Uniden BC250D manual

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Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    BC250D 11/6/2 11:36 AM Page i[...]

  • Page 2

    BC250D 11/6/2 11:36 AM Page ii[...]

  • Page 3

    Contents Introduction ...........................................................................................1 Front View ............................................................................................2 Icon Display ..........................................................................................3 BC250D SHORTCUTS ........[...]

  • Page 4

    Service Search Skip .......................................................................44 NWR-SAME Alert ...........................................................................44 Testing the Alert Siren ....................................................................45 Programming FIPS Code...............................................[...]

  • Page 5

    1 Introduction The BC250D is a state-of-the-art Digital Capable radio with TrunkTracker III and automatic scanning capabilities. It can store frequencies such as police, fire/emergency, marine, railroad, air, amateur, and other communications into 10 banks of 100 channels for a total of 1000 channels. With the optional BCi25D, APCO-P25 Digital Card[...]

  • Page 6

    2 Front V iew 1. Antenna Connector 2. Speaker 3. Display 4. DC Power Jack 5. Hold/Manual/Channel/Frequency Key ( HOLD/MAN ) 6. Scan Key ( SCAN ) 7. Menu/Back Key ( MENU/BACK ) 8. Lockout Key ( L/O ) 9. Light/Keypad Lock Key (/ ) 10. Decimal/Reverse Key ( ) 11. Earphone Jack 12. Volume/ON/OFF Control 13. Squelch Control 14. Remote Jack 15. VFO Contr[...]

  • Page 7

    Icon Display Uniden ® and Bearcat ® are registered trademarks of Uniden America Corporation. TrunkTracker is a proprietary trademark of Uniden America Corporation. 3 DESCRIPTION Priority Channel Indicator Lock Out Mode Indicator Scan/Search Direction Indicator Chain Search Mode Indicator Service Search Mode Indicator Scan Mode Indicator ID Scan M[...]

  • Page 8

    4 32 1 33 2 2 31 1 3 E 2 2 3 91 1 31 1 1 34 1 HOLD/ MAN HOLD/ MAN 5 1 5 5 . 4 2 1 1 ID MEMORY select 3 MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK E E E SCAN E the neat entry Programming. T o receive an alert for activity on specific IDs while trunk tracking, turn on the "Beep Aler t" for that I[...]

  • Page 9

    5 1 1 1 E E 2 1 E 2 21 1 2 1 1 2 3 5 1 1 5 2 6 SEARCH select bank select range select speed select range E E E E 1 E E MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK CHAIN SERCH MENU/ BACK MENU/ BACK E 4 E E E T o set up a system for trunk tracking, select a bank, then enter the trunk type. Then enter the trunk type you want to track. Press[...]

  • Page 10

    6 Important Notice • This scanning radio has been manufactured so that it will not tune radio frequencies assigned by the FCC for cellular telephone usage. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, as amended, makes it a federal crime to intentionally intercept cellular or cordless telephone transmissions or to market this radio when alt[...]

  • Page 11

    7 T erminology What is Scanning? Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way communications do not transmit continuously. The BC250D scans the Frequencies you have programmed into the Scanner ’ s channels until it finds an active frequency. Scanning stops on an active frequency and remains on that channel as long as the transmission con[...]

  • Page 12

    frequency so another talkgroup can use it. Sharing of the available public service frequencies, or trunking, allows cities, counties, or other agencies to accommodate hundreds of users with relatively few frequencies. Following a conversation on a trunked system using a scanner is difficult, if not impossible. Because when there's a short brea[...]

  • Page 13

    9 Feature Highlights • Trunk Tracking – Follow VHF High Band UHF 800/900MHz trunked public safety and public service systems just as if conventional two-way communications were used. • Digital Capable – With the APCO 25 Digital card (BCi25D) installed, you can monitor supported project 25 systems. • Multi-Track – Track more than one tru[...]

  • Page 14

    • PC Programmable – Allows you to easily program all frequencies and Trunking Talk Groups into your BC250D through Uniden ’ s E-Scanner software running on your PC. – For more information on E-Scanner Programming software visit our website at scanner.uniden.com . • Turbo Search – Increases the search speed to 300 steps per second. This [...]

  • Page 15

    11 Where to Obtain More Information Before using your scanner, you must program frequencies into available channels. The Betty Bearcat Frequency Guide lists typical frequencies used around the U.S.A. and Canada that you may program into your new scanner. To obtain frequency information for your area, contact one of the following: • Bearcat Freque[...]

  • Page 16

    12 Included with Y our Scanner Package If any of these items are missing or damaged, immediately contact your place of purchase or Uniden Customer Service at: (800) 297-1023, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday. • BC250D Hand held Scanner • AC Adapter/Charger (AD-600U) • Ni-MH Battery (BP-2 5 0) • Rubber Antenna • [...]

