Uniden BC296D User Manual

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In addition, here are a few more of the many features yourscanner has. To get the most from your scanner, be sure toreview this entire manual.• APCO P

• SAME Weather Alert with FIPS – lets you set yourscanner to listen for a SAME event code from the localweather service; sounds an alert and displays

Understanding ScanningThis section provides you with the background on howscanning works. You don’t really need to know all of this touse your scanner

operation. When a user transmits (on an input frequency), thesignal is picked up by the repeater and retransmitted (on anoutput frequency). The user’s

The four systems in use are:• Motorola Type I – the radios send the radio ID, the fleetand subfleet talkgroup ID to the control channel each timethey

• Logical Channel Numbers – each frequency used by thesystem is assigned an LCN. This information isprogrammed into each user radio. When a user press

LTR TrunkingLTR®(Logic Trunked Radio) systems are trunking systemsused primarily by business or private communications serviceproviders, such as taxi

Getting More InformationBy itself, this manual really only provides part of what youneed to know to have fun scanning – how to program and usethe scan

A Quick Look at YourScannerButtons and Controls1. Antenna Connector2. Speaker3. Display4. DC Power Jack5. Hold/Manual/Channel/Frequency Key (HOLD/MAN)

Display Icons13 DESCRIPTIONPriority Channel IndicatorLock Out Mode IndicatorScan/Search Direction IndicatorChain Search Mode

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Included With YourScannerIf any of these items are missing or damaged, immediatelycontact your place of purchase or call Uniden PartsDepartment at: 80

Setting Up Your ScannerInstalling the Battery Pack1. Open the cover.2. Connect the battery pack connectorobserving the correct polarity.3. Replace the

Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery DisposalWhen the battery supplied with your scanner no longer holdsa charge, you need to replace it. Contact Uniden Parts

Listening SafelyTo protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you usean earphone or headphones.• Do not use an earphone to listen to the WX al

Basic OperationThis section is your main reference for using the scanneronce you have programmed conventional and trunkedsystems. Note that there are

5. Turn SQUELCH back counter-clockwise just until the hissstops. Now the “Squelch Gate” allows only clear signalsthrough.Note: For Trunk Scanning, a g

• If you are trunk scanning, you need to first pressTRUNK to exit the trunking mode.Scanning Programmed ChannelsBefore you can scan, you must first pr

Priority ScanningWhen Priority Scan is turned on, the scanner checks theconventional priority channels in the unlocked banks every 2seconds or the pri

Using the BacklightTo turn on the backlight, press . The next two sectionsdescribe how to change the backlight options.Dimmer Light SettingThe Dimmer

Turning the Key Beep On/OffWhen Key Tone is turned on, the scanner beeps each timeyou press a key.3:SYSTEM OPTION → 3:KEY BEEP1:ONTurn on the key beep

ContentsThe FCC Wants You To Know ...1Scanning Legally ...

Turning Battery Save On/OffThe battery save features extends battery life by setting thescanner in a low-power mode when it is held on a singlechannel

Trunk Scanning OptionsWhen you are scanning a trunked system, there are severaltrunking-only options available to you. This section outlinesthese opti

Holding on a Single TalkgroupTo hold on an active talkgroup when scanning or searching,press HOLD/MAN. The BC296D stops scanning and holds onthe curre

Unlocking All TalkgroupsTo unlock all talkgroups for a system:2:SCAN OPTION → 2:TRUNK → Select the Bank→ 6:L/O ID REVIEWThen, use the scroll bar to se

28SearchingYour BC296D includes powerful search features that let youdiscover new active frequencies in your area. You can saveup to 10 custom search

3:SYSTEM OPTION → 7:DATA SKIP1:ONThe scanner skips data frequencies.2:OFFData skip is turned off.Note: Even with this option turned on, the scanner mi

Automatically Storing FrequenciesDuring searching, you can have the scanner automaticallystore active frequencies into a bank you choose. 1:SERVICE OP

Attenuating All Search RangesIf you are near a strong RF source, you might need toattenuate the input signal in order to search properly. To turnon th

3:MODESelect, then set the modulation mode to use whilesearching the custom range. If you select 5:AUTO,the scanner will use the modulation mode most

33Service SearchThe Service Search feature lets you scroll through thefollowing twelve preprogrammed services. The frequenciesselected for these servi

Holding on a Single Talkgroup ...26Locking Out Talkgroups ...

