to 'Set Alert Level' and press E/●.
At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/●.

Set Alert Tone This setting sets the alert tone for the Bear Tracker warning alert.

Scroll to 'Set Alert Tone' and press E/●.
Scroll to the alert (Alert 1-9 or Off) and press E/●.

Set Record enables the REC jack for all BT channels.

Scroll to 'Set Record' press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Max Priority Scn lets you choose how many Bear Tracker priority frequencies (ones tagged with an asterisk at the end in the display?) are checked during use of the Bear Tracker Warning System. A lower number makes the break shorter, but makes it more likely that some alerts are missed. A higher number reduces the chance of missed alerts, but the breaks are longer.

Scroll to 'Max Priority Scn' press E/●.
Enter 1-255 (frequencies) and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: This setting affects both the Bear Tracker channels and any priority channels you have in active conventional systems.

Assign a System/Site to a State See Edit Conventional System Options and Edit Site Options.

Planning Conventional Systems and Groups

Contents

Planning your systems will be very important even if you do have the software. Organizing your quick keys will be the hardest part of the planning. You can assign quick keys and copy and paste most of the freqs, alpha tags, and IDs easily into the software.

Most people can get everything they scan into the scanner. I like to scan by general interest so I set my system quick keys accordingly; 1-Public Safety systems, 1-Trunked PS systems, 2-Air, 2-Air Trunked systems, 3-Military, 3 Military Trunked systems, 4-Federal, etc. Then I will nest my groups (ex: Fire, Police, EMS) within the conventional systems, (Fire IDs, Police IDs, EMS ID within trunked systems) and give them all group quick keys. Unless you always want a group or system on, assign it a quick key; it's easier to turn the quick key off than to lockout or unlock the group or system (IMHO). If you live in a big city, you might want to get the BCD996T with digital capabilities because you'll need it eventually.

So, you have to figure out which conventional systems/trunked sites and groups to assign to your quick keys so you can scan them without a table of contents and with some sort of logic you can remember. Use the worksheets below to help you plan your systems and groups.

Alerts You can program your scanner to alert you when, a channel is received, you receive a Bear Tracker warning, Close Call hit, a talkgroup ID is transmitted with an emergency alert, you get close to a POI (Point of Interest)/Dangerous Road/Dangerous Crossing, or you receive a Tone-Out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, and 15 volume settings.

Startup Keys you can program each of your conventional systems, trunked sites, service searches, or custom searches with a 'Startup Key' (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those systems/sites/searches assigned to the key will be enabled for scan (groups are not affected). See also Using Startup Keys.

Worksheets

Contents

I have put together complete worksheets ready to print to help you plan your systems, Close Call, and Fire Tone-Out, etc. settings. Even if you don't fill them out, they are a good check list for programming.

Settings Worksheet Conventional Worksheet Motorola 800/900 Worksheet Motorola VHF-UHF Worksheet EDACS Worksheet LTR Worksheet

Entering Text

Contents

To program text you must first program the system, site, group, channel, location, custom search, Tone-Out, or SAME group. There are links to refer you back here while you are programming.

To enter a letter, turn the scroll control until the character you want appears.
(character order clock-wise is upper-case, lower-case, numbers, then special characters).
To enter a decimal point, press (.)No.
To move the cursor to the right, press 6.
To move the cursor to the left, press 4.
To clear a character or enter a space, press (.)No twice.
To clear all characters, press (.)No 3 times.
Press E/● when finished to exit.
Press the 'Back' button in your browser to return to programming.

Programming Systems

Contents

You have to create systems first, create sites in the trunking systems (where the trunking frequencies now go), create groups in the systems, create channels in the groups, then program the frequencies or IDs into the channels. Or, you can Quick store freqs or Quick store IDs (only after you program the trunking system and site). Trunking IDs only go into trunking system groups and conventional frequencies only go into conventional system groups. You can only store one trunking system per 'system'. You can store up to 500 systems, up to 20 groups per system, and up to 250 frequencies or 250 IDs per group. Total channels are limited to about 2500. Also, remember that conventional frequencies and IDs are considered channels. Note: Once a system has been created, the system type cannot be changed.

One suggestion; assign every (conventional) system/(trunked) site/group (and search you want to include with scan) to a quick key. You can assign as many systems/sites you want to a quick key and as many groups you want to a group quick key. That way you can just turn systems/sites/groups on and off and not have to worry about locking them out. If you don't assign systems/sites/groups to a quick key, you have to lock it out if you don't want to scan it.

See also Deciphering Trunked Systems at the Wiki.

Use the worksheets to help you program your systems and groups.

To Edit the System Name press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system you want to name and press E/●.
At 'Edit Name' press E/●. See Entering Text.

To Copy a System press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system you want to copy and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Copy System' and press E/●.
At 'New Sys Name?' see Entering Text to name the new system.
Copying a system will copy all sites, groups, channels, and settings including quick key assignments.

To Delete a System press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Delete System' and press E/●.
At 'Confirm Delete' press E/●.

Programming Conventional Systems

To Create a New Conventional System press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'Conventional' and press E/●. At 'Confirm?' press E/●.
At 'Edit Name' press E/●. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/●.
Continue at 'Set Quick Key' below.
Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Conventional System Options press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Set Quick Key	Set Hold Time	Set Location Info
Set Start-up Key	Set Delay Time	Set State
Set Lockout	Set Data Skip	Set Record

Contents

Set Quick Key assigns a system to a quick key and will be scanned when the key is turned on. The default setting is no quick key.

Scroll to 'Set Quick Key' and press E/●.
Scroll to the quick key number (0-99 or . for no quick key) you want assigned to the system and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit quick key will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc. then scroll to second digit.

Set Start-up Key allows you to turn on the scanner with the system enabled for scan using the Startup Configuration. The default setting is no startup key.

Scroll to 'Set Startup Key' and press E/●.
Scroll to or enter the startup key number (0-9 or . for no startup key) you want assigned to the system and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Lockout determines whether a system will be scanned or not even if the quick key for the system is turned on. 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Temporary L/O', 'Unlocked' or 'Locked' and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle system lockout by holding on the system in scan mode and pressing ● then L/O.

Set Hold Time sets (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner will scan the system before moving on to the next (unlocked) system. All unlocked channels will be scanned at least once regardless of this setting. The scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires. The default setting is 2 seconds for each system.
Tip: set your systems to 0.

Scroll to 'Set Hold Time' and press E/●.
Enter the hold time (0-255 seconds) you desire and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Delay Time for the system sets (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel. This setting applies to all channels in the system. You cannot set the delay on a 'per channel' basis. The default setting is 2 seconds.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/●.
Scroll to the desired delay time (1-5 seconds or Off) and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Data Skip with the setting set to on, when it receives a data signal, the scanner stops briefly on the channel, then immediately resumes scanning automatically. With the setting set to off, the scanner remains on the channel until the transmission stops. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Data Skip' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Contents

Set Location Info allows you program a location for the system so the scanner will enable it for scanning with a GPS unit attached. See Set GPS Format first to set your units, time zone, etc.

Scroll to 'Set LocationInfo' and press E/●.
At 'Set Latitude' press E/●. Enter the latitude and press E/●.
At 'Set Longitude' press E/●. Enter the longitude and press E/●.
At 'Set Range' press E/●. Enter the range (0.5 to 50 in 0.5 steps) and press E/●.
At 'Set GPS Enable' press E/●. Scroll to On or Off and press E/●.
Press Menu to return.

Set State allows you to add the system to the Bear Tracker system so you can listen to it when you select your 'State'. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set State' and press E/●.
Scroll to the desired State or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Record enables the REC jack for marked channels, no channels, or all channels in the system. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/●.
Scroll to one of 3 settings and press E/● to save and exit.
All Channel - The scanner sends the audio for all channels in the system to the REC jack, regardless of the channel’s record option setting.
Marked Channel - The scanner only sends the audio for channels that have the record option turned on to the REC jack.
Off - The scanner does not send any audio from any channel in the system to the REC jack, even if the record option is turned on for a channel.

Programming Trunking Systems

Contents

To Create a New Motorola System press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/●.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'MOT TYPE1 or MOT TYPE2' and press E/●. At 'Confirm?' press E/●.
At 'Edit Name' press E/●. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Options' and press E/●.
Continue at 'ID Scan/Search' below.
Then see Creating Sites. Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Create a New EDACS System press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
.At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/●.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'EDCS Wide/Narrow' or 'EDCS SCAT' and press E/●. At 'Confirm?' press E/●.

Note: EDACS Wide is the same as EDACS Standard and use a 9600 baud control channel. EDACS Narrow-band systems use a 4800 baud control channel. See here at RR for a description of SCAT.

At 'Edit Name' press E/●. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Options' and press E/●.
Continue at 'ID Scan/Search' below.
Then see Creating Sites. Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Create a New LTR System press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/●.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'LT' and press E/●. At 'Confirm?' press E/●.
At 'Edit Name' press E/●. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Options' and press E/●.
Continue at 'ID Scan/Search' below.
Then see Edit Site Options. Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Trunking Systems Options press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Note: Not all options will appear for EDACS SCAT and LTR systems.

ID Scan/Search (no EDACS SCAT)	Set Status Bit (Motorola only)	EDACS ID Format (no EDACS SCAT)
Set Delay Time	Set End Code (Motorola only)	Set Record
*Edit Fleetmap (Moto Type I/lli* only)**	Set I-Call (Moto/EDACS only)	Rvw ID:Srch L/O
	Emergency Alert (Moto/EDACS only)	Clr All L/O IDs

Contents

ID Scan/Search (no EDACS SCAT) sets whether the scanner scans the programmed ID groups (ID Scan) or searches for all IDs (ID Search) in a trunking system. The default setting is ID search.

Scroll to 'ID Scan/Search' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'ID Scan' or 'ID Search' and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle this while scanning each trunked system by pressing ● then Scan/Srch.

Set Delay Time for the system sets the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before resuming scanning. This setting applies to all channels in the system. You cannot set the delay on a 'per channel' basis. The default setting is 2 seconds.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/●.
Scroll to the desired delay time (1-5 seconds or Off) and press E/● to save and exit.

Edit Fleetmap (Motorola Type I/IIi systems only) allows you to select a preprogrammed fleetmap or program a fleetmap for Motorola Type I systems. You must program a system fleet map in order for the scanner to properly track and display talk group ID's. If you don’t know which fleet map to use, you can try a method I found at Radio Reference.com. Since it is rather lengthy, I will just give you the link. Determining Type I Motorola Fleet Maps by Dave Goodson.

Scroll to 'Edit Fleetmap' and press E/●.

To select a Preset Fleetmap, scroll to 'Preset' and press E/●.
Scroll to the number of the preset fleetmap and press E/● to save and exit. See Preset Fleetmaps.
To program a Custom Fleetmap, scroll to 'Custom' and press E/●.
At 'Block 0' scroll to the size code (0-14) and press E/●. See Size Codes.
The scanner will prompt you to the next available block so you can scroll to and enter the next size code (0-14) then press E/●.
Repeat for each block as needed (0-7) and you will return to the 'Edit Sys Option' menu.

Note: If you select size code 12, 13, or 14, these restrictions apply:

12 can only be assigned to Blocks 0, 2, 4 or 6.

13 can only be assigned to Blocks 0 and 4.

14 can only be assigned to Block 0.

Since these size codes require multiple blocks, you will be prompted for the next available block. For example, if you assign Block 0 as 12, the scanner prompts you for block 2, the next block available, instead of block 1. If you assign Block 0 as 14, you would not see another prompt because 14 uses all available blocks.

Set Status Bit (Motorola only) sets how your scanner works with status bits (also called S-bits), letting you control how the scanner interprets and displays Motorola talk group IDs. The default setting is ignore.

