Easier to Read BCT15-X Scanner Manual

Here we go again. Uniden has put out this fabulous scanner that will do a multitude of scanning achievement and you are here to find out how. This scanner is exceptionally harder to program for many (even seasoned programmers) because - the Wiki's a joke and takes forever to load a page, there is no printed manual, and the CD manual is as bad as the Wiki. I have written this manual to keep all of you from giving up hope, loosing you mind, trying to return your scanner, or all of the above. This manual is a culmination of the Wiki, the CD manual, (273 pages!?) of the BCD396XT Complete Reference (still not one for the BCT15-X), and all other previous 'Easier to Read' and Uniden manuals.

There are quite a few improved and new features the BCT15-X has that the BCT15 didn't have. 9,000 channels, control channel data output, negative delay or forced resume (and why did it take 5 years to bring that back?), unit (or radio) IDs can now be viewed with trunking systems, number tags for your systems/channels/searches, Priority IDs, Preemptive Priority on Motorola analog systems, an adjustable priority check interval with an adjustable number of channels to be checked, visual alerts, adjustable volume offset for each channel, GPS control has been narrowed down to the site and group level (vs. system/site level), a Band Scope Mode, Intermediate Frequency Exchange, Key-Safe Mode, and the ability set a system as 'Private'. Fire Tone-Out will now search and find your tones to program (dah). Any of the 3 'Search Keys' can now be assign to a 'Band Scope Mode' or a Tone-Out search as well as any custom or service search. You can edit the default receive bands of the scanner to better and quicker suit your scanning preferences. For the 'techs', you can now enter your Motorola IDs in hexadecimal format. They have increased the max range limit for approaching a POI from 2 to 4 miles. For those of you who use GPS enabled scanning on mountain tops, they increased the max range setting from 50 to 125 miles. For those of you driving a Lamborghini, they've bumped up the max speed limit for approaching a Dangerous Road/Xing from 100 to 200 mph.

Now the annoying stuff. Right out of the box all of the BearTracker features are turned on which is ridiculous if you don't know how to turn them off. The default volume for the BearTracker alert tone is like a smoke detector, way too loud for any poor soul who gets caught in front of the scanner when it goes off. Most of you that have the scanner have rudely found this out. Uniden apparently doesn't think this scanner (or the 346XT) deserves AGC. They also dropped attenuation for BearTracker scanning and the 'Max Priority Scan' feature which limits the number of preset BearTracker priority channels scanned with priority on. Number tags should be viewed with the rest of the channel info so you can just scroll to them. With Key-Safe Mode you are stuck with just the last mode the scanner was in when you turned off the radio (i.e. Close Call, Scan, etc.). (Maybe they should've called it Mode-Safe Mode?). 'Private' systems can be set to Private only with software. Startup Configuration can't be canceled once you start using it; the scanner remembers the last use configuration unless you use another, (still) scans multiple trunking systems relatively slow even with the hold time set to 0 (especially if you have a lot of IDs programmed). You have to hold on a channel first, to attenuate it. There is no 'per channel' delay; you must set the delay for the whole system (all sites, all groups, all channels). Resetting the radio- how many of you can do that on the first try? Updating the firmware (after trying to get it from Uniden's website) is still very complicated. And, the biggest blunder of all was no printed manual (or was it the Wiki?). If you don't need 9,000 channels, negative delay, or the Band Scope mode you're better off with the older BCT-15.

There are better antennas out there to use than the one that comes with the scanner. The stock whip isn't fabulous. RS has the Center-Loaded Telescoping Whip for $16 - better for VHF/UHF. The 800MHz Scanner Antenna for $20 - 100% better for 700+ MHz. You may be able to find others on the web but RS is convenient so you can buy it and take it back in the same day if you don't like it. Read the reviews for each at the site. They also have the right-angle adapter for the base models ($5).

I should also mention that Rich Barnett, president of Scanner Master, was kind enough to lend me a BCT15-X so I could write this manual. Without this personal gesture, you would not be reading this. And, thanks to the many people who have posted their valuable insight on the Radio Reference forums and Yahoo groups.

An overview of the features can also be viewed at my Trunking Radio Comparison Chart page.

It is also recommended that you download and install the latest firmware upgrade for the scanners if you don't have it. See checking Firmware Version. Another recommendation is the freeware BCprogtool that allows POI, DRD, and DXG editing and can run with Macintosh operating systems.

For those of you who are new to trunking, dynamic memory, or haven't had a scanner in the last 10 years it is a good idea to read the respective sections on those topics. You really have to know how trunking works in order to program a trunking system. It won't do you any good to try to program a trunking system unless you know what the radio needs and is going to do with the data (control channel, IDs, LCN order, etc.).

I have included links to other information in the Wiki (not relevant to the operation of the scanner) so you can still find the rest of the info such as specs, weather event codes, deciphering trunked systems, etc. and concentrate on the programming and operation of the scanner.

I hereby absolve myself from anything that happens to anyone or the scanner as a result of the information you will be reading. You are welcome to copy and/or print these pages and use them in the scanning hobby as long as you don't change them or charge/accept money for them. I have tried the best I can to make sure everything is accurate here but if I missed a step or you see something that's obviously wrong, please email me.

Check back often as this document will be updated and revised from time to time.

Main Features

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Trunk Tracker III Operation - follows conversations on analog Motorola, EDACS, EDACS SCAT, and LTR trunked radio systems, including systems in VHF, UHF, 800 MHz, and 900 MHz bands.

BearTracker System - alerts you when channels normally used by public safety systems and 'mobile extenders' are in use nearby.

State-by-State Preprogrammed Channels - lets you easily monitor activity on local Police, Department of Transportation, and Highway Patrol frequencies when you travel without having to program any channels.

Alert Mute/Plus Scan - lets you listen to alerts only from BearTracker systems or groups, Close Call, Weather (WX), and GPS.

Dynamically Allocated Channel Memory - organized into 'Systems', 'Sites', (within trunking systems), 'Groups' (within systems), and channels (within groups). Up to 500 systems, 1,000 total sites (max 256 per system), 20 groups per system, and 25,000 channels (500 max IDs or 1,000 frequencies per system).

Multi-Site Trunking - lets you program the scanner to share trunked system IDs across multiple sites without duplicating IDs, and turn each site on and off independently so that you can select the best site to scan for your area.

Control Channel Only Scanning - allows you to enter just the control channels to trunktrack a Motorola system and the scanner will find the voice channels.

System/Channel Number Tagging - number tags allow you to quickly navigate to a specific system or channel. You can assign number tags to systems, channels, service searches, and custom search ranges. You can also assign a number tag to the 'Close Call' system created during 'Close Call Auto Store' and the temporary system 'Close Call Hits'.

Band Scope Mode - Band Scope mode is a special type of search mode where the scanner displays the strength of any signal it finds.

Priority/Priority Plus Scan - priority channels let you keep track of activity on your most important channels while monitoring other channels for transmissions and you can scan just the priority channels.

Priority ID Scan - allows you to set priority to talkgroup IDs.

Preemptive Priority - a feature that works on Motorola systems. If the Motorola system has priority channels, and you assign one of those talkgroups as priority in the scanner, then when one of those channels becomes active, the scanner will jump to it even if it is on a different system voice channel (i.e. it preempts your current reception).

EDACS ESK Support - provides the ability to monitor analog talkgroups on those systems.

Adjustable Scan/Search Delay/Resume - set a delay up to 30 seconds or a forced resume up to 10 seconds. (per system or search).

Intermediate Frequency Exchange - changes the IF used for a selected channel/frequency to help avoid image and other mixer-product interference.

Individual Channel Volume Offset - allows you to adjust the volume offset for each channel.

Control Channel Data Output - allows the analysis of control channel data without the need to perform invasive modifications to the scanner.

Private Systems - lets you flag a system so that it cannot be read out of the scanner or modified (only with optional software).

Key Safe Mode - lets you hand the scanner to a novice user and prevent programming from being modified.

Start-up Configuration - you can program each of your conventional systems, trunked sites, service searches, or custom searches with a 'Startup Key' (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those systems/sites/searches assigned to the key will be enabled for scan (groups are not affected).

Location-Based Scanning - using an optional GPS unit you can scan your systems based on a set range from your current location.

GPS (Location-Based) Alerts - notifies you when you are near an area you have programmed as a dangerous road, dangerous intersection, or a general point of interest.

Preprogrammed Systems - your scanner is preprogrammed with several conventional and digital agencies covering police, fire, and ambulance.

Search with Scan Operation - lets you include and/or assign quick keys to selected service/custom search ranges during scan operation.

100 Quick Keys - you can scan conventional systems/trunked sites, groups, and searches by assigning them to quick keys.

3 Search Keys - you can assign 3 of the number keys to start a search range, Tone-Out search, or view the 'Band Scope' mode.

Temporary Lockout - automatically unlock temporarily locked out channels/systems/searches/locations when you cycle power.

CTCSS/DCS Tone Decode - decodes and displays Continuous Tone Code Squelch System tones being transmitted and plays Digital Coded Squelch being received.

CTCSS/DCS Search - lets you search for CTCSS or DCS tones when it finds an active frequency in search and close call modes.

Close Call RF Capture Technology - lets you set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions. Close Call 'Do-not-Disturb' checks for Close Call activity in between channel reception so active channels are not interrupted.

Close Call Temporary Store - temporarily stores and scans the last 10 Close Call hits in the 'Hits with Scan' system.

Fire Tone-Out Standby/Tone Search - lets you set the scanner to alert you if a two-tone sequential page is transmitted. You can set up to 10 settings (transmit frequency, tone frequencies) then select one for standby monitoring. The scanner will also search and display unknown tones.

Frequency/ID Auto Search and Store - the scanner can be set to automatically store all active frequencies from a service or limit search in a conventional system you select or automatically store all new talk group IDs into a trunked system you select.

Custom Alerts - you can program your scanner to alert you when, a channel is received, you receive a Close Call hit, a talkgroup ID is transmitted with an emergency alert, you get close to a POI (Point of Interest)/Dangerous Road/Dangerous Crossing, or you receive a Tone-out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, 15 volume settings, 7 colors, and 2 color patterns.

Repeater Reverse - allows the scanner to try to switch to the repeater if an input frequency is found.

Broadcast Screen - allows the scanner to ignore hits on known broadcast frequencies including pager frequencies in search and Close Call modes. You can also program up to 10 custom frequency ranges that the scanner will ignore.

Text Tagging - you can name each system, site, group, channel, talk group ID, custom search range, location, Tone-out, and SAME group, using up to 16 characters per name.

SAME Weather Alert/Priority - (with programmable FIP codes) lets your scanner alert you when a SAME weather alert is transmitted on a NOAA weather channel. The scanner also displays the alert type.

Adjustable Hold (Scan) Time per System/Search - allows you to adjust the length of time spent scanning each system or search.

Record-Out Jack - lets you can connect an output jack to a VOX controlled recorder or PC sound input to record the received audio on selected channels, systems, Close Call, Fire Tone-Out, and searches.

DIN-E and ISO Vehicle Mountable - using the (optional) DIN-E sleeve or a standard ISO technique, the scanner can be easily mounted in most vehicles.

Dimmer Circuit - a special wire lets you connect to the dimmer circuit of your vehicle so the vehicle's dimmer also dims the scanner's lighting.

PC Control/Clone - you can transfer data to and from your scanner or another scanner and your personal computer, and control the scanner using a computer.

Multi-Level Display and Keypad light - makes the display and keypad easy to see in dim light using 7 color options and three light levels.

Signal Strength Meter - shows the signal strength for the more powerful transmissions.

12 Service Searches - frequencies are preset in separate marine, railroad, air, CB radio, racing, FM broadcast, public safety, military air, FRS/GMRS, news, amateur radio, and special (itinerant) searches to make it easy to find specific transmissions.

10 Custom Searches - lets you program up to 10 custom search ranges.

Quick Search - lets you search from the currently-tuned frequency or channel or enter a frequency and start searching.

Automatic Channel Setup - accepts frequencies on any valid channel step, even if it does not fall within the band plan's default steps.

Configurable Band Defaults - allows you to set the step (5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz) and modulation (AM, FM, NFM, WFM, or FMB) for 31 different bands.

Attenuator - you can set the scanner's attenuator to reduce the input strength of strong signals by about 20 dB per channel, search band, close call band, or trunked system.

Duplicate Frequency Alert - alerts you if you try to enter a duplicate name or frequency already stored in the scanner.

Search Lockouts - you can lock out up to 500 frequencies (250 temporary, 250 permanent) in search or close call search.

Understanding Dynamic Memory

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The scanner's memory is organized in an architecture called Dynamic Allocated Channel memory. This type of memory is organized differently and more efficiently than the bank/channel architecture used by traditional scanners. Dynamic Allocated design matches how radio systems actually work much more closely and make it easier to determine how much memory you have used and how much you have left. No memory space is wasted.

Since you can only program one trunking system per bank in a traditional scanner, and let's say you only have 10 banks, you can only store 10 trunking systems. Also, since some trunked systems might have hundreds of talk groups you wish to monitor, you might have to enter those systems into multiple banks in order to monitor all the ID's.

Instead of being organized into separate banks and channels, the scanner's memory is contained in a pool. You build the systems and groups then use as much memory as you need in the pool to store frequencies, talk group ID's, and alpha tags. With all previous scanners, you selected banks to scan that had channels stored in them. With this scanner, you select conventional 'Systems' (or trunking 'Sites') to scan that have channel 'Groups' stored within the 'Systems'. Conventional systems have frequency groups and trunking systems have ID groups. For trunking systems, you have to create at least 1 'Site' (Motorola and EDACS only) or multiple sites first that hold the trunking frequencies for each site. The ID channel 'Groups' stored within the trunking systems can be used with all the sites.