  • Page 17

    13 Setup Installing the Battery Pack 1. Open the cover. 2. Connect the battery pack connector observing the correct polarity. 3. Replace the cover and press down until it clicks into place. Charging the Battery Pack Use the AC Adapter/Charger to power the BC250D from an AC outlet. You can use your scanner while the battery charges. To fully charge [...]

  • Page 18

    Flexible Antenna Attach the flexible antenna to the antenna connector. Beltclip The beltclip is designed to fit snugly on the back of the scanner. Line up the four arms on the beltclip with the four tabs on the scanner and slide the beltclip into place, as shown on the right. Listening Safely To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when yo[...]

  • Page 19

    15 Basic Operation T urn the Scanner On Turn the VOLUME control clockwise out of the detent position. The scanner automatically starts scanning. Since there are no frequencies programmed in your scanner initially, you may not receive any signals. Once you set the squelch and program some frequencies, you will begin hearing conversations regularly. [...]

  • Page 20

    Next you must program some frequencies (page 26). It is recommended that you read the next part "Understanding the Menu System" because it will assist you in accessing and understanding many of the features. Later in a section called "Additional Features", you will find explanations on how to disable the keypad acknowledgement t[...]

  • Page 21

    • ID Search mode/ID Search Hold mode Menu Description and Numeric Keypad Equivalents Below are the Menu screens and a brief description or purpose of the feature. 1:SERVICE OPTION Service Search menus are preprogrammed services used around the U.S. 1:WEATHER 1:MONITOR When you select this mode, the preprogrammed NOAA weather channel begins to act[...]

  • Page 22

    You can program up to 10 search ranges. The first time you program a range you will need to do so through the Menu. After the first time you can program a range as you do on most any other scanner, using the numeric keypad or VFO control. Use this Menu item to select the search range that you want to program. You can program range 1 through 10, one[...]

  • Page 23

    5:TONE DATA The default mode is 2:OFF . This means that you will receive all transmissions on any frequencies that are active within your search range(s). By selecting CTCSS or DCS you can set the radio to receive only a particular subaudible tone to be received during your search. You can also lockout a particular CTCSS or DCS tone. You may wish t[...]

  • Page 24

    To do so you must have the SQ Mode in the System Menu set to Tone SQ. You can also program a subaudible tone easily by pressing the E key in Scan Hold mode after programming a frequency. This will bring up the Tone Data menu without having to navigate the Menu. By doing this you will receive all transmissions on the frequency, regardless of the sub[...]

  • Page 25

    7:MODE Default Auto receive modes are also programmed into memory. AM for aircraft and CB bands, for example. All frequencies (other than audio TV broadcast) above 400 MHz are received in NFM mode which helps prevent adjacent channel interference. You can change the default settings on a per-channel basis with this Menu item. 2:TRUNK Choose the Tru[...]

  • Page 26

    can then do the following: 1. Program ID number 2. Set an alpha tag 3. Assign a Beep Alert to the ID. Whenever that ID is active, you will hear three beeps at the start of the transmission. 4:DELAY You can set a delay for a trunk system on a bank by bank basis. The delay time is 2 seconds, and this setting can not be changed. 5:ID LIST TAG Assign a[...]

  • Page 27

    ON. In Search mode, with I-CALL ON, you will hear both talkgroup calls and I-CALLs. You can also set I-CALLs to I-CALL ONLY during which you will monitor only I-CALLs in Search mode. You can also program I-CALL IDs into Scan List memory. OR 8:ID SCAN LIST (LTR) When scanning an LTR system you can only turn Scan Lists OFF and ON when an LTR talk gro[...]

  • Page 28

    tone. Only in rare instances will you need to adjust the default settings. The condition to return to control channels depends on whether a signal is present or not. :CNTRL CH ONLY (TYPE 1/TYPE 2 800, 900) With this mode you will be able to track Motorola Type I and II 800 and 900 MHz trunked systems by simply entering the control channel which man[...]

  • Page 29

    25 7:DATA SKIP A scanner will normally stop on any transmission it receives. This means the BC250D will occasionally stop on data signals and unmodulated transmissions. You can automatically skip many of these types of transmissions with data skip turned ON. 8:SQ MODE The SQ Mode allows you to set at your option, whether the scanner will stop on al[...]

  • Page 30

    26 Programming Before the BC250D can begin conventional scanning, you must program a frequency into at least one channel. Repeat this procedure for each channel you want to program. Storing Frequencies into Channels in Menu Mode 1. Select frequencies you received from your dealer, from various sources on the internet, or from one of the guides list[...]

