Uniden Bc796d Trunk Tracker Scanner Owners Manual

							Typical Mounting Methods
The BC796D can be conveniently mounted on a table, bulkhead, overhead, or any other
desired location (refer to figure below for typical mounting methods).
Caution: Make sure there are no hidden electrical wires or other items behind the desired
location before proceeding. Check that free access for mounting and cabling 
is available.
Mounting the Scanner in Your Vehicle
Before you mount the scanner, make sure you have all the necessary materials. Then confirm
that the scanner fits your vehicle’s mounting area. This unit requires a mounting area of 2-3/8
inch high by 6-15/16 inch wide by 6-9/16 inch deep (61 x 176.5 x 167 mm).
Caution: Be sure to avoid obstructions behind the mounting surface.
Follow these steps to mount the scanner in your vehicle.
1. Choose a mounting location, then use the supplied 
mounting bracket as a template to mark the positions for
the mounting screw holes.
2. In the marked positions, drill holes slightly smaller than 
the supplied screws.
3. Attach the mounting bracket to the mounting location
using the supplied screws and lock washers.
4. Attach the scanner to the mounting bracket using the
supplied mounting knobs.
5. Connect the antenna’s cable to the 
ANT. connector on
the back of the scanner.
Note: If the antenna cable’s connector does not fit in the ANT.
connector, you might also need a Motorola-to BNC 
antenna plug adapter (available at a local 
electronics store).
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•Table top mount•Bulkhead mount•Overhead mount 
						

							Applying Power for Vehicle Installation
You can power your scanner using either the supplied DC power cord or your vehicle’s
cigarette lighter socket using DC cigarette lighter power cord.
Caution: You must use a power source that supplies 13.8 V DC and delivers at least 
700 mA. Your standard 12 V car battery should be sufficient. The cord
connector’s center tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit the scanner’s
DC 13.8 Vjack. The supplied DC power cord meets these specifications. Using a
power cord that does not meet these specifications could damage the scanner or
the adapter.
•Always connect the adapter or DC power cord to the scanner before you connect it to the
power source. When you finish, disconnect the adapter or DC power cord from the power
source before you disconnect it from the scanner.
•For added safety and to protect your scanner, 
disconnect the cable from your vehicle battery’s 
negative (-) terminal before you begin.
Follow these steps to connect the supplied DC power cord.
1. Connect the power cord’s black wire to a chassis ground, such
as a metal screw attached to a metal part of the vehicle’s frame. Be sure that the screw
is not insulated from the frame by a plastic part.
2. Connect the power cord’s red wire (with in-line fuse) to a source
of voltage that turns on and off with the ignition switch, such as
a spare accessory terminal in your vehicle’s fuse box.
3. Insert the power cord’s barrel plug into the 
DC 13.8 Vjack
on the back of the scanner.
4. Reconnect the cable to the vehicle battery’s negative (-)
terminal.
To power the scanner from a vehicle’s 12 V power source
(such as a cigarette-lighter socket), you need a cigarette-lighter
adapter.
To connect an optional DC cigarette-lighter power cable, insert
its barrel plug into the 
DC 13.8 Vjack on the back of the scanner, then plug the power cable
into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket.
Note: If you use a cigarette-lighter power cable and your vehicle’s engine is running, you
might hear electrical noise from the engine while scanning. This is normal.
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							Desktop Installation
You can place this scanner on a desk, shelf, or table to use it as a base station.
1. Flip up the feet for desk installation.
2. Extend the antenna to full vertical position. 
Adjust the angle for best reception.
Applying Power Using Standard AC Power
To power the scanner from an AC outlet, use the provided AC
adapter with a 5.5 mm outer diameter/2.1mm inner diameter tip.
Caution: You must use a Class 2 power source that supplies 13.8 V DC and delivers at
least 700 mA. The cord connector’s center tip must be set to positive and its plug
must fit the scanner’s 
DC 13.8 Vjack. Using an adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the scanner or the adapter.
•Always connect the AC adapter to the scanner before you connect it to AC power. When
you finish, disconnect the adapter from the AC power before you disconnect it from 
the scanner.
1. Insert the adapter’s barrel plug into the 
DC 
13.8 V
jack on the back of the scanner.
2. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet.
Note: Use only the AC adapter supplied with
your scanner.
Connecting an External Speaker
In a noisy area, an external speaker (available
at a local electronics store) positioned in the
right place might provide more comfortable
listening.
Plug the speaker cable’s 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) plug into your scanner’s 
EXT. SP.jack.
Note: Connecting an external speaker 
disconnects the scanner’s 
internal speaker.