Scroll to 'Set Status Bit' and press E/●.
Scroll to one of two settings and press E/● to save and exit.
Ignore- the scanner rounds all received ID's down to the next interval of 16.
Yes- the scanner treats all received ID's as unique ID's.

Contents

Set End Code (Motorola only) sets how the scanner handles the transmission end code sent by most Motorola systems. The default setting is Yes.

Scroll to 'Set End Code' and press E/●.
Scroll to one of two settings and press E/● to save and exit.
Yes- the scanner immediately returns to the control channel when it detects the end code.
Ignore- the scanner does not return to the control channel until the carrier drops.

Set I-Call (Motorola/EDACS only) sets whether the scanner will monitor I-call IDs. I-calls (or private calls) are transmissions made from one radio user to another radio user and not heard by everyone else in the trunking system. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set I-Call' and press E/●.
Scroll to one of three settings and press E/● to save and exit.
Off- the scanner ignores I-call IDs.
On- the scanner tracks I-call IDs.
Only- the scanner tracks only I-call IDs and ignores other radio traffic on the system.

Emergency Alert (Motorola/EDACS only) sets how your scanner handles IDs that have the emergency flag set. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Emergency Alert' and press E/●.
Scroll to the alert (Alert 1-9 or Off) and press E/●.

At 'Set Level' scroll to:
Auto- the scanner automatically sets the emergency alert beep to the master volume level. Press E/● to save and exit.
Level 1-15- scroll to the volume level preferred. Press E/● to save and exit.

EDACS ID Format (no EDACS SCAT) sets how your scanner displays EDACS IDs. They can be displayed in two formats: AFS and Decimal. The default setting is AFS.

Scroll to 'EDCS ID Format' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'AFS Format' or 'Decimal Format' and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Record enables the REC jack for marked channels, no channels, or all channels in the system. The default setting is off.

Rvw ID:Srch L/O allows you to review locked out IDs in a system and unlock them.

Scroll to 'Rvw ID:Srch L/O' and press E/●.
At 'Unlock?' scroll to the ID and press E/● to unlock. 'Nothing Locked' appears if nothing is locked out.
Press 'Menu' to return.

Clr All L/O IDs allows you to unlock all the locked IDs in a system.

Scroll to 'Clr All L/O IDs' and press E/●.
At 'Confirm?' press E/● to save and exit.
'Nothing Locked' appears if nothing is locked out. Press 'Menu' to return.

Creating Sites (sites automatically created for EDACS SCAT and LTR)

Once you have your trunking Systems Created and Systems Options configured you can create your sites. All trunked systems need at least one site to enter trunking frequencies.

To Create a Site press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to create a site and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Site' and press E/●.
At 'Select Site' scroll to 'New Site' and press E/●. At 'Select Site Type':

To create a Motorola Type 1 site, scroll to '800MHz Standard' or '800MHz Splinter' and press E/●.
(Splinter - analog 800Mhz systems with frequencies between 866-869 MHz [or rebanded 851-854 MHz] ending with 0 instead of 5 e.g. 852.1250, not 852.1375).

To create a Motorola Type 2 site, scroll to '800MHz Standard', '800MHz Splinter', '900MHz Band', 'VHF band', or 'UHF band' and press E/●.

To create an EDACS site, scroll to 'WIDE', 'NARROW', or SCAT and press E/●.

Continue at 'Edit Name' below.
Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Site Options press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that has the site you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Site' and press E/●.
At 'Select Site' scroll to the site you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Note: Not all options will appear for EDACS SCAT and LTR sites.

Edit Name (no EDACS SCAT)

Set Frequencies

Set Modulation (no EDACS)

Set C-Ch Only (Motorola only)

Set Quick Key	Edit Frequency	Set Attenuator	Set Location Info
Set Start-up Key	Set Lockout	Set Lockout	Set State
	Delete Frequency	Set Hold Time	Delete Site
	New Frequency	*Edit Band Plan (Motorola Custom/VHF/UHF only)*	New Site

Contents

Edit Name (no ECACS SCAT) assigns a name to the site.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' and press E/●. See Entering Text

Set Quick Key assigns quick key to a site and will be scanned when the key is turned on. The default setting is no quick key.

Scroll to 'Set Quick Key' and press E/●.
Scroll to the quick key number (0-99 or . for no quick key) you want assigned to the site and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit quick key will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc. then scroll to second digit.

Set Start-up Key allows you to turn on the scanner with the site enabled for scan using the Startup Configuration. The default setting is no startup key.

Scroll to 'Set Startup Key' and press E/●.
Scroll to (or enter) the startup key number (0-9 or . for no startup key) you want assigned to the site and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Frequencies this is where you program or change the trunking frequencies, delete frequencies, or lock them out.

To Program New Frequencies, scroll to 'Set Frequencies' and press E/●.
At 'Sel Frequency' scroll to 'New Frequency' and press E/●.
At 'Input Frequency' enter the frequency and press E/●.

For EDACS and LTR sites only:
At 'Input LCN' enter the LCN number and press E/●. See Finding EDACS LCN Order. See Finding LTR LCN Order.

Scroll to 'New Frequency' and press E/● to enter more frequencies.
Press 'Menu' twice to return to the 'Edit Site' menu.

To Edit Frequencies, scroll to 'Set Frequencies' and press E/●.
At 'Sel Frequency' scroll to the frequency you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Frequency' press E/●. Edit the frequency and press E/● to save and exit.

For EDACS and LTR sites only:
At 'Input LCN' enter the LCN number and press E/●.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' press E/●. Set the lockout status and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to 'Delete Frequency' press E/●. At 'Confirm Delete' press E/●. You will return to the 'Edit Site' menu.
Press 'Menu' twice to return to the site menu.

Contents

Set Modulation (no EDACS) This setting selects the modulation used for the site. The default setting is auto (NFM for FM frequencies).

Scroll to 'Set Modulation' and press E/●.
Scroll to Auto, NFM, or FM and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Attenuator This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on this site by about 20 dB. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle attenuation by holding on the site and pressing ● then 7(Att).

Set Lockout determines whether a site will be scanned or not (even if the quick key for the site is turned on). 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle lockout by holding on the site and quickly pressing ● then L/O.

Set Hold Time sets (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner will scan the site before moving on to the next site. If you select 0 for trunking sites, the scanner stays on the site for at least 1 second. The scanner moves to the next site after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires. The default setting is 2 seconds for each site.
Tip: set your sites to 0.

Scroll to 'Set Hold Time' and press E/●.
Enter the hold time (0-255 seconds) you desire and press E/● to save and exit.

Edit Band Plan (Motorola Custom/VHF/UHF only) Band plans are required so the scanner can correctly determine the voice channel frequencies.

For Custom (rebanded) Motorola Systems (Requires firmware 1.06 or newer) allows you to create a custom band plan for rebanded systems. Custom band plans require that you enter both a lower and an upper base frequency value. The lower base frequency (or base) is always the base frequency as provided in the Radio Reference Database. Use this Excel spreadsheet to calculate the upper base frequency value: CustomBandPlanCalculator.xls. If you don't have Excel you can download and install a viewer here. If you don't have the lower base frequency value, the Trunked Radio Systems User’s Page has an explanation on how to find it. Look for 'Determining Base and Offset Frequencies for the BC245xlt' by John C.

Scroll to 'Edit Band Plan' and press E/●.
At 'Select Plan' scroll to 'Band Plan 1-6' and press E/●.
At 'Set Base Freq' press E/●.
At 'Input Lower' enter the lower base frequency and press E/●.
At 'Input Upper' enter the upper base frequency and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Set Offset' and press E/●.
At 'Input Offset' enter the offset and press E/●.
At 'Select Polarity' scroll to + or - and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Set Spacing' and press E/●.
Scroll to the step size and press E/●.
Press 'Menu' to return and repeat for each band plan as needed. Press 'Menu' to return.

For standard Motorola 800 MHz rebanded systems you need to set Band Plan 1 and Band Plan 2 as follows:

Band Plan	Lower Base Freq	Upper Base Freq	Offset	Polarity	Spacing
1	851.025	854.000	440	+	25 kHz
2	851.0125	868.9875	0	+	25 kHz

Contents

For VHF/UHF Motorola Systems allows you to set the base frequency, step size, and offset for the system. A band plan is required so the scanner can correctly determine the voice channel frequencies. You can set up to 3 different band plans. I have found an explanation at the Trunked Radio Systems User’s Page that describes how to find some of this information. Look for 'Determining Base and Offset Frequencies for the BC245xlt' by John C. Radio Reference.com also has an explanation.

Scroll to 'Edit Band Plan' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Band Plan 1' and press E/●.
At 'Input Base Freq' enter the base frequency and press E/●.
At 'Select Step' scroll to the step size and press E/●.
At 'Offset' enter the offset and press E/●.
Repeat for each band plan. Press 'Menu' to return.

Set C-Ch Only (Motorola only) with C-Ch Only on, you only need to program the control channel frequencies for Motorola sites and the scanner will find (but will not program) the voice channels. The default setting is on (and recommended in case new voice channels are added to the site).

Scroll to 'Set C-Ch Only' and press E/●.
Scroll to one of two settings and press E/● to save and exit.
Off- you must enter all voice and control channel frequencies.
On- you only need to enter control channel frequencies.

Set Location Info allows you program a location for the site so the scanner will enable it for scanning with a GPS unit attached. See Set GPS Format first to set your units, time zone, etc.

Set State allows you to add the site to the Bear Tracker system so you can listen to it when you select your 'State'. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set State' and press E/●.
Scroll to the desired State or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Creating Groups

Once you have your Systems built, systems options configured, (trunking system) Sites Created, and Site Options configured, you can create your groups.

To Create a New Group (no EDACS SCAT) press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to create a group and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to 'New Group' and press E/●.
Continue at 'Edit Name' below.
Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Group Options press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that has the group you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Edit Name	Edit Channel	Delete Group
Set Quick Key	Set Lockout	New Group

Contents

Edit Name allows you to change the name of a group.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' press E/●. See Entering Text.

Set Quick Key sets the quick key for the group. The default setting is no quick key.

Scroll to 'Set Quick Key' and press E/●.
Scroll to or enter the quick key number (0-9 or . for no quick key) you want to assign to the group and press E/● to save and exit.

Edit Channel creates channels and edits channel options.
See Programming Frequencies/IDs.

Set Lockout determines whether a group will be scanned or not (even if the quick key for the group is turned on). 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/●.
Press Scan/Srch or L/O to exit.

Programming Frequencies/TGIDs

Contents

Once you have your Systems built, systems options configured, Sites Created (for trunking systems), Site Options configured, and Groups Created, you can (finally) program your channels.

Quickly Storing a Frequency

To program a Frequency into a 'Quick Save Group' in a 'Quick Save System' in scan mode press Hold to hold on any channel.
Enter the frequency and press E/●.
At 'Quick Freq Save?' press E/●.

Note: If the frequency is already stored in the group, 'Frequency Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

The scanner will save the frequency in a (created) group called 'Qck Save Grp' in a (created) system called 'Qck Save Cnv Sys' (with no quick keys assigned) and you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another frequency or Scan to exit.
Then see Edit Channel Options, Edit Group Options, and Edit Conventional Systems Options to customize the channel(s), group, and system.

To Program a Frequency into an Existing Group in scan mode press Hold to hold on any channel.
Enter the frequency and press E/●.
At 'Quick Freq Save?' press (.)No.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to store the frequency and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group where you want to store the frequency and press E/●.

Note: If the frequency is already stored in the group, 'Frequency Exists' Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

After storing the frequency, you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another frequency or Scan to exit.

Contents

Quickly Storing an ID Note: You have to program the trunking system and site first. See Programming Trunking Systems.