You can store up to 20 'Groups' per 'System' with up to 1000 frequencies or 500 IDs in each 'Group'. You can have 1000 total channels per conventional system and up to 256 'Sites' if you have enough memory. You can have a maximum of 500 Systems, 1000 Sites, and 25,000 Channels.

Understanding Quick Keys
There are 100 'System/Site/Search Quick Keys' (0-99) and 10 and 'Group Quick Keys' (0-9).

'Quick Keys' are used to turn conventional systems, trunking sites (not systems), channel groups, and custom/service searches on and off while scanning. This is not the same as locking out or unlocking systems/sites/groups/searches (which you can also do). They are just the number keys on the scanner but once assigned to systems/sites/groups/searches they become the 'Quick Key's. You can program one or more system/site/group/search to any quick key or, program one or more system/site/group/search with no quick key. Any conventional system, Close Call system, trunked site, group, service search, custom search, or 'Quick Save' system/group not assigned to a quick key (and/or not locked out) will be scanned.

My advice is to assign everything to quick keys so you don't have to remember what to turn off/on or what to unlock/lockout. There are no indicators in the display showing systems/sites/groups with no quick key so you won't know if they are being scanned unless you see (or don't see) them scroll by in the display.

Conventional Simplex and Repeater Systems

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Simplex systems use a single frequency for both transmit and receive. Most radios using this type of operation are limited to line-of-sight operation. This type of radio is frequently used at construction job sites, and with inexpensive consumer radios such as GMRS/FRS radios. The range is typically 1-8 miles, depending upon the terrain and many other factors.

Repeater systems use two frequencies: one transmits from the radio to a central repeater; the other transmits from the repeater to other radios in the system. With a repeater based system, the repeater is located on top of a tall building or on a radio tower that provides great visibility to the area of operation. When a user transmits (on an input frequency), the signal is picked up by the repeater and retransmitted (on an output frequency). The user's radios always listen for activity on the output frequency and transmit on the input frequency. Since the repeater is located very high, there is a very large line of sight. Typical repeater systems provide coverage out to about a 25-mile radius from the repeater location.

Understanding CTCSS/DCS

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Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) are two methods used to prevent interference by other radio communications. Your scanner can receive transmissions that use these codes (or more commonly referred to as tone codes).

CTCSS and DCS systems all use some form of coded squelch. Coded squelch techniques involve the transmission of a special 'code' signal along with the audio of a radio transmission. A receiver with coded squelch only activates when the received signal has the correct 'code'. This lets many users share a single frequency, and decreases interference caused by distant transmitters on the same channel. In all major metropolitan areas of the United States, every available radio channel is assigned to more than one user. Public safety radio systems on the same frequency are usually set up at a distance of 40 miles apart, or more. This means that you may hear transmissions from a distant system when your local system is not transmitting. By programming the CTCSS tone for a local channel the scanner will not stop on transmissions from the distant system. With few exceptions, such as the VHF Aircraft and Marine bands, almost every other VHF or UHF radio system uses some form of coded squelch. By far, CTCSS is the most popular mode among non-trunked systems.

For more information visit Radio Reference's respective pages on CTCSS, and DCS.

Understanding Trunking

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Trunking systems let a large group of 2-way radio users (or even different groups of 2-way radio users) efficiently use a set of frequencies. Instead of selecting a specific frequency for a transmission, the user’s radio selects a programmed trunking bank in the system when that user presses their PTT (push to talk) button. The trunking system automatically transmits the call on the first available frequency, and also sends (on a different frequency called a Data or Control channel) a code that uniquely identifies that transmission as a talkgroup ID (or just ID.) So when you are trunktracking a system, you are listening to active IDs transmitting in the system (each using the first available frequency in the system.) Trunking systems in general allocate and use fewer frequencies among many different users.

Since the trunking system might send a call and its response on different frequencies, it is difficult to listen to trunked communications using a conventional scanner. These scanners let you monitor the control channel frequency so you can hear calls and responses for users and more easily "follow" conversations than with a conventional scanner.

This scanner trunktracks the following types of systems:

Motorola Type I
Motorola Type II
Motorola Type IIi Hybrid
Motorola Type II Smartnet
Motorola Type II Smartzone
Motorola Type II Smartzone Omnilink
Motorola Type II VOC

EDACS Standard (Wide)
EDACS Narrowband (Narrow)
EDACS Networked (Wide/Narrow)
EDACS SCAT
EDACS ESK (not ProVoice)
LTR Standard

When you program Motorola frequencies into the scanner, one frequency is the control (or data) channel, and the rest are voice frequencies shared by all the users. There may be 3 or 4 frequencies assigned as (primary or alternate) control channels but only one control channel will be active at a time. These scanners will allow you to program just the Motorola control channels into the trunking system and the voice channels will automatically be found. EDACS systems need all the frequencies for the system programmed and in the correct LCN (Logical Channel Number) order.

The control channel is continually transmitted to the field units and has a sound similar to listening to a boat engine over the phone (in manual mode; you won't hear this when you are trunking the system.) This control channel is also a good check to see if you can trunktrack the system. If you can't hear a control channel when you step through the trunking frequencies (in manual mode), you either don't have all the frequencies or are too far away to receive the control channel and the system. Motorola systems are limited to a maximum of 28 frequencies per system. Ericsson EDACS systems are limited to 25 frequencies per system.

LTR systems work a little differently. This type of system encodes all trunking information as digital subaudible data that accompanies each transmission. LTR systems typically do not have a dedicated control channel. The frequencies also have to be in LCN (Logical Channel Number) order or the correct 'slot' for the system to trunktrack properly. Each repeater has its own controller, and all of these controllers are synchronized together. Even though each controller monitors its own channel, one of the channel controllers is assigned to be a master that all controllers report to. Each of these controllers sends out a data burst approximately every 10 seconds so that the subscriber units know that the system is there. This data burst is not sent at the same time by all the channels, but happens randomly throughout all the system channels. If you listen to the frequencies of an LTR system in manual mode (not trunking), on every channel in the system you will hear this data burst that will sound like a short blip of static like someone keyed up and unkeyed a radio within about 500 msec. LTR systems are limited to 20 frequencies per system.

Trunkscanning is basically scanning IDs that are programmed into ID locations (same concept as frequencies into channels.) You can then trunkscan just the programmed IDs. Trunktracking is searching for all IDs in a system (same concept as searching for frequencies in a band.)

Understanding Multi-Site Trunking

Some Motorola and EDACS systems covering a very large geographic area use multiple antenna sites that each operate on different frequencies and use the same Talk Group ID's for traffic. When programming such a system, you program each site's frequencies into their own site and other settings into the system, then program the channels into channel groups within that system. Each site can have its own quick key, so you can turn each individual site on or off while you scan. Since all sites share all the channels within the system, multi-site trunking is much more efficient than programming each site as a separate system.

Radio Reference.com has an excellent page explaining the various types of trunking systems in more detail here.

Understanding IDs

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IDs are what you see instead of frequencies when you monitor a trunking system.

Motorola IDs come in two formats: Type I and Type II. Each format displays and uses talk group IDs in slightly different ways.

Type I IDs are in the format FFF-SS where FFF is the fleet and SS is the sub-fleet. Type I systems are usually organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets. For example, a valid fleet/subfleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department might be 000-12, where 000 identifies all police IDs and 12 identifies the Detective division. To properly trunk a Type I system, you have to program the fleet map for the system.

Type II IDs are identified by a 5-digit number.

Type I/II hybrid systems use both fleet-subfleet and 5-digit formats for talk group IDs.

EDACS IDs come in two formats: AFS and Decimal.

AFS IDs are in the form AA-FFS where AA is the agency, FF is the fleet, and S is the sub-fleet. EDACS systems are organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets and agencies. For example, a valid agency/fleet/subfleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department in an agency might be 06-101, where 06 identifies the agency (Police), 10 identifies the Police division (East side), and 1 identifies the Detective division.

Decimal IDs are shown as a decimal number from 0 to 2047.

You can find a chart showing Decimal and AFS IDs here: Conversion Chart.

I-Call IDS (Motorola/EDACS only) are direct unit-to-unit transmissions that are not heard by other system users. I-call IDs are usually 6-digit IDs (ex: 700152).

Unit IDS (or Radio IDs) are 8 digit numbers identifying individual radios. Note: To view unit IDs you have to turn the option on in the 'Settings' menu.

LTR IDS are in the format A-HH-UUU where A is the area code (0 or 1), HH is the home repeater (01-20), and UUU is the user ID (000-254).

Terms Used in this Document

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Channel- a programmed frequency or talk group ID location.

Searching- the process of searching for active frequencies in quick search, service, custom search, Close Call search, auto search and store, or close call auto store.

Scanning- the process of stepping through conventional channels in groups, which are in programmed 'systems'.

Trunktracking (ID search mode)- the process of searching for active talk group IDs in trunked systems.

Trunkscanning (ID scan mode)- the process of scanning for active programmed talk group IDs in ID groups, in programmed 'systems'.

You search for frequencies in frequency bands.

You scan programmed channels in groups (in programmed 'systems').

You trunktrack IDs in programmed trunking 'systems'.

You trunkscan programmed IDs in ID groups (in programmed trunking 'systems').

Function Mode- the mode the radio is in when it's waiting for another key press or scroll.

Hold Mode- the mode the radio is in when it’s just on, holding on a system, site, channel, or search.

Menu Mode- used for programming frequencies, IDs, trunking frequencies/systems/sites/groups/locations/fleet maps, and other 'system' settings.

Scan Mode- the mode the radio is in when scanning and/or trunktracking/trunkscanning.

Search Mode- the mode the radio is in while doing a quick search, service search, custom search, Close Call search, Band Scope search, auto search and store, or close call auto store.

GPS Display Mode- the mode the radio is in where you can see location information and information about your position relative to a selected POI (Point of Interest).

GPS Review Location Mode- If you have programmed data for a POI (Point of Interest), Dangerous Crossing, and a Dangerous Road, you can review each set on a screen dedicated to showing just that data.

Tone-Out Mode- the mode the radio is in when it's waiting for paging tones.

Turning on the Scanner and Setting the Squelch

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Note: this applies to a fresh scanner right out of the box or one that has been reset with the preprogrammed systems reloaded.

Rotate VOL clockwise to turn on the scanner and set the volume to around 6-8. The scanner should start scanning one of the preprogrammed states after the welcome screen disappears. Press Hold. Find a comfortable volume level. Rotate the SQ knob counter-clockwise all the way then clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more. Press Hold to resume scanning.

Right away you may want to check these settings in the 'Settings' menu. Set Backlight/Dimmer, Adjust Key Beep, Adjust Contrast, and Set Serial Port (if you plan to upload/download).
See also turning off the BearTracker features to disable some of the default BearTracker features and alerts.

The only things you will be able to scan right out of the box are the preprogrammed states in the scanner. You will, however, be able to use the BearTracker System and do a service search, custom search, weather scan, auto search and store, close call search, or close call auto store.

Navigating the Menu

The scanner's menu lets you select options that let you set up and use the scanner using the MENU key. To select a menu item, rotate the scroll control clockwise or counterclockwise. The currently-selected menu item is highlighted with a bar on the display. When the menu item you want to select is highlighted, press E(Yes) or

(the scroll control) to select it. To back up a level, press MENU. To exit all menus press L/O or SCAN.

Keypad and Knob Controls

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Each of the knobs and keys on the BCT15-X produce several different results depending upon how you activate them. You can, for example, rotate the knobs as well as press them. Some keys provide one operation when briefly pressed while pressing and holding a key or knob gives a different result. Many controls and keys behave differently depending on the mode your radio is in when you use the key or control.

Key

Function(s)

SQ(Squelch)/

/Mute

Turn to adjust the squelch.
Press to toggle temporary Alert Mute on or off in Any Mode.
Press and hold to turn continuous Alert Mute on; press to cancel Alert Mute in Any Mode.
Press

then press SQ to toggle Close Call DND, Close Call Priority, or Close Call Off in Any Mode except Tone-out and GPS.
Press

then press and hold SQ to turn on Close Call Only in Any Mode except GPS.

The blue light flashes with a Close Call hit.
The red light flashes once then stays on for a weather or BearTracker alert. (for about 3 minutes)
The red light flashes once then stays on for a weather alert. (for about 3 minutes?)
The red light stays on for a Dangerous Road/Crossing alert until canceled (locked out).

VOL/Light/State

Turns the scanner on/off and adjusts the volume.
Press

then VOL to select a state in Any Mode.
Press to toggle through the backlight intensities in Any Mode.

(DOT)POL(PRI)

Press to toggle (selected) State frequencies or Dept. Of Transportation frequencies or both, on or off in Scan Mode.
Press to go to Scan Mode in Any Mode.
Press

then POL to toggle Priority On, Priority Plus, Priority Off in Scan Mode.

(

)HP(ALT)

Press to toggle Highway Patrol or BearTracker Operation or both, on or off in Scan Mode.
Press to go to Scan Mode in Any Mode.
Press

then HP(ALT) to toggle 'Alert Plus' on or off in Any Mode except GPS.

GPS(WX)

Press to switch to GPS mode in Any Mode.
Press and hold to store (overwrite) current location (with a GPS device connected) in GPS Display/Review Location Mode.
Press

then GPS(WX) to toggle Weather Alert Priority on/off in Any Mode except GPS.
Press

then press and hold to start Weather Scan in Any Mode except GPS.
Press

then GPS(WX) to switch to Weather Alert in Weather Scan Mode.
Press

then GPS(WX) to switch to Weather Scan in Weather Alert Mode.

