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Summary of Contents for Uniden BC 898T
- Page 2 WARNING! Uniden does not represent this unit to be waterproof. To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture.
- Page 3 BC898T Controls and Display 1. Programming and Status Keys 2. Display 3. Bank Keys 4. Squelch/Volume Controls 5. Rotary Tuner 10. Line/External Speaker Jacks 6. Numeric Keypad 7. Scan/Manual Keys 8. Mode Keys 9. Search Keys...
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Page 4: Table Of Contents
Trunked Scanning ... 10 Types of Trunking Systems ... 11 Where To Obtain More Information ... 13 Using a Computer to Control Your BC898T ... 13 Included With Your Scanner ... 14 Installing Your Scanner ... 15 For Home Use (Desktop Installation) ... 15 Using An Optional External Speaker/Earphone/Headphone ... - Page 5 Storing Found Frequencies ... 28 Automatically Storing Frequencies ... 29 Setting Subaudible Tones for Searching ... 29 Attenuating All Search Ranges ... 30 Setting Delay For All Search Ranges ... 30 Searching a Trunked Bank ... 30 Searching for CTCSS/DCS Tones ... 31 Using Weather Alert (SAME) ...
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Page 6: The Fcc Wants You To Know
The FCC Wants You to Know The FCC Wants You To Know This scanner has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a scanning receiver, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. -
Page 7: Introduction
Introduction Your BC898T scanner is a state-of-the-art scanner radio with TrunkTracking™ and automatic scanning capabilities. You can store frequencies such as police, fire/emergency, marine, air, amateur, and other communications into 10 banks of 50 channels each. Use it at home as a base unit, or install it in your vehicle as a mobile unit. -
Page 8: Feature Highlights
Feature Highlights Feature Highlights Trunk Tracker III Operation – Follows conversations on analog Motorola, EDACS, and ™ LTR trunked radio systems. 500 Channels – Program one frequency into each channel. You must have at least one channel programmed to use the scan mode. 10 Banks –... -
Page 9: About This Manual
In addition to the information in this manual, the help file included with the free demo software includes more instructions and programming planning worksheets that are very useful for organizing the information you need to program your scanner. Download this software from http://www.uniden.com. -
Page 10: Understanding Scanning
What is Searching? The BC898T can search each of its 17 bands and up to ten bands together to find active frequencies. This is different from scanning because you are searching for frequencies that have not been programmed into the scanner. When you select frequency bands to search, the scanner searches for any active frequency within the lower and upper limits you specify. -
Page 11: Conventional Scanning
other to the point where it is impossible to clearly receive any of the stations. A scanner equipped with CTCSS and DCS (like your scanner) can code each received frequency with a specific CTCSS or DCS frequency. Then, when you receive multiple signals, you only hear the transmission with the CTCSS or DCS tone you programmed. -
Page 12: Simplex Operation
What is Trunk Tracking? Your BC898T is designed to track the following types of trunking systems. • Motorola Type I, Type II, Type IIi, hybrid, SMARTNET, and PRIVACYPLUS analog trunking systems, which are extensively used in 800 MHz communication systems. -
Page 13: Trunked Scanning
Uniden’s invention of the Trunktracking scanner. Not only does your BC898T scan channels like a conventional scanner, it actually follows the users of a trunked radio system. Once you know a talk group’s ID, you won’t miss any of the action. -
Page 14: Types Of Trunking Systems
Also, talk groups are assigned in an Agency-Fleet-Subfleet (AFS) hierarchy. Also, there is one variation of EDACS called SCAT that your BC898T can monitor. Logical Channel Numbers – each frequency used by the system is assigned an LCN. This information is programmed into each user radio. -
Page 15: Ltr Trunking
Because of the logical hierarchy of the AFS system, your BC898T lets you assign wildcard ID’s that let you, for example, use only one ID memory to identify all units in either an agency or a fleet. -
Page 16: Where To Obtain More Information
• http://www.bearcat1.com - frequency information from National Communications. • svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/index.cfm the US Government * - This web site is not affiliated with Uniden Corporation. To purchase another copy of the conventional or trunking frequency guide, contact your local dealer or:... -
Page 17: Included With Your Scanner
Owners Manual Trunked System Frequency Guide If any of these items are missing or damaged, immediately contact your place of purchase or Uniden Customer Service at: (800) 297-1023, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central, Monday through Friday. Installing Your Scanner... -
Page 18: Installing Your Scanner
Installing Your Scanner These guidelines will help you install and use your new scanner: • If your scanner receives interference or electrical noise, move the scanner or its antenna away from the source. You might also try changing the height or angle of the telescoping antenna. -
