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[[image:BCT15.jpg|right|400px|Uniden BCT15 (Preliminary) - Click image to view in full]]
 
[[image:BCT15.jpg|right|400px|Uniden BCT15 (Preliminary) - Click image to view in full]]
  
== Overview ==
 
 
Uniden's analog-only Base/Mobile Trunktracker scanner with [[Dynamic Memory Architecture]] and GPS Support.
 
Uniden's analog-only Base/Mobile Trunktracker scanner with [[Dynamic Memory Architecture]] and GPS Support.
 +
Shipping started Summer 2006. This is a [[TrunkTracker III]] with Motorola [[Control Channel Only]] trunking and [[I-Call]] monitoring
  
Shipping started Summer 2006.
 
 
   
 
   
==Specifications==
+
==General Specifications==
===Limits===
+
===Physical===
* Channels: 1600 typical, 2500 maximum
+
* BNC antenna connector
 +
* Compatible with [[BC-RH96]] Remote Head
 +
* DIN-E and ISO Vehicle Mountable (optional)
 +
* GPS Support for [[Location Based Scanning]], location alerts, and crows-flight navigation
 +
* LCD Backlight
 +
* Memory Back Up
 +
* PC Programming and Control
 +
* Record Out - you can connect an output jack to a VOX controlled recorder or PC sound input to record the received audio.
 +
* Reversible Display - Lets you reverse the display to mount unit upside down (and hear the speaker from the top)
 +
* Signal Strength display
 +
* Single-Handed Function Operation -Tap Function to access F+ key presses. 5 seconds after your last key press, the scanner reverts to non F+ entry (or press Function again to revert sooner).
 +
* Strong signal attenuation
 +
* 16 character text tagging for each system, site, group, channel, talkgroup, search range, location, Tone-out, and [[SAME]] group
 +
* Three-Level Backlighting - Lets you set the display/keypad backlight to any of three brightness levels (or off). Also lets you connect to your vehicle’s dimmer circuit to dim the scanner’s display with the vehicle’s dimmer control.
 +
* Trunking Activity Indicators
 +
 
 +
===Keys===
 +
* Group Quick Key range: 0-9
 +
* 3 [http://new.marksscanners.com/BCT15/bct15.shtml#search%20key Quick-Access Search Keys]
 +
* “Soft“ Search Keys -Let you program the keypad’s secondary functions to turn on/off specified search ranges.
 +
* System Quick Key range: 0-99
 +
 
 +
===Technical===
 +
* Channels: 2500 maximum
 +
* Custom Search - lets you program up to 10 search ranges
 +
* Groups per system: 20 maximum
 +
* Scan Rate: 100 channels per second (conventional mode)
 +
* 13 Service Searches - Public Safety, News, HAM Radio, Marine, Railroad, Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS, Racing, TV Broadcast, FM Broadcast, Military Air, and Special (Itinerant)
 +
* Sites: 1000 maximum, 256 maximum per system
 +
* Supported step sizes: 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz
 
* Systems: 500 maximum
 
* Systems: 500 maximum
* Sites: 1000 maximum, 256 maximum per system
 
* Groups per system: 20 maximum
 
 
* Talkgroups per trunked system: 250 maximum
 
* Talkgroups per trunked system: 250 maximum
* Scan Rate: 100 channels per second (conventional mode)
+
* 500 (250 Temporary + 250 Permanent) Search Lockouts
* System Quick Key range: 0-99
 
* Group Quick Key range: 0-9
 
* Custom Search Ranges: 10
 
* Preprogrammed Service Search Bands: 13
 
  
===Frequency Coverage===
+
====Frequency Coverage====
 
* 25 - 512 MHz
 
* 25 - 512 MHz
 
* 764 - 776 MHz
 
* 764 - 776 MHz
Line 25: Line 47:
 
* 1240 - 1300 MHz
 
* 1240 - 1300 MHz
  
===Power requirements===
+
====Power====
* 11.0V to 16.6V DC
+
* Voltage: 13.8 Volts d.c.
 +
* Current: less than 750mA (max. rating of included wall wart)
 +
* Power plug: 5.5mm outer diameter, 2.1mm inner diameter; Radio Shack size code "M"
  
