Uniden Bc246t Trunk Tracker Scanner Owners Manual

							31
Setting Up Your Scanner
Before installing batteries, set the switch in the battery 
compartment to match the type of batteries you will use. 
Select REG. ALK. BATT. for non-rechargeable battery 
types and NI-MH. BATT. for rechargeable battery types. 
See also “Using Rechargeable Batteries” on Page 32 
when you use rechargeable batteries.
1. Remove the battery cover and set the battery switch.
2. Install 2 AA batteries, matching the polarity symbols 
(+ -).
   WARNING! 
Set REG. ALK. BATT./NI-MH. BATT. to NI-MH. BATT. 
for use only with rechargeable batteries. 
Never attempt to recharge non-rechargeable batteries. 
Non-rechargeable batteries can get hot and can even 
burst if you try to recharge them.
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Setting Up Your Scanner
3. Replace the cover.
When   flashes and the scanner beeps every 15 
seconds, replace both batteries.
Using Rechargeable Batteries
You can also use two rechargeable batteries to power 
your scanner. Before you use rechargeable batteries, you 
must charge them.
The scanner has a built-in circuit that lets you recharge 
batteries while they are in the scanner. To charge the 
batteries, set REG. ALK. BATT./NI-MH. BATT. inside the 
battery compartment to NI-MH. BATT., install the
batteries in the scanner, and connect the supplied 
AC adapter to the scanners DC 6V jack (see “Using AC 
Power” on Page 33).
   WARNING! 
Do not connect the AC adapter to the scanner if non-
rechargeable batteries (such as alkaline batteries) are 
installed in the scanner and 
REG. ALK. BATT./NI-MH. BATT. is set to 
NI-MH. BATT. , or if you are unsure of the switchs 
position. Non-rechargeable batteries can get hot and 
can even burst if you try to recharge them.
Before you use rechargeable batteries for the first time, 
charge them for 14 hours to bring them to a full charge. 
Discharged batteries take about 14 hours to fully 
recharge.
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							33
Setting Up Your Scanner
Removing the Display Sticker
Before you use the scanner, use your thumb and 
forefinger to remove the protective plastic sticker over the 
display.
Using AC Power
You can power the scanner using the supplied 6V, 
500 mA AC adapter.
To use the scanner on AC power, plug the AC adapter 
into a standard AC outlet.
If rechargeable batteries are installed and REG. ALK. 
BATT./NI-MH. BATT. is set to NI-MH. BATT., the adapter 
powers the scanner and recharges the installed batteries 
at the same time.
Connecting the Antenna
To attach the supplied flexible antenna to the connector 
on the top of your scanner, align the slots around the 
antennas connector with the tabs on the scanners BNC 
connector. Then slide the antennas connector down over 
the scanners connector and rotate the antenna 
connectors outer ring clockwise until it locks into place.
Connecting an Optional Antenna
The scanners BNC connector makes it easy to connect a 
variety of optional antennas, including an external mobile 
antenna or outdoor base station antenna.
Note: Always use 50-ohm, RG-58, or RG-8, coaxial cable 
to connect an outdoor antenna. If the antenna is over 50 
feet from the scanner, use RG-8 low-loss dielectric 
coaxial cable. You can get a BNC adapter at your local 
electronics store.
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							34
Setting Up Your Scanner
Connecting an Earphone/Headphone
For private listening, you can plug a 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) 
mini-plug earphone or headphones (not supplied) into the 
headphone jack on top of your scanner. 
This automatically disconnects the internal speaker. 
See “Earphone Warning” at the front of the manual for 
important information about using an earphone/
headphone.
Connecting an Extension Speaker
In a noisy area, an optional amplified extension speaker, 
positioned in the right place, might provide more 
comfortable listening. Plug the speaker cables 
1/8-inch 
(3.5-mm) mini-plug into your scanners jack.
   WARNING! 
Never connect anything other than an earphone or the 
recommended amplified extension speaker to the 
scanner’s headphone jack. This might damage the 
scanner.
Attaching the Belt Clip
To make your scanner easier to carry when you are on 
the go, use the supplied belt clip. Use a Phillips 
screwdriver and the supplied screws to attach the clip to 
the scanner.
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							35
Setting Up Your Scanner
Attaching the Wrist Strap
To keep your scanner safely close at hand, use the 
supplied wrist strap. Push the small loop on one end of 
the wrist strap through the lug on the right side of the 
scanner, then thread the other end of the wrist strap back 
through the small loop to secure it.
Installing the Demo Software
You can operate your scanner using a personal computer 
and the free demo software available at 
http://www.uniden.com. 
Download the software, then double-click on the install 
package to begin installation. The BC246T SS Install 
program installs the software. You must install the 
software to use the scanner with your computer. 
After you install the BC246T SS Install program, start it by 
double clicking on the desktop icon or by selecting it in 
the Start Programs list.
