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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for Uniden BCT8
Summary of Contents for Uniden BCT8
- Page 2 Before you use this scanner, please observe the following: WARNING! Uniden America Corporation does not represent this unit to be waterproof. To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, or damage to the unit, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Mounting the Scanner in Your Vehicle ........ - Page 4 Trunk Tracking ..............29 Setting the Squelch .
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Page 5: Introduction
The BCT8 is a state-of-the-art Trunk Tracking Scanner with BearTracker technology which will alert you when the highway patrol is within approximately a 3 mile radius. It can store 250 frequencies such as police, fire/emergency, marine, railroad, air, amateur, and other communications into 5 banks of 50 channels for a total of 250 channels. -
Page 6: Front And Rear Views
21. Antenna Connector (ANT.) 22. External Speaker Jack (EXT. SP.) 6 7 8 9 10 STATE DELAY DATA SRCH BCT8 TRUNK 1415 10. Highway Scanning / State Key STATE) 11. Numeric Keypad 12. Up Key (L) 13. Down Key (M) 14. -
Page 7: Icon Display
12. Police scan mode (POL) 13. Weather scan mode (WX) 14. Fire and Emergency scan mode (FIRE/EMS) Uniden ® , BearTracker ® and Bearcat ® are registered trademarks of Uniden America Corporation. TrunkTracker is a proprietary trademark of Uniden America Corporation. Icon Display... -
Page 8: Terminology
What is Searching? The BCT8 can search each of its 13 bands to find active frequencies. This is different from scanning because you are searching for frequencies that have not been programmed into your Scanner’s channels. The scanner automatically chooses between two speeds while searching. - Page 9 This type of scanning is difficult and frustrating. TrunkTracker Technology changes this! Not only does your new BCT8 scan channels like a conventional scanner, it actually follows the users of a trunked radio system. Once you know a talkgroups ID, you won’t miss any of the action.
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Page 10: Feature Highlights
• PC Programmable – Allows you to easily program all frequencies and Trunking Talk Groups into your BCT8 through Uniden BCT8 Scanning software running on your PC. – For more information on BCT8 SS Programming software visit our website at... -
Page 11: Where To Obtain More Information
Before you can scan the PRIVATE bank, you must program frequencies into the scanner’s channels. The Frequency Guide lists typical frequencies used around the U.S.A. and Canada that you may program into your new scanner. However, this is not a complete list of frequencies for your area. -
Page 12: Included With Your Scanner Package
The following optional accessories for your BCT8 are available from your local Uniden Dealer or through the Uniden Parts Department by calling: (800) 554-3988, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST, Monday through Friday. We can also be reached on the web at www.uniden.com. -
Page 13: Installing The Bct8
The BCT8 can be mounted using the supplied mounting bracket. 1. Select an ideal location in your vehicle to mount the BCT8. Avoid a location that could interfere with your driving. In a passenger car, the ideal location is underneath the dashboard on the passenger side. - Page 14 Note: In vehicles with a positive ground, the RED wire connects to the chassis and the BLACK wire connects to the accessory contact in the fuse box. 4. Insert the DC plug into the DC 12V jack on the back of the scanner.