=== Antenna Connector ===
+
===Features===
* BNC
+
* Adjustable Hold (scan duration 0-255 sec) per system, custom or service search
 
+
* Adjustable (0-5 sec) scan delay
=== Features ===
+
* Alert Mute - silences all alerts
* [[Close Call]], with CCDND and CCPriority
+
* Alert Plus - silences the scanner except for channels/BearTracker warnings that have assigned alerts.
 +
* [[AGC]]
 +
* [[BearTracker]]
 +
* [[Broadcast Screen]] ignores searching (TV and radio station frequencies, pagers, etc) with 10 custom bands
 +
* [[Uniden Close Call|Close Call]], with [[Uniden Close Call#Close Call Do Not Disturb|Close Call Do Not Disturb]], [[Uniden Close Call#Close Call Priority|Close Call Priority (or Primary)]], and [[Uniden Close Call#Close Call Temporary Store|Close Call Temporary Store]].
 +
* [[Control Channel Only]]
 +
* [[Data Skip]]
 +
* [[DCS]]/[[CTCSS]] [[Automatic_CTCSS_identification|Rapid Decode]]
 +
* [[Duplicate Channel Alert]]
 +
* EDACS [[ESK]] support (requires firmware 1.06)
 
* [[Fire Tone Out]] Alert
 
* [[Fire Tone Out]] Alert
* [[AGC]]
+
* Frequency/ID AutoStore - automatically store frequencies from a service or limit search into a conventional system or store talk group IDs into a trunked system
* [[SAME]] Weather Alert
+
* Independent Alert Tone Volume – lets you set the volume level of the following tones: Key Beep, Emergency Alert, Channel Alert, and Close Call Alert.
* [[DCS]]/[[CTCSS]] Rapid Decode
+
* [[Location Based Scanning]] If you connect a GPS unit to the scanner it can automatically enable/disable systems based on the geographic information you provide.
* [[BearTracker Scanning]]
+
* [[Uniden Multi-Site Trunking|Multi-Site support]]
* Compatible with [[BC-RH96]] Remote Head
+
* [[Priority Scan]]
* [[TrunkTracker III]]
 
* LCD and Keypad Backlight
 
 
 
== Feature Summary ==
 
* [[Rebanding]] Supported? <font color=green> YES </font>
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/SCANNERPROGRAMMING.htm Scanner Programming: Man-Machine Interface]
 
** 'Getting the Most from the new Uniden Scanners' by Paul Opitz
 
* BearTracker™ Warning System — alerts you when channels normally used by public safety systems are in use nearby.
 
* State-by-State Preprogrammed Channels — let you easily keep up with activity on local police, Department of Transportation, and Highway Patrol frequencies when you travel, without having to program any channels.
 
* Search with Scan
 
* Temporary Lockout
 
* Startup Configuration – lets you set systems to be automatically locked or unlocked during power-up.
 
* Single-Handed Function Operation
 
* Priority Scan
 
* Priority Plus
 
* Channel Alert
 
* Alert + -- sets the scanner to be silent except for "alert" channels or events.
 
* Dropout Delay
 
* Attenuator
 
* Repeater Reverse
 
 
* Quick Recall – quickly navigates to a specific Channel by choosing the System, Group, and Channel.
 
* Quick Recall – quickly navigates to a specific Channel by choosing the System, Group, and Channel.
* Frequency Autostore
 
* ID Autostore
 
 
* Quick Search
 
* Quick Search
* “SOFT Search Keys – let you assign search ranges to front-panel keys.
+
* [[Repeater Reverse]]
* 500 (250 Temporary + 250 Permanent) Search Lockouts
+
* [[Search with Scan]] for Service and Custom Searches with assigned Quick Keys
* Alpha Tagging – For System, Group, Channel, Talkgroup ID, Custom Search Range and SAME Group. The scanner allows up to 16 characters for each name.
+
* [[Startup Configuration]]
* Duplicate Input Alert
+
* [[Temporary System, Site, Group, Channel, and Location Lockout]] 
* Data Skip
+
* Upgradeadable firmware
* Broadcast Screen – sets the scanner to ignore hits on Pager, FM, UHF TV, VHF TV, NOAA WX and custom band frequencies.
+
** Can be updated to support [[Rebanding]]? {{color|green|YES}}   
* Trunk Tracking – supports the following systems:
+
* [[Weather Operations]]
** Motorola: Type I 800 / Type II 800, 900, UHF, VHF
+
* [[Wired Cloning]]
** EDACS: WIDE, NARROW, SCAT
 
** LTR
 
* Multi-Site Trunking – allows independent system sites to share common talk group channel lists.
 