To Program an ID into a 'Quick Save Group' in scan mode Hold on any channel in the system you want to store the ID in.

.	Enter the ID (see Entering IDs) and press E/●.

At 'Quick TGID Save?' press E/●.

Note: If the ID is already stored in the group, 'TGID Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

The scanner stores the ID into a (created) channel group called 'Qck Save Grp' (with no quick key assigned) and you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another ID or Scan to exit.
Then see Edit Channel Options and Edit Group Options to customize the channel(s), and group.

To Program an ID into an Existing Group in scan mode Hold on any channel.

.	Enter the ID (see Entering IDs) and press E/●.

At 'Quick TGID Save?' press (.)No.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to store the ID and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group where you want to store the ID and press E/●.

Note: If the ID is already stored in the group, 'TGID Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

After storing the ID, you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another ID or Scan to exit.

Manually Programming Channel Frequencies/TGIDs

Contents

To Program a New Channel press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to system where you want to program a channel and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group that you want to program the channel in and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Channel' and press E/●.
At 'Select Channel' scroll to 'New Channel' and press E/●.
At 'Input Frequency (or TGID)' enter the frequency or ID and press E/●.

To enter a Conventional Frequency enter the frequency and press E/●.

To enter a Motorola Type II ID enter the ID and press E/●.

To enter a Motorola Type I ID enter the fleet number, press (.)No once for a hyphen, then enter the subfleet and press E/●.

Note: If you omit the subfleet (still need the hyphen), the scanner treats this field as a wildcard (will treat the subfleet as 1 ID and receive all IDs in the subfleet).
You can also lock out this subfleet ID so you will not receive it.

To enter a Motorola I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter the ID and press E/●.

To enter a Motorola Wildcard (receive any) I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter 0 and press E/●.

Note: You can also lock out this wildcard ID so you will not receive I-Calls.

To enter an EDACS ID in AFS (default) format, enter the agency number, press (.)No once for a hyphen, then the fleet and subfleet and press E/●.

Note: If you omit the fleet and/or subfleet (still need the hyphen), the scanner treats these fields as wildcards (will treat the fleet and/or subfleet as 1 ID and receive all IDs in the fleet and/or subfleet).
You can also lock out this fleet and/or subfleet ID so you will not receive it.

To enter an EDACS ID in Decimal format, enter the ID and press E/●.

To enter an EDACS I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter the ID and press E/●.

To enter an EDACS Wildcard (receive any) I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter 0 and press E/●.

Note: You can also lock out this wildcard ID so you will not receive I-Calls.

To enter a LTR ID, enter the area code (0 or 1) and press (.)No once, then enter the home repeater number (01-20) and press (.)No once, then the user ID (1-254) and press E/●.

Note: If you omit the user ID (still need the hyphen), the scanner treats this field as a wildcard (will treat the home repeater as 1 ID).
You can also lock out this home repeater ID so you will not receive it.

Note: If the channel is already stored in the group, 'TGID or Frequency Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

Continue at Edit Name below.
Press Menu to return to 'Select Channel'. Scroll to 'New Channel' and press E/●.
Program the rest of the channels the same way.

Edit Channel Options Menu

Once you have your Systems built, systems options configured, Groups Created, and your Channels Programmed, you can set your channel options.

To Edit Channel Options press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where the channel is and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/●.
Scroll to the Group that has the channel you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Channel' press E/●.
At 'Select Channel' scroll to the channel you want to edit and press E/●.
You can also press E/yes when the channel is displayed in scan mode. (Press .(No) to cancel storing a tone code if asked).
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Edit Name	Set Attenuator (conventional only)	Set Lockout
Edit Frequency or TGID	Set Priority (conventional only)	Copy/Paste Channel
Set CTCSS/DCS (conventional only)	Set Alert	Delete Channel
Set Modulation (conventional only)	Set Record	New Channel

Contents

Edit Name If you do not enter a channel name, the scanner displays the frequency for conventional systems or the talk group ID for trunked systems when it stops on a channel.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' and press E/●. See Entering Text.
Press E/● to save and exit.

Edit Frequency or TGID See also 'Entering IDs'.

Scroll to 'Edit Frequency or TGID' and press E/●.
Enter the frequency or ID and press E/● to save and exit.

Set CTCSS/DCS (conventional only) This setting controls how a subaudible CTCSS or DCS is used for the channel. The default setting is Off. See also Understanding CTCSS/DCS.

Scroll to 'Set CTCSS/DCS' and press E/●.
Scroll to 1 of 5 options and press E/● to save and exit:
Off - any signal opens squelch.
Search - the scanner searches and displays any CTCSS or DCS tone with the transmission.
CTCSS - the scanner only opens squelch if the CTCSS tone you select is also present with the signal. Scroll to the desired CTCSS tone you want present with the signal. Press E/● to save and exit.
DCS - the scanner only opens squelch if the DCS code you select is also present with the signal. Scroll to the desired DCS code you want present with the signal. Press E/● to save and exit.
Set Lockout - the scanner does not stop on the channel if the tone/code you select is present. Scroll to 'CTCSS or DCS' and press E/●. Scroll to the desired tone/code you want locked out.
Press E/● to save and exit.

Note: you can also store a (blinking) CTCSS/DCS tone/code in when receiving a frequency in scan mode by pressing E/●.

Set Modulation (conventional only) This setting selects the modulation used for the channel. The default setting is Auto (NFM for FM channels).

Scroll to 'Set Modulation' and press E/●.
Scroll to Auto, AM, FM, NFM, WFM, or WFM Broadcast and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Attenuator (conventional only) This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on The channel by about 20 dB. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle attenuation for a conventional channel in scan hold mode by pressing ● then 7(Att).

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Set Priority (conventional only) This setting controls whether the scanner treats the channel as a priority channel while scanning. There doesn't seem to be a limit to how many channels you can set. When you turn on the Priority feature, the channel(s) will be scanned every 2 seconds. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Priority' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Alert This setting controls when and how the scanner alerts you if the channel becomes active. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Alert' and press E/●.
Scroll to the alert (Alert 1-9 or Off) and press E/●.

At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/●.

Set Record enables the REC jack for the channel in the system. The default setting is off. You must also set the system's record option to either 'All Channel' (which will record all channels regardless of the channel's record setting) or 'Marked Channel' (which only records the channels you've set to record).

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Lockout determines whether a channel will be scanned or not. 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/●.
Press Scan/Srch or L/O to exit.

Note: You can also toggle lockout for a channel in scan mode by pressing L/O.

Copy/Paste Channel The scanner can copy a channel (and all its settings) into a copy buffer to paste into a group in the same system or another system.

Scroll to 'Copy Channel' press E/● to save to the channel buffer.

To Paste the Channel, press Menu until 'Select System' appears.
Scroll to system where you want to paste the channel and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group where you want to paste the channel and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Channel' press E/●.
At 'Select Channel' scroll to 'Paste Channel' and press E/●.
Press Scan or L/O to exit.

Note: You can only copy and paste from like systems -conventional to conventional or trunking to trunking.

Using the BCT-15 with a GPS

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Location-Based Scanning

You can connect the scanner to a compatible GPS device and set the scanner to automatically lock and unlock conventional systems and trunked sites based on the location information and range settings you program for those systems/sites. This frees you from having to manually enable and disable systems/sites as you change location. The BCT-15 uses the data, supplied by an (optional) attached GPS unit, that allows the radio to automatically unlock and lockout systems/sites based on latitude and longitude. It uses the (programmed) center of the system/site, and the (programmed) range-the radius of a circle around the latitude and longitude up to 50 miles from that center.

A good application of this feature would be to set the longitude and latitude for each multi-site system transmitter as usually you can receive at least a handful in any given location.

You can find the physical location of antennas using the databases available at Radio Reference or the FCC's Antenna Structure Registration site. Both sites list the latitude, longitude, and height of the antenna, and both sites can map the exact location for you. Radio Reference is more user-friendly, so it's easier to find what you're looking for.

Non Radio Location-Based GPS Features

The scanner also allows you to program audio alerts for a:

Point of Interest (POI): Stores location and range. If you approach the set location, the radio sounds an alert up to 2 miles/km from the center.

Dangerous Road/Dangerous Crossing: Stores location, direction of travel, and speed. If you are traveling at a speed greater than that specified, in the direction specified, and if you are within range of the set location, the scanner sounds an alert at 0.5, 0.25, and 0.1 mile/km from the point. These range distances are also automatic and fixed.

You can also temporarily lockout (cancel) any combination of these alerts.

Connecting Your Scanner

The GPS device must have a serial (RS-232) output, and be capable of outputting standard NMEA-0183 v3.01 compliant location data, and GGA/RMC data sentences at 4800 bps. Make sure that the cable terminates in a female, 9-pin serial connector and you select the correct baud rate (4800 bps) for the rear serial port.

The scanner will display 'Searching for Satellite' in GPS Display Mode until it receives the signal from the satellite if you have your connections and baud rate set correctly. The first time the scanner starts receiving a signal from the GPS, it briefly displays 'GPS Connected' and (temporary) locks and unlocks all systems/sites that are 'enabled for scan', unlocked, and whose quick key is enabled according to your current location. If you have a lot of data programmed, it might take the scanner a couple of minutes to complete the process. Once the scanner completes the initial GPS review, if you move into or out of an area covered by a system/site, the scanner beeps and displays the name of the system/site and whether it is being locked or unlocked. If you cycle power, all systems/sites (enabled for scan) are unlocked until the scanner reacquires the GPS signal and completes the initial GPS review.

See also Set GPS Format in the 'Settings' menu to set relevant options for GPS display modes.

To Program a Current Location (when connected to a GPS) press and hold GPS for 2 seconds.
The scanner opens a dialog ('Storing Location') to store your current location (or 'Location Exists', Accept?).
Scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' to select the type then press E/●.
The default name is P (POI), X (dangerous crossing), R (dangerous road), then YYMMDD hhmmss that indicates the year, month, date, and time you stored the location point. 'Road', 'Xing', or 'POI' Stored and the default name with the position will briefly appear.
Press E/yes to see the location details.
Press E/yes again to edit the location. Continue at 'Edit Name' below.
Press Menu twice to exit.

To Program a New Location press Menu. Scroll to 'Program Location' and press E/●.
At 'Select Type' scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'New Location' and press E/●.
The default name is DRD (dangerous road), DXG (dangerous crossing), or POI (point of interest)-######(?).
Continue at 'Edit Name' below.

To Edit an Existing Location press Menu. Scroll to 'Program Location' and press E/●.
At 'Select Type' scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' and press E/●.
At 'Select 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' scroll to the location you want to edit and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

POI

Dangerous Xing or Dangerous Road

	Edit Name		Edit Name
	Set Type		Set Type
	Set Alert Beep		Set Alert Volume
	Set Alert Volume		Set LocationInfo
	Set LocationInfo		Set Heading
	Set Range		Set Speed Limit
	Set Lockout		Set Lockout
	Delete Location		Delete Location
	New Location		New Location

GPS Display Mode

GPS Review Location Mode

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Edit Name the default name is P (POI), X (dangerous crossing), R (dangerous road), then YYMMDD hhmmss that indicates the year, month, date, and time you stored the location point with a GPS unit or ? if you program a location manually.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' and press E/●. See Entering Text.

Set Type If you want to change the location type, the scanner resets the available options based on the new location type and the scanner goes back to the 'Program Location' menu for that location.

Scroll to 'Set Type' and press E/●.
At 'Select Type' scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Alert Beep (POI only) lets you configure whether the scanner triggers an alert tone when you approach a location. The default setting is 'Alert 1' with 'Auto' volume.

Scroll to 'Set Alert Beep' and press E/●.
Scroll to the alert (Alert 1-4 or Off) and press E/yes.

