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Difference between revisions of "BCT15"

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== Overview ==
 
== Overview ==
 
 
Uniden's latest '''analog only''' Base/Mobile Trunktracker scanner with Dynamic Memory and GPS Support.
 
Uniden's latest '''analog only''' Base/Mobile Trunktracker scanner with Dynamic Memory and GPS Support.
  
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* [http://www.grove-ent.com/SCANNERPROGRAMMING.htm Scanner Programming: Man-Machine Interface]
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/SCANNERPROGRAMMING.htm Scanner Programming: Man-Machine Interface]
 
** 'Getting the Most from the new Uniden Scanners' by Paul Opitz
 
** '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.
 
* 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.
 
* 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.
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== GPS Features ==
 
== 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.
 
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.
  
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== Advanced (and much requested) Features ==
 
== Advanced (and much requested) Features ==
 
 
<NOTE THAT THIS IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE>
 
<NOTE THAT THIS IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE>
  
 
=== Multi-Site Trunking ===
 
=== 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.
 
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.
  
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=== Temporary Lockout ===
 
=== Temporary Lockout ===
 
 
Pressing L/O one time while on a channel temporarily locks out that channel.  
 
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 F+L/O one time while on a system temporarily locks out that system.
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=== Startup Configuration ===
 
=== 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).
 
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).
  
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=== Non-Radio Location-Based Features (GPS) ===
 
=== Non-Radio Location-Based Features (GPS) ===
 
 
There are non-radio type systems that hold other location based information:
 
There are non-radio type systems that hold other location based information:
  
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=== [[Uniden Close Call|Close Call]] Do-Not-Disturb ===
 
=== [[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.
 
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 ===
 
=== “Soft Search Keys ===
 
 
Let you program the keypad’s secondary functions to turn on/off specified search ranges.
 
Let you program the keypad’s secondary functions to turn on/off specified search ranges.
  
 
=== Three-Level Backlighting ===
 
=== Three-Level Backlighting ===
 
 
Lets you set the display/keypad backlight to any of three levels (or off).
 
Lets you set the display/keypad backlight to any of three levels (or off).
  
 
=== Single-Handed Function Operation ===
 
=== 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).
 
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 ===
 
=== 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.
 
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 + ===
 
=== 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.
 
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 ===
 
=== GPS Display Mode ===
 
 
Lets you display extended GPS information like:
 
Lets you display extended GPS information like:
 
* Distance to POI
 
* Distance to POI
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=== Dual Serial Ports ===
 
=== Dual Serial Ports ===
 
 
Front-set serial port using the same connector as BC246T/BCD396T/BR330T/SC230.
 
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).
 
Rear DB9 Male connector (for convenient direct plug-in of GPS Serial cable).
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==  Reviews and User Opinions==
 
==  Reviews and User Opinions==
 
 
* [http://www.scanningarkansas.com/BCT15/ Scanning Arkansas: BCT-15 review]
 
* [http://www.scanningarkansas.com/BCT15/ Scanning Arkansas: BCT-15 review]
  
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* ARC-15 Basic [http://www.butelsoftware.com/ Butel Software]
 
* ARC-15 Basic [http://www.butelsoftware.com/ Butel Software]
 
* ARC-15 PRO [http://www.butelsoftware.com/ Butel Software]
 
* ARC-15 PRO [http://www.butelsoftware.com/ Butel Software]
 
 
* ARC-EazyStream [http://www.butelsoftware.com/ Butel Software]
 
* ARC-EazyStream [http://www.butelsoftware.com/ Butel Software]
 
 
* [http://www.uniden.com/rn_productsupport_downloads.cfm?product=BCT15 UASD Software and Firmware Updates]
 
* [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]
 
* [http://www.uniden.com/store/itemdetail.cfm?item=BCT15UASD Purchase BCT15UASD Software Registration]
  
 +
==Yahoo Groups and Message Boards==
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCT15/ BCT15 Yahoo group]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCT15/ BCT15 Yahoo group]
  
 
== eBay Listings ==
 
== eBay Listings ==
 +
<ebay>Uniden ("BCT15","BCT-15")</ebay>
  
<ebay>Uniden ("BCT15","BCT-15")</ebay>
 
  
 
[[Category:Uniden Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Uniden Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Mobile Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Mobile Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Trunking Scanners]]
 
[[Category:Trunking Scanners]]

Revision as of 23:01, 20 November 2006

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

Overview

Uniden's latest analog only Base/Mobile Trunktracker scanner with Dynamic Memory and GPS Support.

