Uniden Sc230 Vhf Uhf Scanner Owners Manual

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Feature Highlights
Feature HighlightsGeneral
Close CallTM 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 72 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 Races - your scanner is 
preprogrammed with NASCAR Nextel, Busch, Craftsman, 
Indy, ARCA, and Champ series races.
Quick Race Programming – lets you quickly and easily 
enter information about a specific race.
Quick Keys – You can set the scanner so you can select 
a race or systems and groups by pressing a single key. 
This makes it easy to listen to or quickly lock out those 
systems or groups you don’t want to scan.
Quick Car Select – You can set the scanner so you can 
select and listen to a car by pressing a single key. 
Pager Screen – You can set the scanner so it ignores hits 
generated by common pager frequencies while using the 
Close Call or search features.
Ten Service Searches - frequencies are preset in 
separate public safety, news, amateur radio, marine, 
railroad, air, CB radio, FRS/GMRS, racing, and special 
searches, to make it easy to find specific transmissions.
Lockout – You can lock out any system, group, 
frequency, or channel while scanning. 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. The scanner 
skips locked-out frequencies while using the Close Call 
feature or while searching.
Feature Highlights
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Feature Highlights
CTCSS and DCS Squelch Modes – prevent 
interference from stations not using the mode you select.
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 feature.
Attenuator – You can set the scanner’s attenuator to 
reduce the input strength of strong signals by about 18 dB 
received by the scanner.
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.
Frequency Step – Lets you select a frequency step 
(5, 6.25, 7.5, 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 automati-
cally 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. 
Text Tagging – You can name each race system, con-
ventional system, group, channel,  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 the 
scanner.
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Feature Highlights
Memory Backup – If power is lost or disconnected, the 
scanner retains the frequencies you programmed in its 
memory. 
22 Bands – Includes 22 bands, with Aircraft and 800 MHz.
Note: The scanner’s frequency coverage is not continuous 
and does not include the cellular telephone band. 
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.
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 within a system 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 
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Feature Highlights Backlight and Power
LCD Back Light – Makes the display 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.
Key Beep – You can control whether the scanner beeps 
when you press a key.
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.
Clone Mode – You can clone all programmed data, 
including the contents of the scanner’s memory, menu 
settings, and other parameters from one SC230 
scanner to another SC230 scanner.
On-Air Cloning – You can clone all programmed data 
over the air from one SC230 scanner to another SC230 
scanner using a personal computer and a radio transmitter.
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  
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. 
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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 select one choice (Edit Name).
 
J Program System J E  4 J
Select the system J E 4
J
 Edit Name J E
To get the most from this manual, review the contents to 
become familiar with the basic functions available. 
If you are new to scanning, be sure to read “Understand-
ing Scanning” on Page 16 for a quick background on the 
technology. The first thing you’ll need to do is install bat-
teries in the scanner. Then you need to connect the 
included antenna to the scanner. See “Setting Up Your 
Scanner” on Page 23 if you need any help doing this.
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, hold   then press /4 
or rotate the scroll control to the left. To move the cursor to 
the right, hold   then press 6/ or rotate the scroll 
control to the right.
To clear a character, press No twice. To clear all 
characters, press No 3 times. To accept an entry, press E 
or press down on the scroll control.
Menu
Menu
Menu
Func
Func
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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 SC230. 
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 determine 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 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.
What is Scanning?
Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way 
communications do not transmit continuously. Your 
SC230 scans programmed channels until it finds 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 SC230 can search each of its 22 bands and up to 10 
banks 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 
Understanding Scanning
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Understanding Scanning
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 units, which 
transmit the correct tone along with their signal can “talk” 
to the repeater.
CTCSS and DCS are also used in areas that receive 
interference where there are several stations with output 
frequencies close to each other. When this occurs, you 
might hear multiple communications on the same 
frequency. The stations might even interfere with each 
other to the point where it is impossible to clearly receive 
any of the stations. A scanner equipped with CTCSS and 
DCS (like your scanner) can code each received 
frequency with a specific CTCSS or DCS frequency. 
Then, when you receive multiple signals, you only hear 
the transmission with the CTCSS or DCS tone you 
programmed. If you do not receive the correct tone with a 
signal, the scanner’s squelch remains closed and you 
hear nothing. 
