Uniden Bc296d Trunk Tracker Scanner Owners Manual

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							Contents
The FCC Wants You To Know  ............................................................1
Scanning Legally  .................................................................................2
Introduction ..........................................................................................3
Using this Manual  ............................................................................5
Understanding Scanning  .....................................................................6
Conventional Scanning  ....................................................................6
Simplex Operation  .......................................................................6
Repeater Operation  .....................................................................6
Trunked Scanning ............................................................................7
Motorola Trunking  ........................................................................7
EDACS Trunking  .........................................................................8
LTR Trunking  .............................................................................10
Understanding Banks and Channels  .............................................10
Getting More Information ...................................................................11
A Quick Look at Your Scanner  ..........................................................12
Buttons and Controls ......................................................................12
Display Icons  .................................................................................13
Included With Your Scanner ..............................................................14
Setting Up Your Scanner ...................................................................15
Installing the Battery Pack  .............................................................15
Charging the Battery Pack .............................................................15
Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery Disposal  ..........................................16
Installing the Antenna  ....................................................................16
Installing the Belt Clip  ....................................................................16
Using Headphones or an External Speaker  ..................................16
Listening Safely  .............................................................................17
Basic Operation  .................................................................................18
Turning On the Scanner  ................................................................18
Setting the Squelch  .......................................................................18
Using the Menu  .............................................................................19
Manually Selecting a Channel  .......................................................19
Scanning Programmed Channels ..................................................20
Locking/Unlocking Banks ...............................................................20
Locking/Unlocking Channels  .........................................................20
Restoring All Locked Out Channels  ..............................................20
Priority Scanning ............................................................................21
Priority Plus Scanning  ...................................................................21
Listening to the Input Channel .......................................................21
Using the Backlight  ........................................................................22
Dimmer Light Setting  .................................................................22
Dimmer Time Setting  .................................................................22
Controlling How Much Information Appears  ..................................22
Turning the Key Beep On/Off  ........................................................23
Locking the ENTER key  ................................................................23
Locking the Keypad  .......................................................................23
Disabling the APCO25 Card  ..........................................................23
Turning Battery Save On/Off  .........................................................24
Muting All Audio .............................................................................24
Setting Squelch Mode  ...................................................................24
Trunk Scanning Options  ................................................................25
Searching for Active Talkgroups (ID Search)  ............................25
Scanning Only Stored Talkgroups (ID Scan)  ............................25
Monitoring Talkgroup ID’s  ..........................................................25
Selecting Talkgroup Lists to Scan  .............................................25
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							Holding on a Single Talkgroup  ..................................................26
Locking Out Talkgroups  .............................................................26
EDACS Blockout ........................................................................26
Unlocking All Talkgroups  ...........................................................27
EDACS Patch Tracking  .............................................................27
Searching ..........................................................................................28
Holding on an Active Frequency  ...................................................28
Setting Chain Search .....................................................................28
Setting Data Skip  ...........................................................................28
Skipping Frequencies  ....................................................................29
Storing Found Frequencies  ...........................................................29
Automatically Storing Frequencies  ................................................30
Setting Subaudible Tones for Searching  .......................................30
Searching for Subaudible Tones  ...................................................30
Attenuating All Search Ranges  .....................................................31
Setting DELAY for All Search Ranges  ..........................................31
Setting a Search Range  ................................................................31
Searching for Trunk Systems  ........................................................32
Service Search  ..................................................................................33
Service Search Skip  ......................................................................33
Using Weather Search and Weather Alert (SAME)  ......................34
Searching for a Weather Broadcast  ..........................................34
Using Weather Alert (SAME)  .....................................................34
Testing the Weather Alert  ..........................................................36
Programming Bank Information .........................................................37
Bank Configuration  ........................................................................37
Assigning Bank Names  .................................................................37
General Programming  .......................................................................38
Deleting Frequencies from Channels  ............................................38
Transferring Channel Information  ..................................................38