* Control Channel Only mode
 
* Independent Alert Tone Volume – lets you set the volume level of the following tones: Key Beep, Emergency Alert, Channel Alert, and Close Call Alert.
 
* Key Lock
 
* PC Control
 
* Wired Cloning
 
* On-Air Programming
 
* Memory Back Up
 
* Trunking Activity Indicators
 
* Location-Based Scanning – Each system can include latitude, longitude, and range information and can be automatically enabled/disabled when a GPS is connected and the unit is within the defined range of the system.
 
* Non-Radio Location-Based Features – the scanner can include location alerts (that sound alert tones when the unit approaches a defined latitude/longitude) and speed-trap alerts (that sound alert tones if the unit is traveling at > than a set speed limit while it is within a grid area).
 
* GPS Display Mode – displays location and travel information based on the GPS input.
 
 
 
== GPS Features ==
 
The scanner will not include a GPS Receiver, an add-on GPS receiver will be required.  Users will be able to define a LAT/LONG centerpoint for any system (conventional or trunked) and a range (in miles) that specifies the radius of a circle that specifies where to turn the system on/off.
 
  
With the release of the scanner, the radioreference.com database (RRDB) will have the ability to store the Lat/Long/Range settings for conventional subcategories and trunked system sites.
+
===RR System Compatibility===
 +
This scanner is compatible with the following Trunking System Types and System Voices used in the RadioReference Database, of course you must verify that the scanner will cover the appropriate frequency range:
 +
* System Types:
 +
** Motorola Type I
 +
** Motorola Type II
 +
** Motorola Type IIi Hybrid
 +
** Motorola Type II Smartnet
 +
** Motorola Type II Smartzone
 +
** Motorola Type II Smartzone Omnilink
 +
** EDACS Standard (Wide)
 +
** EDACS Standard Networked
 +
** EDACS Narrowband (Narrow)
 +
** EDACS Narrowband Networked
 +
** EDACS SCAT
 +
** LTR Standard
  
== Press Release ==
+
*System Voices:
[http://www.uniden.com/press/docs/BCT15_Release_FNL.pdf Uniden Press Release]
+
** Analog
 
 
== Advanced (and much requested) Features ==
 
<NOTE THAT THIS IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE>
 
 
 
=== Multi-Site Trunking ===
 
Some wide coverage systems use multiple system sites that are linked together to provide extended area coverage. Each site operates on its own set of frequencies, but share talk group channels with all other sites in the system.
 
 
 
Normally, a site will only carry traffic for talk groups that have at least one subscriber unit (mobile radio) affiliated with it.
 
 
 
With the initial implementation of dynamic memory, each site needed to be entered as its own system, and all talk group channels had to be duplicated. This resulted in more complexity in programming as well as more memory usage.
 
 
 
Multi-Site Trunking is available for Motorola and EDACS system. With this method, you define a system, one or more sites for the system, and then the channels for the system. All channels are shared among all sites.
 
 
 
Here’s an outline of a Multi-Site System:
 
 
 
    System
 
          System Attributes
 
          Site
 
              Frequencies
 
              Other Attributes
 
          Site
 
              Frequencies
 
              Other Attributes
 
          Channel Group
 
              Channel Group Attributes
 
              Channel
 
                    Channel Attributes
 
              Channel
 
                    Channel Attributes
 
          Channel Group
 
              Channel Group Attributes
 
              Channel
 
                    Channel Attributes
 
              Channel
 
                    Channel Attributes
 
 
 
The only System attribute is the system name. This tag is never displayed, but makes the system easy to find for programming updates.
 