Page 19: Adapter Safety Feature
Adapter Safety Feature The AC adapter included with the scanner might be equipped with a polarized line plug — a plug with one blade wider than the other. This plug fits into a power outlet only one way. If you are unable to insert the adapter’s plug into an AC outlet, try reversing the plug. Using An Optional External Speaker/Earphone/Headphone For private listening or for listening in a noisy area, you can plug a earphone’s or headphone’s or monitor speaker’s (not included) cable into the EXT SP jack... -
Page 20: Using The Demo Software
BC898T SS Install program installs the software. You must install the software to use the scanner with your computer. After you install the BC898T SS Install program, start it by double clicking on the desktop icon or by selecting it in the Start Programs list. -
Page 21: Installing The Scanner In A Vehicle
Installing The Scanner In a Vehicle Mounting the Scanner 1. Select a location in your vehicle to mount the scanner. Avoid a location that could inter- fere with your driving. In a passenger car, the ideal location is underneath the dash- board on the passenger side. - Page 22 Installing a Permanent Power Cord 1. Check the vehicle’s battery connections to determine which battery terminal (positive or negative) is grounded to the engine block or chassis. Most of today’s vehicles use a negative ground. If your vehicle has a negative ground, follow the steps below. Otherwise, consult your vehicle’s dealer for advice on installing negative ground acces- sories in your vehicle.
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Page 23: Basic Operation
Basic Operation Basic Operation Turning On the Scanner Turn VOLUME clockwise to turn on the scanner, or counterclockwise until it clicks to turn it off. Setting the Squelch Your scanner’s squelch control acts like a gate to reduce or eliminate noise from received signals. -
Page 24: Using The Frequency/Channel Mode Selector
Note: You can also use the keypad to enter a frequency. Press E to program the frequency into the channel you selected. Using the Frequency/Channel Mode Selector Repeatedly press FREQ/CHAN to switch between channel and frequency mode. When the CHAN LED is on, you can use the rotary tuner to step rapidly through channels. When the FREQ LED is on, you can use the rotary tuner to tune frequencies quickly and accurately. -
Page 25: Locking/Unlocking Banks
Press MANUAL to stop on a channel while scanning. Press SCAN to resume scanning. Locking/Unlocking Banks When you are scanning conventional banks, the scanner displays the digit corresponding to all unlocked banks. To lock out a bank so that the scanner does not scan its channels, press the letter that corresponds to the bank. -
Page 26: Changing The Priority Channel
If you want to hear all activity on a trunked system, use the ID search mode by pressing SCAN then SRC. appears and the BC898T stops on every active talk group, SEARCH regardless of whether you have programmed it into your scanner. This makes it easy to find unknown talk groups. -
Page 27: Locking Out Talk Groups
Holding On a Single Talk Group To hold on an active talk group when scanning or searching, press HOLD . The BC898T stops scanning and holds on the current trunking system. It only receives transmissions on the talk group that was active when you pressed HOLD... -
Page 28: Searching Tips
departments scramble or encrypt their communications, and you might want to lock out these unintelligible transmissions. To lock out an ID, press L/O when the ID appears. The ID is locked out, and the next active ID appears. You can lock out up to 200 ID’s. Note: If you lock out an ID in search mode, it is also locked out in scan list mode. -
Page 29: Id Monitor Mode
ID Monitor Mode To enter manual mode for a conventional system in a bank selected for a trunked system, press MANUAL. All active talk group ID’s appear in succession. Note: Locked out ID’s appear during ID monitor mode. Scan Lists You can program conventional or trunking frequencies into any of your scanner’s banks When you designate a bank as a trunk tracking bank, your scanner sets up 10 scan lists (A –J), which are simply lists used to store your favorite ID’s. -
Page 30: Searching
Searching Chain Search Your scanner’s chain search feature lets you discover new active frequencies in your area. To use chain search, first program one or more chain search ranges (see “Setting and Saving a Chain Search Range” below). Then, select one or more chain search ranges to search (see “Selecting Chain Search Ranges”... -
Page 31: Setting Data Skip
Setting Data Skip The scanner normally stops on any frequency with activity, and remains there until either the activity stops or you press SRC to resume scanning. However, some signals are identifiable by the scanner as data signals, and you can set the scanner to automatically skip these channels. -
Page 32: Automatically Storing Frequencies