You can upgrade the included software to a full version by 
purchasing a registration key at http://www.uniden.com.
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							36
Setting Up Your Scanner
A Look At The Keypad
Your scanners keys have various functions labeled on 
the key tops and below the keys. 
To select the function labeled on a key, simply press the 
key. To select the function labeled below a key, hold down 
 on the left side of the scanner then press the key. 
 appears on the display.
If your scanners keys seem confusing at first, the follow-
ing information should help you understand each keys 
function.
Key Name Description
Hold/Hold – Holds the scan or the 
frequency search when pressed. 
Resumes the scan or the 
frequency search when pressed 
again.
 +   – Quickly turns the 
Close Call feature on or off (see 
“Setting Close Call Options” on 
Page 87).
Scan/Srch Scan – Scans the stored channels.
 + Srch – Starts quick search 
or quickly accesses the 
search menu.
.
Func
F
Func
Func
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Setting Up Your Scanner
L/O L/O – Lets you lock out a selected 
channel or skip a specified 
frequency. Press and hold for more 
than 2 seconds to lock all groups 
and channels in a system.
 + L/O – Press quickly to lock 
and unlock a selected system in 
Scan or Scan Hold mode and 
review search lockout frequencies 
in Search or Search Hold mode. 
/  – Turns the display 
backlight on or off.
 +   – Locks and unlocks 
the keypad.
Press and hold for more than 
2 seconds to turn the scanner on 
or off. Press quickly to cancel a 
prompt.
1-9, 0 1-9, 0 – Enters a frequency, enters 
quick key numbers, and selects a 
custom search range in Custom 
Search mode.
Selects systems by quick key in 
scan mode.
 + 1-9, 0 – Selects groups by 
quick key in scan mode.
1/Pri 1 – Enters a 1.
 + Pri – Selects the priority 
mode in scan hold mode.
Key Name Description
Func
Func
Func
Func
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							38
Setting Up Your Scanner
2/Wx 2 – Enters a 2.
 + WX – Selects the weather 
function in the menu in the Hold 
mode.
/44 – Enters a 4.
 +   – Moves the active 
character to the left while editing data.
6/6 – Enters a 6.
 +   – Moves the active 
character to the right while editing 
data.
7/Rcl 7 – Enters a 7.
 + Rcl – Displays a series of 
prompts to quickly select a specific 
channel in the scan hold mode.
No
//Rev – Enters a decimal point or dash 
in a frequency or talk group ID, 
enters an “i” for I-Call input.
At a prompt, answers “No.”
 + Rev – Monitors the 
currently-tuned frequency’s 
reverse frequency.
E/Yes/Att E – Press to select input and menu 
items, to quickly edit a channel in Scan 
Hold Mode, and store a frequency into 
memory in Scan Hold mode.
At a prompt, answers “Yes.”
 + Att – Turns the scanner’s 
attenuator on or off for the current 
channel (for conventional systems) 
or system (for trunked systems).
Key Name Description
Func
Func
Func
Func
Func
Func
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							39
Setting Up Your Scanner
A Look At The Display
The display has indicators that show the scanners 
current operating status. The display information helps 
you understand how your scanner operates. The dark 
area shown above the icons in this illustration is the text 
display area. Information about the currently tuned 
frequency appears here.
SYS - shows the currently activated system, appears with 
numbers (0-9). The currently active system indicator 
flashes.
ATT - appears when the attenuation feature is turned on 
(see “Setting System Attenuation (Trunked Systems 
Only)” on Page 70).
PRI - appears when the priority feature is turned on (see 
“Priority Scan” on Page 48).
 - appears when you lock the keypad (see
“Locking/Unlocking the Keypad” on Page 48).
 - alerts you when the battery power gets low.
GRP - shows the currently activated group, appears with 
numbers ( - ). The currently active group indicator 
flashes.
AM/FM/NFM - appears to show the type of transmission.
L/O - appears when you manually select a channel you 
locked out or a skip frequency.
 - appears when you hold down   to select a 
function.
 - appears when the scanner is set to a Close Call 
feature mode (see “Using the Close Call Feature” on 
Page 86).
09
FFunc
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							40
Setting Up Your Scanner
Using Menu
Press   on the left side of the scanner to enter the 
menu. See “Using the Menu” on Page 46 for more 
information about the scanner ’s menu options.
Using Func
To select the function labeled below a key on the front of 
the scanner, hold down   on the left side of the 
scanner, then press that key. To hold on a system while 
scanning or temporarily stop on a channel while searching, 
press  . To select a system in Scan or Scan Hold 
mode, hold down   and rotate the scroll control.
Using the Scroll Control
Turn the scroll control on top of the scanner to select a 
channel or frequency in Hold mode, select menu items in 
Menu mode, and to select a character while editing a 
name. You can also press the scroll control down instead 
of pressing E on the keypad to select an item.
Menu
Menu
Func
Func
Func
Func
Vol
Sql
Scroll
Control
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