At 'Set Alert Volume' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/●.

Set Alert Volume (Dangerous Road/Xing only) The Alert Tone is fixed. The alert range is auto-set at 0.5, 0.25, and 0.1 mile/km. The default setting is 'Auto'.

Scroll to 'Set Alert Volume' and press E/●.
At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/●.

Set Location Info enter the latitude and longitude for the location. See Set GPS Format first to set your units, time zone, etc.

Scroll to 'Set LocationInfo' and press E/●.
At 'Set Latitude' press E/●. Enter the latitude and press E/●.
At 'Set Longitude' press E/●. Enter the longitude and press E/●.

Set Range (POI only) enter how far out from this location you want the scanner to alert you. You can also configure the scanner to sound an alert tone and flash a light when you reach the radius entered here. The default setting is '.1 mile/km'.

Scroll to 'Set Range' and press E/●.
Scroll to '.1, .25, .5, .75, 1, or 2 miles/km' and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Heading (Dangerous Road/Xing only) sets how the scanner alerts you to the location based on how you approach it. To make the alert direction-dependent, select a direction of approach. Select 'All Range' to be alerted regardless of your direction of approach. The default setting is 'All Range'.

Scroll to 'Set Heading' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'All Range, North, NE, East, SE, South, SW, West, or NW' and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Speed Limit (Dangerous Road/Xing only) decides whether the scanner alerts you each time you approach the location or only when you are traveling above a certain speed. To make the alert speed-dependent, enter the speed limit for this location. Leave the speed limit blank to be alerted regardless of your speed. The default setting is '0 mile/h (0 km/h)'.

Scroll to 'Set Speed Limit' and press E/●.
Scroll to '0-100 mph (0-160 kph)' and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Lockout As you near your target location, an alert sounds at 0.5, 0.25, and 0.1 mile/km. You can stop the alert by pressing L/O. The default setting is 'Unlocked'.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: you can also do this in 'Review Location Mode' by pressing L/O.

GPS Display Mode (POI only)

Press GPS to switch to GPS display mode. In this mode, you can see the current location information as well as information about your position relative to selected POI's.
The third line of the screen shows 'Off' if no POI is selected.

Rotating ● will select different POI's.
Press ● then GPS to toggle the Display modes in order.

While in GPS Display Mode:

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To program the current location press and hold GPS for 2 seconds.

To select a PIO turn the scroll control.

To scroll through the POI display modes press ● then GPS (each time).

Note: If no programmed location is displayed ('OFF' in the display), you will only be able to toggle 'Data Display' and the (current) 'Location Display'.

To temporarily lock out an alert press L/O or turn ●. The scanner automatically unlocks the locked out location when it moves 2(?) miles or more from the alert point. Quickly pressing L/O press twice permanently locks out the alert and it will not be activated again if you should go near that alert point.

	To toggle 'Hold Mode' on a background scan or search press Hold.
	To return to normal scan mode press Scan/Srch. Press GPS again to view GPS Display Mode.
	To view 'Review Location' mode press E/●.

Notes: All systems/sites (with quick keys enabled and gps enabled for the system/site) not within range of your current location will be temporarily locked out. If you try to use a quick key to enable a system/site for scan that is out of range of your current location, you will see 'Location L/O' and then system/site name (only once), and it will temporary lock out the system/site.

When a location alert with a higher priority occurs, the current location alert is canceled and the scanner alerts for the location with the higher priority.
The priority order is:
1- Dangerous Road
2- Dangerous Xing
3- Point of Interest

If you disconnect/turn off your GPS unit, you will see 'No GPS Input' in GPS display mode and the scanner will return to scanning any systems/sites that the scanner did not temporary lock out. To restore the systems/sites, cycle the scanner off then on.

If you lose the satellite signal, you will see 'Searching for Satellite' until the GPS unit reacquires a signal.

If a GPS is detected as soon as the scanner is turned on, the scanner displays "GPS CONNECTED" instead of displaying individual lock/unlock messages for systems/sites. It applies the location-based rules to all systems/sites at one time.

GPS Review Location Mode

If you have programmed data for a Point of Interest, Dangerous Crossing, and a Dangerous Road, you can review the type, range setting, and location information for each location.

Press GPS then E/●. The most recently stored location is displayed. Use the scroll control to display the next screen for review.
Note: the scanner will mute in this mode.
Important: while you are in Review Location Mode and press and hold GPS for 2 seconds, the data of the new point will overwrite the currently displayed data.

1. POI - Indicates a Point of Interest location.
2. DXG - Indicates a Dangerous Crossing location.
3. DRD - Indicates a Dangerous Road location.
4. Range - Indicates the programmed distance to your POI.
5. Head - Indicates the selected heading to the designated Dangerous Crossing from any direction.
6. Head - Indicates the selected heading to the designated Dangerous Road from a set direction.
7. LS - Indicates the maximum Speed Limit you set.

While in Review Location Mode:

To select a location turn the scroll control.

To return to 'GPS Display' mode press MENU.

To overwrite and store the current location press and hold GPS for 2 seconds.

To edit the location press E/●.

To toggle the lockout status of the location press L/O to toggle 'Temporary L/O, Locked Out, and Unlocked'.

To unlock all locations of the current type (POI, DXG, or DRD) press and hold L/O.

To unlock all locations of all types press ● then press and hold L/O.

To return to scan mode press Scan/Srch.

Priority/Priority Plus Scan

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Priority Scan When the scanner is scanning a conventional system, it interrupts scanning every 2 seconds to check priority channels for activity. The more channels you have set to priority, the longer the interruption will be. The quick keys for the system(s) and group(s) containing the priority channel(s) have to be enabled (and unlocked) or the scanner will display 'Priority Scan No Channel'.

Priority Plus Scan The scanner only scans priority channels in (unlocked) conventional systems with system and group quick keys enabled.

The highest priority is for channels in system/site and group quick key 1. The lowest priority is for channels in system/site quick key 90 and group quick key 0. Priority for priority channels in the same channel group follows the order in which the channels were created.

To Use Priority Scan you must first set your priority channels.

To Turn the Priority Feature On press Menu. Scroll to 'Priority Scan' and press E/●.
Scroll to 1 of 3 options and press E/●. You can also toggle these modes by pressing Hold to hold on any channel. Press ● then 1/Pri to toggle one of two priority modes or off.

Off - scans normally with no priority.

On - the scanner interrupts every 2 seconds and checks conventional priority channels. PRI appears in the display when you select this mode.

Plus On - the scanner only scans the priority channels. PRI flashes in the display when you select this mode.

Using Startup Keys

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The Startup Configuration option lets you quickly and automatically lock and unlock systems based on how you assign your startup keys. Simply hold down a number key (0-9) while powering on the scanner, or while the opening screen is displayed, and systems assigned to that number key are automatically unlocked and systems assigned to other startup keys are automatically locked. Systems that are not assigned to any startup key are left unchanged. You could use this feature to give you quick, single-press access to your favorite systems.

To Use a Startup Key:
1. Turn the scanner off.
2. Press & hold the number key that corresponds to the startup key when you turn the scanner on.
3. Continue holding the number key until the scanner display shows the number of the startup key configuration.

When you use startup configuration, the scanner checks all systems, sites, and search ranges and:
1. All systems, sites, or search ranges that do not have a startup key assigned will be scanned the way they were when you last turned off the scanner.
2. All systems, sites, or search ranges that have a startup key assigned to the one you pressed will be unlocked.
3. All systems, sites, or search ranges that have a different startup key assigned will be locked out.
4. The scanner will remember the last startup configuration you used when you power up the scanner using just the power key.

Caution: If you press the wrong key when you press the power key to set your startup configuration, and that wrong key doesn't have any systems assigned to that key, you will startup your scanner with all systems locked out. You can't start Key-Safe mode and Startup Configuration at the same time (i.e. Power+Func+Startup Key). Also, you can't cancel Startup Configuration, i.e. have your scanner startup with all systems unlocked they way they were before you used a Startup Configuration (unless you reset your systems, sites, and search ranges to 'no startup key').

Scanning Systems

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With all previous scanners, you selected banks to scan that had channels stored in them. With this scanner, you select 'System Quick Keys' to scan that have 'Systems', 'Sites', or Custom/Service Searches assigned to them. So, now you turn 'System/Site/Search Quick Keys' on and off and 'Group Quick Keys' on and off (within each 'System' or 'Site'). Turning quick keys on and off for systems/groups/sites/searches is not the same as locking and unlocking systems/sites/searches. You can still do that separately (if you really want to confuse yourself). See also Using Quick Keys.

First, all (unlocked) systems/sites belonging to Quick Key 1 are scanned. Then systems/sites that belong to Quick Key 2,…,9,0,11,…19,10,21,……,99,90 are scanned in order. Systems/sites with the same quick key are scanned in order of creation. Systems/sites with no quick key are scanned last and in order of creation (including created 'Quick Save' systems).
Groups within the systems/sites are scanned with the same rules.
Conventional channels within the groups are scanned in order of creation.

IDs are not really scanned. The scanner checks for any activity in the trunking system and if any ID becomes active, the scanner will display it in 'ID Search' mode. In 'ID Scan' mode, the scanner will only display IDs programmed in to groups.

Then the scanner starts any (unlocked/enabled) service searches, searching them in the menu order. Then any (unlocked/enabled) custom searches from 1 to 10 in turn.

Then the scanner scans the system called 'Close Call'. This system is created if you do a Close Call 'Auto Store'. If the 'Close Call' system has no frequencies, the scanner does not scan the system.
Then the scanner scans the 'Close Call Hits' system (if you have unlocked it; locked out by default). This is a system that automatically stores the frequencies found by Close Call. If the 'Close Call Hits' system has no frequencies, the scanner does not scan the system.

Then the scanner starts all over.

Press Scan/Srch. The scanner scans a system for the duration you set using the 'system hold time' option. For trunked systems, the scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, the current transmission ends, and the channel delay expires. Conventional systems operate similarly, but all (unlocked) channels are scanned at least one time regardless of the hold time setting.

Notes: If no systems are programmed, or all systems (or groups in a system) are locked out or turned off, 'Nothing to Scan' appears. Turn on a system/site quick key or unlock a system/site to scan. If you turn off all groups in a system you will not be able to turn any back on and also see 'Nothing to Scan'. This is a bug that frustrates everybody. In that case, while in Scan mode, press and hold Func (●) to lock function mode. Scroll to the system then press the number of the group quick key(s) you want to enable. Press ● to start scanning then press ● again to unlock function mode.

Any conventional system, Close Call system, Hits with Scan, trunked site, group, service search, custom search, or 'Quick Save' system/group not assigned to a quick key (and/or not locked out) will be scanned.

To continue scanning (move on to the next channel) press Scan/Srch or turn the scroll control (●).

To change the scan or search direction turn the scroll control backward or forward.

To toggle between display modes 1 or 2 Hold on any channel/frequency and press ● then 0. Press Hold to resume.

To toggle between ID Scan or ID Search mode while scanning each trunked system, press ● then Scan/Srch.

To toggle System/Site/Search Quick Keys on or off for a single digit system/site/search, press the number key assigned to the system/site/search.
To turn a double-digit system/site/search on or off, Press (.)No first then enter the 2 digits.

To toggle Group Quick Keys on or off while scanning the system, quickly press ● then the press the number key assigned to the group.

To toggle Group Quick Keys on or off in another system press and hold ● to 'lock' Function mode. Scroll to the (enabled) system that contains the (enabled) group you want to turn on/off then press the corresponding number key(s). Press ● twice to 'unlock' Function mode and resume.

To scan Police frequencies for your state press POL until PL appears in the display.

To scan DOT frequencies for your state press POL until DT appears in the display.

