Uniden Bc350c Vhf Uhf Scanner Owners Manual

							You can scan in one of three ways:
1.
Service Bank ScanningPress one of the six service bank
keys, 
[POLICE], [FIRE/EMS], [AIR/MRN], [WX], or [CB]
to find an active frequency.
2.
Band SearchSelect a frequency band to search. The
Search function is different from scanning. It searches for
any active frequency 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 frequency 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/EMS). If you do not want to
program that frequency, press 
[SEARCH]or just wait untill
the transmission ends. The search resumes automatically
2 seconds after the last transmission and looks for more
active frequencies.
3.
PRIVATE Bank ScanningIf you have programmed 
frequencies into this bank, press 
[PRIVATE]to scan only
those that you have programmed in this bank.
Note:Before you can scan the Private bank, you must pro-
gram frequencies into the channels. To program 
frequencies, see Programming Frequencies on page 24.
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 BC350C
(except for in the Program mode) for the very first time. Each
time you turn on the scanner, it always retains the previous
settings in its memory. That is, the scanner operates in the
mode and bank last used, until you change the settings.
1. Turn the Squelch 
[SQ]fully clockwise to the end.
2. Power on the scanner by turning 
[VOLUME]clockwise.
Adjust the volume to where you can hear a steady noise.
17
Scanning Overview
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 17 
						

							3. Set the squelch at the scanning threshold by turning [SQ]
counterclockwise just until the noise disappears.
4. Press any of the Service bank keys: 
[POLICE],
[FIRE/EMS], [AIR/MRN], [WX], or [CB]. The scanner
automatically starts scanning the selected 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 threshold, an incoming signal just slightly
stronger than the noise will open the squelch.
Note:When squelch is open, you can hear a voice or 
hissing if squelch is set too low and there is no 
transmission (scanning is stopped). If squelch is set too
tight, that is, too far counterclockwise from the threshold
point, a stronger signal is required to open the squelch.
18
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 18 
						

							To start scanning, press any bank key: [POLICE],
[FIRE/EMS], [AIR/MRN], [WX], [CB], or [PRIVATE]keys.
When the BC350C is scanning, you can see the SCAN
message moving across the display. Scanning stops on any
active channel automatically and displays its frequency,
except those channels programmed with L/O (Lock Out).
Scanning resumes when you press the bank key or 
[UP]key.
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 the 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 bank). To rapidly step
through that bank, press and hold 
[UP]or [DOWN]. In the
Scan/Hold Mode, you do not skip a locked out (L/O) channel
using 
[UP]or [DOWN].
While scanning and the scanner stops on an active channel
that you do not want to monitor, but you do not want to lock
out, you can simply press the bank key: 
[PRIVATE],
[POLICE], [FIRE/EMS], [WX], or [CB]again or [UP].
Notes:•To resume scanning while in the Marine or Aircraft
mode, you can only press 
[UP]. Pressing the bank
key again will switch you from Marine to Air or Air
to Marine.
•Before you can scan the Private bank, you must 
program the channels.
Weather Channel Scan
The BC350C allows you to search for your local NOAA
weather channel.
Press 
[WX]to find the active weather channel in your area
from 10 pre-programmed 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 BC350C will find an active broad-
cast immediately. If the broadcast sounds weak and distant,
press 
[WX]again to look for a closer station.
19
Scanning
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 19 
						

							Notes:•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.
•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.
Channel Lock Out
•If the scanner stops on a particular channel due to noise or
frequent un-wanted transmissions, you may want to keep
that channel from being scanned. Using the channel Lock
out feature will skip this channel during scanning.This does
not erase the frequency from the channel.
•For programmable channels, 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 scanner will not scan (for Private bank).
•In the Police bank, MRN bank, CB bank, or Fire/EMS bank,
you can lock out 30 factory pre-programmed 
channels (those frequencies that display without channel
numbers in Scan Mode).
•You cannot lock out any frequency in the WX or AIR banks.
•
[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 advances to the next channel to
resume scanning.
In Scan/Hold Mode, press 
[L/O]to lock out the displayed
channel/frequency. 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.
20
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 20 
						

							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]in Scan/Hold Mode.
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 disappears to
indicate that Channel 12 is now unlocked and restored for
scanning.
Note: For the factory pre-programmed channels, the earliest
channel will be unlocked, when you lock out more than 30
channels.
Restoring All Locked Out Channels
1. You can unlock all locked out channels in any bank at one
time. Press a bank key to start scanning.
2. Press 
[HOLD]to stop scanning.
3. 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.
21
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 21 
						