 
 
Site attributes include:
 
* Site Quick Key: Equivalent to the System Quick Key; turns the site on/off for scanning.
 
* Site Name
 
* Site Location
 
 
 
=== Temporary Lockout ===
 
Pressing L/O one time while on a channel temporarily locks out that channel.
 
Pressing F+L/O one time while on a system temporarily locks out that system.
 
 
 
Pressing L/O or F+L/O two times results in a permanent lockout. Pressing L/O for more than 3 seconds unlocks all channels in the current system (or all search lockouts if in a search). F+L/O for more than 3 seconds unlocks all systems.
 
 
 
Temporary lockouts are removed when power is cycled.
 
 
 
=== Startup Configuration ===
 
Pressing a number button while powering on the scanner automatically unlocks all systems assigned to that startup key and automatically locks all systems assigned to a different startup key (unassigned systems are not affected).
 
 
 
=== Location-Based Scanning (GPS) ===
 
(also see [[Population Area Centerpoint]])
 
 
 
If you connect a GPS unit to the scanner, it can automatically enable/disable systems based on the geographic information you provide:
 
* Latitude (center of the range)
 
* Longitude (center of the range)
 
* Range (radius of a circle around the Latitude/Longitude) which can be selected from .5/1/3/5/10/20/30/50 miles
 
 
 
Rather than center the lat/lon on the antenna site for the system and set the range to the receivable range for the system, it makes more sense to center these settings on the geopolitical center of the system, and bound the range to encircle that entity. That is, while I can technically hear the Arlington TRS from west Fort Worth, I don’t really want to. Instead, I’d set the lat/lon/range values to approximate a circle around the Arlington city limits so that I would not hear Arlington until I approached/entered Arlington.
 
 
 
Also, not all geopolitical areas are perfect circles. You can modify the shape of the system by entering multiple sites for the system (even though the system might have only one site) and use different location settings for each site. For example, stack two circles to make a tall, narrow scan area for the system.
 
 
 
=== Non-Radio Location-Based Features (GPS) ===
 
There are non-radio type systems that hold other location based information:
 
 
 
(also see [[DRD DXG POI]])
 
 
 
* Dangerous Xing (DXG): Stores location, range, direction of travel. If you are within range, traveling in the specified direction, you receive an alert.
 
* Dangerous Road (DRD): Stores location, range, speed. If you are traveling at a speed greater than the one specified, and are within the range of the specified location, you receive an alert.
 
* Points of Interest (POI): Stores location and range. If you approach the specified location, you receive an alert.
 
 
 
In general, a location alert can have:
 
* Latitude
 
* Longitude
 
* Speed (optional)
 
* Alpha (optional)
 
* Alert Type and Level (optional)
 
* Vector (optional)
 
* Heading
 
 
 
Alerts are based on:
 
* Speed setting > 0 and no vector entered, non-directional speed alert
 
* Speed setting > 0 and a vector is entered, directional speed alert
 
* Speed = 0 and vector is entered, dangerous intersection alert
 
* Speed = 0 and no vector entered, point-of-interest alert
 
 
 
The user can quickly save a location by pressing GPS. Scanner prompts for the type of location to store (Speed, Intersection, or POI).
 
 
 
=== [[Uniden Close Call|Close Call]] Do-Not-Disturb ===
 
When set in this mode, the scanner will periodically make Close Call checks whenever the scanner is not receiving audio in another mode. This eliminates the annoying breaks in conversation while still allowing for the Close Call functionality.
 
 
 
=== “Soft Search Keys ===
 
Let you program the keypad’s secondary functions to turn on/off specified search ranges.
 
 
 
=== Three-Level Backlighting ===
 
Lets you set the display/keypad backlight to any of three levels (or off).
 
 
 
=== Single-Handed Function Operation ===
 
Tap Function to access F+ key presses. 5 seconds after your last key press, the scanner reverts to non F+ entry (or press Function again to revert sooner).
 
