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Uniden BC898T English Owners Manual - Page 10

Understanding Scanning - help

UPC - 050633650370

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Understanding Scanning UThnisdseercstiotan nprdoivnidgesSycouawninthinbagckground on how scanning works. You don't really need to know all of this to use your scanner, but some background knowledge will help you get the most from your BC898T. Understanding Banks and Channels The memory in your scanner is organized into 10 banks of 50 channels each. Each bank can contain conventional channels as well as 1 trunking system. For each trunking system, each bank can also store 10 groups of 10 talk group ID's (100 per bank). What is Scanning? Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way communications do not transmit continuously. Your BC898T scans programmed channels until it finds an active frequency, then stops on that frequency and remains on that channel as long as the transmission continues. When the transmission ends, the scanning cycle resumes until the scanner receives another transmission. 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. When the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops on that frequency as long as the transmission lasts. If you think the frequency is interesting, you can program it into one of the banks. If not, you can continue to search. What is CTCSS/DCS? Your scanner can monitor systems using a Continuous Tone Control Squelch (CTCSS) and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) system, which allow squelch to open only when the tone you have programmed with a specific frequency is received along with a transmission. CTCSS and DCS are subaudible tone signaling systems sometimes referred to as PL (Motorola's trademarked term for Private Line). CTCSS and DCS are used only for FM signals and are usually associated with both amateur and commercial two-way repeaters. These systems make use of a special subaudible tone that accompanies a transmitted signal. CTCSS and DCS are used for many purposes. In many cases, CTCSS and DCS are used to restrict access to a commercial repeater, so that only those units, which transmit the correct tone along with their signal can "talk to the repeater." CTCSS and DCS are also used in areas that receive interference where there are several stations with output frequencies close to each other. When this occurs, you might hear multiple communications at the same time. The stations might even interfere with each 7

