Uniden Bearcat BCD396T User manual

BCD396T
OWNER’S
MANUAL
OWNER’S MANUAL

2
Precautions
Precautions
Before you use this scanner, please read and observe
the following.
IMPORTANT!
This scanning radio has been manufactured so that it
will not tune to the 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 altered to receive them. The
installation, possession, or use of this scanning radio
in a motor vehicle may be prohibited, regulated, or
require a permit in certain states, cities, and/or local
jurisdictions. Your local law enforcement officials
should be able to provide you with information
regarding the laws in your community.
Changes or modifications to this product not expressly
approved by Uniden, or operation of this product in
any way other than as detailed by this Operating
Guide, could void your authority to operate this
product.
EARPHONE WARNING!
Be sure to use only a monaural earphone with this
scanner. You can also use an optional 32 Ωstereo
headset. Use of an incorrect earphone or stereo
headset might be potentially hazardous to your
hearing. The output of the phone jack is monaural, but
you will hear it in both headphones of a stereo
headset.
Set the volume to a comfortable audio level coming
from the speaker before plugging in the monaural
earphone or a stereo headset of the proper
impedance (32 Ω). Otherwise, you might experience
some discomfort or possible hearing damage if the
volume suddenly becomes too loud because of the
volume control or squelch control setting. This might
be particularly true of the type of earphone that is
placed in the ear canal.
Precautions

3
Precautions
WARNING!
Uniden does not represent this unit to be
waterproof. To reduce the risk of fire or electrical
shock, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture.
Astro®, DPL®, Digital Private Line®, Motorola®,
PL®, PRIVACY PLUS®, Private Line®,
SMARTNET®,and SMARTZONE®are registered
trademarks of Motorola, Inc.
LTR®is a registered trademark of E.F. Johnson Co.
EDACS®is a registered trademark of M/A-COM
Private Radio Systems Inc.
Uniden®and Bearcat®are registered trademarks of
Uniden America Corporation.
TrunkTracker™, Trunk Tracking™, and Close Call™
are proprietary trademarks of Uniden America
Corporation.
Other trademarks used throughout this manual are the
property of their respective holders.
Important: If you use the supplied AC adapter to power
the scanner but have not installed batteries in the
scanner, never turn the scanner off by disconnecting
the AC adapter or unplugging it from the AC outlet.
This might corrupt the scanner’s memory.
Always use to turn the scanner off before
disconnecting AC power.

4
Contents
Contents
The FCC Wants You to Know ..................................................................... 8
Scanning Legally ........................................................................................ 8
Introduction ............................................................................................... 10
Feature Highlights ..................................................................................... 11
About This Manual .................................................................................... 16
Using the Multifunction Scroll Control .................................................... 16
Entering Text ......................................................................................... 17
How the Scanner’s Controls Are Represented in This Manual .............. 17
Understanding Scanning .......................................................................... 19
Understanding the Scanner’s Memory ..................................................... 19
What is Scanning? .................................................................................... 19
What is Searching? ................................................................................... 20
What is CTCSS/DCS? .............................................................................. 20
Conventional Scanning ............................................................................. 22
Simplex Operation ................................................................................. 23
Repeater Operation ............................................................................... 23
What is Trunk Tracking? ........................................................................... 23
Trunked Scanning ..................................................................................... 24
Types of Trunking Systems ...................................................................... 25
Motorola Trunking .................................................................................. 25
EDACS Trunking ................................................................................... 27
LTR Trunking ......................................................................................... 28
I-Call (Motorola/EDACS) ........................................................................... 29
Where To Get More Information ............................................................... 29
Information On The Internet ................................................................... 29
Included With Your Scanner ..................................................................... 31
Setting Up Your Scanner .......................................................................... 32
Using Internal Batteries ............................................................................ 32
Using Rechargeable Batteries .................................................................. 33
Removing the Display Sticker ................................................................... 34
Using AC Power ....................................................................................... 34
Connecting the Antenna ........................................................................... 35
Connecting an Optional Antenna ........................................................... 35
Connecting an Earphone/Headphone ...................................................... 35
Connecting an Extension Speaker ........................................................... 35
Attaching the Belt Clip .............................................................................. 36
Attaching the Wrist Strap .......................................................................... 36
A Look At The Keypad .............................................................................. 36
A Look At The Display .............................................................................. 39
Using Menu ............................................................................................... 41
Using Func ................................................................................................ 41
Basic Operation ......................................................................................... 42
Turning On the Scanner and Setting the Squelch .................................... 42
Scanning Systems .................................................................................... 43
Preprogrammed System Tips ................................................................ 43
Selecting Systems to Scan ....................................................................... 44
Selecting System Channel Groups ........................................................... 45
Locking/Unlocking Systems ...................................................................... 45
Locking/Unlocking Channels .................................................................... 45
ID Scan/ID Search Mode .......................................................................... 46
Temporarily Holding On a System ............................................................ 46
Holding On a Channel .............................................................................. 46
Quickly Storing an ID During ID Search ................................................... 47
Quick-Storing Channels or Talk Group ID’s .............................................. 47
Quickly Recalling Channels ...................................................................... 48
Monitoring Trunking Activity ...................................................................... 48
Toggling Channel Alpha Tags ................................................................. 48
Using the Menu .......................................................................................... 49
Programming Systems Menu ................................................................... 51
Contents