To scan Highway Patrol frequencies for your state press HP until HP appears in the display.

To activate the Bear Tracker Warning System press HP until BT appears in the display.

To hold on a frequency/ID press Hold. To step through IDs/frequencies, turn the scroll control backward or forward. Press Hold to resume.

To hold on any specific frequency Hold on any channel in a conventional system. Enter the new frequency and press Hold. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To hold on a specific ID in the current site Hold on the site. Enter the new ID (press .. [2 dots] for a dash-EDACS AFS) and press Hold. Press Hold to resume.

To hold on a system/site/search press and hold ● to 'lock' Function mode. Press ● to 'unlock' Function mode to resume.

To edit the current channel press E/Yes.

To lock out a channel or frequency quickly press L/O once while the channel or frequency is in the display to temporary lock out. Quickly press L/O twice lock out.

To lock or unlock a group see Locking/Unlocking Groups.

To lock out a conventional system/trunked site/search while receiving the system/site/search quickly press ● then L/O once to temporary lock out. Quickly press L/O twice lock out.

To store a displayed ID during ID Search mode press E/yes. Then see Storing a Displayed ID.

To store a (blinking) CTCSS or DCS tone for a conventional channel press E/●. At 'Set Found CTCSS/DCS?' press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to resume.

To store a search frequency press E/yes. Then see Storing a Displayed Frequency.

To toggle the attenuation for a conventional channel on or off Hold on the channel and press ● then 7(Att). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle the attenuation for a trunking site on or off Hold on the site and press ● then 7(Att). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle the attenuation for a search on or off press ● then 7(att) while searching. (Or hold first).

	To toggle global attenuation press ● then press and hold 7(Att).
	To check for a repeater frequency on a conventional channel Hold on the channel. Press ● then press and hold 8(Rev). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle Alert Plus on or off Hold on any channel and press ● then press 9(Alert).

To toggle Alert Mute on or off temporary: press Vol; permanent: press and hold Vol. To turn off; press Vol again.

To view active IDs in a trunked site press Hold while scanning the site you want to monitor. Scroll to the (noisy) control channel. Active IDs will appear in the display. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To view the Trunking Activity Indicators press Hold while scanning the site you want to monitor. Press ● then (.)No. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

Note: For Motorola systems you must program all system frequencies (control and voice frequencies) for this feature to work.

To toggle Priority Modes Hold on any channel and press ● then 1(Pri). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle Weather Alert Priority on or off Hold on any channel and press ● then 2(WX). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle Close Call Modes Hold on any channel and press ● then 3(

). Press Hold to resume.

To view a Close Call hit (CC Override On) press any key to view the frequency (even if it's gone).

To view and listen to a Close Call hit (CC Override Off) press E/● to listen to and view the frequency (only if it's still there).

To unlock a conventional channel see Locking/Unlocking Channels.

To unlock and/or review locked out IDs see Reviewing Locked out IDs.

To unlock all IDs see Clear All L/O IDs.

To unlock a conventional system/trunked site/search press and hold ● to 'lock' function mode then scroll to the system/site/search and press L/O to unlock and search/scan.
Press ● twice to 'unlock' Function mode and resume. See also Locking/Unlocking Systems/Sites/Searches.

To unlock search frequencies press ● then L/O while searching. Scroll to the frequency and press E/yes to unlock.

To start Close Call Only Hold on any channel. Press ● then press and hold 3(

). Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To start Weather Scan Hold on any channel. Press ● then press and hold 2(WX). Press Hold to resume.

To view GPS Display Mode press GPS. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To start Tone-Out Standby press ● then SQ. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

Storing a Displayed ID (in ID Search Mode)

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To store a displayed ID into an existing group during ID Search, press E/yes.
You will see 'Quick TGID Save?' in the display then press (.)No.
At the 'Select Group' prompt, scroll to the group where you want to store the ID and press E/●.
After storing the ID, you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel.
If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press Scan/Srch to return to scanning.

To store a displayed ID into a 'Quick Save Group' during ID Search, press E/yes.
You will see 'Quick TGID Save?' in the display then press E/● again.
The scanner stores the ID into a (created) channel group called 'Qck Save Grp' and you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel.
If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press Scan/Srch to return to scanning.

Note: If the ID is already stored in the group, 'TGID Exists' Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return to searching (or search hold) or E/● to go to the 'Edit Channel' menu.

Alert Plus/Alert Mute

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Alert Plus lets you listen to alerts only from the Bear Tracker Warning System, channels in Bear Tracker systems/sites or Close Call, Weather (WX), and GPS alerts. The red Alert LED will light to warn of Priority Channel, or Bear Tracker activity. It will also light in conjunction with GPS settings. The blue Close Call LED lights in response to Close Call hits.

With Alert Mute you can disable alerts from Bear Tracker priority channels, Emergency Alert (for a Motorola ID), Close Call, Tone-Out, and GPS.

To Toggle Alert Plus On or Off press Hold to hold on any channel.

Press ● then 9(Alert).

To Turn Alert Mute On or Off:

Temporary: Press Vol(MUTE). A

will appear and flash in the display. This mutes the alert action for about 3 minutes.
Continuous: Press and hold Vol(MUTE). A

will appear in the display. To turn off: press Vol(MUTE) again.

Locking/Unlocking Systems/Sites/Searches

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With the advent of Multi-site trunking, you can no longer lockout a trunking system. You have to lockout the site assigned to the system. You can still lockout conventional systems and searches the same way. Also, with the ability now to assign quick keys the searches you can turn them off and on or lockout/unlock them just like conventional systems and trunked sites.

Remember, unlocking or locking out a system/site/search is not the same thing as enabling/disabling it (turning the quick key on or off).

To Lock out a Conventional System/Trunked Site/Search in Scan Mode Hold on any channel/frequency in the system/site/search, press ● then L/O to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You have to be quick to get 'Lockout'). Press Hold to resume.

Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the site/system/search will be unlocked.

Or, use Menu to drill down to the system/site/search options and lock it out there. See 'Edit Conventional System Options', 'Edit Site Options', 'Edit Service Search', or 'Edit Custom Search'.

To Unlock a Conventional System/Trunked Site/Search in Scan Mode press and hold ● to 'lock' function mode.
Rotate the scroll control until the system/site/search you want to unlock appears.
Press L/O (each time) to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You have to be quick to get 'Lockout'). Press Scan/Srch to return.

Note: You will see 'Nothing to Scan' if the quick key is not turned on for the system/site/search (if one is assigned). Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning.

Or, use Menu to drill down to the system/site/search options and unlock it there. See 'Edit Conventional System Options', 'Edit Site Options', 'Edit Service Search', or 'Edit Custom Search'.

To Unlock All Conventional Systems, Trunked Sites, Groups, Channels, and Searches in scan mode press ● then press and hold L/O until 'Unlock All Systems?' appears. Press E/●.

Locking/Unlocking Groups

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Remember, unlocking or locking out a group is not the same thing as enabling/disabling it (turning the quick key on or off).

To Lock out or Unlock a Group in Scan Mode press and hold ● to 'lock' function mode.
Rotate the scroll control until the system that has the group you want to lock or unlock appears. Press Menu.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group you want to lock or unlock and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/●.
Press Scan/Srch or L/O to exit.

Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the group will be unlocked.

Or, use Menu to drill down to the group options and lock/unlock it there. See 'Edit Group Options'.

Locking/Unlocking Channels

Contents

There are several ways to get to a channel. Some ways are quicker than others. Some ways you have to be quick with those keys, other ways you can take your time pressing them. Use what works best for you.

To Lock out a Channel while Scanning quickly press L/O when the channel appears in the display to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You have to be quick to get 'Lockout').

Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the channel will be unlocked.

Or, quickly press Hold to hold on the channel. Press L/O to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You still have to be quick to get 'Lockout').

Or, quickly press E/● to go to the menu for that channel. (Press .(No) to cancel storing a tone code if asked).
Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●. Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/●.

Or, use Menu to drill down to the channel options and lock it out there. See 'Edit Channel Options'.

To Unlock a Single Channel in Scan Mode press Hold to hold on any channel.
Press ● and quickly (within 3 seconds) scroll to the system that has the channel you want to unlock then quickly (within 3 seconds) press E/●.
Scroll to the channel you want to unlock and press L/O until 'Unlocked' is displayed.

Or, use Menu to drill down to the channel options and unlock it there. See 'Edit Channel Options'.

To Unlock All Channels in a Conventional System in Scan Mode press Hold to hold on any channel in the system.
Press and hold L/O until 'All Unlocked' appears.
Press Hold or Scan/Srch to resume scanning. Note: This will also enable all your groups (turn the quick keys on).

To Review and/or Unlock Locked out IDs in a System:
Press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/●.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that has the ID(s) you want to unlock and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Rvw ID:Srch L/O' and press E/●.
At 'Unlock?' scroll to the ID and press E/● to unlock.
'Nothing Locked' appears if nothing is locked out.
Press 'Menu' to return.
To Unlock All IDs in a System Scroll to 'Clr All L/O IDs' and press E/●.
At 'Confirm?' press E/● to save and exit.

Search/Close Call Options Menu

These are the settings you should look at before you perform a quick search, close call search, search and store, or close call auto store.

To Edit Search and Close Options press Menu. Scroll to 'Srch/CloCall Opt' and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Freq Lockouts	Max Auto Store	Set Data Skip
Broadcast Screen	Set Delay Time	Set Step
CTCSS/DCS Search	Set Modulation	Set Record
Repeater Find	Set Attenuator

Contents

Freq Lockouts allows you to review locked out frequencies or unlock all frequencies for Searching and Close Call search.

Unlocking All Frequencies:

Scroll to 'Freq Lockouts' press E/●.
At 'Unlock All' press E/●.
At 'Confirm?' press E/● to save and exit.
Press Menu to return.

Note: You can also do this in search mode by pressing ● then pressing and holding L/O.

Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies: A 'T' will appear to the right of a frequency if it is temporarily locked out.

Scroll to 'Rvw Search L/O' and press E/●. If no frequencies are locked out, you will see 'Nothing Locked'.
Scroll to the frequency (or press (.)No to go to the next) and press E/● to unlock.
Press Menu twice to return.

Note: You can also do this in search mode by pressing ● then L/O.

Broadcast Screen these settings determine whether the scanner automatically ignores transmissions that are on common broadcasts, paging systems, and other annoyance radio sources during Custom Search, Service Search, or Close Call Search. Note: Broadcast screen is not effective during some service searches.

Scroll to 'Broadcast Screen' and press E/●.
Scroll to 1 of 4 options and press E/●.
Set All Bands On - turns on broadcast screen on for all bands. Press Menu to return.
Set All Bands Off - turns off broadcast screen off for all bands. Press Menu to return.
Set Each Band - then scroll to each band and press E/● to turn off or on. Press Menu to return.

Pager - the scanner skips known paging system frequencies.
FM - the scanner skips known FM frequencies.
UHF TV - the scanner skips known UHF TV frequencies.

VHF TV - the scanner skips known VHF TV frequencies.
NOAA WX - the scanner skips known NOAA weather frequencies.
Band 1-10 - the scanner skips known frequencies for custom broadcast ranges.

Program Band - then scroll to the custom band (1-10) and press E/●.

At 'Set Lower Limit' enter the lower limit of the frequency range and press E/●.
At 'Set Upper Limit' enter the upper limit of the frequency range and press E/●.
Scroll to the next band and repeat. Press Menu twice to return.

CTCSS/DCS Search this setting controls whether the scanner will search for a subaudible tone when it stops on a transmission during Searching and Close Call search. The default setting is Off.