Shipping started Summer 2006, and retails for close to $350.00

Feature Summary

  • Rebanding Supported? YES
  • BC-RH96 Remote Head to be available Feb.2007
  • Memory Architecture
    • Dynamic allocation.
    • Construction:
    • 500 Systems, 2500 Channels*
  • Creation of systems and channel groups use channel slots, so the actual total channel count will be less than 2500.
    • Maximum Systems: 500
    • Maximum Channel Groups per System: 20
    • Maximum Channels in a Trunked System: 250
    • Maximum Channels in a Conventional System: 1000
    • Maximum Frequencies in a Trunked System: 1000 - #Channels used
    • Maximum Sites per System: 256
    • Maximum Sites Total: 1000
    • Alpha-tags do not effect the size of dynamic memory.
  • 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
  • 100 System/Site Quick Keys + 10 Group Quick Keys per System
  • 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.
  • Weather and SAME Alert
  • 10 Custom Search Ranges
  • Service Search – Public Safety, News, HAM Radio, Marine, Railroad, Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS, Racing, TV Broadcast, FM Broadcast, Special, Military Air
  • Tone Search – Rapidly searches for the CTCSS/DCS used during a transmission.
  • Fire Tone-Out
  • Frequency Autostore
  • ID Autostore
  • Quick Search
  • “SOFT Search Keys – let you assign search ranges to front-panel keys.
  • 500 (250 Temporary + 250 Permanent) Search Lockouts
  • Alpha Tagging – For System, Group, Channel, Talkgroup ID, Custom Search Range and SAME Group. The scanner allows up to 16 characters for each name.
  • Duplicate Input Alert
  • Data Skip
  • Broadcast Screen – sets the scanner to ignore hits on Pager, FM, UHF TV, VHF TV, NOAA WX and custom band frequencies.
  • Trunk Tracking – supports the following systems:
    • Motorola: Type I 800 / Type II 800, 900, UHF, VHF
    • EDACS: WIDE, NARROW, SCAT
    • LTR
  • Multi-Site Trunking – allows independent system sites to share common talk group channel lists.
  • Control Channel Only mode
  • Three-level Orange LCD and Keypad Backlight – select from three levels of orange backlighting.
  • 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
  • Close Call RF Capture
  • Close Call Do-Not-Disturb – sets Close Call RF Capture to operate only when no transmission is being received.
  • Close Call Temporary Store – automatically saves and scans the last 10 Close Call hits.
  • PC Control
  • Wired Cloning
  • On-Air Programming
  • Scan Speed – 100 CH/Sec. in Scan Mode (max)
  • Search Speed / Turbo Search – 100 Steps/Sec. in Search Mode (max) - except for 5 kHz step. 300 Steps/Sec. in Search Mode (max) - (Turbo Search) - for 5 kHz step
  • Memory Back Up
  • Trunking Activity Indicators
  • Audio AGC
  • 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.

Press Release

UNIDEN ANNOUNCES GPS-ENABLED BEARTRACKER SCANNER

New Mobile Model Features Close Call™ Technology and Trunk Tracker® III

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, January 5, 2006 – Uniden America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wireless consumer electronics, today introduced a new mobile scanner, the Bearcat® BCT15 from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 5 - 8, 2006, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, booth # 12044 in the Central Hall. This model extends Uniden’s line of GPS-enabled scanners that automatically select nearby radio systems for scanning. The BCT15 also offers Uniden’s unique BearTracker system, which alerts mobile users to public safety activity in their area as well as Close Call® RF Capture Technology that automatically locks onto nearby signals with no programming necessary.

The GPS-enabled feature offered by the BCT15 provides automatic system selection, which permits the scanner to turn system reception on or off depending on the user’s location, and allows the user to customize the scanner display to show location-based information. In addition, when a GPS unit, not included with this scanner, is connected to the BCT15, the scanner will send alerts at areas of special interest, such as dangerous intersections, school zones, or general points of interest.

Uniden’s BCT15 is poised to further enhance Uniden’s offerings for public safety officials and frequent travelers who need to be in-the-know about what is going on in their current locations. With its preprogrammed information for each state tunes users into state and local public safety faster than ever before.

The Bearcat® BCT15 also offers Close Call™ RF Capture Technology, Dynamic Memory Management, Fire Tone-Out, and Multi-site programming as well as 2,500 channels and a frequency range of 25 MHz to 1.3 GHz (excluding cellular and UHF TV frequencies). This new model is slated to hit retail shelves in summer 2006 and carries a MSRP of $379.99.

“Uniden is leading the industry with innovative features that enhance the capabilities and usability of scanner products,‿ said Paul Opitz, product manager at Uniden America Corporation. “The BCT15 continues Uniden’s tradition of delivering high-quality, user-friendly products to its consumers.

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).

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.

Reviews and User Opinions

PC Programming and Control

  • Scan Control Supports BCT15, SC230, BC246T, BR330T, BCD396T, BCD996T.

BuTel Software

Yahoo Groups and Message Boards

eBay Listings