5
Contents
Other Settings ............................................................................................ 53
Displaying System Information ................................................................. 53
Viewing Memory Used ............................................................................53
Viewing the Firmware Version ................................................................53
Adjusting the Key Beep ............................................................................ 53
Locking/Unlocking the Keypad and Scroll ................................................ 53
Turning Power Save On or Off ................................................................. 54
Priority Scan ............................................................................................. 54
Using the Backlight ................................................................................... 54
Setting the Audio AGC .............................................................................. 55
Adjusting the Display Contrast .................................................................. 55
Initializing the Scanner’s Memory ............................................................. 56
Connecting Your Scanner to a Personal Computer .................................. 56
Using the Cloning Options ........................................................................ 57
Wired Cloning ........................................................................................ 57
On-Air Cloning ....................................................................................... 58
Programming Radio Systems ....................................................................60
Programming Conventional Systems ........................................................61
Entering/Editing Conventional Channel Groups .....................................61
Entering/Editing Conventional Channels ................................................62
Programming Motorola Systems .............................................................. 63
Setting System Frequencies ...................................................................64
Setting Modulation ..................................................................................65
Setting Attenuation .................................................................................65
Entering/Editing Motorola Channel Groups ............................................66
Entering/Editing Motorola Channels .......................................................66
Programming EDACS Systems ................................................................ 67
Setting System Frequencies .................................................................. 68
Entering/Editing EDACS Channel Groups ............................................. 69
Entering/Editing EDACS Channels ........................................................ 69
Programming LTR Systems ...................................................................... 70
Setting System Frequencies .................................................................. 71
Entering/Editing LTR Channel Groups .................................................. 71
Entering/Editing LTR Channels/Talkgroups ........................................... 72
Programming/Editing Optional Settings ................................................. 74
System-Level Settings .............................................................................. 74
Editing the System Name .......................................................................74
Editing the System Quick Key ................................................................75
Setting System Lockout ..........................................................................75
Setting the System Hold Time ................................................................76
Setting the Channel Delay Time .............................................................76
Setting ID Scan/Search (Trunked Systems Only) ...................................77
Editing the Fleet Map (Motorola Systems Only) .....................................77
Setting the Motorola Status Bit (Motorola Systems Only) .......................78
Setting the End Code Operation (Motorola Systems Only) ....................79
Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only) ..............................79
Setting Emergency Alert (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only) ...........80
Setting Control-Channel Only (Motorola Systems Only) ........................80
Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies .......................................................81
Clearing All Locked-Out IDs ...................................................................81
Adjusting the P25 Level (Motorola and Conventional Systems Only) ....81
Setting the EDACS ID Format (EDACS Systems Only) .........................82
Setting System Attenuation (Trunked Systems Only) .............................83
Deleting Systems ....................................................................................83
Copying Systems ....................................................................................83
Group-Level Settings .................................................................................84
Entering/Editing the Group Name ...........................................................84
Setting the Group Quick Key ..................................................................85
Setting Group Lockout ............................................................................85
Deleting Groups ......................................................................................85