Scroll to 'CTCSS/DCS Search' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Repeater Find this feature sets whether the scanner tries to tune to a repeater output frequency when it detects a transmission on a repeater input frequency in Search and Close Call modes. Since you can normally only hear one side of a conversation when you listen to an input frequency transmission, turning this feature on can let you hear both sides of the conversation on the output frequency. If the scanner detects the transmission on the output frequency, it beeps and 'Repeater Found' appears, and it remains on the output frequency until transmissions end. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Repeater Find' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Contents

Max Auto Store this value sets how many hits the scanner will automatically store when it is in either Search and Store or Close Call Auto Store mode. When the scanner reaches the maximum number of hits you set, it stops the auto-store operation.

Scroll to 'Max Auto Store' and press E/●.
Enter a value from 1-256 then press E/● to save and exit.

Set Delay Time this setting determines how long the scanner waits after a transmission ends before resuming Quick Search and Close Call Search operations. The default setting is 2 seconds.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/●.
Scroll to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (seconds) or Off then press E/● to save and exit.

Set Modulation this setting controls the modulation type used for Quick Search and Close Call Search operations.

Scroll to 'Set Modulation' and press E/●.
Scroll to Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM, or WFM (Broadcast) then press E/● to save and exit.

Set Attenuator this setting controls the attenuator for Quick Search and Close Call Search operations. Turn on this setting if you are near other strong signal sources to attenuate about 20dB. Attenuation sometimes helps to reduce interference and desensitization that strong signals create. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle attenuation for search/close call mode by pressing ● then 7(Att).

Set Data Skip this setting controls how the scanner behaves when it detects a data transmission during Quick Search and Close Call Search operations. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Data Skip' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: If you are trying to test the Close Call feature with a nearby transmitter and you do not talk into the transmitter, the scanner will detect this as data and will skip the frequency when Data Skip is on.

Set Step this setting selects the frequency step used for Quick Search. The default setting is Auto. See also Auto Step Sizes.

Scroll to 'Set Step' and press E/●.
Scroll to Auto, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, or 100 and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Record this setting enables the REC jack for Quick Search and Close Call modes. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Search For... Menu

Important! There are many options and setting in Search/Close Call Options that affect and compliment the settings for searching. Please review those first.
Note: The items below (in Blue) do not follow the radio's menu order because (IMHO) they should be in the following order to properly setup and use the Search features.

Edit Service Search	Set Search Key	Storing a Displayed Frequency
Service Search	Search and Store	Reviewing Locked out Frequencies
Edit Custom Search	Searching	Auto Step Size Chart

Custom Search

Quick Search

Contents

Editing a Service Search

To Edit a Service Search, press Menu. Scroll to 'Search for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Service' and press E/●.
Scroll to the service search you want to edit and press E/●.

Scroll to Set Delay Time and press E/●.
Scroll to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, seconds or Off and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Attenuator and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Record and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Search with Scan and press E/●.

Scroll to Set Quick Key and press E/●. (Used for 'Search with Scan' only).
Scroll to 0-99 or (.)No for no quick key and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Startup key and press E/●.
Scroll to 0-9 or (.)No for no startup key and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Lockout and press E/●. (Used for 'Search with Scan' only).
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Hold Time (the amount of time the search will search in Scan Mode) and press E/●.
Enter the hold time (0-255 seconds) you desire and press E/● to save and exit.
(0 will search the whole band before continuing)
Press Menu to exit.

Press Menu and scroll to another service search and repeat the previous steps or press L/O to exit.

Service Search lets you quickly select and search the scanner's preprogrammed frequencies. See Edit Service Search first.

To start a Service Search press Menu. Scroll to 'Search for...' and press E/●.
At 'Service Search' press E/●.
Scroll to: 'Public Safety', 'News', 'Ham Radio', 'Marine', 'Railroad', 'Air', 'CB Radio', 'FRS/GMRS', 'Racing', 'TV Broadcast', 'FM Broadcast', 'Military Air, or 'Special' (itinerant?) and press E/● to start searching.
Or, Hold on any channel/frequency and press ● then the number key (1-3) assigned to the search.
Then see Searching.

Editing a Custom Search allows you to edit the 10 custom search ranges. The default custom search range names appear as Custom 1, Custom 2, and so on.

To Edit a Custom Search, press Menu. Scroll to 'Search for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Edit Custom' and press E/●.
Scroll to the custom search you want to edit (1-10) and press E/●.

Scroll to Edit Name and press E/●. See Entering Text.

Scroll to Edit Srch Limit and press E/●.

At 'Set Lower Limit', enter the lower limit of the search range and press E/●.
At 'Set Upper Limit', enter the upper limit of the search range and press E/●.

Scroll to Set Delay Time and press E/●.
Scroll to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, seconds or Off to set delay and press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to Set Modulation and press E/●.
Scroll to Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM, or WFM (Broadcast) then press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to Set Attenuator and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off then press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to Set Data Skip and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off then press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to Set Step and press E/●. See also Auto Step Sizes.
Scroll to Auto, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, or 100 kHz then press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to Set C-Ch only and press E/●. (for Motorola and LTR systems).
Scroll to On or Off then press E/● to save and exit.
(If you find a Motorola control channel it will search for IDs in the system if you hold on the frequency).

Scroll to Set Record and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to Search with Scan and press E/●.

Scroll to Set Quick Key and press E/●. (Used for 'Search with Scan' only).
Scroll to 0-99 or . for no quick key and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Startup key and press E/●.
Scroll to 0-9 or . for no startup key and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Lockout and press E/●. (For use for with 'Search with Scan').
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to Set Hold Time (the amount of time the search will search in Scan Mode) and press E/●.
Enter the hold time (0-255 seconds) you desire and press E/● to save and exit. (0 will search the whole band before continuing).
Press Menu to exit.

Press Menu and scroll to another custom search and repeat the previous steps or press L/O to exit.

Custom Search lets you search the scanner's 10 programmed frequency ranges. See Editing a Custom Search first.

Contents

To start a Custom Search, press Menu. Scroll to 'Search for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Custom Search' and press E/● to start searching.
Or, Hold on any channel/frequency and press ● then the number key (1-3) assigned to the search.
Then see Searching.

Set Search Key

Lets you assign a search range to a 'Search Key'. You can assign any (1) of the service or custom searches to the three search keys for quick access to your favorite searches.

To program a Search Key, press Menu. Scroll to 'Search for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Set Search Key' and press E/●.
At 'Select Key No.' scroll to 'Search Key 1-3' and press E/●.
Scroll to any service search, custom search, 'Tone-Out', or 'Band Scope' and press E/●.
Repeat for any other search keys you want to program. Press L/O to exit.

The default settings for the BCT-15 are:
SRCH 1: Custom 1
SRCH 2: Public Safety
SRCH 3: Railroad

Search and Store

Lets you search and store frequencies from enabled custom search ranges or a service search range into a conventional system, or new talk group IDs into a trunked system. To store frequencies or talk group IDs you find during Search and Store, you must first select a system where the frequencies or talk group IDs will be stored. You will not hear any audio in this mode.
See Max Auto Store first to set the maximum number of hits the scanner will store. Tip: Before you start Search and Store, run the custom search(es) or service search first to lock out the birdies, data, noise, etc. This will prevent the scanner from stopping on them and doing a memory check each time it passes.

To Auto Store Conventional Frequencies, press Menu. Scroll to 'Search for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Search and Store' and press E/●.
At 'Select Store Sys' scroll to the conventional system you want to store the frequencies in and press E/●.
At 'Select Range' scroll to the 'service search' or to 'custom search' to select where to search from and press E/●.

Notes: The quick key for the system must be turned on (if one is assigned to the system) and not locked out to select the system to store frequencies in otherwise you will see 'Nothing to Scan'. If no systems are programmed 'No System Stored' appears.

When you have selected a service search or custom search range(s), the scanner looks for active frequencies within the range(s) and 'Search and Store' appears on the display's lower line and the system name and search range name(s) appear on the display's upper line. When the scanner finds an active transmission, it checks to see if the frequency has already been stored in the system ('Memory Check' in the display). If the frequency has already been stored, the scanner continues to search. If the frequency has not been stored, it stores the frequency into a (created) group named 'Found Channels', then resumes searching. 'Limit Reached' will appear in the display when the Max Auto Store value is reached.

To Auto Store IDs, press Menu. Scroll to 'Search for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Search and Store' and press E/●.
At 'Select Store Sys' scroll to the trunked system you want to store the IDs in and press E/●.
At 'Select Site' scroll to the site you want to store the IDs in and press E/●.

Notes: The quick key for the system must be turned on (if one is assigned to the site) and not locked out to select the system to store IDs in otherwise you will see 'Nothing to Scan'. If no systems are programmed, 'No System Stored' appears. Search and Store does not work if an EDACS SCAT system is selected.

'ID Search and Store' appears on the display's lower line and the system name appears on the display's upper line. When the scanner finds an active transmission, it checks to see if the ID has already been stored in the system ('Memory Check' in the display). If the ID has already been stored, the scanner continues to search. If the ID has not been stored, it stores the ID into a (created) group named 'Found Channels', then resumes searching. 'Limit Reached' will appear in the display when the Max Auto Store value is reached.

Contents

Quick Search lets you search from the currently-tuned frequency if you are scanning, or enter a frequency to start searching from.
Quick Search will search all the way up to 1300 MHz or all the way down to 25 MHz then start over.

To start searching at the current frequency in scan mode quickly press Hold to hold on the frequency. Press ● then Scan/Srch.
At 'Quick Search?' press E/●. Then see Searching.
Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To start searching at a specific frequency while scanning or searching, press Hold to hold on any channel or frequency.
Enter the new frequency you wish to start at then press Hold to set the new starting frequency.
Press Hold again to release hold mode and start searching. Then see Searching.
Press Scan/Srch to exit.

Searching (only, not Search with Scan)

To start a search see Quick Search, Service Search, or Custom Search.

To toggle search bands on or off for custom searches, press the number key of the custom search.

To access (1) search using the programmed search keys, press ● then the search key 4(srch 1), 5(srch 2), or 6(srch 3) to search the band.

To change search direction or continue searching, turn the scroll control back or forward.

To hold on a frequency, press Hold. Press Hold to resume.

To step through the frequencies, turn the scroll control. Press Hold to resume.

To store a frequency, press Hold to hold on the frequency. Then see Storing a Displayed Frequency.

To lock out a frequency, press L/O then E/● to confirm.

To turn the attenuator on or off for each custom or service search press ● then press 7(att). (Press and hold 7(Att) for global attenuation).

To check for a repeater frequency, press Hold to hold on the frequency. Press ● then press and hold 8(Rev). Press Hold to resume.

To turn Alert Plus on or off, press Hold to hold on any channel then press ● then press 9(Alert). Press Hold to resume.

To turn Alert Mute on or off, temporary: press Vol; permanent: press and hold Vol. To turn off; press Vol again.

To toggle Close Call modes, press Hold to hold on any channel then press ● and 3(

). Press Hold to resume.

To review and unlock search frequencies press ● then L/O.

To unlock all frequencies of all search/close call ranges Hold on any search and press and hold L/O.

Storing a Displayed Frequency Note: If a GPS unit is attached, the longitude and latitude data is saved and becomes the name of that channel. For example, if the position is 32°57’33.60 N latitude and 97°05’34.18 W longitude, the name saved is 3257.33-09705.34.

To store a displayed frequency into an existing group, quickly press E/yes.
At 'Quick Freq Save?' press (.)No.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to store the frequency and press E/●.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group where you want to store the frequency and press E/●.
After storing the frequency, you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel.
If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to searching.

To store a displayed frequency into a 'Quick Save Group' in a 'Quick Save System', quickly press E/yes.
At 'Quick Freq Save?' press E/●.
The scanner will save the frequency into a (created) group called 'Qck Save Grp' in a (created) system called 'Qck Save Cnv Sys' (with no quick key assigned) and you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. Then see Edit Group Options and Edit Conventional Systems Options to customize the group and system.
If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to searching.