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Page 15: Typical Mounting Methods
Typical Mounting Methods The BCT8 can be conveniently mounted on a table, bulkhead, overhead, or any other desired location with the supplied mounting bracket (MB008) (refer to figure below for typical mounting methods). Caution: Make sure there are no hidden electrical wires or other items behind the desired location before proceeding. -
Page 16: Applying Power For Vehicle Installation
• Always connect the adapter or DC power cord to the scanner before you connect it to the power source. When you finish, disconnect the adapter or DC power cord from the power source before you disconnect it from the scanner. -
Page 17: Applying Power Using Standard Ac Power
Connecting the Clone Cable You can transfer the programmed data to and from another BCT8 scanner using a RS232C Straight Cable (9 pin to 9 pin) (not supplied). Connect the cable between each scanner’s REMOTE jacks. -
Page 18: Scanning Overview
It searches for any active frequency step by step within the lower and upper limits of the band. When an active frequency is found, the scanner will stop and stay on that frequency as long as that transmission lasts. If that frequency is interesting to you, press HOLD/RESUME to hold the frequency on the display. -
Page 19: How Squelch Works
How Squelch Works Think of “SQUELCH” as a gate. If the gate is too low (squelch too low), everything (all noise as well as signals) gets through. If the gate is set too high (squelch too high), nothing gets through. If the gate is set just right (squelch set properly), just the desired signals get through. -
Page 20: Highway Patrol Scanning
2. When the scanner receives communications, scanning stops, the state code and the frequency appear. When the transmission ends, the scanner holds for two seconds on that frequency for a response. For more information on the Delay feature, please see page 28. -
Page 21: Highway Patrol Scan Hold
Note: Highway Warning Alert does not work while in the HOLD mode. Highway Warning Alert The scanner alerts you when Highway Patrol/State Police units using mobile extenders are within an approximate three mile radius. 1. The ALERT Light flashes and the Alert Tone beeps twice when a signal is received. -
Page 22: Alert Light Adjustment
Priority Channels Each state preprogrammed in the scanner contains a number of Priority channels. The scanner automatically checks a state’s Priority channels every two seconds for activity. If there is activity on one of the Priority channels, the ALERT Light will flash and the alarm tone will beep (see “Highway Warning Alert,”... - Page 23 Priority channels. You can cancel the priority check and the interruptions in the conversations by pressing HOLD/RESUME to hold on the frequency. Note: The Highway Warning Alert is inoperative while the scanner is on Hold. Remember to press HOLD/RESUME to return to normal priority-scan operation.
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Page 24: Trunked Highway Frequency
ID appears on the display and you will hear it. If you press the L key while monitoring an ID, the scanner will check to see if any other IDs are active. If none are active, scanning resumes. -
Page 25: Private Bank Scanning
Before the scanner begins Private Bank scanning, you must program a frequency into at least one channel. Program frequencies you purchased from your dealer, from various free and FCC-based sources on the internet, or from the Frequency guide included in BCT8 package. You will need to program each frequency into the scanner’s channels in order to hear these frequencies. -
Page 26: Duplicate Frequency Alert
4. When a transmission is received, the scanner stops on that channel. When the transmission ends, scanning resumes automatically. Note: You can set the scanner to hold for two seconds on the frequency for a response. For more information on Delay feature, please see page 28. -
Page 27: Hold/Resume
“L/O” appears on the display. Lockout in Scanning Mode If the scanner keeps stopping on a particular channel due to noise or frequent transmissions, you may want to keep that channel from scanning. 1. Wait until the scanner stops on the channel. -
Page 28: Restoring All Locked-Out Channels
Priority Scan When Priority Scan is turned ON, your scanner checks the priority channel in the banks you selected every two seconds for activity. If a signal is present on the priority channel, your scanner monitors the channel until the transmission ends, then resumes normal scanning. -
Page 29: Service Scanning
Service Scanning The service scan feature allows you to rotate through the following nine service banks. ➀ Local Police and County Sheriffs *1 ➁ Fire and Emergency Medical Service ➂ News Media ➃ Weather (NOAA, weather and Canadian Coast Guard broadcasts) ➄... -
Page 30: Band Search
Setting a Search Band The BCT8 can search up to 13 separate frequency ranges to help you discover new stations in your area. To set a Search Bands, enter into the Band Search mode. Band Frequncy Range (MHz) 25.0000 - 27.9950 28.0000 - 29.7000... -
Page 31: Search Hold Feature
2. Press HOLD/RESUME to resume searching. Data Skip A scanner will normally stop on any transmission it receives. This means the BCT8 will occasionally stop on data signals and unmodulated transmissions. You can automatically skip many of these types of transmissions during search. -
Page 32: Storing Search Frequencies
1. For Highway Scan mode or Private Scan mode, when in Hold mode, select the desired frequency or channel and then press DELAY. Or when the scanner stops on an active frequency or channel, quickly press DELAY before it continues scanning again. -
Page 33: Trunk Tracking
Your BCT8 is tracks three major types of trunked radio systems. These systems are described here. ❖MOTOROLA - Including Type I, Type II, Hybrid, SMARTNET, and Privacy Plus. Motorola systems are widely used by public safety and business users. Most are on the 800 MHz band, and recent systems are appearing on other bands. -
Page 34: Programming Trunking Frequencies
“Talk Groups”. 3. Program the Talk Groups – Within the trunked system, each agency or department is assigned a Talk Group ID. This ID must be programmed into the scanner in order for it to monitor that specific agency or department. -
Page 35: Step 2: Programming Trunking Frequencies
Programming Talk Group ID/Scan Lists Scan Lists Each bank of your BCT8 can be a trunk tracking bank and it can be a conventional scanning bank. When you designate a bank as a trunking bank, your scanner sets up 5 Scan Lists, which are simply lists used to store your favorite Talk Group IDs. - Page 36 3. Enter the Fleet number. 4. Press E. Hint: Remember that Uniden's AFS format allows you to enter full or partial EDACS IDs for powerful flexibility in all modes. Be sure to read the section "EDACS Reception" on page 39 to learn how this works.