6
Contents
Channel-Level Settings.............................................................................. 86
Editing the Channel Name...................................................................... 86
Editing Frequencies (Conventional Channels Only) ............................... 87
Setting Channel Priority (Conventional Channels Only) ......................... 87
Setting Channel Alert.............................................................................. 88
Editing the Talk Group ID (Trunked Channels Only) .............................. 88
Setting CTCSS/DCS (Conventional Channels Only).............................. 89
Setting the System Frequency Modulation ............................................ 90
Setting Channel Attenuation (Conventional Channels Only) ................. 90
Setting Channel Lockout ........................................................................ 91
Deleting Channels ................................................................................. 92
Copying/Pasting Channels .................................................................... 92
Searching and Storing .............................................................................. 94
Service Search .......................................................................................... 94
Quick Search ............................................................................................ 95
CTCSS/DCS Search ................................................................................. 95
Custom Search ......................................................................................... 96
Editing a Custom Search Range ........................................................... 97
Editing a Service Search ....................................................................... 98
Auto Search and Store ............................................................................. 99
Selecting a System ............................................................................... 100
Storing a Conventional System ............................................................ 100
Storing a Trunked System .................................................................... 101
Optimizing P25 Performance .................................................................. 102
Using the Close Call Feature .................................................................. 103
Setting Close Call Options ...................................................................... 104
Close Call Hits ........................................................................................ 106
Search and Close Call Options .............................................................. 107
Managing Locked-Out Frequencies ........................................................ 107
Unlocking All Frequencies ................................................................... 107
Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies .................................................... 107
Searching for Subaudible Tones ............................................................ 107
Screening Out Broadcast Sources ......................................................... 108
Finding Repeater Output Frequencies .................................................... 109
Setting the Maximum Auto Store Value .................................................. 110
Setting the Modulation Type ................................................................... 110
Setting Attenuation ................................................................................. 110
Setting Data Skip .................................................................................... 111
Setting the Delay Time ........................................................................... 112
Setting the Search Frequency Step ........................................................ 112
Using Weather Alert (SAME) ................................................................... 113
Searching For a Weather Broadcast ...................................................... 113
Turning Weather Alert On/Off ................................................................. 113
Programming a SAME Group ................................................................. 114
Setting WX Alert Priority ......................................................................... 115
Using Tone-Out ........................................................................................ 116
Fire Tone-Out Introduction ...................................................................... 116
Setting Tone-Out Standby ................................................................... 116
Setting Up Tone-Out ............................................................................116
Care and Maintenance ............................................................................. 119
General Use ............................................................................................ 119
Location .................................................................................................. 119
Cleaning .................................................................................................. 119
Repairs ................................................................................................... 120
Birdies ..................................................................................................... 120

7
Contents
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 121
Specifications .......................................................................................... 125
Optional Accessories .............................................................................. 128
Appendix .................................................................................................. 129
Preset Fleet Maps ................................................................................... 129
User Defined Fleet Maps ........................................................................ 131
Type I Programming Information ......................................................... 131
Size Code Restrictions ........................................................................ 132
Planning .................................................................................................... 133
Collecting Information ............................................................................. 133
Filling Out The Conventional System Worksheet ................................... 135
System Name and Quick Key .............................................................. 135
Group Name and Quick Key ................................................................ 135
Frequency-Alpha Tag-Priority-CTCSS/DCS ........................................ 135
Filling Out The Motorola Worksheet ....................................................... 136
System Name and Quick Key .............................................................. 136
System Type ........................................................................................ 136
System Frequencies ............................................................................ 137
Fleet Map (Type I or Type I/Type II Hybrid Only) ................................ 137
Band Plan (VHF or UHF Only) ............................................................ 137
Group Name and Quick Key ................................................................ 137
Talk Group ID-Alpha Tag-Alert ............................................................ 137
Filling Out the LTR and EDACS Worksheet ........................................... 138
System Name and Quick Key .............................................................. 138
System Frequencies and LCN .............................................................138
Group Name and Quick Key ................................................................ 138
Talk Group ID-Alpha Tag-Alert ............................................................ 138
Conventional System Worksheet ........................................................... 139
Motorola System Worksheet .................................................................. 140
LTR/EDACS System Worksheet ............................................................. 142
Preprogrammed Systems ....................................................................... 144
One-Year Limited Warranty .................................................................... 150