Note: If the frequency is already stored in the group, 'Frequency Exists' Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return to searching (or search hold) or E/● to go to the 'Edit Channel' menu.

Close Call Menu

Your scanner's Close Call feature lets you set the scanner so it detects, alerts you to, and displays the frequency of a nearby strong radio transmission. The blue LED lights in response to Close Call hits. You can set the scanner so the Close Call feature checks for a Close Call hit every 2 seconds in the background while you are scanning or searching or use Close Call only mode. 'Close Call Do-Not-Disturb' will only check for close call signals when you are not receiving transmissions. You can also set the frequency band(s) where you want the scanner to look for transmissions. When the scanner detects a Close Call hit, it alerts you according to the Override and Alert settings. You can also set the scanner to Auto Store Close Call hits.

'Hits with Scan' is a special system that automatically stores the last 10 Close Call hits until you cycle power. The system 'Close Call' is created when you run a Close Call Auto Store.

The Close Call feature works well for locating the source of strong local transmissions such as mobile and handheld two-way radios in areas with no other strong transmission sources. Several factors affect Close Call performance. Performance is increased with higher transmit power, receive antenna tuned to the target band, and a low background RF level. Other than the antenna, you have no control over these factors, but they explain why performance might vary by both location and time. The Close Call feature works better with some types of transmissions than others. It might not correctly display frequency information for transmitters using a highly directional antenna (such as an amateur radio beam antenna) or if there are many transmitters operating at the same time in the same area.

To Edit Close Call Options press Menu. Scroll to 'Close Call' and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Important! There are many options and settings in Search/Close Call Options that affect and compliment the settings for Close Call. Please review those first.
Note: The items below (in Blue) do not follow the radio's menu order because (IMHO) they should be in the following order to properly setup and use the Close Call features.

Set CC Bands	Set CC Override	Close Call Only	Using Close Call Modes
Set CC Alert	Set CC Mode	CC Auto Store	Managing Close Call Hits
			Hits with Scan

Contents

Set CC Bands lets you select the Close Call bands to be searched or auto stored.

Scroll to 'Set CC Bands' and press E/●.
Scroll to each band and press E/● to toggle on or off.
Press Menu to return.

	VHF Low 1- 25-54MHz	VHF High 2- 225-320 MHz
	VHF Low 2- 54-108 MHz	UHF- 320-512 MHz
	Air Band- 108-137 MHz	800MHz+- 764-956, 1240-1300 MHz
	VHF High 1- 137-225 MHz

Set CC Alert/Beep/Pause lets you select how the scanner alerts you when it receives a Close Call signal. Pause lets you select how long the scanner waits after a hit before it returns to the previous operation.

Scroll to 'Set CC Alert' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Select Beep' and press E/●.

At 'Set Tone' scroll to:
Off- the scanner will not alert. Press E/● to save and exit.
Alert 1-9- to choose any of 9 different tones and press E/●.

At 'Set Level' scroll to:
Auto- the scanner automatically sets the alert to the master volume level. Press E/● to save and exit.
Level 1-15- scroll to the volume level preferred. Press E/● to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set CC Pause' and press E/●.
Scroll to the number of seconds (3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, secs. or Infinite) you want the scanner to pause on the CC hit and press E/●.

Press Menu to return.

Set CC Override lets you select how the Close Call feature works while scanning or searching. This setting has no effect in 'Close Call Only' mode.

Scroll to 'Set CC Override' press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

With this feature On, when the scanner detects a Close Call signal while scanning, the scanner overrides the current audio with the Close Call hit.
'CC Found!' and 'Press Any Key' appear for the length of time set in Close Call Pause (or until the signal is lost if longer).

With this feature Off, when the scanner detects a Close Call signal while scanning, the scanner does not override the current audio.
'CC Found!' and 'Press Func Key' appear for the length of time set in Close Call Pause. (only if it's still there).

Set Close Call Mode selects the Close Call mode when scanning or searching. You can also do this by pressing ● then 3 (each time) while scanning or searching.

Scroll to 'Set CC Mode' and press E/●.
Scroll to 1 of 3 modes and press E/● to save and exit.
Off- Close Call is turned off.
CC DND- Close Call checks for frequencies every two seconds between transmissions.
Pri- Close Call checks for frequencies every two seconds.

Close Call Only this setting puts the scanner in Close Call Only mode. The scanner will not scan or search. You can also do this by pressing Hold to hold on any channel and press ● then press and hold 3(

). Press Scan/Srch to exit.

At 'Close Call Only' press E/●.
Press Scan/Srch to exit.

Close Call Auto Store

Allows you to automatically store Close Call hits into channels. If you turn this feature on, the scanner mutes, starts Close Call Only mode, and stores any Close Call hits from the bands selected in 'Set CC Bands' up to the maximum you specified in the 'Max Auto Store' setting. The scanner looks for active frequencies within the band(s) and 'Search and Store' appears in the display. When the scanner finds an active transmission, it checks to see if the frequency has already been stored. If the frequency has not been stored, it stores the frequency into a (created) system called 'Close Call' and a (created) group named 'Found Channels' then resumes searching. If the frequency has already been stored, the scanner continues to search. This new system and group have the same options as any conventional system/group and can be edited the same way.
See also Broadcast Screen.

Scroll to 'CC Auto Store' and press E/●.
'Limit Reached' will appear in the display when the 'Max Auto Store' value is reached.
Press Scan/Srch to exit.

Using Close Call Modes
To Start Close Call Only Mode, Hold on any channel/frequency and press ● then press and hold 3(

).
To Use Close Call while Scanning or Searching, Hold on any channel/frequency and press ● then 3(

) to toggle Close Call Priority, Close Call DND, or Off.

Managing Close Call Hits

Contents

In Close Call Only Mode:

When the scanner detects a Close Call signal, 'CC Found!' and 'Press Any Key' appear for the length of time set in Close Call Pause (or until the signal is lost if longer).
Press any key (except Hold) to display the frequency for the delay time set in Search/Close Call Options (even if it's gone).

To hold on a CC hit press Hold. Press Hold again to resume. See Close Call Hold Mode.

To store a frequency press 'Any key' then E/yes then see Storing a Displayed Frequency.

To cancel a CC hit turn the scroll control.

To toggle the lock out status of a frequency press L/O.

	To view the last CC hit press Hold. Press Hold again to resume.
	To turn the attenuation on or off (for all bands) press ● then 7(Att) to toggle on or off.
	To exit CC only press Scan.

While Scanning or Searching with Close Call Override set to On, when the scanner detects a Close Call signal, the scanner overrides the current audio and goes to the Close Call hit.
'CC Found!' and 'Press Any Key' appear for the length of time set in Close Call Pause (or until the signal is lost if longer). If you do not press 'Any Key', the scanner will return to scanning after 'pause' times out.
Press any key (except Hold) to listen to and display the frequency for the delay time set in Search/Close Call Options (even if it's gone).
Quickly press Hold to stay on the frequency. Press Hold again to resume.

While Scanning or Searching with Close Call Override set to Off, when the scanner detects a Close Call signal, the scanner does not override the current audio.
'CC Found!' and 'Press Func Key' appear for the length of time set in Close Call Pause. If you do not press 'Func', the scanner will return to scanning after 'pause' times out.
Press ● to listen to and display the frequency for the delay time set in Search/Close Call Options (only if it's still there).
Quickly press Hold to stay on the frequency. Press Hold again to resume.

While in Hold Mode:

	To store a frequency press E/yes then see Storing a Displayed Frequency.
	To toggle the lock out status of a frequency press L/O.
	To start a 'Quick Search' at the current frequency turn the scroll control then press Hold.
	To check for a repeater frequency press ● then press and hold 8(Rev).

	To turn Alert Plus on or off press ● then press 9(Alert). To turn off, toggle hold mode
	To turn Alert Mute on or off (temporary) press Vol; (permanent) press and hold Vol. To turn off; press Vol again.

Hits with Scan

Contents

This is a special system that automatically stores the last 10 close call hits and allows you to scan them. Accessible only in the 'Close Call' menu, the system has to be unlocked to view while scanning (default is 'locked out'). The scanner deletes the frequencies in this system when you turn the power off. If you want to save the any of these frequencies permanently, you need to store them using Storing a Displayed Frequency when scanning this system.

Press Menu. Scroll to 'Close Call' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Hits with Scan' and press E/●.
Scroll to the options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Scroll to 'Set Quick Key' and press E/●.
Scroll to the quick key number (0-99 or . for no quick key) you want assigned to the system and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit quick key will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc. then scroll to second digit.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to 'Set Hold Time' and press E/●.
Enter the hold time (0-255 seconds) you desire and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: If you want to store any of the hits, set a hold time long enough to get to the E/yes button when the frequency appears in the display.

Weather Operation Menu

Your scanner allows you to search for a local NOAA weather broadcast and set it to alert when a SAME weather alert is broadcast on a NOAA weather channel. You can also program FIPS codes into the scanner and use weather alert priority that will check the weather channel every 5 seconds for a weather alert signal. For a table of all the alerts and the code meanings, click here.

To Edit Weather Options press Menu. Scroll to 'WX Operation' and press E/●.
Scroll to the settings and options below and press E/●. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Note: The items below do not follow the radio's menu order because (IMHO) they should be in the following order to properly setup and use the weather operation features.

Weather Scan	Program SAME	Set Attenuator	Weather Alert
Weather Alert Priority	Set Delay Time	Set Record

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Weather Scan The scanner starts scanning the preprogrammed weather frequencies and stops on the first good signal. If the signal is lost, the scanner resumes searching for another weather transmission.
Note: You can also turn on weather scan by holding on any channel/frequency and pressing ● then pressing and holding 2(Wx).

Scroll to 'Weather Scan' press E/●.
Press Scan to exit.

In Weather Scan Mode:

To search for another weather channel turn the scroll control.

To turn the attenuation on or off press ● then 7(Att).

To go to the Weather Menu in any weather mode press ● then Menu.

To store a frequency press E/yes then see Storing a Displayed Frequency.

Weather Alert Priority Turning the weather alert priority feature on allows the scanner to check the weather channels every 5 seconds for a 1050 Hz weather alert signal and still scan or search. If you should receive an alert, you will hear a loud warbling then the weather channel audio. You will see WX in the display when Weather Alert Priority is on. Warning! If you receive an alert it will be at FULL volume.
Note: You can also turn on weather alert priority by holding on any channel/frequency and pressing ● then 2(Wx).

Scroll to 'WX Alt Priority' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Programming SAME Groups SAME (Specific Area Messaging System) is a system developed by the National Weather Service to reduce the number of alerts received by consumers by allowing them to hear alerts only for the county(ies) they are interested in. Each alert contains information about the type and severity of the alert, as well as the specific geographic locations affected by the alert. In addition, certain special regions and wildcard settings can be assigned. Your scanner can receive all SAME alert signals broadcast within about a 50-mile radius of where you installed it.

To receive SAME alerts and broadcasts about weather occurring only in particular counties within that area, you can program up to 5 (tagable) groups of 8 FIPS codes (40 codes) into the scanners memory. This lets you avoid hearing an alert that applies to an area within a 50-mile radius but not necessarily to your county or parish.

For the purpose of broadcasting weather information, the NWS has divided the United States into regions by state and county (or parish, where applicable) then assigned a 6-digit FIPS code to identify each county or parish. For example, the code for Tarrant County, Texas, is 048439. The first digit in a FIPS code identifies the county subdivision, the next two digits identify the state, and the last three digits identify the county or parish. Most FIPS codes begin with 0, which means the code represents an entire county. The NWS, however, plans to eventually subdivide some large counties. When that happens, each subdivision will be assigned a digit from 1-9, resulting in codes such as 148439, 248439, and so on.