  • Page 31

    Note: • To clear a mistake while entering the frequency, press (decimal key) repeatedly until the display is cleared. • If you enter a channel or frequency which is out of the scanner ’ s range, a beep will sound and ERROR appears on the display. • For each channel, you can also change the step size or the mode. (See page 103.) Deleting a S[...]

  • Page 32

    T ransfer Frequencies You can transfer a frequency that has been stored in a channel to another channel. 1. Press HOLD/MAN . 2. Press TRANSFR , and the smallest empty channel number along with the frequency will flash on the display. 3. Press E and the frequency can be stored in this channel. 4. If you want to enter it into another channel, select [...]

  • Page 33

    29 3. Select the channel number by rotating the VFO and pressing E . You can also enter the channel number by using the keypad and then press E . 4. Select 1:FREQUENCY and ALPHA TAG by rotating the VFO and pressing E . Note: You can only assign a text tag to the channel where the frequency is stored. 5. The cursor appears on the display. Rotate the[...]

  • Page 34

    • Group similar services into a bank. For example, program police frequencies in channels 1 through 10 and fire/emergency into channels 51 through 60, and so on. • Put the frequency that you listen to the most or the most important frequency into a Priority channel. • To quickly program a series of channels, start with the lowest number chann[...]

  • Page 35

    Scanning 1. After programming frequencies, simply press SCAN to begin scanning. During scanning, when you rotate the VFO , you can select the direction ( ↑ or ↓ ) you want to scan. 2. The bank indicators selected for scanning appear on the display, and the bank being currently monitored flashes. You can deselect banks from active scanning by en[...]

  • Page 36

    2. Press TRNSFR , and the smallest empty channel number flashes on the display. 3. Press E . Note : • If you want to change the channel, rotate the VFO . • If the frequency you want to store exists already, WARNING appears on the display and you will hear a beep. (See “ Duplicate Frequency Alert ” on page 27). RF Attenuation Feature The BC2[...]

  • Page 37

    1:CONVENTIONAL by rotating the VFO and pressing E . 3. Select the channel number of the stored frequency to be delayed by rotating the VFO and pressing E . 4. Select 2:DELAY and press E . 5. Rotate the VFO to select 1:ON or 2:OFF and press E . 6. For Search mode, select 1:SERVICE OPTION / :CHAIN SEARCH / 3:DELAY by rotating the VFO and pressing E ,[...]

  • Page 38

    Restoring a Locked-out Channel 1. Press HOLD/MAN . 2. Select a locked out channel. a. Enter the channel number using the keypad. b. Then press HOLD/MAN again. 3. Press L/O to unlock the channel. The L/O icon disappears. Restoring All Locked-out Channels You can restore all locked-out channels in a bank only when a bank is selected for scan. If you [...]

  • Page 39

    35 Changing the Priority Channel You cannot eliminate the Priority Channel, but you can change it to any one of the 100 available channels in each bank. 1. Press HOLD/MAN . 2. Select a new Priority Channel: a. Enter the channel number using the keypad. b. Then press HOLD/MAN again. 3. Press and hold PRI for 2 seconds to designate this channel as yo[...]

  • Page 40

    Searching Setting a Search Range Note : First you must set the search ranges through the Menu screen prior to any searching. The BC250D can search up to 10 separate frequency ranges to help you discover new stations in your area. To set a Search Range, enter into the Menu mode. 1. Press MENU/BACK . 2. Select 1:SERVICE OPTION / :CHAIN SEARCH / 2:SEA[...]

  • Page 41

    Caution: After you have entered the search range while still in the Menu mode, you can set your alpha tag (see page 28), change the step size of the search, change the mode or change the trunk set. Once the lower and upper parameters of your search are edited, the Menu screen backs up one level to allow you to modify the step size, receive mode, an[...]

  • Page 42

    1. Press MENU/BACK . 2. Select 3:SYSTEM OPTION / 7:DATA SKIP by rotating the VFO and pressing E . 3. Select 1:ON by rotating the VFO and pressing E . When Data Skip is active, your scanner may pause momentarily on an unwanted signal but will resume searching in 2 or 3 seconds. The Data Skip feature is active as well as Scan mode and Service Search [...]

  • Page 43

    39 2. Press TRNSFR to store the frequency in the channel you selected. The smallest empty channel number flashes on the display. If necessary, you can also change the channel by scrolling the VFO . 3. Press E . Note : • If the frequency you want to store exists already, WARNING appears on the display and you will hear a beep. (See “ Duplicate F[...]