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Page 37: Receiving Trunked Systems
Read the section "EDACS Reception" to understand how this works. Hint: If the scanner is not in the Trunking mode, you can enter the Trunk mode by pressing TRUNK. Pressing TRUNK in the Trunking mode will move to the Private Scan Hold mode. -
Page 38: Id Scan Hold Feature
The display indicates the bank and the type of trunked system you are monitoring. While monitoring on ID, press the L key, and the scanner will check if any other IDs are active. Regardless of the system, you won't know exactly who you are receiving until you listen for a while, or refer to frequency guides or internet sites such as www.trunktracker.com. -
Page 39: Id Monitor Mode
To select a Scan List location and store an ID during Search mode, follow these steps: 1. When your scanner stops on an ID you want to store, press HOLD/RESUME. 2. You can change the Scan List memory location by using the L or M key. -
Page 40: Id Lockout
ID Lockout Like conventional scanning, it’s possible to lockout unwanted traffic. This is particularly important in trunked systems because in many areas, water meters, door alarms, traffic signals, and other mechanical devices are assigned IDs just like other users. Also some departments scramble or encrust their communications, and you may want to lock out these unintelligible broadcasts. -
Page 41: Setting The Delay Mode For Trunking Mode
With Priority ON, you can hold on an ID in your Scan List, such as Scan List 3, memory location 7, and the scanner will check all the priorities in all the active Scan Lists in between any transmissions on the ID on which you’re holding. The lowest numbered priority will be checked first. -
Page 42: Multi-Track
Multi-Track The BCT8 allows you to track more than one system at a time. Here are some highlights of this feature: ❖ You can actually track up to 5 trunking systems at one time. ❖ You can trunk scan, or search and scan conventional frequencies at the same time. -
Page 43: Edacs Reception
Notice how the dotted line shows talkgroup 02-023 moving from channel to channel. Your BCT8 can clearly and automatically follow this talkgroup, or any other, as you select. EDACS systems are organized in a logical way that keeps related talkgroups together. Your scanner is designed to take maximum advantage of this organization to make your scanning easy. -
Page 44: An Edacs Trunked System
Or hold on it by pressing HOLD/RESUME. If you want to monitor the Sullivan Police Dispatch channel (decimal key), 0, 6, 2, the M key. Your scanner (which is talk group 03-062), press 0, 3, can also work in decimal format. -
Page 45: Special Edacs Features
AFS talkgroups are used in all EDACS reception -- in ID Search, ID Lockout and ID Scan. The powerful AFS Partial Entry feature designed into the BCT8 lets you use either a complete talkgroup code, or just the most significant part. -
Page 46: Ltr Reception
ID on the display. In the ID Scan mode, the scanner only stops on the transmission if the LTR data matches a talkgroup ID that you have stored in the bank’s talkgroup ID list and have not locked out. -
Page 47: Motorola Reception
Even though there are many Type II systems, Type I systems are still in use. There are also Hybrid systems which are a combination of both Type I and Type II. Your scanner defaults to monitor Type II systems, but its possible to select a Preprogrammed Fleet Map or create a Custom Fleet Map for your area. -
Page 48: Fleet Map Programming
If you have programmed a trunk tracking bank for Motorola, press TRUNK to start Multi- Track, and you will see user IDs on the display. Since the BCT8 defaults to Type II systems, all the IDs will appear as numbers. However, if you notice a mix of odd and even user IDs, for example 6477, 2560, 6481, 6144, 1167, etc., then you are probably monitoring either a... -
Page 49: Programming A Hybrid System
To properly track Motorola VHF and UHF trunked systems, you must enter what is known as the Base, Spacing Frequencies and Offset Channels for each system. To find these out, check the scanner.uniden.com or www.trunktracker.com and other web sites and frequency resources. -
Page 50: Toggling The Status Bit
An emergency call will occur on a unique talkgroup from its primary assignment, for example. Because the BCT8 defaults to Status-Bit ON mode, you never need to worry about missing these transmissions. If you have programmed talkgroup 33264 into Scan List memory, for example, and there is an emergency call within the group, you will hear it on 33264. -