Connecting an Earphone
For private listening, you can connect an
earphone with a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) plug to the 
EXT. SP. jack on the back of the scanner. Be very careful as damage to your hearing
can result if the VOLUME control is not set to the lowest level first.
See below for
Listening Safely instructions. (Your local electronics store should carry a wide selection of
earphones.) Once the earphone is connected, it will automatically disconnects the internal
speaker.
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1
3
.
8
V 
						

							Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone or headphones.
•
Do not use the earphone to listen to the WX alert siren test or when in SAME Alert
mode. The alert tones volume is not adjustable and damage to your hearing could
occur.
•Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high volume listening can lead to
permanent hearing loss.
•Set the 
VOLUMEto the lowest setting before you begin listening. After you begin listening,
adjust the 
VOLUMEto a comfortable level.
•Once you set the 
VOLUME, do not increase it. Over time, your ears adapt to the volume
level, so a volume level that does not cause discomfort might still damage your hearing.
Connecting the Clone Cable
You can transfer the programmed data to and from another BC796D scanner using a
RS232C Cable (9 pin to 9 pin) (not supplied). Connect the cable between each scanner’s
REMOTEjacks. See Clone Mode on page 73. You can also upload or download the
programmed data to or from a PC using an optional PC interface kit available through your
local electronics store.
Connecting the Tape Recorder
You can use a standard tape recorder or a VOX (Voice Operated Control) recorder. To
connect the recorder to the scanner, connect a cable with a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) plug from the
tape recorder’s remote jack to the 
TAPE OUTjack on the back of the scanner. (Your local
electronics store should carry a wide selection of cables and tape recorders.)
Remember!
•You must mark a channel, ID, talkgroup, or bank for Recording in order for this feature to
work. 
•This feature does not work if your scanner is set with 
MUTE  ON.
To set the record for the channel.
2:SCAN  OPTION→1:CONVENTIONAL→select the channel number, then press E.
→8:RECORD→1:ON
To set the record for the search.
1:SERVICE  OPTION→:CHAIN  SEARCH→6:RECORD→1:ON
To set the record for talkgroup ID.
2:SCAN  OPTION→2:TRUNK→select the bank, then press E→3:TALK  GROUP
→select ID LIST, then press E→3:RECORD→1:ON
To set the record for ID Searching (see “Searching for Active Talkgroups”),
2:SCAN  OPTION→2:TRUNK-> select the bank, then press E→5:RECORD→
1:ON
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							Basic Operation
This section is your main reference for using the scanner once you have programmed
conventional and trunked systems. Note that there are some slight differences to some
functions depending on whether you are trying to affect conventional operation or trunked
operation. Be sure to refer to the appropriate section depending on the mode you are using.
Turning On the Scanner
Turn the VOLUME control clockwise out of the detent position. The scanner automatically
starts scanning. Since there are no frequencies programmed in your scanner initially, you
may not receive any signals. Once you set the squelch and program some frequencies, you
will begin hearing conversations regularly.
Setting the Squelch
To set the squelch, you must be in the hold mode, and you should not be receiving a signal
on your scanner.
1. Press 
/HOLD until you do not hear a signal.
2. Make sure that the 
VOLUME is set to a comfortable listening
level.
3. Think of the Squelch Control as a gate. Turn the 
SQUELCH
control fully counterclockwise. This raises the “Squelch Gate” so
high that only very strong signals can get through.
4. Turn 
SQUELCH clockwise until you hear a hiss. This lowers the
“Squelch Gate” so that everything gets through – noise, weak
signals, medium signals and strong signals.
5. Turn 
SQUELCH back counter-clockwise just until the hiss stops.
Now the “Squelch Gate” allows only clear signals through.
Note: For Trunk Scanning, a good squelch setting is critical. The
recommended setting is midpoint. If you set the squelch too
high, the scanner might not reliably stop on the control
channel.
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STRONG SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
WEAK SIGNALS
NOISE
STRONG SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
WEAK SIGNALS
NOISE
STRONG SIGNALS
MEDIUM SIGNALS
WEAK SIGNALS
NOISE 
						

							Using the Menu
Many of your scanner’s functions are accessed through its menu system. For complete
information about a menu option, see the section referencing its use.  A complete list of the
menu structure is included in the back of this manual. To select a menu item, first press
MENUto go to the first-level menu. Then, either press the number key corresponding to the
option you want to select, or use the scroll bar to highlight the option then press 
E.
To back up a menu level, press 
MENU.
Notes:•To change a setting that affects either a specific bank or channel, first select a
channel within the bank or the channel that you want to modify.
•To check the settings for a channel, press and hold 
MENUfor 2 seconds.
