Uniden Br330t Wideband Trunktracker Scanner Owners Manual

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Feature Highlights
Feature HighlightsGeneral
2500 Dynamic Channels - Your scanner stores 
channels more efficiently than conventional scanners, 
letting you store and quickly tune greater numbers of 
interesting frequencies.
Close Call
TM RF Capture Technology - You can set 
the scanner so it detects and provides information 
about nearby radio transmissions. See “Using the 
Close Call Feature” on Page 107 for more information.
Dynamically Allocated Channel Memory - Your 
scanner’s memory is organized so that it more closely 
matches how radio systems actually work, making it easier 
to program and use your scanner and determine how much 
memory you have used and how much you have left.
Preprogrammed Systems - Your scanner is 
preprogrammed with over 1000 channels covering 
police, fire, and ambulance operations in the 25 most 
populated counties in the US as well as many major 
races. A complete list of the scanner’s preprogrammed 
systems is in “Preprogrammed Systems” on Page 148.
99 Quick Keys – You can set the scanner so you can 
quickly select systems and groups by using the 
keypad. This makes it easy to listen to or quickly lock 
out those systems or groups you don’t want to scan.
Race Track Operation – You can set the scanner to 
scan races using a frequency list or preprogrammed 
into the scanner. You can scan by car number and 
driver name, assign the car to a quick key, and set the 
scanner so it sounds an alert when the car you are 
scanning transmits.
13 Service Searches - frequencies are preset in 
separate Public Safety, News, HAM Radio, Marine, 
Railroad, Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS, Racing, Special, 
AM Broadcast, FM Broadcast, and TV Broadcast 
searches, to make it easy to search and scan for 
specific transmissions.
Lockout – You can lock out any system, group, 
frequency, or channel while scanning or searching. 
Feature Highlights 
						

							12 If you lock out a system or group, any channels 
belonging to that system or group are also locked out.
You can lock out up to 200 frequencies and review all 
locked-out frequencies. The scanner skips locked-out 
frequencies while using the Close Call feature or while 
searching.
CTCSS and DCS Squelch Modes – prevent interfer-
ence from stations not using the mode you select.
Fire Tone-Out Standby – 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.
Broadcast Screen – Sets the scanner so it ignores 
Close Call
TM or search hits on known broadcast
frequencies including pager frequencies.
Custom Screen – Lets you input up to 10 frequency 
ranges that the scanner will ignore during Close Call
TM 
or search operation.
Dropout Delay – You can set whether the scanner pauses 
at the end of a transmission to wait for a reply. You can 
set the delay time for each system you scan, and while 
searching and using the Close Call
TM feature.
Built-In Bar Antenna – Lets you clearly listen to AM 
radio broadcasts.
Attenuator – You can set the scanner ’s attenuator to 
reduce the input strength of strong signals by about 18 dB.
Repeater Reverse – You can set the scanner so it 
switches to the input frequency on a conventional 
repeater system.
Channel Alert – You can set the scanner so it alerts 
you when there is activity on any channel you specify.
Memory Check – Lets you see at a glance how much 
total memory is left.
Scan and Search Operation – Lets you include 
selected service searches or custom search ranges 
during normal scan operation. 
						

							13
Feature Highlights
Custom Alerts – For each alert in the scanner (such as 
channel alert, Close Call alert, emergency alert), you can 
select from 9 different tone patterns and also set the alert 
volume level independently from the main volume level.
Automatic Channel Step – Accepts frequencies on 
any valid channel step, even if it does not fall within 
the band plan’s default step.
Frequency Step – Lets you select a frequency step 
(5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 9, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 
kHz) for manual mode and chain search mode. The 
scanner ’s auto step feature lets you set the scanner so it 
automatically chooses the correct step.
Quick Recall – Lets you quickly select a specific 
channel by choosing the system, group, and channel.
Scan/Search Delay – You can set the scanner so it 
remains on a frequency up to 5 seconds after the last 
transmission to wait for a possible reply. 
Te x t  Ta g g i n g  – You can name each system, group, 
channel, talk group ID, custom search range, and 
SAME group, using up to 16 characters per name.
Unique Data Skip – Allows your scanner to skip 
unwanted data transmissions and reduces birdies. 
Duplicate Frequency Alert – Alerts you if you try to enter 
a duplicate name or frequency already stored in a system.
Memory Backup – If power is lost or disconnected, 
the scanner retains the frequencies you programmed 
in its memory. 
Note: The scanner’s frequency coverage is not 
continuous and does not include the cellular telephone 
bands. 
Trunk Tracking
Trunk Tracker III™ Operation – Follows unencrypted 
conversations on analog Motorola, EDACS, EDACS 
SCAT, and LTR trunked radio systems, including 
systems in VHF, UHF, 800 MHz, and 900 MHz bands.  
						

