Uniden Bc796d Trunk Tracker Scanner Owners Manual

Using this Manual
To get the most from this manual, review the contents to become familiar with the basic
functions available. If you are new to scanning or trunktracking, be sure to read the
“Understanding Scanning” section for a quick background on the technology behind the
hobby. 
The first thing you’ll need to do is plug the AC charger into the scanner. See “Setting Up
Your Scanner” if you need any help doing this.
Next, you’ll want to listen to see what you can hear with your scanner. Install the...

Understanding Scanning
This section provides you with the 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
to get the most from your BC796D.
Conventional Scanning
Conventional scanning is a relatively simple concept. Each group of users in a conventional
system is assigned a single frequency (for simplex systems) or two frequencies (for repeater
systems) to use. Any time one of them transmits, their transmission...

Trunked Scanning
While conventional scanning worked great while there were only a few groups wanting to
use the frequencies, with the advent of smaller, lower-cost radios more and more agencies
and businesses wanted to take advantage of the utility of 2-way radio. As a result, the bands
that were used most became full, so new users were not able to take advantage of the
technology as quickly as they wanted.
Trunking solved this frequency shortage by allowing multiple groups to use the same set of...

One big difference you will notice with digital versus analog transmissions, is that with
analog systems, you might be able to hear weak signals interspersed with hissing. As you
move further away from the system, the interference gradually increases until you are
unable to make out the transmission. With digital systems, the cutoff point is much more
abrupt. You might have a small area where partial decoding occurs...in which case you will
hear partial and garbled audio. However, once the scanner is...

LTR Trunking
LTR®
(Logic Trunked Radio) systems are trunking systems used primarily by  business or
private communications service providers, such as taxicabs, delivery trucks, and repair
services. These systems encode all control information as digital subaudible data that
accompanies each transmission, so there is no separate control channel. Users on an LTR
system are assigned to specific talkgroups, which are identified by the radio as six digit
numbers. These numbers are in the form AHHUUU, where:...

Getting More Information
By itself, this manual really only provides part of what you need to know to have fun
scanning – how to program and use the scanner. The two supplied Conventional and
Trunking frequency guides will give you a good head start on the other part of what you
need to know – what frequencies have interesting content. You can also find a wealth of
information on the Internet...check out scanners.uniden.com for the latest frequency
information in your area.
In addition, you can contact...

Front and Rear View
11
1. Volume/Squelch Control
2. VFO/Select
Channel/Frequency Control
3. Scan Key (
SCAN)
4. Service Key (
SRVC)
5. Display
6. Resume Key ( )
7. Hold/Up/Manual Key (
/HOLD)
8. Numeric Keypad
9. Menu/Bank Key (
MENU)
RSM
CHAN/FREQ
VFO/SELECT 
PUSH
SQUELCH
SCAN
SRVC
SRCH
MENUVOLUME
HOLD
LIMIT
TRUNK
L/OPRITRNFRMUTE MANUAL
BACK
MODE
BC796D1000CHANNELRSM
123
456
78
09
E
1-100
301-400
601-700
RVRS101-200
401-500
701-800
901-1000201-300
501-600
801-900
SELECT
134 5 6
78
910 11 12 13 14 15 16...

Display Icons
12
                          DESCRIPTION
Priority Channel Indicator
Lock Out  Mode Indicator
Scan/Search Direction Indicator
Chain Search Mode Indicator
Service Search Mode Indicator
Scan Mode Indicator
ID Scan Mode Indicator
ID Search Mode Indicator
Channel Type
Conventional Type
Trunk Type
Motorola Tracking Type
LTR Tracking Type
EDACS Tracking Type
Control Channel Data
Voice Channel Data
Digital Communications
P25: APCO Project 25
Receiving Mode Indicators
Signal MeterICON
P
L/O
SRCH...

Included With Your Scanner
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 Time, Monday
through Friday.
• BC796D Scanner
• AC Adapter (AD 580D)
• Cigarette Cord
• DC Cord
• Mounting Bracket
• Telescopic Antenna
• Operating Guide
• Trunk Tracker Frequency Guide 
• Other Printed Material
• BC796D SS CD-ROM
13 

Setting Up Your Scanner
Connecting an Antenna
You must install an antenna before you can operate the scanner. You have been provided a
standard telescopic antenna that works well with this scanner, but you may want to 
purchases another type to increase the range. To connect the telescopic antenna, simply
connect it to the BNC type ANT. connector on the rear of the scanner. You can purchase a
variety of scanner antennas for both mobile and base station available at a local electronics
store. Choose the...