  • Page 44

    6. Press SEARCH to start auto storing. 7. After the search has gone through the search range, press HOLD/MAN to stop this feature. STORE END appears on the display. You may want to let it run through the search range several times because during the first pass there may not have been any transmissions at that particular time on that frequency. Sque[...]

  • Page 45

    41 3. Rotate the VFO to select one type ( 1:CSQ , 2:TONE SQ , 3:TONE SEARCH ) and press E . 4. To set Tone Lock mode, do the following first, then select 2:TONE SQ in step 3. 1) For Scan mode, select 2:SCAN OPTION / 1:CONVENTIONAL - select the channel number - 3:TONE DATA - 1:CTCSS or 2:DCS by rotating the VFO and pressing E . With CTCSS or DCS, To[...]

  • Page 46

    Additional Menu Options for Searching Each of these additional menu options applys to all search ranges entered. If there is a range that you do not want an option to apply, then simply enter the range number on the numerical keypad. You will see the range number that you have selected disappears from the display. (For more information on these opt[...]

  • Page 47

    Service Search The Service Search feature allows you to scroll through the following twelve preprogrammed services. The frequencies selected for these services are the most commonly used around the U.S. • 1:WEATHER • 7:RAILROAD • 2:PUBLIC SAFETY • 8:AIR • 3:NEWS • 9:CB RADIO • 4:TV BROADCAST • 0:FRS • 5:HAM RADIO • :RACING • 6[...]

  • Page 48

    commonly used at special events and other locations and may or may not be licensed. • When you rotate the VFO while the Service Search is active, you can change the search direction to up or down. During the search of one of the preprogrammed services, the lowest display line will indicate the service that you are searching. To stop the search, p[...]

  • Page 49

    45 Note : You can also set Alert mode to OFF by pressing RSM without entering the Menu mode. 4. When the unit receives a warning signal, it shows a message with the alert siren defined. (For NWR-SAME EVENT CODE, see the table on page 99.) 5. To deactivate, just press any key or it is automatically canceled and the alert siren stops. T esting the Al[...]

  • Page 50

    46 When you rotate the VFO to move down when FIPS CODE 1 is displayed or VFO to move up when FIPS CODE 15 is displayed, ALL FIPS appears on the display. 5. Enter the FIPS code using the keypad. 6. Press E . Note : • To cancel the entry, press (decimal key). • To clear a stored FIPS code, press 0 and E successively • To obtain the FIPS code fo[...]

  • Page 51

    Digital and T runked Systems Your BC250D is designed to monitor APCO Project 25 digital communication systems (using optional BCi25D) and tracks three major types of trunked radio systems. These systems are described here. ❖ APCO Project 25 Systems - Digital systems which support the APCO Project 25 protocol developed by the Telecommunications In[...]

  • Page 52

    Safety Trunked System Frequency Guide included with your BC250D scanner. Frequencies sometimes change, check with www.bearcat1.com/free.htm . • If you have internet access, you can visit scanner.uniden.com or www.bearcat1.com/free.htm for additional information, for current news and frequency information, about Trunk Tracking Scanning. * Motorola[...]

  • Page 53

    Programming and Receiving Digital and T runked Systems There are three steps for programming a trunked sytem: 1. Program the Trunk Type – What type of system will the scanner be tracking, Motorola Type II, Type I, EDACS, LTR, etc. 2. Program the Trunked Frequencies – Within a trunked system, the frequencies are shared among all the users, calle[...]

  • Page 54

    71 for instructions. STEP 1 is complete. Note: Information on APCO P-25 Systems are referred to in “ APCO Project 25 Reception ” on page 76. STEP 2: Programming T runking Frequencies After you finish selecting the bank and trunk type you want to track, store the frequencies in the channels for your selected bank in your scanner. Remember that y[...]

  • Page 55

    press (decimal key) twice, and the display is cleared. • If you enter a frequency which is out of the system ’ s trunking range, a beep sounds and ERROR appears on the display. • If you enter a frequency which has been stored in another channel, you will hear a beep and the channel stored displays WARNING (Refer to “ Duplicate Frequency Ale[...]

  • Page 56

    4. Select 3:TALK GROUP by rotating the VFO and pressing E . 5. Select the ID location by rotating the VFO or using the keypad and then press E . You decide which location you want to place the Talk Group ID. (The first number represents the Scan List number and the second number represents the Memory Location number.) (Direct entry method example: [...]

  • Page 57

    To enter a LTR ID: For a LTR ID, the Area Code, Home Repeat number and ID make up the talk group ID. Please see page 68 for more information. 1. Enter the Area Code and then press (decimal key) 2. Enter the Home Repeater number and then press (decimal key). 3. Enter the ID you want to store. 4. Press E . Note : To clear a stored ID while entering a[...]