							14 The scanner can scan both conventional and trunked 
systems at the same time.
Control Channel Only Scanning – If the scanner is 
set to scan Motorola trunking frequencies, you can set 
it so it scans using only control channel data. You do 
not have to program voice channel frequencies into 
memory in this mode as long as all possible control 
channels are programmed.
Weather
Weather Search – Lets your scanner receive your 
local NOAA weather transmission.
SAME Weather Alert – Lets your scanner alert you when 
a SAME weather alert is transmitted on a NOAA weather 
channel. The scanner also displays the transmitted 
alert type. This helps you quickly find out about severe 
weather in your area and lets you avoid false alarms.
WX Priority – Lets your scanner alert you when a SAME 
weather priority alert is transmitted on a NOAA weather 
channel.
Search
Service Search – Lets you quickly select and search 
the scanner’s preprogrammed frequencies.
Custom Search – Lets you program up to 10 custom 
search ranges. You can search any of these ranges 
simultaneously.
CTCSS/DCS Search – Lets the scanner search for 
CTCSS or DCS tones. You can identify up to 50 
CTCSS tones and 104 DCS tones. 
Quick Search – Lets you search from the currently-tuned 
frequency if you are searching a conventional system.
Auto Store
Frequency AutoStore – Automatically stores all active 
frequencies into the selected conventional system.  
						

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Feature Highlights
Talk Group ID AutoStore – Automatically stores all 
new talk group ID’s into a channel group you select. 
Priority
Priority Scan – Priority channels let you keep track of 
activity on your most important channel(s) while 
monitoring other channels for transmissions. 
Priority Plus – You can set the scanner so it scans 
only the priority channels 
Backlight and Power
Display and Keypad Backlight – Makes the display and 
keypad easy to see in dim light. You can adjust the 
back light so it turns on when you press a key, when 
squelch breaks during a transmission, or manually.
Low Battery Alert – The scanner alerts you if the 
batteries need to be recharged or replaced.
Battery Save – You can set the scanner so it reduces 
the amount of power it needs if there are no transmissions.
Key Controls
Key Lock – You can deactivate the scanner’s keys to 
help prevent accidentally changing the scanner’s 
programming.
PC Control and Cloning
PC Control – You can transfer programming data to and 
from your scanner and your personal computer, and 
control the scanner using a computer. This helps you 
find frequencies listed on the Internet and load them 
into the scanner. Free PC control and programming 
software will be available at http://www.uniden.com.
Clone Mode – You can clone all programmed data, 
including the contents of the scanner’s memory, menu 
settings, and other parameters from one BR330T 
scanner to another BR330T scanner.
On-Air Cloning – You can clone all programmed data 
over the air from a PC to one or more BR330T 
scanners. 
						

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About This Manual
The screen displays used in this manual are 
representations of what might appear when you use 
your scanner. Since what you see depends on the 
frequencies and user IDs for your area and the 
settings you select, you might notice some differences 
between what is in this manual and what appears on 
your scanner. 
Using the Multifunction Scroll Control
The scroll control on top of the BR330T lets you 
easily control channel selection, volume, and squelch, 
and how information appears on the display.
To adjust menu settings, change channels in Hold 
mode, and resume scanning: Simply rotate the 
scroll control.
To change the scanner’s volume: Briefly press the 
scroll control once, then rotate it. VOLUME LEVEL and 
the current volume level appear on the display.
To adjust the squelch: While holding down   on 
the left side of the scanner, briefly press the scroll 
control once then rotate it. SQUELCH LEVEL and the 
current squelch level appear on the display.
Entering Text
To enter a letter, turn the scroll control until the 
character you want appears, To enter a number, press a 
number key. To enter a decimal point, press  . 
To move the cursor to the left, press /4. To move the 
cursor to the right, press 6/ .
To clear a character, press   twice. To clear all 
characters, press   three times.
To accept an entry, press down on the scroll control or 
press E.
Func 
						

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Feature Highlights
How the Scanner’s Controls Are 
Represented in This Manual
To help navigate the scanner ’s menus, the steps 
shown in this manual show the displays you see and 
the keys you press or control you operate to get a 
desired result.
This example shows you how to use the scanner’s 
menu to edit an existing system name. It shows you 
the key to press () to select a menu option and 
the option you see (Program System) when you 
press  . It also instructs you to turn the scroll 
control (shown as 
4) to view a series of choices then 
press the scroll control (shown as 
L) to select a choice 
(Edit Name).
 