MENU

Press to enter menu mode.
Press to return to previous menu.
Press to go to a channel and/or a system number tag after entering.
Press to return to GPS mode in Review Location Mode.
Press

then MENU to go to the 'Edit' menu for the current system in Scan Mode.
Press

then MENU to go to the 'Search for...' menu in Search Mode.
Press

then MENU to go to the 'Close Call' menu in Close Call Only Mode.
Press

then MENU to go to the 'WX Operation' menu in Any Weather Mode.
Press

then MENU to go to the 'Edit' menu for the current POI in GPS Display Mode.
Press

then MENU to go to the 'Tone-out for...' menu in Tone-out Mode.
Press

then MENU to go to the 'Set Bear Tracker' menu if in the BearTracker Mode.

L/O

Press to toggle the lockout status of a channel in Scan Mode.
Press to toggle the lockout status of a frequency in Search Mode.
Press to toggle the lockout status of a location in GPS Review Location Mode.
Press and hold to unlock (and enable) all groups and channels in a system in Scan Hold Mode.
Press and hold to unlock all channels for your State in BearTracker Hold Mode.
Press and hold to unlock all frequencies of all search ranges/Close Call in Search Hold Mode.
Press and hold to unlock all locations of the current type (POI, DRD, or DXG) in GPS Review Location Mode.
Press

then L/O to review and unlock search frequencies in Search/Close Call Only Modes.
Press

then L/O to toggle the lockout status of a conventional system/site/search in Scan Hold Mode.
Press

then Press and hold L/O to unlock (and enable) all systems, groups, channels, and search ranges in Scan Mode.
Press

then Press and hold L/O to unlock all locations of all types (POI, DRD, or DXG) in GPS Review Location Mode.
Press to exit Menu Mode or return to the last mode.

Number Keys

Enter any 3-digit channel number tag then MENU to access a channel in the current system in Scan Hold Mode.
Enter any 3-digit system number tag then .(No) then any 3-digit channel number tag then MENU to access a channel in another system in Scan Hold Mode.
Enter any frequency/ID then Hold to go directly to in Scan/Search Hold Modes.
Press 0-9 to toggle single-digit system/site/search quick keys on or off in Scan Mode.
Press 0-9 to toggle custom searches on or off in Search Mode.
Press 1-7 to toggle Close Call bands on or off in Close Call Only Mode.
Press 4 to move the cursor to the left when editing text.
Press 6 to move the cursor to the right when editing text.
Press

then 0-9 to toggle group quick keys on or off in Scan Mode.
Press

then 1(Srch 1)-3(Srch 3) to turn search keys on in Any Mode except GPS.
Press

then 4(IFX) to toggle intermediate frequency exchange for a channel/frequency in Scan/Search/Weather Hold Modes.
Press

then 5(LVL) to toggle the volume offset for a channel in Scan Hold Mode.
Press

then 6(DISP) to toggle display modes (1, 2, or 3) in Scan Hold Mode.
Press

then 6(DISP) to toggle POI displays in GPS Display Mode.
Press

then 7(ATT) to toggle the attenuator on/off for a conventional channel in Scan Hold Mode.
Press

then 7(ATT) to toggle the attenuator on/off for a trunked site in Scan Hold Mode.
Press

then 7(ATT) to toggle the attenuator on/off in Search/Close Call Only/Tone-Out/Weather Modes.
Press

then press and hold 7(ATT) to toggle global attenuation on/off in Any Hold Mode except GPS.
Press

then press and hold 8(REV) to view the repeater frequency in Scan/Search/Close Call Only Hold Modes.
Press

then 9(MOD) to toggle the modulation for a conventional channel in Scan Hold Mode.
Press

then 9(MOD) to toggle the modulation for a trunked site in Scan Hold Mode.
Press

then 9(MOD) to toggle the modulation for a search/Close Call/Tone-out in Search Mode.

(.)No

Press to cancel an error or warning message.
Press to enter a decimal point after a system number tag.
Press before entering a 2-digit system/site/search quick key to turn on or off in Scan Mode.
Press to enter a decimal point for a frequency while programming.
Press to enter a hyphen when entering an ID while programming.
Press to enter an 'i' when entering an 'I-Call' ID while programming.
Press once to delete current character when editing text.
Press twice to delete all characters when editing text.

E(Yes)

Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode.
Press to store a (blinking) CTCSS/DCS tone in Scan Mode.
Press to store an ID in 'ID Search' mode while scanning a trunked system in Scan Mode.
Press to 'quick store' a frequency in Search/Close Call Only/Weather Modes.
Press to store found tones in Tone-out Search Mode.
Press to enter the Menu mode for the current Tone-Out in Tone-out Mode.
Press to enter the Menu mode for a displayed channel in Scan Mode.
Press to enter 'Review Location' menu in GPS Display Mode.

/Scroll Control

Press to enter Function mode for 4 seconds.
Press and hold to lock Function Mode. Press again to unlock.
Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode.
Turn to scroll to a menu item in Menu Mode.
Turn to select characters when editing text.
Turn to select scan/search direction and to continue scan/search in Scan/Search Modes.
Turn to select channel or frequency in Scan/Search Hold Modes.
Turn to select POIs in GPS Display Mode.
Turn to select locations GPS Review Location Mode.
Turn to temporary lock out an alert in GPS Display Mode.
Turn to select Tone-outs in Tone-out Mode.
Press

then turn

to scroll to systems/sites/searches in Scan Mode.
Press

then turn

to skip to the location that starts with the next letter of the alphabet in GPS Review Location Mode.

Scan/Search

Press to start/continue/resume scanning in Scan/GPS Modes.
Press to start/continue/resume searching in Search Mode.
Press

then Scan/Srch to start a 'quick search' at the current frequency while scanning a conventional system in Scan Mode.
Press

then Scan/Srch to change from 'ID Scan' to 'ID Search' while scanning a trunking site in Scan Mode.

Hold/Resume

Press to hold on a channel, frequency, search, Close Call hit, or Tone-Out search. Press again to resume.
Press to hold in Band Scope Mode.
Press to recall the last Close Call Hit in Close Call Only Mode.
Press and hold to hold on a system in Scan mode. Press and hold to resume.

A Look at the Display

Contents

Conventional Display Mode 1 (Function Mode)	Conventional Display Mode 2
Trunking Display Mode 1	Trunking Display Mode 2
Trunking Display Mode 3	Close Call Auto Store

The display has indicators that show the scanner's current operating status. The display information helps you understand how your scanner operates.

Top Line

appears when you press

to select Function mode in Any Mode.

appears and blinks when you press and hold

to lock Function mode in Any Mode.
HOLD appears in Hold Mode.
L/O appears if the system/site/group/channel/frequency/search/location is locked out in Hold Mode.
shows the system number tag and channel number tag (if programmed) in Function Mode.
PRI appears in priority mode and blinks in priority plus mode in Scan Mode.

appears to show the signal strength of the Receiving channel or frequency.
GPS appears if the scanner is connected to a GPS device and receiving a signal in Any Mode.

2nd Line

shows the name of the currently scanned site or conventional system in Scan Mode.
shows the name of the currently searched custom/service search in Search Mode.
will alternate the conventional system name and channel group name for a conventional system in Receiving or Hold Modes.
will alternate the site name and channel group name for a trunking system in Receiving or Hold Modes.
will alternate the custom search name and system name for a trunking system for a 'C-Ch only Search' in Receiving or Search Hold Modes in display modes 1 and 3.
will alternate the custom search name and 'SID' for a trunking system for a 'C-Ch only Search' in Receiving or Search Hold Modes in display mode 2.

3rd Line

will scroll 'SCAN' (for a conventional system), 'ID SCAN', or 'ID SEARCH' (for a trunked system) and show an up or down arrow to indicate the scan direction in Scan Mode.
will display the search frequency range/channels and an up or down arrow to show the scan direction in Search Mode.
shows the frequency or ID (or text tag if programmed) for a channel in Receiving or Scan Hold Modes.
shows the search frequency (and the channel number for CB, Rail, and FRS/GMRS/MURS service searches) in Receiving or Search Hold Modes.
shows the (with C-Ch only on) in Receiving or Search Hold Modes.

4th Line - Display Mode 1

appears when receiving a conventional priority channel in Receiving or Hold Modes.
shows the acquired control channel frequency of a trunking site in Scan Mode.
shows the modulation and attenuation (if on) of a non-acquired trunked site in Scan Mode.
shows the voice channel of a trunked site in Receiving or Hold Modes.
shows the receive modulation of the conventional channel in Receiving or Hold Modes.
shows the receive modulation of the custom/service search in Search Mode.
ATT appears if the channel/search is attenuated in Receiving or Hold Modes.
shows the tone code (if received) for a conventional frequency if programmed and blinks in CTCSS/DCS search mode in Receiving or Hold Modes.
IFX appears if intermediate exchange is on for the channel in Function Hold Mode.
shows the volume offset for the channel in Function Hold Mode.

4th Line - Display Mode 2

shows the acquired control channel frequency of a trunking site in Scan Mode.
shows the modulation and attenuation (if on) of a non-acquired trunked site in Scan Mode.
shows the ID for a trunking site in Receiving or Hold Modes.
shows the frequency for a conventional channel in Receiving or Hold Modes.
shows the receive modulation of the custom/service search in Search Mode.
ATT appears if the search is attenuated in Receiving or Search Modes.
shows the tone code (if received) for a conventional frequency if programmed and blinks in CTCSS/DCS search mode in Receiving or Hold Modes.
IFX appears if intermediate exchange is on for the channel in Function Hold Mode.
shows the volume offset for the channel in Function Hold Mode.

4th Line - Display Mode 3

shows only the trunking activity indicators for a trunked system in Scan, Receiving, or Hold Modes. Conventional system/search display is the same as Display mode 1.

5th Line

S0-9: shows the first digit of (systems/sites/search assigned to) the currently scanned quick key on the left with the blinking second digit (1-0) on the right in Scan or Receiving Modes.
S0-9: shows the first digit of the system/site/search quick key assigned to the displayed channel on the left with the second digit (1-0) on the right in Function Hold Mode.

a non-blinking number on the right indicates the quick key is enabled waiting to be scanned.
a - (dash) means nothing is assign to the quick key.
an * (asterisk) means the quick key is turned off.

appears if the Close Call 'Priority' feature is on in Any Mode except GPS and Tone-out.

appears if the Close Call 'Do-Not-Disturb' feature is on in Any Mode except GPS and Tone-out.
SCR appears if one or more broadcast/custom screen bands are turned on in Receiving or Search Modes.
REP appears if repeater reverse is turned on in Receiving or Search Modes.

6th Line

GRP shows the group quick keys (1-0) for each conventional system/site with (groups assigned to) the currently scanned quick key blinking in Function Mode.
GRP shows the group quick key for the displayed channel in Function Hold Mode.
shows the group quick key for the displayed channel in Hold Mode.

appears and blinks when temporary alert mute is on and stays on with continuous alert mute in Scan or Receiving Modes.
ALT+ appears when Alert Plus is on in Scan or Receiving Modes.
BT appears if the BearTracker feature is enabled in Scan or Receiving Modes.
HP appears if Highway Patrol frequencies are enabled in Scan or Receiving Modes.
POL appears if Police frequencies are enabled in Scan or Receiving Modes.
DOT appears if Dept. of Transportation frequencies are enabled in Scan or Receiving Modes.

WX appears if the weather alert priority feature is on in Any Mode except GPS and Tone-out.
GPS alert information appears if connected to a GPS device and receiving a signal in Scan or Search Modes.

BCT15-X Auto Step Sizes/Auto Modulation

Contents

Band Defaults

Frequency Range	Step (kHz)	Mode	Band	Frequency Range	Step (kHz)	Mode	Band
25-27.405	5	AM	CB/Business	174-215.95	50	WFM	VHF TV
27.41-27.995	5	AM	Business/Forest	216-224.98	20	NFM	1.25 Meter Ham
28-29.68	20	NFM	10 Meter Ham	225-379.975	25	AM	UHF Air
29.7-49.99	10	NFM	VHF Low	380-399.9875	12.5	NFM	Military Trunked
50-53.98	20	NFM	6 Meter Ham	400-405.9875	12.5	NFM	Miscellaneous
54-71.95	50	WFM	VHF TV	406-419.9875	12.5	NFM	Federal Trunked
72-75.995	5	FM	Astronomy	420-449.9875	12.5	NFM	70 cm Ham
76-87.95	50	WFM	VHF TV	450-469.9875	12.5	NFM	UHF Standard
88-107.9	100	FMB	FM Broadcast	470-512	12.5	NFM	UHF TV
108-136.9916	8.33	AM	Commercial Air	758-787.99375	6.25	NFM	Public Service
137-143.9875	12.5	NFM	Military Land Mobile	788-805.99375	6.25	NFM	Public Service
144-147.995	5	NFM	2 Meter Ham	806-823.9875	12.5	NFM	Public Service
148-150.7875	12.5	NFM	Military Land Mobile	849.0125-868.9875	12.5	NFM	PS Trunked
150.8-161.995	5	NFM	VHF High	894.0125-960	12.5	NFM	Public Service, 33 cm Ham
162-173.9875	12.5	NFM	Federal	1240-1300	25	NFM	25 cm Ham

When you select 'AUTO' for a channel or mode’s modulation or step, the above values are used unless you’ve edited the Band Defaults. Although TV bands are listed, the scanner cannot decode digital TV audio.

Settings Menu

To Edit Settings press MENU. Scroll to 'Settings' and press E/

.
Scroll to the settings and options below (in Blue) and press E/

Set Backlight

Adjust Contrast

Set Serial Port

See Scanner Info

Adjust Key Beep	Set C-CH Output	Band Defaults		% Memory Used
Set Upside-Down	Set GPS Format	Disp. Unit ID		Firmware Version and Serial Number

			Cloning
			Scanner Reset

Contents

Set Backlight you can also change the intensity by pressing 'VOL' to toggle your desired level to Off, High, Middle, or Low. Set the dimmer to Auto if you are going to hard-wire your scanner inside your vehicle.