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Understanding Scanning
You can search for the following CTCSS frequencies and 
DCS codes.
CTCSS Frequencies (Hz)
DCS Codes (Octal)
  67.0   69.3   71.9   74.4   77.0   79.7
  82.5   85.4   88.5   91.5   94.8   97.4
100.0 103.5 107.2 110.9 114.8 118.8
123.0 127.3 131.8 136.5 141.3 146.2
151.4 156.7 159.8 162.2 165.5 167.9
171.3 173.8 177.3 179.9 183.5 186.2
189.9 192.8 196.6 199.5 203.5 206.5
210.7 218.1 225.7 229.1 233.6 241.8
250.3 254.1
023 025 026 031 032 036 043 047
051 053 054 065 071 072 073 074
114 115 116 122 125 131 132 134
143 145 152 155 156 162 165 172
174 205 212 223 225 226 243 244
245 246 251 252 255 261 263 265
266 271 274 306 311 315 325 331
332 343 346 351 356 364 365 371
411 412 413 423 431 432 445 446
452 454 455 462 464 465 466 503
506 516 523 526 532 546 565 606
612 624 627 631 632 654 662 664
703 712 723 731 732 734 743 754
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Understanding Scanning
Using the Scanner at the Racetrack
Keeping up with the action at the racetrack is easy and 
fun. You can hear drivers communicating with their pit 
crews, officials communicating with drivers and crews, 
and track workers communicating with everybody. 
Each user at the racetrack transmits and receives on one 
or more frequencies. 
The scanner organizes racetrack frequencies by the 
name of the race you are scanning and by car number. 
For example, you might hear drivers and their pit crews 
on the car number frequencies and officials and the news 
media on the race frequencies. When you are scanning, 
the scanner stops very briefly on each channel to see if 
there is activity. If there isn’t, the scanner quickly moves 
to the next channel. If there is, then the scanner pauses 
on the transmission until it is over. 
You can activate one racing system and as many 
conventional systems as you want at the same time. 
Within a racing system, each driver can have multiple fre-
quencies stored, but only one of their frequencies is 
unlocked at any one time. If you select a driver frequency, 
their other frequencies are automatically locked.
Conventional Scanning
Conventional scanning is a relatively simple concept. 
Each group of users in a conventional system is assigned 
a single frequency (for simplex systems) or two 
frequencies (for repeater systems). Any time one of them 
transmits, their transmission always goes out on the 
same frequency. Up until the late 1980s, this was the 
primary way that radio systems operated. 
Even today, there are many 2-way radio users who 
operate using a conventional system: 
• Aircraft
• Amateur radio 
• FRS/GMRS users 
• Broadcast AM/FM/TV stations 
• Many business radio users 
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Understanding Scanning
When you want to store a conventional system, all you 
need to know is the frequencies they operate on. 
When you are scanning a conventional system, the 
scanner stops very briefly on each channel to see if there 
is activity. If there isn’t, the scanner quickly moves to the 
next channel. If there is, then the scanner pauses on the 
transmission until it is over. 
Simplex Operation
Simplex systems use a single frequency for both transmit 
and receive. Most radios using this type of operation are 
limited to line-of-sight operation. This type of radio is 
frequently used at construction job sites, and with 
inexpensive consumer radios such as GMRS/FRS radios. 
The range is typically 1-8 miles, depending upon the 
terrain and many other factors. 
Repeater Operation
Repeater systems use two frequencies: one transmits from 
the radio to a central repeater; the other transmits from the 
repeater to other radios in the system. With a repeater-
based system, the repeater is located on top of a tall 
building or on a radio tower that provides great visibility to 
the area of operation. When a user transmits (on an input 
frequency), the signal is picked up by the repeater and 
retransmitted (on an output frequency). The user’s radios 
always listen for activity on the output frequency and 
transmit on the input frequency. Since the repeater is 
located very high, there is a very large line of sight. 
Typical repeater systems provide coverage out to about a 
25-mile radius from the repeater location. 
Where To Get More Information
By itself, this manual really only provides part of what you 
need to know to have fun scanning – how to program and 
use the scanner. The included conventional frequency 
guide will give you a good head start on the other part of 
what you need to know – what frequencies have 
interesting content. 
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