Section	Page
The FCC Wants You To Know	6
Scanning Legally	6
Introduction	7
Feature Highlights	8
About This Manual	9
Understanding Scanning	10
Understanding Banks and Channels	10
What is Scanning?	10
What is Searching?	10
What is CTCSS/DCS?	10
Conventional Scanning	11
Simplex Operation	12
Repeater Operation	12
What is Trunk Tracking?	12
Trunked Scanning	13
Types of Trunking Systems	14
Motorola Trunking	14
EDACS Trunking	14
LTR Trunking	15
Where To Obtain More Information	16
Information On The Internet	16
Using a Computer to Control Your BC898T	16
Included With Your Scanner	17
Installing Your Scanner	17
For Home Use (Desktop Installation)	18
1. Insert the DC plug end of the included AC adapter into the DC 12V jack on the back of the scanner.	18
2. Plug the other end of the AC adapter into a standard 120V AC wall outlet.	18
3. Plug the included telescoping antenna into the ANT connector on the back of the scanner. Then extend the antenna to its full height.	18
4. Use the scanner’s desktop stand for a better viewing and operating angle.	18
Adapter Safety Feature	19
Using An Optional External Speaker/Earphone/Headphone	19
Listening Safely	19
Using An Optional Tape Recorder	19
Using the Demo Software	20
Installing The Software	20
Installing The Scanner In a Vehicle	21
Mounting the Scanner	21
1. Select a location in your vehicle to mount the scanner. Avoid a location that could interfere with your driving. In a passenger car, the ideal location is underneath the dashboard on the passenger side.	21
2. Use an optional mounting bracket as a template for marking the location for the mounting screws.	21
3. Drill the necessary holes and secure the mounting bracket in place using the screws provided with the bracket.	21
4. Mount the scanner to the bracket only after the wiring has been connected to the scanner’s rear panel.	21
Connecting the Antenna Plug	21
Connecting the DC Power Cord	21
Installing a Temporary Power Cord	21
Installing a Permanent Power Cord	22
1. Check the vehicle’s battery connections to determine which battery terminal (positive or negative) is grounded to the engine ...	22
2. Connect an optional DC power cord’s RED wire to the accessory contact in your vehicle’s +12 VDC fuse box.	22
3. Connect the DC power cord’s BLACK wire to the negative side of the vehicle (usually the chassis).	22
4. Insert the DC plug into the DC 12V jack on the back of the scanner.	22
Basic Operation	23
Basic Operation	23
Setting the Squelch	23
1. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable listening level.	23
2. Repeatedly press MANUAL until you do not hear a signal.	23
3. Turn SQUELCH fully clockwise.	23
4. Turn SQUELCH counterclockwise until you hear a hiss.	23
5. Turn SQUELCH back clockwise just until the hiss stops. This sets the squelch so that only clearer signals can get through.	23
Using the Rotary Tuner	23
Using the Frequency/Channel Mode Selector	24
Using the Lock Key/LED	24
Manually Selecting a Channel	24
Scanning Programmed Channels	24
Locking/Unlocking Banks	25
Locking/Unlocking Channels	25
Restoring All Locked Out Channels	25
1. If you de-selected the bank, press SCAN then press the bank’s letter.	25
2. Press MANUAL.	25
3. Hold down L/O for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps twice and unlocks all channels.	25
Priority Scanning	25
Changing the Priority Channel	26
1. Press MANUAL.	26
2. Use the keypad to enter the channel number for the new priority channel.	26
3. Press MANUAL.	26
4. Hold down PRI for about 2 seconds.	26
Using the Dimmer	26
Trunk Scanning Options	26
Searching for Active Talk Groups (ID Search)	26
Searching Only Stored Talk Groups (ID Scan)	26
Monitoring Talk Group ID’s	26
Holding On a Single Talk Group	27
Locking Out Talk Groups	27
Reviewing Locked Out Talk Group ID’s	27
Restoring All Locked Out Talk Group ID’s	27
EDACS Blockout	27
Setting the Attenuator	27
ID Lockout	27
Restoring a Single ID	28
1. Hold down L/O until you hear two short beeps.	28
2. Use either the rotary tuner or HOLD r or LIMIT s to select the ID you want to unlock.	28
3. Press L/O. The ID is unlocked and the next locked ID appears.	28
4. Press SRC to return to the search mode.	28
Restoring All ID’s	28
1. Hold down L/O until you hear two short beeps.	28
2. Hold down L/O for about 2 seconds to unlock all the ID’s at once.	28
3. Press SRC to return to the search mode.	28
Searching Tips	28
ID Delay Mode	28
ID Hold Mode	28
ID Monitor Mode	29
Scan Lists	29
Searching	30
Chain Search	30
Setting and Saving a Chain Search Range	30
1. Press MANUAL to stop scanning.	30
2. Press SRC.	30
3. Press HOLD r. HOLD appears.	30
4. Select the memory location where you want to save a chain search range by pressing its bank key (A-J). If there is a chain search range already stored in that memory location, the lower and upper frequencies of that chain search range flash.	30
5. Use the keypad to enter the lower frequency of the chain search range, then press E on the keypad or LIMIT s. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	30
6. Use the keypad to enter the upper frequency of the chain search range, then press E on the keypad or LIMIT s. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	30
Selecting Chain Search Ranges	30
Using Chain Search	30
Holding On An Active Frequency	30
Setting Data Skip	31
Skipping Frequencies	31
Storing Found Frequencies	31
1. Press E or SEND when the scanner is stopped on that frequency. All the bank indicators flash.	31
2. Select the bank where you want to send the frequency. The display alternates between the frequency you are sending and the lo...	31
3. Press E.	31
Automatically Storing Frequencies	32
1. Press MANUAL to stop scanning.	32
2. Press AUTO. All the bank letters flash and AUTO appears.	32
3. Press the bank keys (A-J) where you want to store the frequencies the scanner finds. The bank letter(s) you select stop flashing.	32
4. Press SRC to start AutoStore.	32
5. Press MANUAL to exit AutoStore and return to the manual mode.	32
Setting Subaudible Tones for Searching	32
1. Press PRI to turn off priority scan.	32
2. Hold down CTCSS/DCS for about 2 seconds. CTCSS and DCS blink and the scanner searches for CTCSS or DCS tones. When the scanner finds a CTCSS or DCS tone, the frequency blinks.	32
Attenuating All Search Ranges	33
Setting Delay For All Search Ranges	33
Searching a Trunked Bank	33
1. Press TRUNK then press SCAN.	33
2. Press a bank key (A-J) to select the trunked bank you want. For example, press B.	33
3. Once the data channel is acquired, the scanner starts to trunk track. Talk group ID’s, which represent different service groups, appear.	33
4. Press TRUNK again to return to conventional mode.	33
Searching for CTCSS/DCS Tones	34
1. If necessary, press PRI to turn off priority scan.	34
2. Hold down CTCSS/DCS until you hear two short beeps. CTCSS and DCS appear and begin to flash. If there is a break before a ton...	34
Using Weather Alert (SAME)	35
1. Press WX to find your local weather station.	35
2. Press HOLD r.	35
3. Hold down ALERT for about 2 seconds. ALERT appears.	35
Searching for a Weather Broadcast	35
Programming a FIPS Code	36
1. Hold down WX for about 2 seconds to turn on weather alert.	37
2. Hold down E for about 2 seconds.	37
3. Turn the rotary tuner or repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s to enter a FIPS code (1 through 15). Then enter the FIPS code and press E.	37
4. When you finish entering FIPS codes, press E.	37
Programming	38
Transferring a Programmed Frequency	38
Transferring a Frequency to the First Available Channel In a Bank	38
1. Select the bank where you want to send the frequency. For example, press D. The display alternates between the frequency you are transferring and the bank’s lowest available channel.	38