Automatically Storing Frequencies During searching, you can have the scanner automatically store active frequencies into a bank you choose. Once the search begins, AutoStore will automatically program active frequencies into the available channels of the bank(s) you select. For more information about your scanner’s search feature, see “Searching”... -
Page 33: Attenuating All Search Ranges
Attenuating All Search Ranges If you are near a strong RF source, you might need to attenuate the input signal in order to search properly. Repeatedly press ATT until disappears (to turn off attenuation). Setting Delay For All Search Ranges You can set the scanner to have a 2-second delay after the end of a transmission before searching resumes. -
Page 34: Searching For Ctcss/Dcs Tones
Searching for CTCSS/DCS Tones You can use the CTCSS/DCS tone search mode to determine if the frequencies in your area are transmitted with associated tones. If the scanner finds a CTCSS or DCS tone, the type of tone and the frequency flash on the display. Then, if you store that frequency into a channel, the tone is also stored in the channel. -
Page 35: Using Weather Alert (Same)
To cancel the siren, press WX. Searching for a Weather Broadcast You can use the BC898T to search for your local NOAA weather channel. To search for a weather broadcast, press WX to find an active weather channel in your area. -
Page 36: Programming A Fips Code
You might receive more than one weather station in your area. When you press WX, your scanner finds the first active transmission. If a transmission seems weak or distant, press WX again to find a clearer station. Notes: • Weather scan does not resume automatically. You must press WX again to start the weather scan again. - Page 37 1. Hold down WX for about 2 seconds to turn on weather alert. 2. Hold down E for about 2 seconds. If the scanner has not been set to alert for any FIPS code, ____ appears. If the scanner is set to alert for all FIPS codes, ALLFIPS appears. If the scanner is set to alert only for the area you programmed, F1 appears.
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Page 38: Programming
Programming The BC898T has 500 memory channels, each of which can be programmed to store one frequency. The channels are divided into ten 50-channel banks, useful for storing similar frequencies in order to maintain faster scanning cycles. You can use the keypad and rotary tuner to program your scanner. You can also use the scanner’s AutoStore feature to automatically program channels, and transfer a frequency... -
Page 39: Duplicate Frequency Alert
Duplicate Frequency Alert If you enter a frequency already stored in another channel, the scanner beeps and the other channel appears. Press frequency in both channels. Deleting a Stored Frequency To delete a stored frequency, press 0 then press E. Channels with no frequencies are automatically locked out. -
Page 40: Programming Tips
Programming Tips • Since weather transmissions are continuous, do not program a weather frequency into any of the scanner’s channels. To listen to a weather transmission, press WX to select the weather information band instead. • Group similar frequencies into adjacent channels. For example, program police fre- quencies in channels 1 through 50 and fire/emergency into channels 51 through 100, and so on. -
Page 41: Recording Transmissions
LINE Data Skip A scanner will normally stop on any transmission it receives. This means the BC898T will stop on data signals and unmodulated transmissions. You can automatically skip many of these types of transmissions during searches. Repeatedly press DATA until (to activate the data skip feature) or until feature). -
Page 42: Programming Conventional Channels
The channel frequency step option controls the frequency step size used when you manually tune up or down from the frequency stored in the channel. Your BC898T is preprogrammed with the most common step sizes for each band, so you seldom need to change this setting. -
Page 43: Setting Priority Channels
Setting Priority Channels You can set one conventional channel in each bank as a priority channel. When you turn on the priority scan option (see “Priority Scanning” on Page 22), the scanner automatically checks these channels every 2 seconds to see if there is activity. If there is, the scanner immediately switches to the priority channel. -
Page 44: Programming Trunked Systems
The “Motorola Trunking Worksheet”, “LTR Trunking Worksheet”, and “EDACS Trunking Worksheet” included in the help file included with the demo software (download at http://www.uniden.com) make this easy. • You can program only one trunked system per bank. For example, if you are... -
Page 45: Programming Fleet Maps
4. If necessary, repeatedly press HOLD E on the keypad. 5. To enter trunking frequencies, use the keypad to enter the first frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press Note: To clear a mistake while entering a frequency, press frequency again. - Page 46 You might want to read “User Defined Fleet Maps” in the Appendix and use the “Motorola Trunking Worksheet” included in the help file included with the free demo software (download at http://www.uniden.com) before programming a custom fleet map. “User Defined Fleet Maps” includes a detailed explanation of scanner fleet map programming, as well as a table listing the fleet map size codes.