To obtain the FIPS code for the location where you installed your scanner call the NWS toll free at 1-888-697-7263 (follow the instructions you hear) or see FIP codes for the United States and its Possessions.

FIPS codes are in the format nSSCCC:

n: A special subcounty designator. For an entire county, use 0.
SS: The state code.
CCC: The county code.

Scroll to 'Program SAME' and press E/●.
At 'Select SAME' scroll to the SAME group (1-5) and press E/●.
At 'Edit Name' see Entering Text to edit the name otherwise scroll to 'Edit County' and press E/●.
At 'Select Code No' scroll to the spot for the code# (1-8) and press E/●.
At 'Edit FIPS Code' enter the FIPS code and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to the next spot for the next code and repeat
Press Menu twice to return and select a different SAME group.
Press Menu to save and exit.

Set Delay Time Sets the number of seconds the scanner should wait after a transmission stops before moving on to the next channel during weather scan. The default setting is 2 seconds.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/●.
Scroll to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (seconds) or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Set Attenuator Sets the attenuator for weather operation. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle attenuation for weather scan by pressing ● then 7(Att).

Set Record Enables the REC jack for weather channels and alerts. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/●.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Weather Alert This setting turns on weather alert and determines which types of signals will trigger an alert. The scanner will mute and scan only the weather channels.
Warning! If you receive an alert it will be at FULL volume.

Scroll to 'Weather Alert' and press E/●. Scroll to 1 of 7 options and press E/●.

Alert Only - the scanner immediately sounds a weather alert siren when it detects the 1050 Hz weather alert tone, then opens the squelch and remains on the weather channel.

SAME group 1-5 - the scanner sounds a weather alert siren for the programmed county, then opens the squelch and remains on the weather channel.

All FIPS - the scanner sounds a weather alert siren for any programmed county, then opens the squelch and remains on the weather channel.

Using Fire Tone-Out

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With the tone out feature, the scanner monitors up to 10 different channels for paging tones (two-tone sequential, single tone, and group tone).
See also Hardware: Tone-Out at WPA Scanner.

Setting up Tone-Out

Press Menu. Scroll to 'Tone-Out for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Tone-Out Setup' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Tone-Out 1' and press E/●.
At 'Edit Name' press E/●. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Set Frequency' press E/●.

At 'Edit Frequency' press E/●. Enter the frequency to monitor for Tone-Out and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to 'Set Modulation' and press E/●. Scroll to Auto, FM, or NFM and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/●. Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.
Press Menu to return.

Scroll to 'Set Tone' and press E/●.

Notes: For two-tone pages, enter the tones (in Hz) for tone A and tone B.
For one-tone pages using short tones between 1.25 and 3.75 seconds, enter tone for tone A, and 0 for B.
For long-tone pages, such as group pages of more than 3.75 seconds, enter 0 for A and the tone for B.

Scroll to 'Edit Tone A' and press E/●. Enter the tone and press E/● to save and exit.
Scroll to 'Edit Tone B' and press E/●. Enter the tone and press E/● to save and exit.
Press Menu to return.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/●.

Scroll to one of 3 settings and press E/● to save and exit:
Off - the scanner resumes standby as soon as the carrier drops after a page.
1-30 - (seconds): the scanner resumes standby mode after the carrier drops and the selected time expires.
Infinite - you must press Hold after a page to resume standby mode.

Scroll to 'Set Alert' and press E/●.

At 'Set Tone' scroll to the alert (Alert 1-9 or Off) and press E/●.

At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/● to save and exit:

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/●.

Scroll to On or Off and press E/● to save and exit.

Press Menu to return then scroll to 'Tone-Out 2' and repeat to program more tones.
Press Menu to return.

Using Tone-Out Standby See Setting up Tone-Out first.

While scanning, press ● then 'SQ'.
Or, Press Menu. Scroll to 'Tone-Out for...' and press E/●.
Scroll to 'Tone-Out Standby' and press E/●.
Scroll to monitor a Tone-Out channel (1-10).
Press Scan to exit.

The display will show the Tone-Out name, channel number (1-10), and tone settings. Any transmission received on the frequency will not be heard but you will still see the signal strength bars.

All Tone-Outs (channels) that have the same frequency (and modulation and attenuation) as the one you select will also (and only) be monitored so you can monitor up to 10 Tone-Out channels for one frequency. In this case, the scanner displays each Tone-Out channel for two seconds. It does not scan them; Tone-Out monitors the frequency for all Tone-Out channels with the same frequency. Regardless of the current display, the scanner will alert on any received tone out that matches a stored setting (channel) for the frequency.

To monitor a different frequency, scroll to a Tone-Out (channel) with a different frequency.

If you press HOLD while in standby mode, the scanner temporarily exits standby and you will be able to hear any transmissions on that frequency. No alerts sound, even if a Tone-Out matches one you have stored in hold mode. Press HOLD again to return to standby mode.

Related Links/Info

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How to view these pages in your browsers I have formatted these pages so that you can view them with any monitor, in any browser (Opera, I.E., Foxfire, or Netscape), at any zoom level, and in any screen area size (ex: 1024x768 preferred)-small or large fonts. So if the print is too small, go to the 'view' menu in your browser and adjust it to a bigger level (or smaller if you want to see more on the screen).

Determining Type I Motorola Fleetmaps You can try a method I found at Radio Reference.com. Determining Type I Motorola Fleet Maps. By Dave Goodson.

Determining Motorola VHF/UHF Base and Offset Frequencies I have found an explanation at Radio Reference.com that describes how to do this if you don't have the information. The Trunked Radio Systems User’s Page also has an explanation. Look for 'Determining Base and Offset Frequencies for the BC245xlt' by John C.

Finding EDACS LCN order EDACS frequencies have to be programmed in LCN (Logical Channel Number) order. I have found a procedure at the Trunked Radio Systems User’s Page which explains how to find the LCN order for an EDACS system if you don't know the order. Look for 'Finding EDACS Logical Channel Numbers' by Todd Hartzel near the bottom of the page.

Finding LTR LCN order LTR frequencies have to be programmed into certain channel slots for the system to trunktrack properly. Radio Reference has a good webpage here: Mapping LTR Systems.

Decimal/AFS Conversion Chart Here is a Conversion Chart to help convert your IDs.

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Links

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Click here to visit Scanner Master

Preset Fleetmaps

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There are 16 preset fleet maps programmed into your scanner to choose from. In Motorola II systems, all the blocks have size code 0. In Type I systems, size codes are used in different blocks to denote the maximum number of users in that block. Notice that size code 12 uses 2 blocks. A Motorola Hybrid system (Type IIi) has 'blocks' of the system that are Type I Fleets/Subfleets and Type II talk groups.
The maps that are Hybrid systems are in bold.

Preset Map 1		Preset Map 2		Preset Map 3		Preset Map 4		Preset Map 5		Preset Map 6		Preset Map 7		Preset Map 8
Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code
0	S-11	0	S-4	0	S-4	0	S-12	0	S-4	0	S-3	0	S-10	0	S-1
1	S-11	1	S-4	1	S-4	1	(S-12)	1	S-4	1	S-4	1	S-10	1	S-1
2	S-11	2	S-4	2	S-4	2	S-4	2	S-12	2	S-4	2	S-11	2	S-2
3	S-11	3	S-4	3	S-4	3	S-4	3	(S-12)	3	S-4	3	S-4	3	S-2
4	S-11	4	S-4	4	S-4	4	S-4	4	S-4	4	S-12	4	S-4	4	S-3
5	S-11	5	S-4	5	S-4	5	S-4	5	S-4	5	(S-12)	5	S-4	5	S-3
6	S-11	6	S-4	6	S-12	6	S-4	6	S-4	6	S-12	6	S-4	6	S-4
7	S-11	7	S-4	7	(S-12)	7	S-4	7	S-4	7	(S-12)	7	S-4	7	S-4

Preset Map 9		Preset Map 10		Preset Map 11		Preset Map 12		Preset Map 13		Preset Map 14		Preset Map 15		Preset Map 16
Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code	Block	Size Code
0	S-4	0	S-0	0	S-4	0	S-0	0	S-3	0	S-4	0	S-4	0	S-3
1	S-4	1	S-0	1	S-0	1	S-0	1	S-3	1	S-3	1	S-4	1	S-10
2	S-0	2	S-0	2	S-0	2	S-0	2	S-11	2	S-10	2	S-4	2	S-10
3	S-0	3	S-0	3	S-0	3	S-0	3	S-4	3	S-4	3	S-11	3	S-11
4	S-0	4	S-0	4	S-0	4	S-0	4	S-4	4	S-4	4	S-11	4	S-0
5	S-0	5	S-0	5	S-0	5	S-0	5	S-0	5	S-4	5	S-0	5	S-0
6	S-0	6	S-4	6	S-0	6	S-0	6	S-0	6	S-12	6	S-12	6	S-12
7	S-0	7	S-4	7	S-0	7	S-4	7	S-0	7	(S-12)	7	(S-12)	7	(S-12)

Size Code	Fleets	Sub Fleets	Number of Blocks	Number of Talkgroups per Block	Max IDs per Talkgroup	Max Radios per Block
S0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	512?
S1	128	4	1	512	16	16
S2	16	8	1	128	64	64
S3	8	8	1	64	128	128
S4	1	16	1	16	512	512
S5	64	4	1	256	32	32
S6	32	8	1	256	32	32
S7	32	4	1	128	64	64
S8	16	4	1	64	128	128
S9	8	4	1	32	256	256
S10	4	8	1	32	256	256
S11	2	16	1	32	256	256
S12	1	16	2	8	1024	512
S13	1	16	4	4	2048	512
S14	1	16	8	2	4096	512

You can tell which block a Motorola ID is in by its number.

Block	Lower ID#	Upper ID#
0	0000	8191
1	8192	16383
2	16384	24575
3	24576	32767
4	32768	40959
5	40960	49151
6	49152	57343
7	57344	65535

Thanks to Radio Reference.com for most of this information.

Type II Special Status Bits

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Type II Motorola Smartnet systems use these status bits for special transmissions such as emergency, patches, DES/DVP scrambled transmissions, and multiselects. Motorola trunking radios directly interpret them for their special functions, thus no difference is noticed by the person with the radio. The scanner however interpret these special talk group status bits as different talk groups entirely. Below is the conversion chart for these special status bits.

TT ID + # Usage	TT ID + # Usage
ID+0 Normal Talk group	ID+8 DES/DVP Encryption talk group
ID+1 All Talk group	ID+9 DES All Talk group
ID+2 Emergency	ID+10 DES Emergency
ID+3 Talk group patch to another	ID+11 DES Talk group patch
ID+4 Emergency Patch	ID+12 DES Emergency Patch
ID+5 Emergency multi-group	ID+13 DES Emergency multi-group
ID+6 unassigned	ID+14 unassigned
ID+7 Multi-select (initiated by dispatcher)	ID+15 Multi-select DES TG

Therefore, if a user was transmitting a multi-select call on talk group 1808, the scanner would actually receive those transmissions on 1815. Some common uses of these status bits are as follows:

When a user hits their emergency button, all conversations on the talk group revert to the emergency status talk group (ID+2) until the dispatch clears the emergency status. Therefore, if someone hit their emergency button and their radio was on talk group 16, all communications would switch to talk group 18.

-	A lot of Fire and EMS departments dispatch tone-outs and alarms as Multi-select communications (ID+7). Therefore, if your fire department dispatch talk group is 1616, and they do dispatch tone-outs and alarms as Multi-selects, then those communications will be on talk group 1623.

Thanks to the Radio Reference.com for this information.

Contents

Last updated
October 26, 2019

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