In this manual, we represent navigation through the menu with the following nota-
tion:
MAIN  MENU→SUB  MENU  1→SUB  MENU  2
For example to access the DIMMER LIGHT option, the notation is:
3:SYSTEM  OPTION →1:DIMMER 
To access this option, press MENU, then scroll to each menu option and press E.
Or, press 
MENU, 3, 1.
•Some menu items are not numbered. To access these options, you must manual-
ly navigate to the selection using the scroll bar.
Manually Selecting a Channel
To manually select a channel, press /HOLD, the channel number, then /HOLDagain.
The scanner displays the information stored in that channel.
Notes:•If the channel contains trunked system information, frequency data is not dis-
played.
•If you are trunk scanning, you need to first press 
TRUNKto exit the trunking
mode.
Scanning Programmed Channels
Before you can scan, you must first program channels. See the appropriate programming
section for complete instructions.
To begin scanning, simply turn on your scanner or, if the scanner is not currently scanning,
press 
SCAN. The scanner checks each system you have programmed that is not locked out
and stops if there is activity. 
SCANscrolls across the display, right to left.
When the scanner receives a signal on a programmed channel, it stops on that channel and
displays the channel information (text tag, channel number, trunk mode).
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 number that corresponds to the bank. The scanner replaces that bank’s number with a
dash.
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							To unlock locked-out banks, simply press that bank’s number again. The scanner displays
that bank’s number and includes it when scanning.
Note:You cannot lockout all banks. One bank must be unlocked at all times.
Locking/Unlocking Channels
To lock out a channel so that the scanner does not stop on it while scanning, press L/O
when the scanner is stopped on that channel or manually select the channel and press L/O.
To unlock the channel, manually select it and press 
L/Oagain.
Note:You cannot lockout all channels in a bank. One channel must remain unlocked. If you
want to lock out an entire bank, see the previous section.
Restoring All Locked Out Channels
To simultaneously unlock all channels, press /HOLD, then press and hold L/Ofor 2
seconds. The scanner beeps twice and unlocks all channels.
Priority Scanning
When Priority Scan is turned on, the scanner checks the conventional priority channels in
the unlocked banks every 2 seconds or the priority ID’s in trunked systems every 4 seconds
between transmissions. If a signal is present on a priority channel, the scanner switches to
monitor that transmission, even if it had been stopped on another channel. One channel or
talkgroup ID in each bank is designated as the priority.
To turn on Priority Scan, repeatedly press 
PRIuntil the scanner displays PRIORITY ON. To
turn Priority Scan off, repeatedly press 
PRIuntil the scanner displays PRIORITY OFF.
Note:If all priority channels in unlocked banks are locked out, the scanner displays ERROR
when you try to turn on the priority scan mode.
Priority Plus Scanning
To scan only the priority channels in the unlocked banks, while scanning repeatedly press
PRIuntil the scanner displays PRIORITY PLUS. To turn off Priority Plus, repeatedly press
PRIto select PRIORITY ON or PRIORITY OFF.
Note:Priority Plus only operates in the scan mode; not in the hold or search mode.
Listening to the Input Channel
Repeater-based systems, such as public safety conventional, trunked systems, and some
other business and amateur radio systems, use two sets of frequencies – input frequencies
and output frequencies (see “Understanding Scanning”). You normally listen to the output
frequency, as it can generally be received from a much farther range. Sometimes, though,
you might want to know if the mobile unit is nearby. To do this, check the input frequency by
pressing 
RVRS. If you hear the transmission, then the mobile unit is probably within 2 or 3
miles of your location.
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							Dimmer Light Setting
The Dimmer Light setting sets the brightness of the display backlight.
3:SYSTEM  OPTION →1:DIMMER
1:HIGH
Set the backlight to the brightest setting
2:MEDIUM
Set the backlight to be dimmer
3:OFF
Set the backlight off
Controlling How Much Information Appears
The scanner normally displays trunk, frequency, receiving mode, and a signal meter when it
is scanning. This option allows you to reduce how much information your scanner displays.
3:SYSTEM  OPTION →2:SCREEN  MASK
1:ON
Display all information
2:OFF
Display reduced information
Turning the Key Beep On/Off
When Key Tone is turned on, the scanner beeps each time you press a key.
3:SYSTEM  OPTION →3:KEY  BEEP
1:ON
Turn on the key beep
2:OFF
Turn off the key beep
Locking the ENTER key
To prevent accidentally changing channel settings, you can lock the ENTER key.
3:SYSTEM  OPTION →4:ENTER  LOCK
1:ON
The ENTER key is disabled.