Entering Alpha Information  ............................................................38
General Programming Tips  ...........................................................38
Programming Conventional Channels ...............................................40
1. Select a Channel to Program  ....................................................40
2. Enter the Frequency  ..................................................................40
3. Assigning a Text Tag .................................................................41
Setting the Delay  ...........................................................................41
Setting the Subaudible Tone Option  .............................................41
Setting Beep Alert ..........................................................................42
Setting the Attenuator  ....................................................................42
Changing the Frequency Step  .......................................................43
Setting the Modulation Mode  .........................................................43
Setting Priority Channels  ...............................................................44
Programming Trunked Systems  ........................................................45
Setting Trunking Delay  ..................................................................46
Using I-Call (Motorola and EDACS only)  ......................................46
Turning I-Call On and Off for ID Search  ....................................46
Turning I-Call On for ID Scan  ....................................................47
Setting Priority Talkgroups (Motorola and EDACS only) ...............47
Multi-Track .....................................................................................47
Multi-Track Operational Details  .................................................48
Programming Motorola Systems  .......................................................49
Using Control Channel Programming  ............................................49
Programming Type 2/Digital 800 and 900 MHz Systems  .............50
Programming Type2/Digital VHF and UHF Systems  ....................50
Programming Type I and IIi Hybrid Systems .................................51
Toggling the Status Bit  ..................................................................52
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							Toggling End Code Detect  ............................................................53
Programming EDACS Systems .........................................................54
Programming EDACS Channels  ...................................................54
Setting EDACS Emergency Alert  ..................................................55
Setting EDACS Decimal Mode  ......................................................55
Programming APCO 25 Systems  ......................................................56
Setting APCO 25 Sound Quality  ...................................................56
Programming LTR Systems  ..............................................................58
Programming Talkgroups  ..................................................................59
Storing Known Talkgroups  ............................................................59
Storing Found Talkgroups  .............................................................59
Deleting Stored Talkgroup ID’s ......................................................60
Adding a Text Tag to an ID List  ....................................................60
Seeing Talkgroup Activity  ..............................................................60
Using the Remote Interface ...............................................................61
PC Control Mode  ...........................................................................61
Cloning Scanner Settings  ..............................................................61
Care and Maintenance  ......................................................................63
General Use ...................................................................................63
Location .........................................................................................63
Cleaning .........................................................................................63
Repairs ..........................................................................................63
Birdies ............................................................................................63
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................64
Specifications......................................................................................66
Glossary of Terms  .............................................................................67
Appendix ............................................................................................71
One Year Limited Warranty  ...............................................................81
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							1
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 FCC
rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This scanner generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this scanner does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the scanner on and off, you are
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
•Increase the separation between the scanner and the
receiver
This device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: 1) This device may not
cause harmful interference, and 2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
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							Scanning Legally
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different
groups, including police and fire departments, ambulance
services, government agencies, private companies, amateur
radio services, military operations, pager services, and wire
line (telephone and telegraph) service providers. It is legal to
listen to almost every transmission your scanner can receive.
However, there are some transmissions that you should never
intentionally listen to. These include:
•Telephone conversations (cellular, cordless, or other private
means of telephone signal transmission)
•Pager transmissions
•Any scrambled or encrypted transmissions
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act
(ECPA), you are subject to fines and possible imprisonment
for intentionally listening to, using, or divulging the contents of
such a conversation unless you have the consent of a party to
the conversation (unless such activity is otherwise illegal).
This scanner has been designed to prevent the reception of
cellular telephone transmissions and the decoding of
scrambled transmissions. This is done to comply with the
legal requirement that scanners be manufactured so they are
not easy to modify to pick up these transmissions. Do not
open your scanner’s case to make any modifications that
could allow it to pick up transmissions that are illegal to
monitor. Modifying or tampering with your scanner’s internal
components or using it in a way other than as described in
this manual could invalidate your warranty and void your FCC
authorization to operate it.
In some areas, mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or
requires a permit. Check the laws in your area. It is also illegal
in many areas (and a bad idea everywhere) to interfere with
the duties of public safety officials by traveling to the scene of
an incident without authorization.
Uniden®
and Bearcat®
are registered trademarks of Uniden
America Corporation.
TrunkTracker is a proprietary trademark of Uniden America
Corporation.
Other trademarks used throughout this manual are the
property of their respective holders.