Scroll to 'Set Backlight' and press E/

.
At 'Set Dimmer' scroll to1 of 2 options and press E/

(For vehicle use) Scroll to 'Auto' and press E/

.
Scroll to 1 of 2 options and press E/

to save and exit.
'+ Polarity' - if the orange wire gets 12V when you turn on the headlights.
'- Polarity' - if the orange wire is switched to chassis ground when you turn on the headlights.

(For non-vehicle use) Scroll to 'Manual' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'High', 'Middle', 'Low', or 'Off' and press E/

to save and exit.

Adjust Key Beep this setting turns the key beep on or off and adjusts the volume level.

Scroll to 'Adjust Key Beep' and press E/

.
At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Upside-Down this setting allows you to reverse the display so you can mount the scanner upside-down and hear the speaker from the top.

Scroll to 'Set Upside-down' and press E/

.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Adjusting the Display Contrast this setting controls the display's contrast (how light or dark it appears).

Scroll to 'Adjust Contrast' and press E/

.
At 'Contrast 1-15' scroll to the preferred contrast level and press E/

to save and exit.

Set C-CH Output allows you to choose how you want the scanner to handle control channel data output.

Scroll to 'Set C-CH Output' and press E/

.
Scroll to 1 of 3 options and press E/

Off- The scanner will not output the control channel data.

On- The scanner will output the control channel data.

At 'Select Comm Port' scroll to 'Front Port' or 'Rear Port' and press E/

Extend- The scanner will output the control channel data along with any description.

At 'Select Comm Port' scroll to 'Front Port' or 'Rear Port' and press E/

Set GPS Format allows you to set the GPS format to DD,MM,SS or decimal degrees (DD.000000), time format, time zone, and units.

Scroll to 'Set GPS Format' and press E/

Scroll to 'Pos Format' and press E/

Scroll to 'DMS:DDD MM"SS.ss' or 'DEG:DDD.dddddd' and press E/

to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Time Format' and press E/

Scroll to '12H' or '24H' and press E/

to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Time Zone' and press E/

Scroll to 'Your Time Zone' and press E/

to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Unit' and press E/

Scroll to 'mile' or 'km' and press E/

to save and exit.

Press MENU to return.

Contents

Set Serial Port allows you to set the baud rate for the front and rear serial ports. You typically set the front port to match the speed used to communicate with your PC (default 115200 bps) and the back port to the speed used to communicate with an attached GPS device (default 4800 bps). Note that the back port is male. You may need a gender changer and a null modem adapter to use a typical DB9 serial cable from the rear port.

Scroll to 'Set Serial Port' and press E/

.
At 'Set Baud Rate' press E/

Scroll to 'Set Front Port' and press E/

Scroll to Off, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200 and press E/

to save and exit.

Scroll to 'Set Rear Port' and press E/

Scroll to Off, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200 and press E/

to save and exit.

Press MENU twice to return.

Band Defaults basically, this setting allows you change the 'Auto' values you can select while programming frequencies, searches, etc. to whatever you feel 'Auto' should be for each band (vs. the radio defaults). Since all of the step and modulation settings default to 'Auto', this allows you to skip those settings when programming. Note: these setting have no affect on service searches.

Scroll to the band you wish to edit and press E/

. Refer to Auto Step Size chart to help find the bands in the menu.

At 'Set Modulation' scroll to AM, NFM, FM, WFM, or FMB (Broadcast) and press E/

to save and exit.
At 'Set Step' scroll to Auto, 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, or 100 kHz and press E/

to save and exit.

Scroll to any other bands you wish to edit and repeat. Press MENU to return.

Disp. Unit ID (Requires firmware 1.04 or newer). Allows you see the unit ID of the radio currently transmitting on Motorola, EDACS, and APCO P25 systems.

Scroll to 'Disp. Unit ID' and press E/

.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

% Memory Used this setting lets you view the amount of memory used in the scanner, the number of systems, the number of sites, and the number of channels.

Scroll to 'See Scanner Info' and press E/

.
Scroll to '% Memory Used' and press E/

.
Press MENU twice to exit.

Firmware Version and Serial Number allows you to view the firmware version, the serial number, and the checksum and version. It is recommended that you download and install the latest firmware upgrade for the scanner if you don't already have it. Check the Wiki to find all the information necessary to upgrade your firmware.

Scroll to 'See Scanner Info' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Firmware Version' and press E/

.
Press MENU twice to exit.

Cloning to clone (copy) data from one (same) scanner to another, use one of the included data cables to connect the two scanners. Plug the DB9 end into the rear port of one scanner and the other end into the front port of the other scanner. Then set up both scanners:

For each scanner, press MENU. Scroll to 'Wired Clone' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Wired Clone' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Slave' and press E/

for the destination scanner.
At 'Select Comm Port' scroll to the port the Slave scanner is using.
Scroll to 'Master' and press E/

for the source scanner.
At 'Select Comm Port' scroll to the port the Master scanner is using.
Press Scan/Srch on the Slave scanner then on the Master scanner. The master scanner checks to make sure the slave is properly connected and ready to receive, then begins the data transfer. When the transfer is finished, both scanners display a 'Complete' message. Reboot the slave scanner to load the new settings. Note: All settings and data saved on the Slave scanner will be erased.

Scanner Reset to initialize the scanner's memory, turn off the scanner. Then press 2, 9, and Hold while turning it on (remember the game called Twister?). The scanner will give you the option 'Restore Preprogram List? "Yes"=E/No="."', if you press 'E/Yes', the scanner reloads the preprogrammed systems.

Important! This deletes all programmed data.

Planning Systems, Sites, and Groups

Contents

Planning your systems will be very important even if you do have the software. Organizing your quick keys will be the hardest part of the planning. You can assign quick keys and copy and paste most of the freqs, alpha tags, and IDs easily into the software.

Most people can get everything they scan into the scanner. I like to scan by general interest so I set my system quick keys accordingly; 1-Public Safety systems, 1-Trunked PS systems, 2-Air, 2-Air Trunked systems, 3-Military, 3 Military Trunked systems, 4-Federal, etc. Then I will nest my groups (ex: Fire, Police, EMS) within the conventional systems, (Fire IDs, Police IDs, EMS ID within trunked systems) and give them all group quick keys.

So, you have to figure out which conventional systems/trunked sites and groups to assign to your quick keys so you can scan them without a table of contents and with some sort of logic you can remember. Use the worksheets below to help you plan your systems and groups.

Number Tags Numbers for system and channel tags can range from 0 to 999. Systems can have the same number tag but you will get a warning. Same warning applies to channels. You can assign number tags to channels even if the system does not have a number tag but, without a system number tag, you can only navigate to these channels while holding or scanning in that system.

If two systems/searches have the same number tag, they will be selected in sequence (the first time you select the number tag, the scanner will go to the first system/search assigned to that number tag; if you select the same number tag again, it will go to the 2nd system/search assigned to that number tag, and so on). The same rule applies to channel number tags (so don't start at 1 for each channel group in the system).

Alerts You can program your scanner to alert you when you receive a BearTracker warning, a channel is received, you receive a Close Call hit, a talkgroup ID is transmitted with an emergency alert, you get close to a POI (Point of Interest)/Dangerous Road/Dangerous Crossing, or you receive a Tone-out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, 15 volume settings, 7 colors, and 2 color patterns. For more info visit the Wiki alerts page.

Startup Keys you can program each of your conventional systems, trunked sites, service searches, or custom searches with a 'Startup Key' (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those systems/sites/searches assigned to the key will be enabled for scan (groups are not affected). See also Using Startup Keys.

Worksheets

Entering Text

Contents

To program text you must first program the system, site, group, channel, location, custom search, Tone-Out, or SAME group. There are links to refer you back here while you are programming.

To enter a letter, turn the scroll control until the character you want appears.
(character order clock-wise is upper-case, lower-case, numbers, then special characters).
To enter a decimal point, press (.)No.
To move the cursor to the right, press 6.
To move the cursor to the left, press 4.
To clear a character or enter a space, press (.)No.
To clear all characters, press (.)No twice.
Press E/

when finished to exit.
Press the 'Back' button in your browser to return to programming.

Programming Systems

Contents

You have to create systems first, create sites in the trunking systems (where the trunking frequencies now go), create groups in the systems, create channels in the groups, then program the frequencies or IDs into the channels. Or, you can Quick store freqs or Quick store IDs (only after you program the trunking system and site). Trunking IDs only go into trunking system groups and conventional frequencies only go into conventional system groups. You can only store one trunking system per 'system'. You can store up to 500 systems, up to 20 groups per system, and up to 1000 frequencies or 500 IDs per group. Total channels are limited to about 9,000. Also, remember that conventional frequencies and IDs are considered channels. Note: Once a system has been created, the system type cannot be changed.

One suggestion; assign every (conventional) system/(trunked) site/group (and search you want to include with scan) to a quick key. You can assign as many systems/sites you want to a quick key and as many groups you want to a group quick key. That way you can just turn systems/sites/groups on and off and not have to worry about locking them out. If you don't assign systems/sites/groups to a quick key, you have to lock it out if you don't want to scan it.

See also Deciphering Trunked Systems at the Wiki.

Use the worksheets to help you program your systems, sites, and groups.

Private Systems You can flag a system only in the software so that it cannot be read out of the scanner, modified, or deleted. There are no settings in the scanner to do this. You can still use the system as you would normally (system/channel lockouts/unlock, volume offset, attenuate, etc), you just can't access it in the menu. Also, you can't even upload the system back to the scanner and have to delete it with the software too.

To Edit the System Name press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system you want to name and press E/

.
At 'Edit Name' press E/

. See Entering Text.

To Copy a System press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system you want to copy and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Copy System' and press E/

.
At 'New Sys Name?' see Entering Text to name the new system.
Copying a system will copy all sites, groups, channels, and settings including quick key assignments.

To Delete a System press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Delete System' and press E/

.
At 'Confirm Delete' press E/

Programming Conventional Systems

To Create a new Conventional system press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/

.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'Conventional' and press E/

. At 'Confirm?' press E/

.
At 'Edit Name' press E/

. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/

.
Continue at 'Set Quick Key' below.
Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Conventional System Options press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/

.
Scroll to the options below and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Set Quick Key	Set Lockout	Set State
Set Start-up Key	Set Hold Time	Set Record
Set Number Tag	Set Delay Time

Contents

Set Quick Key assigns a system to a quick key and will be scanned when the key is turned on. The default setting is no quick key.

Scroll to 'Set Quick Key' and press E/

.
Scroll to the quick key number (0-99 or . for no quick key) you want assigned to the system and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit quick key will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc. then scroll to second digit.

Set Start-up Key allows you to turn on the scanner with the system enabled for scan using the Startup Configuration. The default setting is no startup key.

Scroll to 'Set Startup Key' and press E/

.
Scroll to (or enter) the startup key number (0-9 or . for no startup key) you want assigned to the system and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Number Tag allows you to number a system. See also Using Number Tags.

Scroll to 'Set Number Tag' and press E/

.
Enter the number tag (0-999) you want assigned to the system and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Lockout determines whether a system will be scanned or not (even if the quick key for the system is turned on). 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Temporary L/O', 'Unlocked' or 'Locked' and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle system lockout by holding on the system in scan mode and pressing

then L/O.

Set Hold Time sets (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner will scan the system before moving on to the next system. All (unlocked) channels will be scanned at least once regardless of this setting. The scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires. The default setting is 2 seconds for each system.
Tip: set your systems to 0.

Scroll to 'Set Hold Time' and press E/

.
Enter the hold time (0-255 seconds) you desire and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Delay Time sets the delay (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel. A negative delay will force a resume after that number of seconds. This setting applies to all channels in the system. You cannot set the delay on a 'per channel' basis. The default setting is 2 seconds.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/

.
Scroll to the desired delay time (-10, -5, -2, 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, or 30 secs.) and press E/

to save and exit.

Set State allows you to add the system to the BearTracker system so you can listen to it when you select your 'State'. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set State' and press E/

.
Scroll to the desired State or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Record enables the REC jack for marked channels, no channels, or all channels in the system. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/

.
Scroll to one of 3 settings and press E/

to save and exit.
All Channel - The scanner sends the audio for all channels in the system to the REC jack, regardless of the channel’s record option setting.
Marked Channel - The scanner only sends the audio for channels that have the record option turned on to the REC jack.
Off - The scanner does not send any audio from any channel in the system to the REC jack, even if the record option is turned on for a channel.

Programming Trunking Systems

Contents

To Create a new Motorola System press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/

.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'MOT' and press E/

. At 'Confirm?' press E/

At 'Edit Name' press E/

. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Options' and press E/

.
Continue at 'Set Number Tag' below.
Then see Creating Sites. Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Create a new EDACS System press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/

.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'EDCS' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'WIDE/NARROW' or 'SCAT' and press E/

. At 'Confirm?' press E/

Note: EDACS Wide is the same as EDACS Standard and use a 9600 baud control channel. EDACS Narrow-band systems use a 4800 baud control channel. See here at RR for a description of SCAT.

At 'Edit Name' press E/

. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Options' and press E/

.
Continue at 'Set Number Tag' below.
Then see Creating Sites. Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Create a new LTR System press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/

.
At 'Select Sys Type' scroll to 'LT' and press E/

. At 'Confirm?' press E/

.
At 'Edit Name' press E/

. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Options' and press E/

.
Continue at 'Set Number Tag' below.
Then see Edit Site Options. Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Trunking Systems Options press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/

.
Scroll to the options below and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Note: Not all options will appear for EDACS SCAT and LTR systems.