2:OFF
The ENTER key operates normally.
Note:The ENTER key operates normally when selecting menu options, even when you set
the option to ON.
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							Disabling the APCO25 Card
If you are not in an area where there is an APCO 25 digital system, you can save power by
disabling the APCO 25 (P-25) card.
3:SYSTEM  OPTION →0:P-25  CARD
1:ENABLE
The card is enabled
2:DISABLE
The card is disabled
Muting All Audio
To mute all audio, press and hold MUTE for 2 seconds. The scanner operates normally, but
no audio sounds from the scanner. To turn audio back on, press and hold MUTE for 2
seconds.
Setting Squelch Mode
You can set the scanner to either stop on any transmission during searching or scanning, or
only stop on transmissions that include a specific CTCSS or DCS subaudible tone (see
“Understanding Scanning” for information about subaudible tones).
3:SYSTEM  OPTION →8:SQ  MODE
1:CSQ
Carrier Squelch mode; the scanner stops on any transmission regardless of whether
a subaudible tone is present.
2:TONE  SQ
The scanner stops on transmissions that include a matching subaudible tone or
have no tone at all. When you select this option, you also need to set the
appropriate tone in either the channel memory or for the search range.
3:TONE  SEARCH
When the scanner stops on a transmission, it will then scan the subaudible tones to
determine the correct setting. When the scanner has found the correct tone, it
flashes the tone on the display. If you store that frequency into a channel, the tone
is also stored.
Trunk Scanning Options
When you are scanning a trunked system, there are several trunking-only options available
to you. This section outlines these options.
Searching for Active Talkgroups (ID Search)
If you want to hear all activity on a system, use the ID Search mode. While scanning a
trunking system, press 
SRCHwhile scanning that system; or, press and hold TRUNKuntil
the scanner flashes 
READY  TO  ID  SEARCH. The BC796D stops on every active
talkgroup, regardless of whether you have programmed it into your scanner. 
Notes:•If you have not yet programmed any ID’s for the system, this is the only mode
available.
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							•In the ID search mode, the scanner displays the alpha tags associated with the
stored talkgroups or NEW for talkgroups you have not stored.
Scanning Only Stored Talkgroups (ID Scan)
To scan only those talkgroups you have stored into your scanner, press SCANwhile
scanning that system; or, press and hold 
TRUNKuntil the scanner displays READY  TO
ID  SCAN
. When one of the talkgroups you have stored becomes active, the scanner
switches to that transmission and displays the ID number and the alpha tag for that talk
group.
Note:You must store at least two talkgroup IDs in the system for ID scanning to work.
Monitoring Talkgroup ID’s
To see all of the ID’s that are active on the system, while monitoring a trunked system press
TRUNK. The scanner stops trunking the system and instead holds on the system’s control
channel. You hear the control data and the scanner displays every talkgroup ID as it
becomes active in the system. To resume trunktracking, press 
TRUNKagain.
Selecting Talkgroup Lists to Scan
When the scanner is in the ID Scan mode, you can select which ID lists you want the
BC796D to scan. First, if you are scanning a Motorola or EDACS system, ensure that you
are in the Scan List mode. Press 
RVRSuntil the scanner displays “List” at the left side of
line 3 in the display when it has not stopped on a talkgroup or on the left side of line 4 if it
has stopped on a talkgroup. Then, press the number corresponding to the ID list you want to
turn on or off. 
Holding on a Single Talkgroup
To hold on an active talkgroup when scanning or searching, press /HOLD. The BC796D
stops scanning and holds on the current trunking system. It only receives transmissions on
the talkgroup that was active when you pressed 
/HOLD
To select a talkgroup to hold on when that talkgroup is not active, you must first program
that talkgroup into an ID list. Then, while scanning that system, use the scroll bar to select
the talkgroup ID to hold on.
To select a talkgroup to hold on when that group is not active, while ID scanning or ID
searching the system, press 
/HOLD. Then, either enter the ID or (if you have stored the
ID) scroll to the ID you want to hold on.
Locking Out Talkgroups
Like conventional scanning, you can lockout unwanted talkgroup traffic on trunking systems.
This is particularly important if you are ID Searching a trunking system, as many systems
share both voice traffic (that you usually want to hear) with some data traffic from water
meter systems, door alarms, traffic signals and other data sources that you don’t want to
hear.
To lockout a talkgroup, press 
L/Owhen the scanner stops on that group. Or, if you have
stored the talkgroup in an ID list, select that ID and press 
L/O.
To unlock a talkgroup stored in a scan list, use the scroll bar to manually select that ID, then
press 
L/Oto unlock it.
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