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							Introduction
The BC296D APCO 25 Digital Trunking Scanner connects
you to the exciting world of scanning. Capable of scanning
conventional frequencies, analog trunking systems, and the
most popular digital trunking systems, it is a great all-in-one
solution to your scanning needs.
Here is a brief list of some of the systems you can monitor
with your BC296D:
•Motorola Type I, II, IIi Hybrid, and APCO 25 Phase 1 Digital
Systems (including 3600 bps and 9600 bps control channel
systems) EDACS and EDACS SCAT trunking systems used
by police, fire, ambulance, and other local and state public
safety agencies as well as utilities and other businesses.
•LTR trunking systems used by local businesses and a few
public safety agencies.
•Conventional Digital APCO 25 frequencies
•CB, GMRS, FRS, Marine, and other 2-way radios used by
families, truckers, and community groups
•Business Band frequencies used nationwide
•Amateur Radio frequencies used by licensed radio opera-
tors to report emergency weather conditions, experiment
with new communications methods, or just to chat.
•Local and national government agencies
•Civil and military aircraft
•FM and TV Broadcast channels
•NOAA Weather Radio
•And much, much more!
The table below lists the frequency ranges, the default mode
(AM, FM, or Wideband FM), and the default frequency step
for each range.
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Frequency RangeMode Step (MHz)(kHz)25.0000 - 27.9950 AM 528.0000 - 53.9900 FM 1054.0000 - 71.9500 WFM 5072.0000 - 75.9950 FM 576.0000 - 87.9500 WFM 5088.0000 - 107.9000 WFM 100108.0000 - 136.9750 AM 25137.0000 - 161.9950 FM 5
162.0000 - 173.9875 FM 12.5
Frequency RangeMode Step (MHz)(kHz)174.0000 - 215.9500 WFM 50216.0000 - 224.9950 FM 5225.0000 - 399.9500 AM 50400.0000 - 512.0000 NFM 12.5806.0000 - 823.9875 NFM 12.5849.0125 - 868.9875 NFM 12.5894.0125 - 956.0000 NFM 12.51240.0000 - 1300.0000 NFM 12.5
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							In addition, here are a few more of the many features your
scanner has. To get the most from your scanner, be sure to
review this entire manual.
•APCO Project 25 Phase 1 Compatible – works on the
latest 9600 bps systems, including systems that use C4FM
and CQPSK modulation.*
•Four-line, 16-character, Alpha Display – makes it easy for
you to see who is talking by displaying the assigned text tag
instead of just a frequency or talkgroup ID number.
•Automatic Digital Detect– allows the scanner to switch to
digital voice decoding when it detects valid APCO 25 data
without any special programming.
•1000 Channels – lets you store frequencies in 10 banks of
100 channels each.
•1000 Talkgroup ID’s – lets you store 10 groups of 10 ID’s
each per bank.
•Multi-System Tracking – scans conventional and trunking
systems at the same time.
•Included PC Programming Software and Cable – makes
programming your scanner much easier. Full-featured
software included (no registration needed).
•10 Priority Channels – switches to the channel you assign
as priority if there is activity, so you won’t miss a thing.
•Priority Talkgroups – increases the priority of selected
talkgroups so the scanner is more likely to switch to them if
there is activity.
•Priority Plus Scanning – lets you scan only those
channels you have selected as priority channels.
•CTCSS and DCS Squelch Modes – prevents interference
from stations not using the mode you select; search mode
displays the CTCSS or DCS tone being used by the
received station.
•Preprogrammed Service Search – makes it easy to find
interesting frequencies used by public safety, news media,
TV broadcast, weather, amateur radio, FRS, GMRS, special
low power, railroad, aircraft, marine, and racing services.
•Data Skip – automatically skips frequencies that have a
constant-level transmission such as used on data channels
for some systems, paging systems, and internally generated
birdies.
*Note:Performance on digital systems can vary due to signal quality,
multipath interference, and cellular interference. Unlike analog
trunking, where you can hear the audio with some interference mixed
in, interference in a digital system completely blocks the signal. If you
do not get good digital reception, try adjusting your location or your
antenna until reception improves.
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