Set Number Tag	Priority ID Scan (no EDACS SCAT)	Set ID Format (no EDACS SCAT)
ID Scan/Search (no EDACS SCAT)	Set Status Bit (Motorola only)	Set Record
Set Delay Time	Set End Code (Motorola only)	Rvw ID:Srch L/O (no EDACS SCAT)
*Edit Fleetmap (Motorola Type I/lli* only)**	Emergency Alert (Moto/EDACS only)	Clr All L/O IDs (no EDACS SCAT)

Contents

Set Number Tag allows you to number a system. See also Using Number Tags.

Scroll to 'Set Number Tag' and press E/

.
Enter the number tag (0-999) you want assigned to the system and press E/

to save and exit.

ID Scan/Search (no EDACS SCAT) sets whether the scanner scans the programmed ID groups (ID Scan) or searches for all IDs (ID Search) in a trunking system. The default setting is ID search.

Scroll to 'ID Scan/Search' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'ID Scan' or 'ID Search' and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle this while scanning each trunked system by pressing

then Scan/Srch.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/

.
Scroll to the desired delay time (-10, -5, -2, 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, or 30 secs.) and press E/

to save and exit.

Edit Fleetmap (Motorola Type I/lli systems only) allows you to select a preprogrammed fleetmap or program a fleetmap for Motorola Type I systems. You must program a system fleet map in order for the scanner to properly track and display talk group ID's. If you don’t know which fleet map to use, you can try a method I found at Radio Reference.com. Since it is rather lengthy, I will just give you the link. Determining Type I Motorola Fleet Maps by Dave Goodson.

Scroll to 'Edit Fleetmap' and press E/

To select a Preset Fleetmap, scroll to 'Preset' and press E/

.
Scroll to the number of the preset fleetmap and press E/

to save and exit. See Preset Fleetmaps.
To program a Custom Fleetmap, scroll to 'Custom' and press E/

.
At 'Block 0' scroll to the size code (0-14) and press E/

. See Size Codes.
The scanner will prompt you to the next available block so you can scroll to and enter the next size code (0-14) then press E/

.
Repeat for each block as needed (0-7) and you will return to the 'Edit Sys Option' menu.

Note: If you select size code 12, 13, or 14, these restrictions apply:

12 can only be assigned to Blocks 0, 2, 4 or 6.

13 can only be assigned to Blocks 0 and 4.

14 can only be assigned to Block 0.

Since these size codes require multiple blocks, you will be prompted for the next available block. For example, if you assign Block 0 as 12, the scanner prompts you for block 2, the next block available, instead of block 1. If you assign Block 0 as 14, you would not see another prompt because 14 uses all available blocks.

Priority ID Scan (no EDACS SCAT) allows you to use Priority Scan with IDs.

Scroll to 'Priority ID Scan' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'On' or 'Off' and press E/

Contents

Set Status Bit (Motorola only) sets how your scanner works with status bits (also called S-bits), letting you control how the scanner interprets and displays Motorola talk group IDs. The default setting is ignore.

Scroll to 'Set Status Bit' and press E/

.
Scroll to one of two settings and press E/

to save and exit.
Yes- the scanner treats all received ID's as unique ID's.
Ignore- the scanner rounds all received ID's down to the next interval of 16.

Set End Code (Motorola only) sets how the scanner handles the transmission end code sent by most Motorola systems.

Scroll to 'Set End Code' and press E/

.
Scroll to one of three settings and press E/

.
Analog- The scanner recognizes only analog end transmission codes.
Analog+Digital- The scanner recognizes both analog and digital end codes.
Ignore- The scanner waits for the carrier to drop before leaving a channel.

Emergency Alert (Motorola/EDACS only) sets how your scanner handles IDs that have the emergency flag set. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Emergency Alert' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Set Alert Tone' and press E/

At 'Set Tone' scroll to the alert (Alert 1-9 or Off) and press E/

At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/

Scroll to 'Set Alert Light' and press E/

At 'Set Alert Light' scroll to On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink and press E/

Press MENU to return.

Set ID Format (DEC/HEX for Motorola or AFS/DEC for EDACS) sets the ID format for the system.

Scroll to 'Set ID Format' and press E/

.
(Motorola) Scroll to 'Decimal Format' or 'Hex Format' and press E/

to save and exit.
(EDACS) Scroll to 'AFS Format' or 'Decimal Format' and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Record enables the REC jack for all channels or marked channels in the system or off.

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/

.
Scroll to one of 3 settings and press E/

Rvw ID:Srch L/O (no EDACS SCAT) allows you to review locked out IDs in a system and unlock them.

Scroll to 'Rvw ID:Srch L/O' and press E/

.
At 'Unlock?' scroll to the ID and press E/

to unlock. 'Nothing Locked' appears if nothing is locked out.
Press MENU to return.

Clr All L/O IDs (no EDACS SCAT) allows you to unlock all the locked IDs in a system.

Scroll to 'Clr All L/O IDs' and press E/

.
At 'Confirm?' press E/

to save and exit.
'Nothing Locked' appears if nothing is locked out. Press MENU to return.

Creating Sites (site automatically created for EDACS SCAT)

Once you have your trunking Systems Created and Systems Options configured you can create your sites.

To Create a Site press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to create a site and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Site' and press E/

.
At 'Select Site' scroll to 'New Site' and press E/

.
Continue at 'Edit Name' below.
Then see Creating Groups. Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Site Options press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system that has the site you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Site' and press E/

.
At 'Select Site' scroll to the site you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to the options below and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Note: Not all options will appear for EDACS SCAT and LTR sites.

Edit Name (no EDACS SCAT)

Set Frequencies

Set Modulation

Set Location Info

Set Quick Key	Edit Frequency	Set Attenuator	Set State
Set Start-up Key	Set Lockout	Set Lockout	Delete Site
*Edit Band Plan (Motorola Custom/VHF/UHF only)*	Delete Frequency	Set Hold Time	New Site
Set Site Type (EDACS only)	New Frequency

Contents

Edit Name (no EDACS SCAT) assigns a name to the site.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' and press E/

. See Entering Text

Set Quick Key assigns quick key to a site and will be scanned when the key is turned on. The default setting is no quick key.

Scroll to 'Set Quick Key' and press E/

.
Scroll to the quick key number (0-99 or . for no quick key) you want assigned to the site and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: Pressing the first number of a 2-digit quick key will get you closer, 1 for 10, 2 for 20, etc. then scroll to second digit.

Set Start-up Key allows you to turn on the scanner with the site enabled for scan using the Startup Configuration. The default setting is no startup key.

Scroll to 'Set Startup Key' and press E/

.
Scroll to (or enter) the startup key number (0-9 or . for no startup key) you want assigned to the site and press E/

to save and exit.

Edit Band Plan (Motorola Custom/VHF/UHF only) Band plans are required so the scanner can correctly determine the voice channel frequencies.

For Standard Motorola 800/900/Splinter Systems

Scroll to 'Edit Band Plan' and press E/

.
Scroll to '800/900 Standard' or '800Splinter'and press E/

.
The scanner will use the regular old Motorola band plan and return to the menu.

For Custom (rebanded) Motorola Systems allows you to create a custom band plan for rebanded systems. Custom band plans require that you enter both a lower and an upper base frequency value. The lower base frequency (or base) is always the base frequency as provided in the Radio Reference Database. Use this Excel spreadsheet to calculate the upper base frequency value: CustomBandPlanCalculator.xls. If you don't have Excel you can download and install a viewer here. If you don't have the lower base frequency value, the Trunked Radio Systems User’s Page has an explanation on how to find it. Look for 'Determining Base and Offset Frequencies for the BC245xlt' by John C.

Scroll to 'Edit Band Plan' and press E/

.
At 'Select Plan' scroll to 'Band Plan 1-6' and press E/

.
At 'Set Base Freq' press E/

.
At 'Input Lower' enter the lower base frequency and press E/

.
At 'Input Upper' enter the upper base frequency and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Set Offset' and press E/

.
At 'Input Offset' enter the offset and press E/

.
At 'Select Polarity' scroll to + or - and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Set Spacing' and press E/

.
Scroll to the step size and press E/

.
Press MENU to return and repeat for each band plan as needed. Press MENU to return.

For standard Motorola 800 MHz rebanded systems you need to set Band Plan 1 and Band Plan 2 as follows:

Band Plan	Lower Base Freq	Upper Base Freq	Offset	Polarity	Spacing
1	851.025	854.000	440	+	25 kHz
2	851.0125	868.9875	0	+	25 kHz

Contents

For VHF/UHF Motorola Systems allows you to set the base frequency, step size, and offset for the system. A band plan is required so the scanner can correctly determine the voice channel frequencies. You can set up to 3 different band plans. I have found an explanation at the Trunked Radio Systems User’s Page that describes how to find some of this information. Look for 'Determining Base and Offset Frequencies for the BC245xlt' by John C. Radio Reference.com also has an explanation.

Scroll to 'Edit Band Plan' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Band Plan 1' and press E/

.
At 'Input Base Freq' enter the base frequency and press E/

.
At 'Select Step' scroll to the step size and press E/

.
At 'Offset' enter the offset and press E/

.
Repeat for each band plan. Press MENU to return.

Set Site Type (EDACS only) this is where you select a Wideband or Narrowband EDACS site.

Scroll to 'Set Site Type' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Wide (Standard)' or 'Narrow' and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: EDACS Wide is the same as EDACS Standard and use a 9600 baud control channel. EDACS Narrow-band sites use a 4800 baud control channel.

Set Frequencies this is where you program or change the trunking frequencies, delete frequencies, or lock them out.

To Program New Frequencies, scroll to 'Set Frequencies' and press E/

.
At 'Sel Frequency' scroll to 'New Frequency' and press E/

.
At 'Input Frequency' enter the frequency and press E/

For EDACS and LTR sites only:
At 'Input LCN' enter the LCN number and press E/

. See Finding EDACS LCN Order. See Finding LTR LCN Order.

Scroll to 'New Frequency' and press E/

to enter more frequencies.
Press MENU twice to return to the 'Edit Site' menu.

To Edit Frequencies, scroll to 'Set Frequencies' and press E/

.
At 'Sel Frequency' scroll to the frequency you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to' Edit Frequency' press E/

. Edit the frequency and press E/

to save and exit.

For EDACS and LTR sites only:
At 'Input LCN' enter the LCN number and press E/

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' press E/

. Set the lockout status and press E/

to save and exit.
Scroll to' Delete Frequency' press E/

. At 'Confirm Delete' press E/

. You will return to the 'Edit Site' menu.
Press MENU twice to return to the site menu.

Set Modulation This setting selects the modulation used for the site. The default setting is auto (NFM for FM frequencies). See also Band Defaults.

Scroll to 'Set Modulation' and press E/

.
Scroll to Auto, NFM, or FM and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle modulation for a site in scan hold mode by pressing

then 9(MOD).

Contents

Set Attenuator This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on this site by about 20 dB. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/

.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle attenuation for a site in scan hold mode by pressing

then 7(ATT).

Set Lockout determines whether a site will be scanned or not (even if the quick key for the site is turned on). 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle lockout by holding on the site and quickly pressing

then L/O.

Set Hold Time sets (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner will scan the site before moving on to the next site. If you select 0 for trunking sites, the scanner stays on the site for at least 1 second. The scanner moves to the next site after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires. The default setting is 2 seconds for each site.
Tip: set your systems to 0.

Scroll to 'Set Hold Time' and press E/

.
Enter the hold time (0-255 seconds) you desire and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Location Info allows you program a location for the site so the scanner will enable/disable it for scanning with a GPS unit attached. See Set GPS Format first to set your units, time zone, etc.

Scroll to 'Set LocationInfo' and press E/

.
At 'Set Latitude' press E/

. Enter the latitude and press E/

.
At 'Set Longitude' press E/

. Enter the longitude and press E/

.
At 'Set Range' press E/

. Enter the range (0.5 to 125 in 0.5 steps) and press E/

.
At 'Set GPS Enable' press E/

. Scroll to On or Off and press E/

.
Press MENU to return.

Set State allows you to add the site to the BearTracker system so you can listen to it when you select your 'State'. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set State' and press E/

.
Scroll to the desired State or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Creating Groups

Once you have your Systems built, systems options configured, (trunking system) Sites Created, and Site Options configured, you can create your groups.

To Create a New Group (no EDACS SCAT) press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to create a group and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/

.
At 'Select Group' scroll to 'New Group' and press E/

.
Continue at 'Edit Name' below.
Then see Programming Frequencies/IDs.

To Edit Group Options press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to edit a group and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/

.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to the options below and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Edit Name	Set Location Info	Delete Group
Set Quick Key	Set Lockout	New Group
Edit Channel

Contents

Edit Name allows you to change the name of a group.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' press E/

. See Entering Text.

Set Quick Key sets the quick key for the group. The default setting is no quick key.

Scroll to 'Set Quick Key' and press E/

.
Scroll to or enter the quick key number (0-9 or . for no quick key) you want to assign to the group and press E/

to save and exit.

Edit Channel creates channels and edits channel options.
See Programming Frequencies/IDs.

Set Location Info allows you program a location for the group so the scanner will enable/disable it for scanning with a GPS unit attached. See Set GPS Format first to set your units, time zone, etc.

Scroll to 'Set LocationInfo' and press E/

.
At 'Set Latitude' press E/

. Enter the latitude and press E/

.
At 'Set Longitude' press E/

. Enter the longitude and press E/

.
At 'Set Range' press E/

. Enter the range (0.5 to 125 in 0.5 steps) and press E/

.
At 'Set GPS Enable' press E/

. Scroll to On or Off and press E/

.
Press MENU to return.