2. Press E on the keypad to transfer the frequency to the new channel. The scanner moves the frequency from the old channel to the new channel.	38
3. To cancel the transfer before it is complete, press SEND.	38
Transferring a Frequency to a Specific Channel	38
1. Use the keypad to enter the channel where you want to send the frequency. (For example, press 9 and 4 on the keypad to send the frequency to Channel 94).	38
2. Press HOLD r.	38
3. Press E to complete the transfer.	38
4. To cancel the transfer before it is complete, press SEND.	38
Duplicate Frequency Alert	39
Deleting a Stored Frequency	39
Programming a Channel With a CTCSS/DCS Tone	39
1. Press MANUAL.	39
2. Press CTCSS/DCS.	39
3. Select the channel you want to program then press E. If you have already programmed a CTCSS or DCS tone, the frequency for the tone blinks. Otherwise, 000.0 HZ blinks.	39
4. Enter a CTCSS tone.	39
5. To cancel CTCSS mode, press CTCSS/DCS or MANUAL. The CTCSS indicator and displayed tones are turned off but not deleted.	39
Programming Tips	40
Setting the Delay Mode	40
Setting Delay in Scan or Search Mode	40
1. Press SCAN or set a search range then press SRC.	40
2. When your scanner stops on a channel, press DELAY. DELAY appears. Scanning resumes two seconds after the transmission ends.	40
Setting Delay in Manual Mode	40
1. Press MANUAL.	40
2. Use the keypad or rotary tuner to select a channel.	40
3. Press DELAY. DELAY appears. The scanner pauses on the channel when a transmission is received.	40
Recording Transmissions	41
1. Use the keypad or rotary tuner to select the channel you want to record.	41
2. Press LINE. LINE appears indicating that the channel will be recorded if you connected a tape recorder to your scanner.	41
3. Repeat these steps to select other channels for recording.	41
1. Use the keypad or rotary tuner to select the channel you do not want to record anymore.	41
2. Press LINE. LINE turns off and the channel is not recorded.	41
Data Skip	41
Frequency Skip	41
Programming Conventional Channels	42
Changing the Frequency Step	42
Setting the Modulation Mode	42
Setting Priority Channels	43
Programming Trunked Systems	44
Setting the Scanner to Trunking Programming Mode	44
1. Hold down TRUNK. The scanner beeps twice and BANK and TRUNK flash.	44
2. Select the trunking bank you want to program.	44
1. Press TRUNK to return to conventional mode if you have been monitoring a trunking bank.	44
2. Hold down TRUNK. The scanner beeps twice and BANK and TRUNK flash.	44
3. Select the trunking bank you want to program.	44
Programming Motorola Systems	44
Programming Channels and Entering Trunking Frequencies	44
1. Hold down TRUNK for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps and BANK, TRUNK, and the bank letters A-J blink.	44
2. Press a bank key to select the bank where you want to store the frequencies.	44
3. Select Motorola scanning by turning the rotary tuner or repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s to select one of the following Motorola scanning choices:	44
4. If necessary, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 F appears. Then press E on the keypad.	45
5. To enter trunking frequencies, use the keypad to enter the first frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	45
6. For each additional frequency, select the next channel by turning the rotary tuner or pressing HOLD r. Then use the keypad to enter the next frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	45
7. If you selected E2-800, E2-900, or E1 in Step 3, stop here.	45
Otherwise, if you selected E2-HI or E2-UHF in Step 3, follow these steps to enter the band plan (base frequency, spacing frequency, and offset channel) for the system you want to scan.	45
1. If you are still in the programming mode, press DATA. Otherwise, select the trunking programming mode and bank you want to change. Then, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until E1 appears, then press E.	46
2. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until FLEET appears, then press E.	46
3. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s to select the fleet map you want. For example, E1P2.	46
4. Press E then press SRC.	46
1. If you are still in the programming mode, press DATA. Otherwise, select the trunking programming mode and bank you want to change.	46
2. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until E1 appears.	46
3. Press E.	46
4. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until FLEET appears, then press E.	46
5. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s to select USR.	46
6. Press E.	46
7. Enter the size code for the first block by repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s until the correct size code appears.	46
8. Press E. The next available block appears.	46
9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 until you have selected a size code for each block.	46
10. Press SRC.	46
Programming Talk Group ID’s	47
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.	47
2. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 ID appears. Then press E.	47
3. Repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s or rotate the dial to select the talkgroup ID channel you want to program.	47
4. Enter an ID. To enter the dash used in Type I ID’s, use the . key.	47
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for all ID’s you want to program.	47
Programming a Hybrid System	47
Programming EDACS Systems	47
1. Hold down TRUNK for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps and BANK, TRUNK, and the bank letters A-J blink.	47
2. Press a bank key to select the bank where you want to store the frequencies.	47
3. Select EDACS scanning by turning the rotary tuner or repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s to select one of the following EDACS scanning choices:	47
4. If necessary, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 F appears. Then press E on the keypad.	47
5. To enter the trunking frequencies for LCN1, use the keypad to enter the first frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	47
6. For each additional frequency, select the next channel by turning the rotary tuner or pressing HOLD r. Then use the keypad to enter the next frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	47
7. If you selected ED-SCT in Step 3, stop here.	48
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.	48
Programming LTR Systems	48
1. Hold down TRUNK for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps and BANK, TRUNK, and the bank letters A-J blink.	48
2. Press a bank key to select the bank where you want to store the frequencies.	48
3. Select LTR scanning by turning the rotary tuner or repeatedly pressing HOLD r or LIMIT s to select LT. Then press E on the keypad.	48
4. If necessary, repeatedly press HOLD r or LIMIT s until PRO9 F appears. Then press E on the keypad.	48
5. To enter trunking frequencies, use the keypad to enter the first frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	48
6. For each additional frequency, select the next channel by turning the rotary tuner or pressing HOLD r. Then use the keypad to enter the next frequency, then press E on the keypad. (Press . to enter the decimal point).	48
7. Follow these steps to enter the talk group ID (agency, fleet, and subfleet) for the system you want to scan.	48
Care and Maintenance	49
Location	49
Cleaning	49
Repairs	49
Birdies	49
Troubleshooting	50
Specifications	53
Optional Accessories	55
Appendix	56
Preset Fleet Maps	56
User Defined Fleet Maps	58
Type I Programming Information	58

