Uniden Bc246t Trunk Tracker Scanner Owners Manual

							BC246T
OWNER’S
MANUAL
OWNER’S MANUAL
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Precautions
PrecautionsBefore you use this scanner, please read and observe the 
following.
  IMPORTANT!
This scanning radio has been manufactured so that it will 
not tune to the radio frequencies assigned by the FCC for 
cellular telephone usage. The Electronic Communications 
Privacy Act of 1986, as amended, makes it a federal 
crime to intentionally intercept cellular or cordless 
telephone transmissions or to market this radio when 
altered to receive them. The installation, possession, or 
use of this scanning radio in a motor vehicle may be 
prohibited, regulated, or require a permit in certain states, 
cities, and/or local jurisdictions. Your local law 
enforcement officials should be able to provide you with 
information regarding the laws in your community. 
Changes or modifications to this product not expressly 
approved by Uniden, or operation of this product in any 
way other than as detailed by this Operating Guide, could 
void your authority to operate this product.
  EARPHONE WARNING!
Be sure to use only a monaural earphone with this 
scanner. You can also use an optional 32 Ω stereo 
headset. Use of an incorrect earphone or stereo headset 
might be potentially hazardous to your hearing. 
The output of the phone jack is monaural, but you will 
hear it in both headphones of a stereo headset. 
Set the volume to a comfortable audio level coming from 
the speaker before plugging in the monaural earphone or 
a stereo headset of the proper impedance (32 Ω). 
Otherwise, you might experience some discomfort or 
possible hearing damage if the volume suddenly 
becomes too loud because of the volume control or 
squelch control setting. This might be particularly true of 
the type of earphone that is placed in the ear canal. 
Precautions
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Precautions   
WARNING!
 
Uniden does not represent this unit to be waterproof. 
To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not 
expose this unit to rain or moisture. 
Motorola
®, SMARTNET®, PL®, Private Line®, DPL®, 
Digital Private Line
®, and PRIVACY PLUS® are 
registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc.
LT R
® is a registered trademark of E.F. Johnson Co.
EDACS
® is a registered trademark of M/A-COM 
Private Radio Systems, Inc.
Uniden
® and Bearcat® are registered trademarks of 
Uniden America Corporation. 
Tr u n k Tr a c k e r
™, Trunk Tracking™, and Close Call™ are 
proprietary trademarks of Uniden America Corporation. 
Other trademarks used throughout this manual are the 
property of their respective holders.
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Contents
ContentsThe FCC Wants You to Know ............................................................ 8
Scanning Legally  ..............................................................................  8
Introduction .......................................................................................  10
Feature Highlights ............................................................................ 12
About This Manual .......................................................................... 16
How the Scanner’s Controls Are Represented in This Manual ...  16
Entering Text  ..............................................................................  17
Understanding Scanning ................................................................. 18
Understanding the Scanner’s Memory  ........................................... 18
What is Scanning? .......................................................................... 18
What is Searching?  ........................................................................ 19
What is CTCSS/DCS?  .................................................................... 19
Conventional Scanning ................................................................... 21
Simplex Operation  ...................................................................... 21
Repeater Operation  ....................................................................  22
What is Trunk Tracking? ................................................................. 22
Trunked Scanning  .......................................................................... 23
Types of Trunking Systems  ............................................................ 24
Motorola Trunking  .......................................................................  24
EDACS Trunking  ........................................................................  25
LTR Trunking  ..............................................................................  26
    I-Call (Motorola/EDACS)  ................................................................  27
Where To Get More Information  ..................................................... 27
Information On The Internet ........................................................  27
Included With Your Scanner ............................................................  29
Setting Up Your Scanner ................................................................. 30
Using Internal Batteries  .................................................................. 30
Using Rechargeable Batteries  ........................................................ 32
    Removing the Display Sticker ......................................................... 33
Using AC Power  ............................................................................. 33
Connecting the Antenna  ................................................................. 33
Connecting an Optional Antenna  ................................................  33
Connecting an Earphone/Headphone ............................................. 34
Connecting an Extension Speaker  ................................................. 34
Attaching the Belt Clip  .................................................................... 34
Attaching the Wrist Strap  ................................................................ 35
Installing the Demo Software .......................................................... 35
A Look At The Keypad .................................................................... 36
A Look At The Display ..................................................................... 39
Using Menu ..................................................................................... 40
Using Func   ..................................................................................... 40
Using the Scroll Control  .................................................................. 40
Basic Operation ................................................................................ 41
Turning On the Scanner and Setting the Squelch  .......................... 41
Scanning Systems  .......................................................................... 41
Preprogrammed System Tips  .....................................................  42