Set Lockout determines whether a group will be scanned or not (even if the quick key for the group is turned on). 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/

.
Press Scan/Srch or L/O to exit.

Programming Frequencies/TGIDs

Contents

Once you have your Systems built, systems options configured, Sites Created (for trunking systems), Site Options configured, and Groups Created, you can (finally) program your channels.

Quickly Storing a Conventional Frequency

To program a frequency into a 'Quick Save Group' in a 'Quick Save System', in scan mode press Hold to hold on any channel.
Enter the frequency and press E/

.
At 'Quick Freq Save?' press E/

Note: If the frequency is already stored in the group, 'Frequency Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

The scanner will save the frequency in a (created) group called 'Qck Save Grp' in a (created) system called 'Qck Save Cnv Sys' (with no quick keys assigned) and you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another frequency or Scan to exit.
Then see Edit Channel Options, Edit Group Options, and Edit Conventional Systems Options to customize the channel(s), group, and system.

To program a frequency into an existing group, in scan mode press Hold to hold on any channel.
Enter the frequency and press E/

.
At 'Quick Freq Save?' press (.)No.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to store the frequency and press E/

.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group where you want to store the frequency and press E/

Note: If the frequency is already stored in the group, 'Frequency Exists' Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

After storing the frequency, you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another frequency or Scan to exit.

Contents

Quickly Storing an ID Note: You have to program the trunking system and site first. See Programming Trunking Systems.

To program an ID into a 'Quick Save Group' in scan mode Hold on any channel in the system you want to store the ID in.

.	Enter the ID (see Entering IDs) and press E/.

At 'Quick TGID Save?' press E/

Note: If the ID is already stored in the group, 'TGID Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

The scanner stores the ID into a (created) channel group called 'Qck Save Grp' (with no quick key assigned) and you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another frequency or Scan to exit.
Then see Edit Channel Options and Edit Group Options to customize the channel(s), and group.

To program an ID into an existing group in scan mode Hold on any channel.

.	Enter the ID (see Entering IDs) and press E/.

At 'Quick TGID Save?' press (.)No.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where you want to store the ID and press E/

.
Scroll to the group where you want to store the ID and press E/

Note: If the ID is already stored in the group, 'TGID Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

After storing the ID, you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel. If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press L/O to return to 'Hold' to enter another frequency or Scan to exit.

Manually Programming Channel Frequencies/TGIDs

Contents

To program a new channel press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to system where you want to program a channel and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/

.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group that you want to program the channel in and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Channel' and press E/

.
At 'Select Channel' scroll to 'New Channel' and press E/

.
At 'Input Frequency (or TGID)' enter the frequency or ID and press E/

. See also Set ID Format.

To enter a Conventional Frequency enter the frequency and press E/

To enter a Motorola Type II ID enter the ID and press E/

To enter a Motorola Type I ID enter the fleet number, press (.)No once for a hyphen, then enter the subfleet and press E/

Note: If you omit the subfleet (still need the hyphen), the scanner treats this field as a wildcard (will treat the subfleet as 1 ID and receive all IDs in the subfleet).
You can also lock out this subfleet ID so you will not receive it.

To enter a Motorola I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter the ID and press E/

To enter a Motorola Wildcard (receive any) I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter 0 and press E/

Note: You can also lock out this wildcard ID so you will not receive I-Calls.

To enter an EDACS ID in AFS (default) format, enter the agency number, press (.)No once for a hyphen, then the fleet and subfleet and press E/

Note: If you omit the fleet and/or subfleet (still need the hyphen), the scanner treats these fields as wildcards (will treat the fleet and/or subfleet as 1 ID and receive all IDs in the fleet and/or subfleet).
You can also lock out this fleet and/or subfleet ID so you will not receive it.

To enter an EDACS ID in Decimal format, enter the ID and press E/

To enter an EDACS I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter the ID and press E/

To enter an EDACS Wildcard (receive any) I-Call ID, press (.)No once then enter 0 and press E/

Note: You can also lock out this wildcard ID so you will not receive I-Calls.

To enter a LTR ID, enter the area code (0 or 1) and press (.)No once, then enter the home repeater number (01-20) and press (.)No once, then the user ID (1-254) and press E/

Note: If you omit the user ID (still need the hyphen), the scanner treats this field as a wildcard (will treat the home repeater as 1 ID).
You can also lock out this home repeater ID so you will not receive it.

To enter a Unit ID (Radio ID), press (.)No once then enter the ID and press E/

Notes: To view unit IDs you have to turn the option on in the 'Settings' menu. Other channel attributes (alerts, etc.) will not be applied to Unit ID channels.

To enter hexadecimal IDs see Entering Text.

Note: If the channel is already stored in the group, 'TGID or Frequency Exists Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return.

Continue at Edit Name below.
Press MENU to return to 'Select Channel'. Scroll to 'New Channel' and press E/

.
Program the rest of the channels the same way.

Edit Channel Options Menu

Once you have your systems built , systems options configured, Groups Created, and your Channels Programmed, you can set your channel options.

To Edit Channel Options press MENU. At 'Program System' press E/

.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system where the channel is and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/

.
Scroll to the Group that has the channel you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Channel' press E/

.
At 'Select Channel' scroll to the channel you want to edit and press E/

.
You can also press E/yes when the channel is displayed in scan mode. (Press .(No) to cancel storing a tone code if asked).
Scroll to the options below and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Edit Name	Set Attenuator (conventional only)	Volume Offset
Edit Frequency or TGID	Set Priority	Copy/Paste Channel
Set CTCSS/DCS (conventional only)	Set Alert	Delete Channel
Set Number Tag	Set Record	New Channel
Set Modulation (conventional only)	Set Lockout

Contents

Edit Name If you do not enter a channel name, the scanner displays the frequency for conventional systems or the talk group ID for trunked systems when it stops on a channel.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' and press E/

. See Entering Text.
Press E/

to save and exit.

Edit Frequency or TGID See also 'Entering IDs'.

Scroll to 'Edit Frequency or TGID' and press E/

.
Enter the frequency or ID and press E/

to save and exit.

Set CTCSS/DCS (conventional only) This setting controls how a subaudible CTCSS or DCS is used for the channel. The default setting is off. See also Understanding CTCSS/DCS.

Scroll to 'Set CTCSS/DCS' and press E/

.
Scroll to 1 of 5 options and press E/

to save and exit:
Off - any signal opens squelch.
Search - the scanner searches and displays any CTCSS or DCS tone with the transmission.
CTCSS - the scanner only opens squelch if the CTCSS tone you select is also present with the signal. The scanner then prompts you to enter or scroll to the desired tone.
DCS- the scanner only opens squelch if the DCS tone you select is also present with the signal. The scanner then prompts you to enter or scroll to the desired tone.
Set Lockout - the scanner does not stop on the channel if the tone you select is present. The scanner prompts you to select a CTCSS or DCS tone.

Note: you can also store a (blinking) CTCSS/DCS tone in when receiving a frequency in scan mode by pressing E/Yes.

Set Number Tag allows you to number a channel. See also Using Number Tags.

Scroll to 'Set Number Tag' and press E/

.
Enter the number tag (0-999) you want assigned to the channel and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Modulation (conventional only) This setting selects the modulation used for the channel. The default setting is Auto (NFM for FM channels).

Scroll to 'Set Modulation' and press E/

.
Scroll to Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM, or WFM Broadcast and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle modulation for a conventional channel in scan hold mode by pressing

then 9(MOD).

Contents

Set Attenuator (conventional only) This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on The channel by about 20 dB. The default setting is off.

Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/

.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle attenuation for a conventional channel in scan hold mode by pressing

then 7(ATT).

Set Priority This setting controls whether the scanner treats the channel as a priority channel while scanning. The default setting is off. See also Priority Scan/Priority ID Scan/Priority Plus Scan.

Scroll to 'Set Priority' and press E/

.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: To use Priority ID Scan you must also enable Priority ID Scan for each system.

Set Alert This setting controls when and how the scanner alerts you if the channel becomes active.

Scroll to 'Set Alert' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Set Alert Tone' and press E/

At 'Set Tone' scroll to the alert (Alert 1-9 or Off) and press E/

At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/

Scroll to 'Set Alert Light' and press E/

At 'Set Alert Light' scroll to On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink and press E/

Press MENU to return.

Set Record enables the REC jack for the channel. The default setting is off. You must also set the system's record option to either 'All Channel' (which will record all channels regardless of the channel's record setting) or 'Marked Channel' (which only records the channels you've set to record).

Scroll to 'Set Record' and press E/

.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Lockout determines whether a channel will be scanned or not. 'Temporary L/O' means until you cycle power. The default setting is unlocked.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/

.
Press Scan/Srch or L/O to exit.

Note: You can also toggle lockout for a channel in scan mode by pressing L/O.

Contents

Volume OffsetThis setting allows you to adjust the volume offset for the channel.

Scroll to 'Volume Offset' and press E/

.
Scroll to -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, or +3 and press E/

to save and exit.

Note: You can also toggle volume offset for a channel in scan hold mode by pressing

then 5(LVL).

Copy/Paste Channel The scanner can copy a channel (and all its settings) into a copy buffer to paste into the same system (in a different group) or a group in another system.

Scroll to 'Copy Channel' press E/

to save to the channel buffer.

To Paste the Channel, press MENU until 'Select System' appears.
Scroll to system where you want to paste the channel and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/

.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group where you want to paste the channel and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Edit Channel' press E/

.
At 'Select Channel' scroll to 'Paste Channel' and press E/

.
Press Scan or L/O to exit.

Note: You can only copy and paste from like systems - conventional to conventional or trunking to trunking.

Using the BCT15-X with a GPS

Contents

Location-Based Scanning

You can connect the scanner to a compatible GPS device and set the scanner to automatically lock and unlock trunked sites and channel groups based on the location information and range settings you program for those sites/groups. This frees you from having to manually enable and disable sites/groups as you change location. The BCT15-X uses the data, supplied by an (optional) attached GPS unit, that allows the radio to automatically unlock and lockout sites/groups based on latitude and longitude. It uses the (programmed) center of the site/group, and the (programmed) range - the radius of a circle around the latitude and longitude up to 125 miles from that center.

A good application of this feature would be to set the longitude and latitude for each multi-site system transmitter as usually you can receive at least a handful in any given location. Set the range to around 30 miles and the scanner will automatically lock out the site when out of range. It may also be relevant to set different locations/ranges for the groups within the site.

You can find the physical location of antennas using the databases available at Radio Reference or the FCC's Antenna Structure Registration site. Both sites list the latitude, longitude, and height of the antenna, and both sites can map the exact location for you. Radio Reference is more user-friendly, so it's easier to find what you're looking for.

Non Radio Location-Based GPS Features

When connected to a GPS, you can program specific location information which will trigger an alert from the scanner. The scanner becomes an extension of the GPS device. Even if you don't use the scanner to scan, you can enhance you GPS unit with information the scanner provides. The scanner also allows you to program audio and/or visual alerts for a:

Point of Interest (POI): Stores location and range. If you approach the set location, the radio sounds an alert up to 4 miles/km from the center.

Dangerous Road/Dangerous Crossing: Stores location, direction of travel, and speed. If you are traveling at a speed greater than that specified, in the direction specified, and if you are within range of the set location, the scanner sounds an alert at 1.0, .50, and .10 miles/km from the point. These range distances are also automatic and fixed.

You can also temporarily lockout (cancel) any combination of these alerts.

Connecting Your Scanner

The GPS device must have a serial (RS-232) output, and be capable of outputting standard NMEA-0183 v3.01 compliant location data, and GGA/RMC data sentences at 4800 bps. Make sure that the cable terminates in a female, 9-pin serial connector and you select the correct baud rate (4800 bps) for the rear serial port.

The scanner will display 'Searching for Satellite' if you have your connections and baud rate set correctly. When the scanner first starts receiving a signal from the GPS, it beeps and briefly displays 'GPS Connected' and (temporary) locks and unlocks all sites and groups that are 'enabled for scan', unlocked, and whose quick key is enabled according to your current location. If you have a lot of data programmed, it might take the scanner a couple of minutes to complete the process. Once the scanner completes the initial GPS review, if you move into or out of an area covered by a site/group, the scanner beeps and displays the name of the site/group and whether it is being locked or unlocked. If you cycle power, all sites/groups (enabled for scan) are unlocked until the scanner reacquires the GPS signal and completes the initial GPS review.

See also Set GPS Format in the 'Settings' menu to set relevant options for GPS display modes.

To Program a Current Location (when connected to a GPS) press and hold GPS for 2 seconds.
The scanner opens a dialog ('Storing Location') to store your current location (or 'Location Exists', Accept?).
Scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' to select the type then press E/

.
The default name is P (POI), X (dangerous crossing), R (dangerous road), then YYMMDD hhmmss that indicates the year, month, date, and time you stored the location point. 'Road', 'Xing', or 'POI' Stored and the default name with the position will briefly appear.
Continue at 'Edit Name' below.

To Program a New Location press MENU. Scroll to 'Program Location' and press E/

.
At 'Select Type' scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'New Location' and press E/

.
The default name is DRD (dangerous road), DXG (dangerous crossing), or POI (point of interest)-####(?).
Continue at 'Edit Name' below.

To Edit an Existing Location press MENU. At 'Program System' scroll to 'Program Location' and press E/

.
At 'Select Type' scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' and press E/

.
At 'Select 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' scroll to the location you want to edit and press E/

.
Scroll to the options below and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

POI

Dangerous Xing or Dangerous Road

	Edit Name		Edit Name
	Set Type		Set Type
	Set Alert		Set Alert Volume
	Set LocationInfo		Set Alert Light
	Set Range		Set LocationInfo
	Set Lockout		Set Heading
	Delete Location		Set Speed Limit
	New Location		Set Lockout
			Delete Location
			New Location

GPS Display Mode

GPS Review Location Mode

Contents

Edit Name the default name is P (POI), X (dangerous crossing), R (dangerous road), then YYMMDD hhmmss that indicates the year, month, date, and time you stored the location point with a GPS unit or ? if you program a location manually.