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Understanding Scanning

This section provides you with background on how scanning works. You don’t really need

to know all of this to use your scanner, but some background knowledge will help you get

the most from your BC898T.

Understanding Banks and Channels

The memory in your scanner is organized into 10 banks of 50 channels each. Each bank

can contain conventional channels as well as 1 trunking system. For each trunking system,

each bank can also store 10 groups of 10 talk group ID’s (100 per bank).

What is Scanning?

Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way communications do not transmit

continuously. Your BC898T scans programmed channels until it finds an active frequency,

then stops on that frequency and remains on that channel as long as the transmission

continues. When the transmission ends, the scanning cycle resumes until the scanner

receives another transmission.

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. When the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops on that frequency as long

as the transmission lasts. If you think the frequency is interesting, you can program it into

one of the banks. If not, you can continue to search.

What is CTCSS/DCS?

Your scanner can monitor systems using a Continuous Tone Control Squelch (CTCSS)

and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) system, which allow squelch to open only when the tone

you have programmed with a specific frequency is received along with a transmission.

CTCSS and DCS are subaudible tone signaling systems sometimes referred to as PL

(Motorola’s trademarked term for Private Line). CTCSS and DCS are used only for FM

signals and are usually associated with both amateur and commercial two-way repeaters.

These systems make use of a special subaudible tone that accompanies a transmitted

signal.

CTCSS and DCS are used for many purposes. In many cases, CTCSS and DCS are used

to restrict access to a commercial repeater, so that only those units, which transmit the

correct tone along with their signal can “talk to the repeater.”

CTCSS and DCS are also used in areas that receive interference where there are several

stations with output frequencies close to each other. When this occurs, you might hear

multiple communications at the same time. The stations might even interfere with each

Understanding Scanning