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Page 47: Programming A Hybrid System
Programming Talk Group ID’s Enter the talk group ID for each group you entered: 1. If you are still in the programming mode, press DATA. Otherwise, hold TRUNK for 2 seconds, then select the bank and system type and press E. 2. -
Page 48: Programming Ltr Systems
7. If you selected ED-SCT in Step 3, stop here. Otherwise, if you selected ED-HI or ED-LO in Step 3, follow these steps to enter the talk group ID (agency, fleet, and subfleet) for the system you want to scan. a. -
Page 49: 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 might be receiving a birdie. -
Page 50: Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting If your BC898T is not performing properly, try the following steps. Problem The scanner doesn’t work. The scanner might not be Improper reception. Scan won’t stop. Scan won’t start. Troubleshooting Possible Cause receiving any power. The scanner’s antenna might need to be adjusted. - Page 51 Scan won’t start. (continued) Weather scan doesn’t work. If you experience difficulty while in TrunkTracker™ mode, try the following steps. Problem Scanner won’t track a trunked system. Scanner won’t stop scanning during Scan List mode. Scanner won’t acquire the data channel. Missing replies to conversations.
- Page 52 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 are 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 53: Specifications
Specifications Certified in accordance with FCC Rules and Regulations Part 15, Subpart C, as of date of manufacture. Channels: Banks: Frequency Range: Operating Temperature: Scan Rate: Search Rate: Scan Delay: Audio Output: Power Requirements: Antenna: External Jacks: Size: Weight: Specifications 10 (50 channels each) 25.0-27.995 MHz Citizens Band/ Business Band... - Page 54 Features, specifications, and availability of optional accessories are all subject to change without notice.
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Page 55: Optional Accessories
Optional Accessories Optional Accessories Contact your local Uniden Dealer or call the Uniden Parts Center at: (800)554-3988, 8:00AM to 5:00PM EST, Monday through Friday, for information about ordering these optional accessories. DC Power Cord Earphone Mobile Mounting Bracket with Hardware (MB001) PC Software (BC898T SS) Available by download. -
Page 56: Appendix
Appendix Preset Fleet Maps Preset Map 1 Block Size Code Size Code 11 Size Code 11 Size Code 11 Size Code 11 Size Code 11 Size Code 11 Size Code 11 Size Code 11 Preset Map 3 Block Size Code Size Code 4 Size Code 4 Size Code 4... - Page 57 Preset Map 9 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 Preset Map 11 Block Size Code Size Code 4 Size Code 0 Size Code 0 Size Code 0 Size Code 0...
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Page 58: User Defined Fleet Maps
User Defined Fleet Maps Type I Programming Information When a Type I system is designed, the address information for all the ID’s is divided into 8 equal sized blocks, numbered 0–7. When you program your scanner to track a Type I system, you must select a size code for each of these blocks. - Page 59 Since these size codes require multiple blocks, you will be prompted for the next available block when programming a fleet map. For example, if you assign Block 0 as an S-12, you will be prompted for b2, the next block available, instead of b1. And if you assign Block 0 as an S-14, you would not see another prompt because it uses all available blocks.
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Page 60: One Year Limited Warranty
WARRANTOR: UNIDEN AMERICA CORPORATION (“Uniden”) ELEMENTS OF WARRANTY: Uniden warrants, for one year, to the original retail owner, this Uniden Product to be free from defects in materials and craftsmanship with only the limitations or exclusions set out below. WARRANTY DURATION: This warranty to the original user shall terminate and be of no further effect 12 months after the date of original retail sale. - Page 64 UBZZ01322ZB...
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MATCO 25.digital
what is the coverage from 400 to 500