Selecting Systems to Scan  ............................................................. 42
Selecting System Channel Groups ................................................. 43
Locking/Unlocking Systems ............................................................ 43
Contents
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Contents
Locking/Unlocking Channels ..........................................................  43
ID Scan/ID Search Mode ................................................................  44
Temporarily Holding On a System ..................................................  44
Holding On a Channel  ...................................................................  44
Quickly Storing an ID During ID Search  ........................................  44
Quick-Storing Channels or Talk Group ID’s ...................................  44
Quickly Recalling Channels  ...........................................................  45
Monitoring Trunking Activity  ...........................................................  45
Using the Menu   ...............................................................................  46
Other Settings ..................................................................................  48
Displaying System Information  ......................................................  48
Viewing Memory Used  ...............................................................  48
Viewing the Firmware Version  ...................................................  48
Adjusting the Key Beep  .................................................................  48
Locking/Unlocking the Keypad  ......................................................  48
Turning Power Save On or Off  ......................................................  48
Priority Scan  ..................................................................................  48
Using the Backlight  ........................................................................  49
Initializing the Scanner’s Memory  ..................................................  49
Using the PC Control and Cloning Options  ...................................  50
Connecting Your Scanner to a Personal Computer  ...................  50
Cloning the Scanner  ..................................................................  51
Programming Radio Systems   ........................................................  52
Programming Conventional Systems   ...........................................  53
Entering/Editing Conventional Channel Groups  ........................  53
Entering/Editing Conventional Channels  ...................................  54
Programming Motorola Systems   ..................................................  54
Setting System Frequencies  ......................................................  56
Entering/Editing Motorola Channel Groups  ...............................  56
Entering/Editing Motorola Channels ...........................................  57
Programming EDACS Systems   ....................................................  58
Setting System Frequencies  ......................................................  59
Entering/Editing EDACS Channel Groups  .................................  59
Entering/Editing EDACS Channels  ............................................  60
Programming LTR Systems  ...........................................................  60
Setting System Frequencies  ......................................................  61
Entering/Editing LTR Channel Groups .......................................  61
Entering/Editing LTR Channels/Talkgroups  ...............................  62
Programming/Editing Optional Settings ........................................  63
System-Level Settings   ..................................................................  63
Editing the System Name  ..........................................................  63
Editing the System Quick Key  ....................................................  63
Setting System Lockout   ............................................................  64
Setting the System Hold Time  ...................................................  64
Setting the Channel Delay Time  ................................................  65
Setting ID Scan/Search (Trunked Systems Only)  ......................  65
        Setting the Base Frequency/Step/Offset
        (Motorola UHF/VHF Systems Only)  ...........................................  66
Setting Data Skip (Conventional Systems Only) ........................  66
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Contents
Editing the Fleet Map (Motorola Systems Only)   ........................ 67
Setting the Motorola Status Bit (Motorola Systems Only) ...........  67
Setting the End Code Operation (Motorola Systems Only) ......... 68
Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only)   .................  68
Setting Emergency Alert (Motorola & EDACS Systems Only)  .... 69
Setting the EDACS ID Format (EDACS Systems Only)  .............  69
Setting Control-Channel Only (Motorola Systems Only)  ............ 70
Setting System Attenuation (Trunked Systems Only) .................  70
Deleting Systems  ........................................................................  71
Copying Systems  ........................................................................  71
Group-Level Settings  ...................................................................... 71
Entering/Editing the Group Name  ............................................... 71
Setting the Group Quick Key  ...................................................... 72
Setting Group Lockout  ................................................................  72
Deleting Groups ..........................................................................  73
Channel-Level Settings  .................................................................. 73
Editing the Channel Name  .......................................................... 73
Setting Channel Priority (Conventional Channels Only)  .............  74
Setting Channel Alert  .................................................................. 75
Setting CTCSS/DCS (Conventional Channels Only)  ..................  75
Setting Channel Modulation (Conventional Channels Only) .......  76
Setting Channel Attenuation (Conventional Channels Only)  ......  77
Setting the Frequency Step (Conventional Channels Only)  .......  77
Setting Channel Lockout ............................................................. 78
Deleting Channels  ...................................................................... 78
Copying/Pasting Channels  ......................................................... 79
Searching and Storing
 ................................................................................ 80
Service Search  ............................................................................... 80
Quick Search  .................................................................................. 81