							The BC350C can search up to 13 separate frequency bands
to help you discover new and exciting frequencies in your
area.
To start searching, press 
[SEARCH].
Searching starts from the frequency most recently used.
Press 
[UP]or [DOWN]to change the searching direction.
Searching stops on any active frequency automatically and
displays its frequency. When the conversation stops on the
active frequency, the scanner will resume searching for 
another active channel.
If you want to monitor a specific conversation, press 
[HOLD]
to place the scanner in Hold Mode. The scanner will remain
on the frequency displayed until you press 
[SEARCH]or
[BAND]to resume searching.
In the Hold Mode, each time you press 
[DOWN]or [UP], you
step up or down one frequency at a time. To rapidly step
through frequencies press and hold the 
[DOWN]or [UP].
Displaying the Band Range
To display the frequency band
range, press 
[BAND]. Each time
you press 
[DOWN]or [UP]/
[BAND], you step up or down
one band range at a time. Searching begins automatically 3
seconds after the band range is displayed (or you can press
[SEARCH]to start searching).
Frequency Lockout
If the scanner keeps stopping on a particular frequency due
to noise or too frequent transmissions, you may want to 
lockout that frequency while searching.
To skip over a frequency, wait until the scanner stops at that
frequency. Then press 
[L/O]. The scanner immediately
resumes searching because the locked out frequency is no
longer in the searching sequence.
Note: You can program up to 40 L/O frequencies. The 41st
L/O frequency entered causes the 1st locked out frequency to
become unlocked.
22
Band Search
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 22 
						

							To restore one locked out frequency, place the scanner in the
Hold Mode, use 
[UP]or [DOWN]to find the locked out 
frequency. Then press 
[L/O]to unlock the frequency and
place it back in the search rotation. To restore all locked out
frequencies in any band, press and hold 
[L/O]key for more
than 2 seconds while in the Hold Mode.
23
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 23 
						

							For the Police, Fire/EMS, or Private bank, you can store your
favorite frequencies into the channels of each bank, one fre-
quency per channel.
•You can program any displayed frequency on the screen.
•If you do not know any local frequencies you can search for
an active frequency by scanning any service bank or
searching any selected band. Then, when you find a
desired frequency, program that frequency to the bank.
•You can also program a non-active frequency through the
search mode.
•You cannot program a frequency into Air, MRN, CB, or WX.
Note:
•It is recommended that you do not program a Weather 
frequency into the Private bank.
•In order to program the Private channels in your scanner
you must obtain the frequencies of the agencies (Police,
Fire, EMS, etc.) you want to monitor. Information on how to
obtain these frequencies can be found Where to Obtain
More Information on page 5.
24
Programming Frequencies
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 24 
						

							Programming from SCAN Mode:
When you find an interesting active police frequency while
scanning, and want to program it into the private bank (see
Scanning on page 19) to monitor their communications:
1. Press 
[HOLD].
“HOLD” appears on the 
display.
2. Press 
[PROG]. CH appears
and blinks to indicate that you
are in the Programming Mode.
To change the displayed fre-
quency, use 
[UP]or [DOWN]
while “CH” is blinking.
3. Press 
[PRIVATE]. “PRIVATE”
appears on the display.
If you want to program it into
another bank, press the
desired bank key. The lowest
open channel appears on the
display.
2 screens alternate to indicate
that open channel is available
to be programmed.
The scanner automatically
selects the lowest open 
channel (000.0000) for easy
programming. If all channels
have been programmed (there
are no open channels in the
bank), channel 1 appears.
Use 
[UP]or [DOWN]to select
a new channel and even over-
write old channels.
4. Press 
[PROG]to store the 
frequency in the desired 
channel.
Note:Press [BAND]to escape
from programming mode before
step 4.
25
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 25 
						

							Programming from SEARCH Mode:
For example, when you find an interesting active frequency
while searching 144 - 148 band, and want to program it into
the Private bank (see Band Search on page 22 to search a
frequency):
1. Press 
[HOLD]. “HOLD” 
appears in the display.
2. Press 
[PROG]. CH appears
and blinking to indicate that
you are in the programming
mode. To change the displayed
frequency, use 
[UP]or
[DOWN]while “CH” is blinking.
3. Press 
[PRIVATE]. “PRIVATE”
icon appears in the display.
If you want to program it into
another bank, press the
desired bank key. The lowest
open channel appear on the
display.
2 screens alternate to indicate
that open channel is available
to be programmed.
The scanner automatically
selects the lowest open 
channel (000.0000) for easy
programming. If all channels
have been programmed (there
are no open channels in the
bank), channel 1 appears.
Use 
[UP]or [DOWN]to select
a new channel and even over-
write old channels.
4. Press 
[PROG]to store the 
frequency in the desired 
channel.
Note:Press [BAND]to escape
from programming mode before
step 4.
26
UB317Z (BC350C) 0916  9/16/03  12:43 PM  Page 26