Uniden Bc350a Vhf Uhf Scanner Owners Manual
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Screens The following illustrate some of the screen displays you will use: 888.8888HOLD SCAN SRCH L/O MEMO LOSS88 PRIVATE POLICE FIRE/EMG WX AIR MRN SCANSCANPOLICE 482.7625HOLD SCAN 15 PRIVATE 000.0000HOLD SCAN L/O 1 PRIVATE 147.3500SRCH st 11
508.9375HOLDCH 144 - 148SRCH PrG - LocHOLD SCAN E r r o r 12
Scanning Overview You can scan in one of three ways: ·Service Bank Scanning Press one of the five service bank keys, [POLICE], [FIRE/EMG], [AIR], [WX] or [MRN], to find an active frequency. ·Band Search Select a frequency band to search. The Search function is different from scanning. It searches for any active fre- quency step by step within the lower and upper limits of the band. When an active frequency is found, the scanner will stop and stay on that frequency as long as that transmission lasts. If that fre- quency is interesting to you, press [HOLD] to hold the frequency in the display. Then program it into one of the programmable banks (PRIVATE, POLICE or FIRE/EMG). If you do not want to program that frequency, press [SEARCH] or just wait till the transmission ends. The search resumes automatically 2 seconds after the last transmission and looks for more active frequencies. · PRIVATE Bank Scanning If you have programmed frequencies into this bank, press [PRIVATE] to scan only those that you have programmed in this bank. When scanning stops on an active frequency, it remains on that channel as long as the transmission continues. When the transmission ends, the scanner will remain on the same channel for 2 more seconds, waiting for a responding transmission. If there is no responding transmission within 2 seconds, the scanning cycle resumes. Getting Started The following instructions apply when using your BC350A for the very first time. Each time you turn on the scanner, it always retains the pre- vious settings in its memory. That is, the scanner operates in the mode and bank last used, until you change the settings. Note: In case of mem- ory loss to the scanner (indicated by MEMO LOSS on the display), all settings will be lost. Memory loss occurs if the the scanner is left for a long period of time without power. 1. Turn the Squelch [SQ] Control fully clockwise to the end. 2. Power on the scanner by turning [VOLUME] clockwise. Adjust the vol- ume to where you can hear a steady noise. 3. Set the squelch at the scanning threshold by turning [SQ] counterclock- wise just until the noise disappears. 13
4. Press any of the Service bank keys: [POLICE], [FIRE/EMG], [AIR], [WX], or [MRN]. The scanner automatically starts scanning the se- lected bank. Note: Later, when you have learned how to program channels in the PRIVATE bank, you can press [PRIVATE] to scan your favorite collections. 5. Adjust the volume to a comfortable listening level. Adjusting the Squelch 1. Open the squelch by turning [SQ] clockwise to the end. You should hear a steady sound (scanning stops). 2. Turn [SQ] counterclockwise slowly until the sound disappears. This is the threshold point at which scanning starts. At the squelch thresh- old, an incoming signal just slightly stronger than the noise will open the squelch. Note: When squelch is open, you can hear the voice (scanning is stopped). If squelch is set too tight, that is, too far counterclock- wise from the threshold point, a stronger signal is required to open the squelch. If squelch is set on a point clockwise from the threshold, you will hear a constant sound (noise, if no signal is present). The scanner will not scan. Programming Frequencies Before you can scan the PRIVATE bank, you must program the chan- nels. You can program one frequency per channel. Press [PROG] to start the Program Mode and also to complete the programming. If you do not want to finish programming, press [BAND] to leave the Program Mode. ·You can program any displayed frequency on the screen. ·If you do not know any local frequency to program, find an active frequency by scanning any service bank or searching any selected band. Then, when you find a desired frequency, program that fre- quency to the PRIVATE bank. Note: It is recommended that you do not program a Weather frequency into the PRIVATE bank. 14
·You can also program a non-active frequency. If you known a lo- cal frequency, press [SEARCH]. Then press [BAND] to select the band which covers that frequency. When the search is near the frequency you want displayed on the screen, press [HOLD] to stop searching. Then use [UP] or [DOWN] to display the fre- quency you want to program. Example 1: Programming from SCAN mode. 146.5600HOLD 146.5600HOLDCH 146.5600HOLD 1000.0000HOLD 1146.5600HOLD SCANSRCH POLICE PO LICE PO LICE When you find an interesting active police frequency while searching 144 - 148 band, and want to program it into POLICE bank... POLICE Press: Press: HOLD PROG HOLD icon appears in the display. Press: CH appears & blinking to indicate that you are in the programming mode. 2 screens flip-flops to indicate that channel 1 is available to be programmed POLICE icon appears in the display. PROG Press:to end programming. 1. 2. 3. 4. BAND Note:Press to escape from programming mode before step 4. 15
Example 2: Programming from SEARCH mode. Example 3: Programming 000.0000 (Erase programmed frequency in a channel). You can erase a programmed frequency in a channel by programming 000.0000 into its channel. You can find and display 000.0000 on the screen in one of two ways: Find an open channel in the private bank. Press [PRIVATE] then [HOLD], and use [UP] and [DOWN] to scroll through the bank to find an open channel, 000.0000 - OR - Find 000.0000 from the Search & Program Mode. Every search band has one 000.0000 display included between the band limits. It can be displayed only in the Program Mode (after pressing [PROG] and CH is blinking in the display). 146.5600HOLD 146.5600HOLDCH 146.5600HOLD 1000.0000HOLD 1146.5600HOLD SCANSRCH POLICE PO LICE PO LICE When you find an interesting active police frequency while searching 144 - 148 band, and want to program it into POLICE bank... POLICEPress: Press: HOLD PROG HOLD icon appears in the display. Press: CH appears & blinking to indicate that you are in the programming mode. 2 screens flip-flops to indicate that channel 1 is available to be programmed. POLICE icon appears in the display. PROGPress:to end programming. 1. 2. 3. 4. BANDNote:Press to escape from programming mode before step 4. 16