CTCSS/DCS Search  ...................................................................... 81
Custom Search  ............................................................................... 81
Editing a Custom Search Range  ................................................  82
Auto Search and Store  ................................................................... 83
Selecting a System  ..................................................................... 84
Storing a Conventional System  .................................................. 84
Storing a Trunked System  .......................................................... 85
Using the Close Call Feature ...........................................................  86
Setting Close Call Options .............................................................. 87
Close Call Hits  ................................................................................ 88
Search and Close Call Options .......................................................  89
Managing Locked-Out Frequencies  ............................................... 89
Unlocking All Frequencies  .......................................................... 89
Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies  ........................................... 89
Searching for Subaudible Tones  .................................................... 89
Screening Out Paging Systems ...................................................... 90
Finding Repeater Output Frequencies  ........................................... 90
Setting the Maximum Auto Store Value .......................................... 91
Setting the Modulation Type  ........................................................... 91
Setting Attenuation  ......................................................................... 92
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Contents
Setting Data Skip  ...........................................................................  92
Setting the Delay Time  ..................................................................  92
Setting the Search Frequency Step  ...............................................  93
Using Weather Alert (SAME) ...........................................................  94
Searching For a Weather Broadcast  .............................................  94
Turning Weather Alert On/Off  ........................................................  94
Programming a SAME Group  ........................................................  95
Setting WX Alert Priority  ................................................................  96
Care and Maintenance .....................................................................  97
General Use  ...................................................................................  97
Location .........................................................................................  97
Cleaning .........................................................................................  97
Repairs ..........................................................................................  98
Birdies ............................................................................................  98
Troubleshooting ...............................................................................  99
Specifications ................................................................................. 102
Optional Accessories ....................................................................  104
Appendix ......................................................................................... 105
Preset Fleet Maps  ......................................................................... 105
User Defined Fleet Maps   .............................................................. 107
Type I Programming Information ..............................................  107
Size Code Restrictions  .............................................................  108
Planning ........................................................................................... 109
Collecting Information  ..................................................................  109
Filling Out The Conventional System Worksheet  ......................... 110
System Name and Quick Key  ..................................................  110
Group Name and Quick Key  ....................................................   111
Frequency-Alpha Tag-Priority-CTCSS/DCS  ............................. 111
Filling Out The Motorola Worksheet  ............................................  111
System Name and Quick Key  ..................................................  111
System Type  ...........................................................................   111
System Frequencies  ................................................................. 112
Fleet Map (Type I or Type I/Type II Hybrid Only)  ...................... 112
Band Plan (VHF or UHF Only)  .................................................  112
Group Name and Quick Key   .................................................... 112
Talk Group ID-Alpha Tag-Alert .................................................  113
Filling Out the LTR and EDACS Worksheet  ................................  113
System Name and Quick Key  ..................................................  113
System Frequencies and LCN  .................................................  113
Group Name and Quick Key  ....................................................   113
Talk Group ID-Alpha Tag-Alert .................................................  113
Conventional System Worksheet  .................................................. 114
Motorola System Worksheet  ......................................................... 115
LTR/EDACS System Worksheet  .................................................. 117
Preprogrammed Systems .............................................................  119
One-Year Limited Warranty ...........................................................  129
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The FCC Wants You to Know The FCC Wants You to Know
This scanner has been tested and found to comply with 
the limits for a scanning receiver, pursuant to Part 15 of 
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide 
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a 
residential installation. This scanner generates, uses, and 
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed 
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause 
harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not 
occur in a particular installation. If this scanner does 
cause harmful interference to radio or television 
reception, which can be determined by turning the 
scanner on and off, you are encouraged to try to correct 
the interference by one or more of the following 
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the scanner and the 
receiver
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. 