Scroll to 'Edit Name' and press E/

. See Entering Text.

Set Type If you want to change the location type, the scanner resets the available options based on the new location type and the scanner goes back to the 'Program Location' menu for that location.

Scroll to 'Set Type' and press E/

.
At 'Select Type' scroll to 'POI', 'Dangerous Xing', or 'Dangerous Road' and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Alert (POI only) lets you configure whether the scanner triggers an alert tone and/or light when you approach a location. The default tone is 'Alert 1',the default level is 'Auto', the default color is 'Cyan' and default pattern is 'Fast Blink'.

Scroll to 'Set Alert' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Set Alert Tone' and press E/

At 'Set Tone' scroll to the alert (Alert 1-4 or Off) and press E/

At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/

Scroll to 'Set Alert Light' and press E/

At 'Set Alert Light' scroll to On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink and press E/

Press MENU to return.

Set Alert Volume (Dangerous Road/Xing only) the default setting is 'Auto'. The tone pattern varies depending on what type of location it is.

Scroll to 'Set Alert Volume' and press E/

.
At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/

Set Alert Light (Dangerous Road/Xing only) lets you configure whether the scanner triggers an alert light when you approach a location. The default color is 'Cyan' and default pattern is 'Fast Blink'.

Scroll to 'Set Alert Light' and press E/

.
At 'Set Alert Light' scroll to On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink and press E/

Press MENU to return.

Set Location Info enter the latitude and longitude for the location. See Set GPS Format first to set your units, time zone, etc.

Scroll to 'Set LocationInfo' and press E/

.
At 'Set Latitude' press E/

. Enter the latitude and press E/

.
At 'Set Longitude' press E/

. Enter the longitude and press E/

Contents

Set Range (POI only) enter how far out from this location you want the scanner to alert you. You can also configure the scanner to sound an alert tone and flash a light when you reach the radius entered here. The default setting is '.1 mile'.

Scroll to 'Set Range' and press

.
Enter a range from (.05 to 4 mi/km in .05 mi/km steps) and press

to save and exit.

Set Heading (Dangerous Road/Xing only) sets how the scanner alerts you to the location based on how you approach it. To make the alert direction-dependent, select a direction of approach. Select 'All Range' to be alerted regardless of your direction of approach. The default setting is 'All Range'.

Scroll to 'Set Heading' and press

.
Scroll to 'All Range, North, NE, East, SE, South, SW, West, or NW' and press

to save and exit.

Set Speed Limit (Dangerous Road/Xing only) decides whether the scanner alerts you each time you approach the location or only when you are traveling above a certain speed. To make the alert speed-dependent, enter the speed limit for this location. Leave the speed limit blank to be alerted regardless of your speed. The default setting is '0 mile/h (0 km/h)'.

Scroll to 'Set Speed Limit' and press

.
Enter a speed from 0 through 200 mi/km, in 1 mi/km steps and press

to save and exit.

Set Lockout the default setting is 'Unlocked'.

Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press

.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press

to save and exit.

Note: you can also do this in 'Review Location Mode' by pressing L/O.

GPS Display Mode (POI only)

Press GPS to switch to GPS display mode. In this mode, you can see the current location information as well as information about your position relative to selected POI's. The third line of the screen shows 'Off' if no POI is selected.

Rotating

will select different POI's.
Press

then 6(DISP) to toggle the Display modes in order.

While in GPS Display Mode:

Contents

To program the current location press and hold GPS for 2 seconds.

To select a PIO turn the scroll control.

To scroll through the POI display modes press

then 6(DISP) (each time).

Note: If no programmed location is displayed ('OFF' in the display), you will only be able to toggle 'Data Display' and the (current) 'Location Display'.

To temporarily lock out an alert press L/O or turn

. The scanner automatically unlocks the locked out location when it moves 4 miles or more from the alert point. Quickly pressing L/O press twice permanently locks out the alert and it will not be activated again if you should go near that alert point.

	To toggle 'Hold Mode' on a background scan or search press Hold .
	To return to normal scan mode press Scan/Srch. Press GPS again to view GPS Display Mode.
	To view 'Review Location' mode press E(Yes).

Notes: All sites/groups (with quick keys enabled and gps enabled for the site/group) not within range of your current location will be temporarily locked out. If you try to use a quick key to enable a site/group for scan that is out of range of your current location, you will see 'Location L/O' and then site/group name (only once), and it will temporary lock out the site/group.

When a location alert with a higher priority occurs, the current location alert is canceled and the scanner alerts for the location with the higher priority.
The priority order is:
1- Dangerous Road
2- Dangerous Xing
3- Point of Interest

If you disconnect/turn off your GPS unit, you will see 'No GPS Input' in GPS display mode and the scanner will return to scanning any sites/groups that the scanner did not temporary lock out. To restore all sites/groups, cycle the scanner off then on.

If you loose the satellite signal, you will see 'Searching for Satellite' until the GPS unit reacquires a signal.

If a GPS is detected as soon as the scanner is turned on, the scanner displays "GPS CONNECTED" instead of displaying individual lock/unlock messages for groups/sites. It applies the location-based rules to all systems at one time.

GPS Review Location Mode

If you have programmed data for a Point of Interest, Dangerous Crossing, and a Dangerous Road, you can review the type, range setting, and location information for each location.

Press GPS then E(Yes). The most recently stored location is displayed. Use the scroll control to display the next screen for review.
Note: the scanner will mute in this mode.
Important: while you are in Review Location Mode and press and hold GPS for 2 seconds, the data of the new point will overwrite the currently displayed data.

1. POI - Indicates a Point of Interest location.
2. DXG - Indicates a Dangerous Crossing location.
3. DRD - Indicates a Dangerous Road location.
4. Range - Indicates the programmed distance to your POI.
5. Head - Indicates the selected heading to the designated Dangerous Crossing from any direction.
6. Head - Indicates the selected heading to the designated Dangerous Road from a set direction.
7. LS - Indicates the maximum Speed Limit you set.

While in Review Location Mode:

	To return to normal 'GPS Display' mode press MENU.
	To select a location turn the scroll control.

To edit the location press E(Yes).

	To toggle the lockout status of the location press L/O to toggle 'Temporary L/O, Locked Out, and Unlocked'.
	To overwrite and store the current location press and hold GPS for 2 seconds.

To unlock all locations of the current type (POI, DXG, or DRD) press and hold L/O.

	To unlock all locations of all types press then press and hold L/O.
	To return to normal scan mode press Scan/Srch.

Using BearTracker Scanning

Contents

The most frustrating thing about this radio is right out of the box, all BearTracker features are on by default which makes no sense at all if you don't know how to turn them off. My advice is to disable everything and start from there.

Press POL and HP until all the icons (PL, DT, HP, and BT) disappear from the display to turn off all preprogrammed frequencies. This will give you 'Nothing to Scan' in the display. Now you can jump into programming your frequencies.

The scanner includes state-by-state preprogrammed frequencies designed to provide you with good general radio coverage targeted to the state you are in.

Press POL once to turn on a state. Press

then VOL. Scroll to 'Your State' and press E/

to save and exit. Press POL until all icons disappear again.
Note: District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the Canadian provinces don't work in my scanner (??).

BearTracker Warning System

Most highway patrol vehicles on the road today are equipped with a secondary radio system known as a 'mobile extender' or 'vehicular repeater'. Whenever the dispatcher transmits to any vehicle in the district, a mobile extender in every car within the district is activated.

The BearTracker Warning System monitors these frequencies used by mobile extender radios as well as car-to-car, aircraft-to-car, and other special-purpose frequencies. When enabled, the scanner checks for activity on these frequencies for your state every 2 seconds. Whenever you are within an approximate three-mile radius of Highway Patrol/State Police units using a mobile extender unit, the BT display icon begins to blink, the BearTracker LED lights, you can select an alert tone, volume level, visual alert, or no alerts.

When you have selected a state and then one or more of the services, each enabled service's icon is displayed on the lower part of the display. When they are disabled, the icons disappears from the display. When the scanner detects a signal in an enabled service, the icon blinks. The scanner also gives you the option to assign any conventional system(s)/trunked site(s) to your selected state.

POL includes Police and Sheriff services.
DOT includes the states' Department of Transportation services.
To select Police press POL once.
To select DOT press POL twice.
To select both press POL 3 times.
To select none press POL 4 times.
HP includes the Highway Patrol, State Police, State Patrol, and State Intercity.
BT activates the BearTracker Warning system.
To select HP press HP once.
To select BT press HP twice.
To select both press HP 3 times.
To select none press HP 4 times.

To Edit BearTracker Warning Options press MENU. Scroll to 'Set Bear Tracker' and press E/

.
Scroll to the options below (in Blue) and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Set Hold Time	Set Alert	Assign a System/Site to a State
Set Delay Time	Set Record

Contents

Set Hold Time sets the amount of time the scanner will scan the BearTracker frequencies before moving on to the next (unlocked and enabled) system/site. If you select 0, the scanner stays for at least 1 second.

Scroll to 'Set Hold Time' press E/

.
Enter 0-255 (seconds) and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Delay Time selects (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel. The default setting is 2 seconds.

Scroll to 'Set Delay Time' and press E/

.
Scroll to the desired delay time (1-5 seconds or Off) and press E/

to save and exit.

Set Alert This setting controls when and how the scanner alerts you if the channel becomes active.

Scroll to 'Set Alert' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Set Alert Tone' and press E/

At 'Set Tone' scroll to the alert (Alert 1-9 or Off) and press E/

At 'Set Level' scroll to 'Level 1-15 or Auto' (the scanner sets the alert beep to the master volume level) and press E/

Scroll to 'Set Alert Light' and press E/

At 'Set Alert Light' scroll to On, Slow Blink, or Fast Blink and press E/

Press MENU to return.

Set Record enables the REC jack for all BT channels.

Scroll to 'Set Record' press E/

.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/

to save and exit.

Assign a System/Site to a State See Edit Conventional System Options and Edit Site Options.

Priority/Priority ID/Priority Plus Scan

Contents

Priority Scan When the scanner is scanning a conventional system, it interrupts scanning (based on the priority check interval setting) to check priority channels for activity. The more channels you have set to priority, the longer the interruption will be. The scanner is unable to scan over 100 priority channels at once. The quick keys for the system(s) and group(s) containing the priority channel(s) have to be enabled (and unlocked) or the scanner will display 'Priority Scan No Channel'.

Priority Plus Scan The scanner only scans priority channels in (unlocked) conventional systems with system and group quick keys enabled.

The highest priority is for channels in system/site and group quick key 1. The lowest priority is for channels in system/site quick key 90 and group quick key 0. Priority for priority channels in the same channel group follows the order in which the channels were created.

Priority ID Scan This function is very similar to conventional priority although there is no interruption during the transmission. Priority is checked in between transmissions, when the scanner is receiving the control channel, and during the channel delay period. The scanner can only look for (unlocked) priority channels in the trunked system it is currently scanning.

The highest priority is for channels in group quick key 1. The lowest priority is for channels in group quick key 0. Priority for priority channels in the same channel group follows the order in which the channels were created.

Preemptive Priority Preemptive priority is a feature that works on Motorola systems. If the Motorola system has priority channels, and you assign one of those TGs as priority in the scanner, then when one of those channels becomes active, the scanner will jump to it even if it is on a different system voice channel (i.e. it preempts your current reception). This feature relies on the system itself having talk groups assigned as priority (so the active channel information is included on voice channel low-speed data). If a talk group you assign as priority is not also a priority channel on the transmitting system, then the scanner will use standard trunking priority for the talk group.

To use Priority Scan you must first set your priority channels.
To use Priority ID Scan you must also enable Priority ID Scan for each system.

To Edit Priority Scan Options press MENU. Scroll to 'Priority Scan' and press E/

.
Scroll to the options below and press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Set Priority sets the priority mode. You can also toggle these modes by pressing PRI in scan mode.

Scroll to 1 of 3 options and press E/

.
Off - the priority feature is off.
On - the scanner checks conventional priority channels, and priority IDs within systems that have priority ID enabled. PRI appears in the display when you select this mode.
Plus On - the scanner only scans the conventional priority channels. PRI flashes in the display when you select this mode.

Set Interval sets how often the scanner will check the priority channels.

Scroll to 'Set Interval' and press E/

.
Enter the number of seconds (1-10) and press E/

to save and exit.

MaxCHs/Pri-Scan sets the maximum priority channel numbers that are scanned during one priority scan interrupt. If there are more priority channels than the value you select, the channels are divided into more than one group and the scanner scans each group in turn. For example, if you set the maximum channels to 20 and there are 100 priority channels, the scanner checks those 100 channels in groups of 20 and takes a total of 5 intervals to complete the priority scan.

Scroll to 'MaxCHs/Pri-Scan' and press E/

.
Enter the number of number of channels to check (1-100) and press E/

to save and exit.

Using Startup Keys

Contents

To use a Startup Key:
1. Turn the scanner off.
2. Press & hold the number key that corresponds to the startup key when you turn the scanner on.
3. Continue holding the number key until the scanner display shows the number of the startup key configuration.

When you use startup configuration, the scanner checks all systems, sites, and search ranges and:

All systems, sites, or search ranges that do not have a startup key assigned will be scanned the way they were when you last turned off the scanner.
All systems, sites, or search ranges that have a the startup key assigned to the one you pressed will be unlocked.
All systems, sites, or search ranges that have a different startup key assigned will be locked out.
The scanner will remember the last startup configuration you used when you power up the scanner using just the power key.