Example: To find 000.0000 in Search Band 50 - 54. 1. Select Search Band 50 - 54 by pressing [BAND] in the Search Mode. 2. Press [HOLD] to stop searching. 3. Press [PROG] to go into Program Mode. 4. Use [UP] and [DOWN] to display 50.0000 or 54.0000. 5. Press [DOWN] one time at the 50.0000 screen to display 000.0000 - OR - Press [UP] one time at the 54.0000 screen to display 000.0000. Example 4: Erasing a programmed frequency in Channel 13 of the PRIVATE bank. Program Lock Feature The BC350A has a program lock feature [Memory Lock] to prevent acci- dental programming entries or unauthorized programming. Simply turn on the MEMO LOCK switch on the rear panel to disable [PROG] and pro- tect the memory. 17
Channel Lock Out ·You can lock out a channel so it is not scanned. This does not erase the frequency from the channel when it is locked out. ·You can lock out all the channels in a bank, if desired. However, if you do, pressing that bank key will emit an error tone and the scan- ner will not scan. ·In the POLICE bank, MRN bank, or FIRE/EMG bank, you can lock out all the factory pre-programmed channels (those frequencies that display without channel numbers in Scan Mode). This en- ables you to make a secondary private bank, if desired. ·You cannot lock out any frequency in the WX or AIR banks. These banks are frequency search banks, and you cannot lock out any frequency in Search Mode. ·[L/O] is active only when squelch is opened (scan is stopped) or in Hold Mode. Locking Out an Unwanted Channel In Scan Mode, press [L/O] when the scanner stops on a channel you do not want to hear. The scanner locks out that channel and immediately ad- vances to the next channel to resume scanning. In Scan/Hold Mode, press [L/O] to lock out the displayed channel/fre- quency. In this case pressing [L/O] will not advance to the next channel. L/O will appear on the screen to indicate that the displayed channel is locked out. Searching for Locked Out Channels In Scan Mode, you will not see locked out channels. However, to search for locked out channels and display them on the screen, use [UP] and [DOWN] . These keys will enable you to search manually through the bank in Hold Mode only. L/O will appear on the screen to indicate the locked out channel. Restoring a Locked Out Channel Suppose you want to unlock Channel 12 of the PRIVATE bank. Press [PRIVATE] to start scanning. Press [HOLD] to stop scanning. (HOLD & SCAN must appear on the screen.) Use [UP] or [DOWN] to find locked out Channel 12 (which shows L/O). Then press [L/O] . L/O dis- appears to indicate that Channel 12 is now unlocked and restored for scanning. 18
Restoring All Locked Out Channels You can unlock all locked out channels in any bank at one time. To do this, first press a bank key to start scanning. Then press [HOLD] to stop scanning. Press and hold down [L/O] (L/O appears on the screen) for more than 2.5 seconds until you hear the multi-beep (L/O disappears). Now all locked out channels in the bank are unlocked and restored for scanning. A Word About Memory Back-up Your BC350A has a convenient type of memory back-up system. In the event of a power failure, the scanner provides approximately 30 days of memory retention so you don’t immediately lose the frequencies you stored in any of the channels. 19
Scanning To start scanning, press any bank key. When the BC350A is scanning, you can see the SCAN message mov- ing across the display. Scanning stops on any active channel automat- ically and displays its frequency, except those channels programmed with L/O (Lock Out). Scanning resumes automatically two seconds after the channel becomes inactive. To stop scanning at any time, press [HOLD]. When you press [HOLD], you are in the Scan/Hold Mode. The scanner remains on the displayed channel until you press any bank key again to resume scanning. (Or, you can press [SEARCH] to start searching.) In the Scan/Hold Mode, each time you press [UP] or [DOWN], you step up or down one channel at a time (one frequency step each for the AIR or WX bank). Press and hold [UP] or [DOWN] to rapidly step through that bank. In the Scan/Hold mode, you do not skip a locked out (L/O) channel using [UP] or [DOWN]. Weather Channel Scan The BC350A allows you to search for your local NOAA weather channel. Press [WX] to find the active weather channel in your area from 7 pre-pro- grammed NOAA channels. To exit Weather Mode, press any other bank key or [SEARCH]. It is possible that your area is covered by more than one weather station. When you press [WX], the BC350A will find an active broadcast immedi- ately. If the broadcast sounds weak and distant, press [WX] again to look for a closer station. Note: All weather channels transmit continuous broadcasts. Once the Weather scan stops on a transmission, it will remain on that channel. Weather scan will not resume automatically. You must press [WX] again to reactivate scanning. In some parts of the country, you may not be able to monitor weather broadcasts, such as in low-lying areas. Normally a higher location will improve the reception. Note: It is not recommended to program a weather frequency into any banks. Because weather channels transmit continuously, the scanner will stop on that channel, disrupting the scanning cycle. The Weather Scan feature was provided specifically to avoid this occurrence. 20