8
The FCC Wants You to Know
The FCC Wants You to Know
This scanner has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a scanning receiver, pursuant to Part
15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This scanner
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications.
There is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this scanner does cause
harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the
scanner on and off, you are encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the scanner and
the receiver
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1) This device may not cause harmful interference,
and 2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
Scanning Legally
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many
different groups, including police and fire departments,
ambulance services, government agencies, private
companies, amateur radio services, military operations,
pager services, and wireline (telephone and telegraph)
service providers. It is legal to listen to almost every
transmission your scanner can receive. However, there
are some transmissions that you should never
intentionally listen to. These include:
The FCC Wants You to Know

9
The FCC Wants You to Know
• Telephone conversations (cellular, cordless, or
other private means of telephone signal transmis-
sion)
• Pager transmissions
• Any scrambled or encrypted transmissions
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy
Act (ECPA), you are subject to fines and possible
imprisonment for intentionally listening to, using, or
divulging the contents of such a conversation unless
you have the consent of a party to the conversation
(unless such activity is otherwise illegal). This scanner
has been designed to prevent the reception of cellular
telephone transmissions and the decoding of
scrambled transmissions. This is done to comply with
the legal requirement that scanners be manufactured
so they are not easy to modify to pick up these
transmissions. Do not open your scanner’s case to
make any modifications that could allow it to pick up
transmissions that are illegal to monitor. Modifying or
tampering with your scanner’s internal components or
using it in a way other than as described in this manual
could invalidate your warranty and void your FCC
authorization to operate it.
In some areas, mobile and/or portable use of this
scanner is unlawful or requires a permit. Check the
laws in your area. It is also illegal in many areas (and a
bad idea everywhere) to interfere with the duties of
public safety officials by traveling to the scene of an
incident without authorization.
A license is required to use this product in Canada.

10
Introduction
Introduction
Your BCD396T scanner is a state-of-the-art scanner
radio with TrunkTracker IV™ and automatic scanning
capabilities. You can store frequencies such as police,
fire/emergency, marine, air, amateur, and other communi-
cations into the scanner. You can carry it with you wher-
ever you go. You can use the scanner’s scroll control
to quickly select channels and frequencies, and you
can automatically program channels in a system using
the AutoStore feature. Use your scanner to monitor:
• Analog and digital trunked public safety systems
(unencrypted only) *
• Police and fire departments (including rescue and
paramedics)
• NOAA weather transmissions
• Business/Industrial radio and utilities
• Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands
• Air band
• Railroad
Your scanner can monitor the following bands.
* Motorola®Astro®, SMARTNET®,SMARTZONE®, and PRIVACY PLUS®,
M/A-COM Private Radio Systems Inc. EDACS®Wide, Narrow, and SCAT,
and E.F. Johnson Co. LTR systems.
Frequency (MHz)
Lower Edge Upper Edge Modulation Step
(kHz)
25.0000 27.9950 AM 5.0
28.0000 29.6800 NFM 20.0
29.7000 49.9900 NFM 10.0
50.0000 53.9800 NFM 20.0
54.0000 71.9500 WFM 50.0
72.0000 75.9950 FM 5.0
76.0000 87.9500 WFM 50.0
88.0000 107.9000 WFM 100.0
108.0000 136.9750 AM 25.0
137.0000 143.9875 NFM 12.5
144.0000 147.9950 NFM 5.0
148.0000 150.7875 NFM 12.5
150.8000 161.9950 NFM 5.0
162.0000 173.9875 NFM 12.5
174.0000 215.9500 WFM 50.0
216.0000 224.9800 NFM 20.0
225.0000 399.9500 AM 50.0
400.0000 512.0000 NFM 12.5
764.0000 775.9875 NFM 12.5
794.0000 805.9875 NFM 12.5
806.0000 823.9875 NFM 12.5
849.0125 868.9875 NFM 12.5
894.0125 956.0000 NFM 12.5
1240.0000 1300.0000 NFM 25.0
Introduction