Caution: If you press the wrong key when you press the power key to set your startup configuration, and that wrong key doesn't have any systems assigned to that key, you will startup your scanner with all systems locked out.
Also, you can't cancel Startup Configuration, i.e. have your scanner startup with all systems unlocked they way they were before you used Startup Configuration.

Scanning Systems

Contents

With all previous scanners, you selected banks to scan that had channels stored in them. With this scanner, you select 'System Quick Keys' to scan that have 'Systems', 'Sites', or Custom/Service Searches assigned to them. See also Using Quick Keys. So, now you turn 'System/Site/Search Quick Keys' on and off and 'Group Quick Keys' on and off (within each 'System' or 'Site').

First, (unlocked) systems/sites belonging to Quick Key 1 are scanned. Then systems/sites that belong to Quick Key 2,…,9,0,11,…19,10,21,……,99,90 are scanned in order. Systems/sites with the same quick key are scanned in order of creation. Systems/sites with no quick key are scanned last and in order of creation (including created 'Quick Save' systems). Groups within the systems/sites are scanned with the same rules. Conventional channels within the groups are scanned in order of creation. IDs are not really scanned. The scanner checks for any activity in the trunking system and if any ID becomes active, the scanner will display it in 'ID Search' mode. In 'ID Scan' mode, the scanner will only display IDs programmed in to groups.

Then the scanner starts any (unlocked/enabled) service searches, searching them in the menu order. Then any (unlocked/enabled) custom searches from 1 to 10 in turn.

Then the scanner scans the system called 'Close Call'. This system is created when you do a Close Call 'Auto Store'. Then the scanner scans the 'Close Call Hits' system (if you have unlocked it). This is a system where the scanner automatically stores the frequencies found by Close Call. If the 'Close Call Hits' system has no frequencies, the scanner does not scan this system.

Then the scanner starts all over.

Turning quick keys on and off for systems/sites/searches is not the same as locking and unlocking systems/sites/searches. You can still do that separately (if you really want to confuse yourself).

Press Scan/Srch. The scanner scans a system for the duration you set using the 'system hold time' option. For trunked systems, the scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, the current transmission ends, and the channel delay expires. Conventional systems operate similarly, but all (unlocked) channels are scanned at least one time regardless of the hold time setting.

Notes: If no systems are programmed, or all systems (or groups in a system) are locked out or turned off, 'Nothing to Scan' appears. Turn on a system/site quick key or unlock a system/site to scan. If you turn off all groups in a system you will not be able to turn any back on and also see 'Nothing to Scan'. This is a bug that frustrates everybody. In that case, while in Scan mode, press and hold Func (

) to lock function mode. Scroll to the system then press the number of the group quick key(s) you want to enable. Press

to start scanning then press

again to unlock function mode.

To continue scanning (move on to the next channel) press Scan/Srch or turn the scroll control (

To change the scan or search direction turn the scroll control backward or forward.

To toggle System/Site/Search quick keys on or off for a single digit system/site/search, press the number key assigned to the system/site/search.
To turn a double-digit system/site/search on or off, Press (.)No first then enter the 2 digits.

To toggle Group quick keys on or off while scanning the system, quickly press

then press the number key assigned to the group.

To toggle Group quick keys on or off in another system press and hold

to 'lock' Function mode. Scroll to the (enabled) system that contains the (enabled) group you want to turn on/off then press the corresponding number key(s). Press

twice to 'unlock' Function mode and resume.

To scan Police frequencies for your state press POL until PL appears in the display.

To scan DOT frequencies for your state press POL until DT appears in the display.

To scan Highway Patrol frequencies for your state press HP until HP appears in the display.

To activate the Beartracker Warning System press HP until BT appears in the display.

To toggle between Display modes 1, 2 or 3 Hold on any channel and press

then 6(DISP). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle between ID Scan or ID Search mode while scanning each trunked system, press

then Scan/Srch.

To toggle Priority modes press

then POL(PRI) to toggle Priority on, Priority Plus on, or Off.

To toggle Close Call modes press

then SQ(

To view a Close Call hit (CC Override On) press any key to view the frequency (even if it's gone).

To view and listen to a Close Call hit (CC Override Off) press E/ to listen to and view the frequency (only if it's still there).

To toggle Weather Alert Priority on or off press

then GPS(WX).

To hold on a frequency/ID press Hold. To step through IDs/frequencies, turn the scroll control backward or forward. Press Hold to resume.

To hold on any specific frequency Hold on any channel in a conventional system. Enter the new frequency and press Hold. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To hold on a specific ID in the current site Hold on the site. Enter the new ID and press Hold. Press Hold to resume.

To hold on a system/site/search press and hold

to 'lock' Function mode. Press

to 'unlock' Function mode to resume.

To go to a channel number tag in the current system/site Hold on the system. Enter the channel number tag and press MENU. See also Using Number Tags.

To go to a channel number tag in a different system Hold on any channel. Enter the system number tag, press .(No), the channel number tag, then MENU.

To go to a system/search number tag Hold on any channel. Enter the system/search number tag, press .(No), then MENU.

To store a displayed ID during ID Search mode press E/yes. Then see Storing a Displayed ID.

To store a (blinking) CTCSS or DCS tone for a conventional channel, press E(Yes). At 'Set Found CTCSS/DCS?' press E/

. Press Scan/Srch to resume.

To store a search frequency press E/yes. Then see Storing a Displayed Frequency.

To toggle Intermediate Frequency Exchange for a conventional channel on or off Hold on the channel and press

then 4(IFX). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle the volume offset for a channel Hold on the channel and press

then 5(LVL). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle the attenuation for a conventional channel on or off Hold on the channel and press

then 7(ATT). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle the attenuation for a trunking site on or off Hold on the site and press

then 7(ATT). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle the attenuation for a search on or off press

then 7(ATT) while searching. (Or hold first).

	To toggle global attenuation press then press and hold 7(ATT).
	To check for a repeater frequency on a conventional channel Hold on the channel. Press then press and hold 8(REV). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle Alert Plus on or off Hold on any channel and press

then press HP(ALT).

To toggle Alert Mute on or off temporary: press SQ; permanent: press and hold SQ. To turn off; press SQ again.

To toggle the modulation for a conventional channel or trunked site Hold on the channel/site and press

then 9(MOD). Press Hold to resume.

To toggle the modulation for a service/custom search press

then 9(MOD) while searching. (Or hold first).

To lock out a channel or frequency quickly press L/O once while the channel or frequency is in the display to temporary lock out. Quickly press L/O twice to lock out.

To lock or unlock a group see Locking/Unlocking Groups.

To lock out a conventional system/trunked site/search while receiving the system/site/search quickly press

then L/O once to temporary lock out. Quickly press L/O twice to lock out.

To unlock a conventional channel see Locking/Unlocking Channels.

To unlock and/or review locked out IDs see Reviewing Locked out IDs.

To unlock all IDs see Clear All L/O IDs.

To unlock a conventional system/trunked site/search press and hold

to 'lock' function mode then scroll to the system/site/search and press L/O to unlock and search/scan.
Press

twice to 'unlock' Function mode and resume. See also Locking/Unlocking Systems/Sites/Searches.

To unlock search frequencies press

then L/O while searching. Scroll to the frequency and press E/yes to unlock.

To start Close Call Only press

then press and hold SQ(

). Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To start Weather Scan press

then press and hold GPS(WX). Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To start Tone-Out search assign it to a search key. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To view GPS Display mode press GPS. Press Scan/Srch to exit.

To view Band Scope Mode Hold on any channel and press

then 3(Srch 3). (set to search key 3 by default).

Storing a Displayed ID (in ID Search Mode)

Contents

To store a displayed ID into an existing group during ID Search mode, press E/yes.
You will see 'Quick TGID Save?' in the display then press (.)No.
At the 'Select Group' prompt, scroll to the group where you want to store the ID and press E/

.
After storing the ID, you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel.
If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press Scan/Srch to return to scanning.

To store a displayed ID into a 'Quick Save Group' during ID Search, press E/yes.
You will see 'Quick TGID Save?' in the display then press E/

again.
The scanner stores the ID into a (created) channel group called 'Qck Save Grp' and you will be at the 'Edit Channel' menu to complete the settings for the new channel.
If you don't want to edit the channel settings or are done editing the channel, press Scan/Srch to return to scanning.

Note: If the ID is already stored in the group, 'TGID Exists' Accept? (Y/N)' appears. Press (.)No to return to searching (or search hold) or E/

to go to the 'Edit Channel' menu.

Using Number Tags

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To view Number Tags for a channel and/or system press Hold to hold on the channel or system. Press

(or press and hold

to view longer) to view the current system and channel number shown in the top left corner of the display as "T000. 000". For example "T002. 043" would indicate the current system is 2 and the current channel is 43.

To go to a channel in the current system Hold on the current system. Enter the channel number and press MENU. Press Hold to resume.

To go to a channel in a different system Hold on any system. Enter the system number, press .(No), then the channel number and press MENU. Press Hold to resume.

To go to just a system or custom/service search Hold on any system/search. Enter the system/search number tag, press .(No), and press MENU. Press Hold to resume.

Notes: Selecting just a system will hold on the first frequency in the system (not ID).
If two systems/searches have the same number tag, they will be selected in sequence (the first time you select the number tag, the scanner will go to the first system/search assigned to that number tag; if you select the same number tag again, it will go to the 2nd system/search assigned to that number tag, and so on). The same rule applies to channel number tags (so don't start at 1 for each channel group in the system).

Alert Plus/Alert Mute

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Alert Plus lets you listen to only alerts from BearTracker systems or groups, channels, Close Call, Weather (WX), and GPS.
With Alert Mute you can disable alerts from BearTracker priority channels, channel alerts, Emergency Alert, Close Call, Tone-Out, and GPS alerts.

To toggle Alert Plus on or off press

then press HP(ALT).

To turn temporary Alert Mute on press SQ. A

will appear and flash in the display. This mutes the alert action for about 3 minutes.
To turn continuous Alert Mute on press and hold SQ. A

will appear in the display.

Locking/Unlocking Systems/Sites/Searches

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With the advent of Multi-site trunking, you can no longer lockout a trunking system. You have to lockout the site assigned to the system. You can still lockout conventional systems and searches the same way. Also, with the ability now to assign quick keys the searches you can turn them off and on or lockout/unlock them just like conventional systems and trunked sites.

Remember, unlocking or locking out a system/site/search is not the same thing as enabling/disabling it (turning the quick key on or off).

To lock out a conventional system/trunked site/search in scan mode Hold on any channel/frequency in the system/site/search, press

then L/O to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You have to be quick to get 'Lockout').

Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the site/system/search will be unlocked.

Or, use Menu to drill down to the system/site/search options and lock it out there. See 'Edit Conventional System Options', 'Edit Site Options', 'Edit Service Search', or 'Edit Custom Search'.

To unlock a conventional system/trunked site/search in scan mode press and hold

to 'lock' function mode.
Rotate the scroll control until the system/site/search you want to unlock appears.
Press L/O (each time) to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You have to be quick to get 'Lockout'). Press Scan/Srch to return.

Note: You will see 'Nothing to Scan' if the quick key is not turned on for the system/site/search (if one is assigned). Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning.

Or, use Menu to drill down to the system/site/search options and unlock it there. See 'Edit Conventional System Options', 'Edit Site Options', 'Edit Service Search', or 'Edit Custom Search'.

To unlock all conventional systems, trunked sites, groups, channels, and searches in scan mode press

then press and hold L/O until 'Unlock All Systems?' appears. Press E/

Locking/Unlocking Groups

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Remember, unlocking or locking out a group is not the same thing as enabling/disabling it (turning the quick key on or off).

To lock out or unlock a group in scan mode press and hold

to 'lock' function mode.
Rotate the scroll control until the system that has the group you want to lock or unlock appears. Press MENU.
Scroll to 'Edit Group' and press E/

.
At 'Select Group' scroll to the group you want to lock or unlock and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/

.
Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/

.
Press Scan/Srch or L/O to exit.

Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the group will be unlocked.

Or, use MENU to drill down to the group options and lock/unlock it there. See 'Edit Group Options'.

Locking/Unlocking Channels

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There are several ways to get to a channel. Some ways are quicker than others. Some ways you have to be quick with those keys, other ways you can take your time pressing them. Use what works best for you.

To lock out a channel while scanning quickly press L/O when the channel appears in the display to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You have to be quick to get 'Lockout').

Note: 'Temporary Lockout' means unlocked the next time you cycle power the channel will be unlocked.

Or, quickly press Hold to hold on the channel. Press L/O to toggle 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout'. (You still have to be quick to get 'Lockout').

Or, quickly press E/

to go to the menu for that channel. (Press .(No) to cancel storing a tone code if asked).
Scroll to 'Set Lockout' and press E/

. Scroll to 'Unlocked', 'Temporary L/O', or 'Lockout' and press E/

Or, use MENU to drill down to the channel options and lock it out there. See 'Edit Channel Options'.

To unlock a single channel in scan mode press Hold to hold on any channel.
Press

and quickly (within 3 seconds) scroll to the system that has the channel you want to unlock then quickly (within 3 seconds) press E/

.
Scroll to the channel you want to unlock and press L/O until 'Unlocked' is displayed.

Or, use MENU to drill down to the channel options and unlock it there. See 'Edit Channel Options'.

To unlock all channels in a conventional system in scan mode press Hold to hold on any channel in the system.
Press and hold L/O until 'All Unlocked' appears.
Press Hold or Scan/Srch to resume scanning. Note: This will also enable all your groups (turn the quick keys on).

To review and/or unlock locked out IDs in a system:
Press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/