  • Page 58

    Setting the Squelch For trunked reception, a good setting for the SQUELCH control is in the center of the range with the color marker pointing up. See the illustration. If it is set too high (CCW) in some cases it could prevent your scanner from locking to the Control Channel reliably. If it is set too low (CW) it will slightly delay finding the Co[...]

  • Page 59

    ID Scan Mode 1. Press SCAN to begin scanning the lists you have programmed. If you haven't programmed more than 2 IDs, ERROR appears on the display. 2. To remove a Scan List from active scanning, press the number of the Scan List on your keypad. Hint: Press and hold RSM for 2 seconds, the scanner will move to the next trunking bank. The Scan L[...]

  • Page 60

    ID Scan Hold Feature If you want to stop on a ID during ID scanning, press HOLD/MAN . If you want to resume scanning, press RSM . To directly access a specific channel: There are several ways to access a specific ID quickly. 1. Press HOLD/MAN . 2. By using the keypad or rotating the VFO , enter the ID location number (See page 51). 3. Press HOLD/MA[...]

  • Page 61

    selected for a trunked system, press HOLD/MAN , and the radio will seek and acquire the trunked system control channel. ID Search Hold and Direct Entry ID Hold Mode Just like in Conventional Search, Hold lets you pause ID Search on an interesting transmission without storing the talkgroup into memory. If you hear an interesting ID during Search mod[...]

  • Page 62

    talkgroups in the Utilities agency. You can do this with just a few key presses. To use ID BLOCKOUT just enter the Agency- part, or the Agency-Fleet part, of the talkgroup code and press L/O . For example, to Blockout Agency 4 in Trunk Search, press HOLD/MAN , 0 , 4 , (decimal key), and then L/O . For other ways to use partial AFS entry, be sure to[...]

  • Page 63

    Reverse Key For Motorola and EDACS system; to change your display between the Scan List indicators and trunk bank display, press REVERSE . For LTR systems only, the talkgroup must be active in order to change the Scan List and bank indicators. If the talkgroup is not active, change the Scan List by using the Menu screen. Setting the Delay Mode for [...]

  • Page 64

    Setting Priority in T runking Mode You can set priority in your trunking lists, just as you do in your conventional ones. You can set the priority by pressing and holding PRI for 2 seconds in ID Scan Hold mode. After you ’ ve set up your Scan List, press PRI to activate it. It ’ s very similar to conventional priority although there is no "[...]

  • Page 65

    61 Moving between Scan List Memories There are a number of ways to step and move through your Scan List memories: 1. Press HOLD/MAN in the ID Scan mode and rotate the VFO to move to up or down. 2. Or, press HOLD/MAN in the ID Scan mode, next press 0-9 (scan list number), then press 0-9 (memory position). For example to move to Scan List 4, memory p[...]

  • Page 66

    You can hold any I-Call IDs. Because you can only hold on one ID, and there are two IDs involved in any I-Call communication (the transmitting and the receiving units), you might not hear the full conversation, but you probably will. ☞ In Search mode, when you hear an interesting I-Call, you can enter the instant shortcut (decimal key) then RSM t[...]

  • Page 67

    After the scanner finishes checking a trunked system for activity, it will conventionally scan the other frequencies in the bank (remember, only trunking frequencies are programmed in Trunk mode). To scan a mix of trunking and conventional banks, select the banks you wish to be active, and then press SCAN . The scanner will instantly begin scanning[...]

  • Page 68

    EDACS ® Reception EDACS ® Tracking TrunkTracker III now allows tracking of EDACS ® trunked systems. Until now these widely used systems have been almost impossible to monitor with a conventional scanner. With your TrunkTracker III listening to EDACS(s) is remarkably easy, and perhaps even easier than conventional scanning. EDACS systems use &apo[...]

  • Page 69

    65 An EDACS ® T runked system This chart shows how talkgroups are organized within an EDACS system at the Agency level. The individual talkgroups cannot be shown at this scale because there are over 2000. However the chart can show the 16 Agencies in this example. The system is logical and easy to understand. EDACS systems are typically arranged i[...]

  • Page 70

    66 For example Sullivan, in decimal, uses channels from 384 to 511. This is not as easy to remember as Agency 03. But decimal is useful if you need to work from decimal talkgroup lists. To turn Emargency Alert ON/OFF, enter into the Menu mode. Select 2:SCAN OPTION / 2:TRUNK -select bank number- 9:EMERGENCY ALT / 1:ON or 2:OFF by rotating the VFO an[...]

  • Page 71

    EDACS systems often provide users with an 'Emergency' mode on their radios. Users in trouble can alert the dispatcher and other units and get priority access to the radio system. When a user activates Emergency mode, EMERGENCY will flash the display during the entire transmission. At the beginning of each transmission it will sound a dist[...]

