Uniden Bc796d Trunk Tracker Scanner Owners Manual

							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  ......................................................................................................................................9
Understanding Banks and Channels  ......................................................................................................9
Getting More Information  .........................................................................................................................10
Front and Rear View  ................................................................................................................................11
Display Icons  ........................................................................................................................................12
Included With Your Scanner  ....................................................................................................................13
Setting Up Your Scanner  .........................................................................................................................14
Connecting an Antenna  ........................................................................................................................14
Mounting an Antenna  ...........................................................................................................................14
Optional Antenna  ..................................................................................................................................14
Typical Mounting Methods  ...................................................................................................................15
Mounting the Scanner in Your Vehicle  .................................................................................................15
Applying Power for Vehicle Installation  ................................................................................................16
Desktop Installation  ..............................................................................................................................17
Applying Power Using Standard AC Power  .........................................................................................17
Connecting an External Speaker ..........................................................................................................17
Connecting an Earphone ......................................................................................................................17
Listening Safely  ....................................................................................................................................18
Connecting the Clone Cable  ................................................................................................................18
Connecting the Tape Recorder  ............................................................................................................18
Basic Operation  ........................................................................................................................................19
Turning On the Scanner  .......................................................................................................................19
Setting the Squelch  ..............................................................................................................................19
Using the Menu  ....................................................................................................................................20
Manually Selecting a Channel  ..............................................................................................................20
Scanning Programmed Channels  ........................................................................................................20
Locking/Unlocking Banks  .....................................................................................................................20
Locking/Unlocking Channels  ................................................................................................................21
Restoring All Locked Out Channels  .....................................................................................................21
Priority Scanning  ..................................................................................................................................21
Priority Plus Scanning  ..........................................................................................................................21
Listening to the Input Channel  .............................................................................................................21
Dimmer Light Setting  ............................................................................................................................22
Controlling How Much Information Appears .........................................................................................22
Turning the Key Beep On/Off  ...............................................................................................................22
Locking the ENTER key  .......................................................................................................................22
Disabling the APCO25 Card .................................................................................................................23
Muting All Audio  ...................................................................................................................................23
Setting Squelch Mode  ..........................................................................................................................23
Trunk Scanning Options  .......................................................................................................................23
Searching for Active Talkgroups (ID Search)  ...................................................................................23
Scanning Only Stored Talkgroups (ID Scan)  ...................................................................................24
Monitoring Talkgroup ID’s .................................................................................................................24 
						