 
 
=== Close Call Temporary Store ===
 
When this option is turned on, when the scanner gets a Close Call “hit", it temporarily saves the hit and includes that frequency when scanning. The scanner keeps the last 10 hits (older hits are erased by newer ones). Hits are lost when power is cycled. You can store a hit into memory by pressing “E" when on that frequency.
 
 
 
=== Alert + ===
 
Sets the scanner for "wife and girlfriend" mode. Silences all channels and audio except for those channels and events that have an assigned alert.
 
 
 
=== GPS Display Mode ===
 
Lets you display extended GPS information like:
 
* Distance to POI
 
* Heading to POI
 
* Time to POI
 
* Speed
 
* Position
 
* And so on
 
 
 
=== Dual Serial Ports ===
 
Front-set serial port using the same connector as BC246T/BCD396T/BR330T/SC230.
 
Rear DB9 Male connector (for convenient direct plug-in of GPS Serial cable).
 
 
 
Either port can be configured to be PC interface or GPS interface.
 
  
 
== Related pages ==
 
== Related pages ==
* [[Uniden scanner test modes]]
+
* [http://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCT15om.pdf BCT-15 Owner's Manual]
 +
* [[media:Bc996discriminatortap.jpg|BCT15 Discriminator tap point]]
 +
** '''NOTE:''' The BCD996 and BCT15 appear to share the same tap point location. Look at the center of the board, go right and down.
 +
* [http://www.discriminator.nl/ubc800xlt/index-en.html BCT-15 Discriminator output modification description]
 +
* [http://www.stevenrhine.com/?p=4320 Uniden BCT-15 and BCT-15X Teardown & Other Data]
 +
* [[Uniden DMA FAQ]]
  
== Reviews and User Opinions==
+
== Reviews ==
* [http://www.scanningarkansas.com/BCT15/ Scanning Arkansas: BCT-15 review]
+
* [[BCT15 Review by Safetyobc]]
  
=== PC Programming and Control ===
+
== PC Programming and Control ==
* [http://www.butelsoftware.com BuTel Software]  
+
* [[Uniden DMA Software Support]]
** ARC-15 LiTe 
+
* [http://www.tarapippo.net/uniden/wm15.html WM15 - BCT15 control via SmartPhone] Bluetooth application
** ARC-15 Basic 
 
** ARC-15 PRO 
 
** ARC-EazyStream 
 
* [http://bellsouthpwp.net/k/d/kd5eis/IDTracker/IDTracker.htm ID Tracker II]
 
* [http://www.scannersoft.com Scan Control] 
 
* [http://www.scancat.com/scancat-lite-plus.html Scancat Lite Plus]
 
* [http://www.uniden.com/rn_productsupport_downloads.cfm?product=BCT15 UASD Software and Firmware Updates]
 
** [http://www.uniden.com/store/itemdetail.cfm?item=BCT15UASD Purchase BCT15UASD Software Registration]
 
  
==Yahoo Groups and Message Boards==
+
==Message Boards/Forums==
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCT15/ BCT15 Yahoo group]
+
* {{Forum|uniden-forums.82|RadioReference Uniden}}
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Scancat/ Scancat Yahoo group]
+
; Facebook
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ScanControl/ Scan Control Yahoo group]
+
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/448987651918830 Radio Scanner World]
 +
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/667031203353717 Radio Scanners]
 +
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4188584134 Scanner Enthusiasts]
 +
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/2889562301118379 Radio Scanner Help and Chat]
 +
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/UnidenScanners Uniden Scanners]
 +
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/UBScanners Uniden Bearcat Scanners]
 +
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1480421685608148 Uniden Bearcat Scanner Fan Club]
 +
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/923164271205464 Uniden Bearcat Scanner Owners UK]
 +
; Groups.io
 +
* [https://groups.io/g/BCT15 BCT15]
 +
* [https://groups.io/g/radioprogramming Radio Programming]
 +
* [https://uniden.groups.io/g/main Uniden main group]
 +
* [https://groups.io/g/Scanners Radio Scanners Uniden / Whistler]
  
==Problems/Issues==
+
==BCT15 Scanners for Sale==
See [[DMA Problems|Uniden Dynamic Memory Scanner Problems]]
+
*[[BCT15 eBay Listings]]
 