  • Page 72

    LT R ® Reception LT R ® Tracking LTR ® (Logic Trunked Radio) systems are trunking systems used primarily by business or private communications service providers, such as taxicabs, delivery trucks, and repair services. These systems encode all trunking information as digital subaudible data that accompanies each transmission. Users on an LTR syst[...]

  • Page 73

    Motorola Reception Motorola Tracking There are really two types of Motorola trunking systems. These are usually referred to as Type I and Type II systems. Type I only occurs on some 800 MHz systems. All VHF, UHF and 900 MHz trunking systems use Type II. One important distinction between these two systems is the amount of data transmitted by each ra[...]

  • Page 74

    systems usually accommodate fewer users than Type II systems. Even though there are many Type II systems, Type I systems are still in use. There are also Hybrid systems which are a combination of both Type I and Type II. Your scanner defaults to monitor Type II systems, but its possible to select a Preprogrammed Fleet Map or create a Custom Fleet M[...]

  • Page 75

    Note : You will now begin to see Type I Fleet-Subfleet IDs. For example, 100-12, 100-9, 000-12, 400-8, etc. See "User Defined Fleet Maps in the Appendix" for more information about Type I IDs. How do you know if the preset map is correct? You will have to listen to see if you're following complete conversations. If not, you should tr[...]

  • Page 76

    Setting the Base, Spacing Frequencies and Offset Channel for Motorola VHF/UHF T runked Systems To properly track Motorola VHF and UHF trunked systems you must enter what is known as the base, the spacing frequencies and offset channels for each system. To find these out, check the scanner.uniden.com or www.bearcat1.com/free.htm and other web sites [...]

  • Page 77

    73 Note: • If the system is not tracking properly, you may need to try a new Base Frequency or Offset Channel or you may be missing frequencies from the system. • You can set up to three Base, Spacing and Offsets for Motorola VHF/UHF trunked systems. T oggling the Status Bit On Type II trunking systems there is a method by which specialized typ[...]

  • Page 78

    PLAN 2 : If the last three digits of frequencies are less than 869.0000 and end in one of the following three digits (125, 375, 625, or 875) and if ANY other frequencies end in (000, 250, 500, or 750) use Plan 2. PLAN 3 : If the last three digits of ALL the frequencies in use end in one of the following three digits (000, 250, 500, or 750) use Plan[...]

  • Page 79

    75 Disconnect T one Detect Option (End Code) When this function is disabled, the radio looks for squelch before returning to the Control Channel instead of waiting for the Disconnect Tone. Only in rare instances will you need to adjust the default settings. The condition to return to Control Channels depends on whether the signal is present or not.[...]

  • Page 80

    APCO Project 25 Reception APCO Project 25 is a modulation process where voice communications are converted into digital communications. This conversion is similar to the technology used with digital mobile phones. There are several types of Project 25 systems available! Systems the Uniden BC250D supports are listed below. - Conventional – one fre[...]

  • Page 81

    77 5. Replace the cover and press down until it clicks into place, and then turn ON the scanner. APCO P25 CARD INSTALLED appears on the display. Installation is complete. You can monitor APCO Project 25 systems. To use the P-25 card, you must program each channel for Conventional mode or Trunking mode. - Conventional mode – See “ Storing Freque[...]

  • Page 82

    APCO P-25 Sound Quality Fine T uning With each APCO Project 25 system, particularly at 800MHz, the sound quality (C4FM Demodulation Threshold) may need to be fine tuned specifically for that system. If the scanner is not adjusted correctly, the P-25 voice transmissions will sound robotic or unintelligible. To adjust the sound quality to match the P[...]

  • Page 83

    79 assigned theoretically, and the values are not to guarantee the operation of the unit. • The M id threshold value will not change while adjusting the upper and lower limits. 4. Once you have adjusted the Sound Quality to the lowest possible level, press the E key. Press the RSM key to exit the Sound Quality Adjustment Mode. * To cancel the adj[...]

  • Page 84

    80 Remote Interface You can communicate and program your BC250D in numerous ways with peripheral devices using the Remote Interface Cable port. This radio offers the following modes: ❖ PC Control Mode Program and control your scanner from a PC using Uniden ’ s E-Scanner software. ❖ Clone Mode Clone all the frequencies, trunking talkgroups, an[...]

  • Page 85

    81 Start Remote Mode and Change Transfer Speed: Through the Menu system, select 3:SYSTEM OPTION / 5:PC CONTROL by rotating the VFO and pressing E . To start Remote mode, choose from the transfer speed list except for 5:OFF . A unique feature of the BC250D is that all the front panel keys as well as the VFO on the radio remain operational in Remote [...]