							Selecting Talkgroup Lists to Scan  ....................................................................................................24
Holding on a Single Talkgroup  .........................................................................................................24
Locking Out Talkgroups ....................................................................................................................24
EDACS Blockout ...............................................................................................................................25
Unlocking All Talkgroups  ..................................................................................................................25
EDACS Patch Tracking  ....................................................................................................................25
Searching .................................................................................................................................................26
Holding on an Active Frequency  ..........................................................................................................26
Setting Chain Search  ...........................................................................................................................26
Setting Data Skip ..................................................................................................................................26
Skipping Frequencies  ...........................................................................................................................26
Storing Found Frequencies  ..................................................................................................................27
Automatically Storing Frequencies  .......................................................................................................27
Setting Subaudible Tones for Searching ..............................................................................................28
Searching for Subaudible Tones  ..........................................................................................................28
Attenuating All Search Ranges  ............................................................................................................28
Setting DELAY for All Search Ranges  .................................................................................................28
Setting a Search Range  .......................................................................................................................29
Searching for Trunk Systems  ...............................................................................................................29
Service Search  .........................................................................................................................................31
Service Search Skip  .............................................................................................................................31
Using Weather Search and Weather Alert (SAME)  .............................................................................32
Searching for a Weather Broadcast  .................................................................................................32
Using Weather Alert (SAME)  ............................................................................................................32
Testing the Weather Alert  .................................................................................................................33
Programming Bank Information  ...............................................................................................................34
Bank Configuration  ...............................................................................................................................34
Assigning Bank Names  ........................................................................................................................34
General Programming  ..............................................................................................................................35
Deleting Frequencies from Channels  ...................................................................................................35
Transferring Channel Information .........................................................................................................35
Entering Alpha Information  ...................................................................................................................35
General Programming Tips  ..................................................................................................................35
Programming Conventional Channels  .....................................................................................................37
1. Select a Channel to Program  ...........................................................................................................37
2. Enter the Frequency  .........................................................................................................................37
3. Assigning a Text Tag  .......................................................................................................................37
Setting the Delay  ..................................................................................................................................38
Setting the Subaudible Tone Option  ....................................................................................................38
Setting Beep Alert  ................................................................................................................................39
Setting the Attenuator ...........................................................................................................................39
Changing the Frequency Step ..............................................................................................................39
Setting the Modulation Mode ................................................................................................................40
Setting Priority Channels  ......................................................................................................................40
Programming Trunked Systems ...............................................................................................................41
Setting Trunking Delay  .........................................................................................................................42
Using I-Call (Motorola and EDACS only)  .............................................................................................42
Turning I-Call On and Off for ID Search  ...........................................................................................42
Turning I-Call On for ID Scan  ...........................................................................................................42
Setting Priority Talkgroups (Motorola and EDACS only)  .....................................................................43
Multi-Track ............................................................................................................................................43
Multi-Track Operational Details  ........................................................................................................43
Programming Motorola Systems  ..............................................................................................................45
Using Control Channel Programming ...................................................................................................45
Programming Type 2/Digital 800 and 900 MHz Systems  ....................................................................45
Programming Type2/Digital VHF and UHF Systems  ...........................................................................46
Programming Type I and IIi Hybrid Systems  .......................................................................................47 
						

							Toggling the Status Bit  .........................................................................................................................48
Toggling End Code Detect  ...................................................................................................................48
Programming EDACS Systems  ...............................................................................................................49
Programming EDACS Channels  ..........................................................................................................49
Setting EDACS Emergency Alert  .........................................................................................................49
Setting EDACS Decimal Mode  .............................................................................................................50
Programming APCO 25 Systems .............................................................................................................51
Setting APCO 25 Sound Quality  ..........................................................................................................51
Programming LTR Systems  .....................................................................................................................52
Programming Talkgroups  .........................................................................................................................53
Storing Known Talkgroups  ...................................................................................................................53
Storing Found Talkgroups  ....................................................................................................................53
Deleting Stored Talkgroup ID’s ............................................................................................................54
Adding a Text Tag to an ID List  ...........................................................................................................54
Seeing Talkgroup Activity  .....................................................................................................................54
Using the Remote Interface  .....................................................................................................................55
PC Control Mode  ..................................................................................................................................55
Cloning Scanner Settings  .....................................................................................................................55
Care and Maintenance  .............................................................................................................................57
General Use  .........................................................................................................................................57
Location ................................................................................................................................................57
Cleaning ...............................................................................................................................................57
Repairs .................................................................................................................................................57
Birdies ...................................................................................................................................................57
Troubleshooting .........................................................................................................................................58
Specifications ............................................................................................................................................60
Glossary of Terms  ....................................................................................................................................61
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................64
One Year Limited Warranty ......................................................................................................................74 
						

							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. 
						

							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 BC796D 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 BC796D:
•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 utili-
ties 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 commu-
nity groups
•Business Band frequencies used nationwide
•Amateur Radio frequencies used by licensed radio operators 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 
						

							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 – 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.
•
SAME Weather Alert with FIPS– lets you set your scanner to listen for a SAME event
code from the local weather service; sounds an alert and displays the text description for
any alert received. FIPS programming lets you restrict the alerts to one county.
•
Turbo Search – searches for activity on frequencies at up to 300 steps per second (in the
5 kHz step ranges).
•
Scanner Clone Mode – lets you connect your scanner directly to another scanner to
clone all channels and settings.
*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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