J Program System J L
4 
Select the system  L 
J 
Edit Name L 
Follow these steps to enter/edit the system name.
1. The first character of the system name is covered 
by a cursor. Rotate the scroll control to select the 
character you want.
2. Press 6/ on the keypad to select the next 
character. The cursor moves to the next character. 
To move the cursor to a previous character, press 
/4.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have entered the
system name. Then press down on the scroll 
control or press E to accept the setting.
Hints:
• Each system name can be up to 16 characters. 
Abbreviate as necessary to fit.
Menu
Menu
Menu 
						

							18• The default system names include the following 
letter in the 16th position to indicate the system 
type: 
R = Racing
M = Motorola
E = EDACS
L = LTR
C = Conventional
• Press   twice to delete the current character.
• Press   three times to clear the entire alpha tag.
To get the most from this manual, review the contents 
to become familiar with the basic functions available. 
If you are new to scanning or trunk tracking, be sure to 
read “Understanding Scanning” on Page 19 for a quick 
background on the technology. The first thing you’ll 
need to do is install batteries in the scanner. Then you 
need to connect the included antenna to the scanner. 
See “Setting Up Your Scanner” on Page 32 if you 
need any help doing this. 
						

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Understanding Scanning
Understanding ScanningThis section provides you with background on how 
scanning works. You don’t really need to know all of 
this to use your scanner, but some background 
knowledge will help you get the most from your 
BR330T. 
Understanding the Scanner’s 
Memory
Your 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, making 
it easier to program and use your scanner and deter-
mine how much memory you have used and how much 
you have left.
Instead of being organized into separate banks and 
channels, your scanner ’s memory is contained in a 
pool. You simply use as much memory as you need in 
the pool to store as many frequencies, talk group ID’s, 
and alpha tags as you need. No memory space is 
wasted, and you can tell at a glance how much 
memory you have used and how much remains.
With a traditional scanner, when you program it to 
track a trunked system, you must first program the 
frequencies. Since you can only program one trunking 
system per bank in a traditional scanner, if there were 
(for example) 30 frequencies, the remaining channels 
in the bank are not used and therefore wasted. Also, 
since some trunked systems might have hundreds of 
talk groups, you would have had to enter those types 
of systems into multiple banks in order to monitor and 
track all the ID’s.
What is Scanning?
Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-
way communications do not transmit continuously. 
Your BR330T scans programmed channels until it 
Understanding Scanning 
						

							20finds an active frequency, then stops on that frequency 
and remains on that channel as long as the 
transmission continues. When the transmission ends, 
the scanning cycle resumes until the scanner receives 
another transmission. 
What is Searching?
The BR330T can search each of its bands and up to 
10 bands together to find active frequencies. This is 
different from scanning because you are searching for 
frequencies that have not been programmed into the 
scanner. When you select frequency bands to search, 
the scanner searches for any active frequency within 
the lower and upper limits you specify. When the 
scanner finds an active frequency, it stops on that 
frequency as long as the transmission lasts. If you 
think the frequency is interesting, you can program it 
into the scanner’s memory. If not, you can continue to 
search.
What is CTCSS/DCS?
Your scanner can monitor systems using a Continuous 
Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digital 
Coded Squelch (DCS) system, which allow squelch to 
open only when the tone you have programmed with a 
specific frequency is received along with a 
transmission. 
CTCSS and DCS are subaudible tone signaling
systems sometimes referred to as PL or DPL 
(Motorola’s trademarked terms for Private Line and 
Digital Private Line respectively). CTCSS and DCS 
are used only for FM signals and are usually 
associated with both amateur and commercial two-
way frequencies. These systems make use of a 
special subaudible tone that accompanies a 
transmitted signal.
CTCSS and DCS are used for many purposes. In 
many cases, CTCSS and DCS are used to restrict 
access to a commercial repeater, so that only those