 
== eBay Listings ==
 
<ebay>Uniden ("BCT15","BCT-15")</ebay>
 
  
  
 
Return to [[Uniden Scanners]]
 
Return to [[Uniden Scanners]]
 
  
  
Line 255: Line 144:
 
[[Category:Desktop Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Desktop Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Mobile Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Mobile Scanners]]
[[Category:Trunking Scanners]]
+
[[Category:Analog Trunktrackers]]
 +
[[Category:Rebanding Supported Scanners]]
 +
[[Category:Radio Models]]

Latest revision as of 17:49, 23 April 2023

Uniden BCT15 (Preliminary) - Click image to view in full

Uniden's analog-only Base/Mobile Trunktracker scanner with Dynamic Memory Architecture and GPS Support. Shipping started Summer 2006. This is a TrunkTracker III with Motorola Control Channel Only trunking and I-Call monitoring


General Specifications

Physical

  • BNC antenna connector
  • Compatible with BC-RH96 Remote Head
  • DIN-E and ISO Vehicle Mountable (optional)
  • GPS Support for Location Based Scanning, location alerts, and crows-flight navigation
  • LCD Backlight
  • Memory Back Up
  • PC Programming and Control
  • Record Out - you can connect an output jack to a VOX controlled recorder or PC sound input to record the received audio.
  • Reversible Display - Lets you reverse the display to mount unit upside down (and hear the speaker from the top)
  • Signal Strength display
  • Single-Handed Function Operation -Tap Function to access F+ key presses. 5 seconds after your last key press, the scanner reverts to non F+ entry (or press Function again to revert sooner).
  • Strong signal attenuation
  • 16 character text tagging for each system, site, group, channel, talkgroup, search range, location, Tone-out, and SAME group
  • Three-Level Backlighting - Lets you set the display/keypad backlight to any of three brightness levels (or off). Also lets you connect to your vehicle’s dimmer circuit to dim the scanner’s display with the vehicle’s dimmer control.
  • Trunking Activity Indicators

Keys

  • Group Quick Key range: 0-9
  • 3 Quick-Access Search Keys
  • “Soft“ Search Keys -Let you program the keypad’s secondary functions to turn on/off specified search ranges.
  • System Quick Key range: 0-99

Technical

  • Channels: 2500 maximum
  • Custom Search - lets you program up to 10 search ranges
  • Groups per system: 20 maximum
  • Scan Rate: 100 channels per second (conventional mode)
  • 13 Service Searches - Public Safety, News, HAM Radio, Marine, Railroad, Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS, Racing, TV Broadcast, FM Broadcast, Military Air, and Special (Itinerant)
  • Sites: 1000 maximum, 256 maximum per system
  • Supported step sizes: 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz
  • Systems: 500 maximum
  • Talkgroups per trunked system: 250 maximum
  • 500 (250 Temporary + 250 Permanent) Search Lockouts

Frequency Coverage

  • 25 - 512 MHz
  • 764 - 776 MHz
  • 794 - 956 MHz
  • 1240 - 1300 MHz

Power

  • Voltage: 13.8 Volts d.c.
  • Current: less than 750mA (max. rating of included wall wart)
  • Power plug: 5.5mm outer diameter, 2.1mm inner diameter; Radio Shack size code "M"

Features

RR System Compatibility

This scanner is compatible with the following Trunking System Types and System Voices used in the RadioReference Database, of course you must verify that the scanner will cover the appropriate frequency range:

  • System Types:
    • Motorola Type I
    • Motorola Type II
    • Motorola Type IIi Hybrid
    • Motorola Type II Smartnet
    • Motorola Type II Smartzone
    • Motorola Type II Smartzone Omnilink
    • EDACS Standard (Wide)
    • EDACS Standard Networked
    • EDACS Narrowband (Narrow)
    • EDACS Narrowband Networked
    • EDACS SCAT
    • LTR Standard
  • System Voices:
    • Analog

Related pages

Reviews

PC Programming and Control

Message Boards/Forums

Facebook
Groups.io

BCT15 Scanners for Sale


Return to Uniden Scanners