  • Page 86

    82 To connect the Scanner to Scanner: Plug the smaller end of each of the supplied Remote Interface Cables into the remote ports in accordance with the direction of the marks which are on the right sides of each of the two scanners. Plug the other ends of the cables (DB-9 serial connector) together using a DB-9 to DB-9 null modem adapter, and a Gen[...]

  • Page 87

    83 6. Press SCAN on both scanners. The data transfer begins from the Master Unit to the Slave Unit. During the data transfer, both scanners show the following displays. When the data transfer is complete, COMPLETE displays. If the data transfer is not successful, the following error message will appear. Note : To clear ERROR , press (decimal key). [...]

  • Page 88

    84 Additional Features The following additional features are designed for you to customize your scanner. Once these features have been turned ON or OFF, they will remain as they are set until you reset them, even if you turn the scanner OFF and then ON again. Dimmer To change brightness of the display: 1. Press MENU/BACK . 2. Select 3:SYSTEM OPTION[...]

  • Page 89

    85 Key Beep Option To choose key beep sound 1:ON or 2:OFF : 1. Press MENU/BACK . 2. Select 3:SYSTEM OPTION / 3:KEY BEEP by rotating the VFO and pressing E . 3. Select 1:ON or 2:OFF by rotating the VFO and pressing E . Screen Mask The trunk, frequency, receiving mode, and signal meter indications on the display are masked when this feature is activa[...]

  • Page 90

    86 You will not hear any audio. This feature does not function in the WX Alert mode, because the audio is already muted. To turn it OFF, press and hold MUTE again. Receiving Mode Selection You can also set the receiving mode, AM or FM etc., in Conventional mode or Chain Search mode. See MODE in "Menu Description" for details. Frequency an[...]

  • Page 91

    Care and Maintenance General Use • Turn the scanner OFF before disconnecting the power. • Always write down the programmed frequencies in the event of memory loss. • If memory is lost, simply reprogram each channel. The display shows 000.0000 in all channels when there has been a memory loss. • Always press each button firmly until you hear[...]

  • Page 92

    88 T roubleshooting If your BC250D is not performing properly, try the following steps. If you experience difficulty while in TrunkTracker mode, try the following steps. Problem Suggestion Scanner won't work. 1. Check the connections at both ends of the AC Adapter . 2. T urn ON the wall s witch of y our room. Y ou could be using an outlet cont[...]

  • Page 93

    If you still cannot get satisfactory results while using your scanner or if you want additional information, please call or write the Uniden Parts and Service Division. The address and phone number is listed in the warranty at the end of this manual. If you would like immediate assistance, please call Customer Service at (800)297-1023. If you have [...]

  • Page 94

    90 Specifications Certified in accordance with FCC Rules and Regulations Part 15, Subpart C, as of date of manufacture. Channel: 1000 Banks: 10 (100 channels each) Service Bands: 12 preprogrammed search bands (including the NOAA Weather Service band) Frequency Range: 25.0 - 27.995 MHz AM 28.0 - 53.99 MHz FM 54.0 - 71.95 MHz WFM 72.0 - 75.995 MHz FM[...]

  • Page 95

    Glossary of T erms Alpha tag - This term refers to an alphanumeric text tag that you can enter to describe the individual frequencies that you have programmed. Rather than having to associate a specific frequency to the individuals that are using it, you can enter the actual name of the group. This will eliminate the need for memorizing the group ?[...]

  • Page 96

    with specific data burst is received. This method may be used to restrict access to the repeater or receiver, or reduce interference where several stations with output frequencies in close proximity of each other make it difficult to hear the conversation you are interested in. With DCS squelching, you can eliminate the possibility of hearing unwan[...]

  • Page 97

    Key Beep - This is another term for the tone you hear as a keypad acknowledgement beep. The default setting is on. If you have turned the Key Beep off, you now have a silent keypad. You will not hear a tone each time you press a key. NWR S.A.M.E. Weather Alert - In 1994, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began broadcasting [...]

  • Page 98

    worry what the rest of the groups numbers are. The topic of interest will be picked up. Talkgroup - A group of users within a trunked system that communicates with one another. 94 BC250D 11/6/2 11:37 AM Page 94[...]

  • Page 99

    Appendix Preset Fleet Maps 95 Preset Map 1 Size Code SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 SIZE CODE 11 Block 1 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 Preset Map 2 Size Code SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 Block 1 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 Preset Map 3 Size Code SIZE CO[...]

  • Page 100

    96 Preset Map 9 Preset Map 11 Preset Map 13 Preset Map 15 Preset Map 16 Preset Map 14 Preset Map 12 Preset Map 10 Size Code SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 Block 1 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 Size Code SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 0 SIZE CODE 4 SIZE CODE 4 Bl[...]