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 
1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and 
2) this device must accept any interference received, 
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Scanning Legally
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many different 
groups, including police and fire departments, ambulance 
services, government agencies, private companies, 
amateur radio services, military operations, pager services, 
and wireline (telephone and telegraph) service providers.
It is legal to listen to almost every transmission your scanner 
can receive. However, there are some transmissions that 
you should never intentionally listen to. These include: 
• Telephone conversations (cellular, cordless, or other 
private means of telephone signal transmission) 
• Pager transmissions 
• Any scrambled or encrypted transmissions 
The FCC Wants You to Know
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The FCC Wants You to Know
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act 
(ECPA), you are subject to fines and possible 
imprisonment for intentionally listening to, using, or 
divulging the contents of such a conversation unless you 
have the consent of a party to the conversation (unless 
such activity is otherwise illegal). This scanner has been 
designed to prevent the reception of cellular telephone 
transmissions and the decoding of scrambled 
transmissions. This is done to comply with the legal 
requirement that scanners be manufactured so they are 
not easy to modify to pick up these transmissions. Do not 
open your scanner ’s case to make any modifications that 
could allow it to pick up transmissions that are illegal to 
monitor. Modifying or tampering with your scanner’s 
internal components or using it in a way other than as 
described in this manual could invalidate your warranty 
and void your FCC authorization to operate it. 
In some areas, mobile use of this scanner is unlawful or 
requires a permit. Check the laws in your area. It is also 
illegal in many areas (and a bad idea everywhere) to 
interfere with the duties of public safety officials by 
traveling to the scene of an incident without authorization. 
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Introduction
IntroductionYour BC246T scanner is a state-of-the-art scanner radio 
with TrunkTracking™ and automatic scanning 
capabilities. You can store frequencies such as police,
fire/emergency, marine, air, amateur, and other 
communications into the scanner. You can carry it with 
you wherever you go, use it at home as a base unit, or 
install it in your vehicle as a mobile unit. 
You can use the scanner’s scroll control to quickly select 
channels and frequencies, and you can automatically 
program channels in a system using the AutoStore 
feature. 
Use your scanner to monitor: 
• Trunked public safety systems 
• Police and fire departments (including rescue and 
paramedics) 
• NOAA weather transmissions 
• Business/Industrial radio 
• Utilities 
• Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands 
• Air band
• Railroad
This table lists the frequency ranges, default frequency 
step, default mode (AM or Narrowband FM), and type of 
transmissions you can hear for each range.
Frequency 
Range 
(MHz)Step
(kHz)Mode Transmission
25.0-26.960 5 AM Petroleum/
Broadcast Band
26.965-
27.4055 A M Citizens Band Class D
27.410-
27.9955 AM Business Band
28.0-29.680 20 NFM 10 Meter 
Amateur Band
Introduction
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