Page 51: Disconnect Tone Detect Option (End Code)
Of course you will know the Control Channel frequency itself so that will help you determine the proper plan. If you try one plan and you receive errors (such as the scanner jumping to channels that are obviously not part of the system), you should try an alternate Plan. -
Page 52: Remote Interface
A few PC’s may require an adapter, most will not. Of course, make sure your PC is turned ON. To program your scanner: You can program and control your scanner remotely from a PC using Uniden’s BCT8 Scanner software. After connecting the scanner to a PC, turn the scanner ON. -
Page 53: Clone Mode
2. Select the transfer speed except for the scanner will start Remote mode. A unique feature of the BCT8 is that all the front panel keys on the radio remain operational in Remote mode. For information on purchasing BCT8 Scanner software to program and control your BCT8,... - Page 54 ANT. You can clone all of the programming of one BCT8 into another, including frequencies, talkgroup IDs, delay settings, etc. After connecting the two scanners, turn the radios ON. Prepare each scanner for clone mode as follows.
- Page 55 • Once you have completed the cloning of the scanners, reset the scanners by turning the scanners OFF and then ON again. This is particularly important to know if you wish to clone another scanner right away. displays. (decimal key).
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Page 56: Care And Maintenance
Repairs • Do not attempt any repair. The scanner contains no user serviceable parts. Contact the Uniden Customer Service Center or take it to a qualified repair technician. Birdies • All radios can receive birdies (undesired signals). If your scanner stops during Scan mode and no sound is heard, it may be receiving a birdie. -
Page 57: Troubleshooting
If your BCT8 is not performing properly, try the following steps. Problem Going by patrol cars and 1. Make sure you are scanning in Highway Mode. not receiving alarms. 2. Check antenna connections. 3. Conditions to activate the alarm are variable and depend upon the timing of 4. - Page 58 If you still cannot get satisfactory results while using your scanner or if you want additional information, please call or write the Uniden Parts and Service Division. The address and phone number is listed in the warranty at the end of this manual. If you would like immediate assistance, please call Customer Service at (800)297-1023.
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Page 59: Specifications
Certified in accordance with FCC Rules and Regulations Part 15, Subpart C, as of date of manufacture. Channel: Banks: 5 (50 channels each) Service Bands: 9 preprogrammed search bands (including the NOAA and Canada Weather Service band) Frequency Range: 25.0-28.0 MHz 28.0-30.0 MHz 30.0-50.0 MHz 50.0-54.0 MHz... -
Page 60: Appendix
State Code Order NO. Code Appendix State Name NO. Code Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire... -
Page 61: Preset Fleet Maps
Preset Fleet Maps E1P1 Block SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 E1P3 Block SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4... - Page 62 E1P9 Block Size Code SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 E1P11 Block Size Code SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0...
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Page 63: User Defined Fleet Maps
When a block is assigned a size code, the Fleet or Fleets created within the block are assigned a Type I ID. The way these IDs display on your scanner depends on the block number and the blocks size code. When a Type I ID displays, the left most digit represents the block which contains the ID. -
Page 64: Fleet Map Size Codes
Fleet Map Size Codes Size Fleets Reserves block for Type II IDs Size Code Restrictions If you select SIZE CODE 12, 13, or 14, there are some restrictions as to which blocks can be used for these codes. • SIZE CODE 12 can only be assigned to Blocks 0, 2, 4, or 6. •... - Page 65 MEMO...
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Page 67: One Year Limited Warranty
Uniden service center for a defect or malfunction covered by this warranty, (E) used in any conjunction with equipment or parts or as part of any system not manufactured by Uniden, or (F) installed or programmed by anyone other than as detailed by the owners manual for this product.