Notes: • You can not skip frequencies in the WeatherService mode.• If you start Service Searching for a service that hasall frequencies locked out, yo

DSSCCCWhereD = area subdivision (0=entire area)SS = State code (00=all states)CCC = County code (000=all counties)For example, the FIPS code for Tarra

Warning: Never listen to the scanner using a headphone orearphone when you have put the scanner in theweather alert mode. The volume control is dis-ab

37Programming BankInformationIn addition to channel and trunking system information youprogram into each bank (covered in the following sections),this

38General ProgrammingThis section includes procedures that apply regardless ofwhether you are programming conventional or trunkedchannels.Deleting Fre

• To quickly program a series of channels, start with the low-est-numbered channel. The scanner automaticallyadvances to the next channel by default w

40ProgrammingConventional ChannelsEach bank can hold a mix of conventional channels plus onetrunking system. This section describes how to store known

3. Assigning a Text Taga. Use the scroll bar to select the channel you want to tag,then press E.b. Use the scroll bar to select the letter, then press

1:CTCSSContinuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) isused with Amateur Radio, FRS, GMRS, BusinessBand, and other systems. When you select thisoption,

Changing the Frequency Step2:SCAN OPTION → 1:CONVENTIONAL →Channel No. → 6:STEPSThe channel frequency step option controls the frequencystep size used

Toggling End Code Detect ...53Programming EDACS Systems ...

4:NFMNarrowband FMSetting Priority ChannelsYou can set one conventional channel in each bank as apriority channel. When you turn on the Priority Scan

45Programming TrunkedSystemsYour BC296D is designed to scan most major types oftrunking systems, including APCO Project 25 Phase 1 digitalcommunicatio

• The frequencies for many of the trunked public safety sys-tems are listed in the TrunkTracker National Public SafetyTrunked System Frequency Guide i

3:ONLYThe scanner only stops on I-Calls.Turning I-Call On for ID ScanTo receive I-Calls for ID Scan, simply store the radio unitnumber as ( ) plus the

Note: To switch ID Scan or ID Search, press and holdTRUNK or, press SCAN or SEARCH while scanning.Multi-Track Operational DetailsWhen more than one tr

49Programming MotorolaSystemsFollow the instructions in this section to program informationfor Motorola Type I, II, IIi Hybrid, and APCO 25 Digitaltru

Programming Type 2/Digital 800 and 900 MHzSystemsTo program a Type 2/Digital 800 or 900 MHz system, youneed to know the frequencies that the system us

3. Select one of the following trunk types for Motorola Type 2or digital Systems:4:TYPE2/P25 UHFMotorola Type 2 or Digital systems in the UHF (450 –51

3. Select the following trunk type for Motorola Type ISystems:2:TYPE1Motorola Type I and IIi Hybrid Systems4. Enter the fleet map information.Your sca

Toggling End Code DetectAt the end of each transmission, a digital burst is sent so thatradios on the system will quickly switch back to the controlch

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54Programming EDACSSystemsFollow the instructions in this section to program informationfor EDACS Wide, EDACS Narrow, and EDACS SCATtrunking systems.

Setting EDACS Emergency AlertWhen the emergency status is sent on an EDACS radio, youcan have your scanner alert you to the transmission.2:SCAN OPTION

56Programming APCO 25SystemsTo program an APCO 25 system, follow the steps in theappropriate section for conventional or Motorola Trunking.APCO 25 sys

Notes: • To cancel the adjusted threshold level, press key.• The adjusted threshold level for the currentfrequency can be set back to the default valu

58Programming LTRSystemsFollow the instructions in this section to program informationfor LTR trunking systems. For more information about LTRsystems,

59Programming TalkgroupsFor many of the trunk scanning features to operate, you needto program the scanner with the talkgroup ID’s. Each bankcan store

1. While the scanner is receiving the talkgroup, pressHOLD/MAN to hold on that talkgroup.2. Press TRNSFR. The scanner displays the lowestnumbered empt