  • Page 101

    User Defined Fleet Maps Type I Programming Information When a Type I system is designed, the address information for all the IDs are divided into 8 equal sized blocks. When you program your scanner to track a Type I system, you must select a size code for each of these blocks. When you have assigned a size code to all 8 blocks, you have defined the[...]

  • Page 102

    98 Finally, for most public safety systems there are some size codes which are more common. SIZE CODE 3 and SIZE CODE 4 are probably the most common, followed by SIZE CODE 10, SIZE CODE 11, and SIZE CODE 12. Fleet Map Size Codes Size Code Restrictions If you select SIZE CODE 12, 13, or 14, there are some restrictions as to which blocks can be used [...]

  • Page 103

    99 Event Code Standard Event Level (Siren Type) LCD Display Warning Watch Statement Test Hurricane/Tropical Storm Warning HUW 0 HURRICANE Tsunami Warning TSW 0 TSUNAMI Coastal Flood Warning CFW 0 COASTAL FLOOD Special Marine Warning SMW 0 SPECIAL MARINE Avalanche Warning AVW 0 AVALANCHE Volcano Warning VOW 0 VOLCANO Shelter In Place Warning SPW 0 S[...]

  • Page 104

    100 Range Offset 29.520 - 29.580 +0.1 MHz 29.620 - 29.680 -0.1 MHz 52.010 - 52.990 +1 MHz 53.010 - 53.990 -1 MHz 143.750 +4.375 MHz 143.900 +4.25 MHz 144.510 - 144.890 +0.6 MHz 145.110 - 145.490 -0.6 MHz 146.010 - 146.385 +0.6 MHz 146.415 - 146.505 +1 MHz 146.595 +1 MHz 146.610 - 146.985 -0.6 MHz 147.000 - 147.390 +0.6 MHz 147.415 - 147.505 -1 MHz [...]

  • Page 105

    101 CTCSS Frequency List (Hz) DCS T one Code 67.0 91.5 118.8 156.7 210.7 71.9 94.8 123.0 162.2 218.1 74.4 97.4 127.3 167.9 225.7 77.0 100.0 131.8 173.8 233.6 79.7 103.5 136.5 179.9 241.8 82.5 107.2 141.3 186.2 250.3 85.4 110.9 146.2 192.8 88.5 114.8 151.4 203.5 023 051 114 143 174 245 266 332 411 452 506 612 703 025 053 115 145 205 246 271 343 412 [...]

  • Page 106

    102 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 WEA THER PUBLIC SAFETY NEWS TV BROADCAST HAM RADIO MARINE RAILROAD AIR CB RADIO FRS RACING SPECIAL CHAIN SEARCH 1 2 MONITOR ALERT 1: ON FIPS CODE 1 : : FIPS CODE15 ALL FILPS CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 CHAIN SEARCH SEARCH RANGE (RANGE NO. SELECT) DELA Y A TTENUA T OR TONE D A T A AUT O STORE 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: CT[...]

  • Page 107

    103 1 2 CONVENTIONAL (CHANNEL SELECT) TRUNK (BANK SELECT) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FREQUENCY DELA Y TONE D A T A BEEP ALERT A TTENUA T OR STEPS MODE FREQUENCY 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: CTCSS/2: DCS/ 3: OFF 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: 5KHz/ 2: 7.5KHz/ 3: 10 KHz/ 4: 12.5 KHz/ 5: 25 KHz/ 6: 50 KHz/ 7: 100 KHz/ 8: AUT O 1:AM/ 2:FM/ 3:WFM/ 4:NFM ALPHA T AG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [...]

  • Page 108

    104 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 DIMMER SCREEN MASK KEY BEEP ENTER LOCK PC CONTROL CLONE D ATA S K I P SQ MODE BANK T AG (SELECT BANK) P-25 CARD BA TTERY SA VE DIMMER LIGHT DIMMER TIME 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: 2400 bps / 2: 4800 bps / 3: 9600 bps/ 4: 19200 bps/ 5: OFF MASTER / SLA VE 1: ON/ 2:OFF 1: CSQ/ 2: T ONE SQ/ 3: T ONE SEARCH 1: ENAB[...]

  • Page 109

    105 One Y ear Limited W arranty Important : Evidence of original purchase is required for warranty service. WARRANTOR : UNIDEN AMERICA CORPORATION (Uniden) ELEMENTS OF WARRANTY : Uniden warrants, for one year, to the original retail owner, this Uniden product to be free from defects in materials and craftsmanship with only the limitations or exclus[...]

  • Page 110

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