61Using the RemoteInterfaceYou can connect your scanner to either a PC or anotherBC296D using the remote interface cable port. This allowsyou to eithe

3:SYSTEM OPTION → 6:CLONEon both scanners. Then, on the scanner that has the data youwant to transfer, select MASTER and press E. On the scannerthat y

63Care and MaintenanceGeneral Use• Turn the scanner OFF before disconnecting the power.• Always write down the programmed frequencies in theevent of m

1The FCC Wants You To KnowThis scanner has been tested and found to comply with thelimits for a scanning receiver, pursuant to Part 15 of FCCrules. Th

TroubleshootingIf your BC296D is not performing properly, try the followingsteps.If you experience difficulty while in TrunkTracker mode, try thefollo

If you still cannot get satisfactory results while using yourscanner or if you want additional information, please call orwrite the Uniden Parts and S

SpecificationsCertified in accordance with FCC Rules and Regulations Part 15,Subpart C, as of date of manufacture.Channel: 1000Banks: 10 (100 channels

Glossary of TermsAlpha tag - This term refers to an alphanumeric text tag thatyou can enter to describe the individual frequencies thatyou have progra

with specific data burst is received. This method may beused to restrict access to the repeater or receiver, or reduceinterference where several stati

Key Beep - This is another term for the tone you hear as akeypad acknowledgement beep. The default setting is on. If you have turned the Key Beep off,

worry what the rest of the groups numbers are. The topic ofinterest will be picked up.Talkgroup - A group of users within a trunked system thatcommuni

AppendixPreset Fleet Maps71Preset Map 1Size CodeSIZE CODE 11SIZE CODE 11SIZE CODE 11SIZE CODE 11SIZE CODE 11SIZE CODE 11SIZE CODE 11SIZE CODE 11Block1

72Preset Map 9Preset Map 11Preset Map 13Preset Map 15 Preset Map 16Preset Map 14Preset Map 12Preset Map 10Size CodeSIZE CODE 4SIZE CODE 4SIZE CODE 0S

User Defined Fleet MapsType I Programming InformationWhen a Type I system is designed, the address informationfor all the IDs are divided into 8 equal

Scanning LegallyYour scanner covers frequencies used by many differentgroups, including police and fire departments, ambulanceservices, government age

Finally, for most public safety systems there are some sizecodes which are more common. SIZE CODE 3 and SIZECODE 4 are probably the most common, follo

75Hurricane/Tropical Storm Warning HUW 0 HURRICANETsunami Warning TSW 0 TSUNAMICoastal Flood Warning CFW 0 COASTAL FLOODSpecial Marine Warning SMW 0 S

76Event Code StandardEvent Level (Siren Type)LCD DisplayWarning Watch Statement TestSevere Weather Statement SVS 0 SEVERE WXSpecial Weather Statement

77CTCSS Frequency List (Hz)DCS Tone Code67.091.5118.8156.7210.771.994.8123.0162.2218.174.497.4127.3167.9225.777.0100.0131.8173.8233.679.7103.5136.517

781234567890WEATHERPUBLIC SAFETYNEWSTV BROADCASTHAM RADIOMARINERAILROADAIRCB RADIOFRS & GMRSRACINGSPECIALCHAIN SEARCH12MONITORALERT1: ONFIPS CODE

791 2CONVENTIONAL(CHANNEL SELECT)TRUNK(BANK SELECT)123456 7FREQUENCYDELAYTONE DATABEEP ALERTATTENUATORSTEPSMODEFREQUENCY1: ON/ 2:OFF1: CTCSS/2: DCS/ 3

8012345678 9 0DIMMERSCREEN MASKKEY BEEPENTER LOCKPC CONTROL CLONEDATA S K IPSQ MODE BANK TAG(SELECT BANK)P-25 CARDBATTERY SAVEDIMMER LIGHTDIMMER TIME

81One Year Limited WarrantyImportant: Evidence of original purchase is required for warrantyservice.WARRANTOR: UNIDEN AMERICA CORPORATION (Uniden)ELEM

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IntroductionThe BC296D APCO 25 Digital Trunking Scanner connectsyou to the exciting world of scanning. Capable of scanningconventional frequencies, an