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UBC3500XLT

From The RadioReference Wiki

The Uniden Bearcat UBC3500XLT is a Europe marketed scanner from Uniden. It does not handle trunk tracking or digital modes but is very popular as it features a decent 2500 memory channels organised with Uniden's dynamic allocation architecture.

It leaves a lot of the competition cold because of this feature, but also because [CTCSS] / [DCS] decoding is near instant and it features Close Call which is the most major breakthrough in scanner features of the last 20 years.

Software

It can be programmed and driven under virtual control with a PC and the appropriate data cable. [BuTel] make the official Uniden endorsed software for this scanner called ARC3500. As all the dynamic memory scanners feature the same command set, software written for other similar scanners may also work.

Although trunk tracking is not supported by the scanner itself, the radio is steerable by PC and Trunkview has been shown to work with the UBC3500XLT. This allows it to track MPT1327 trunked systems.

Specifications

  • 2500 Dynamic memory channels
  • 200 Systems (maximum)
  • 10 User programmable search banks (can be included in a search routine)
  • Preprogrammed airband search
  • 3 selectable bandplans
  • Frequency coverage - 25 - 1300 MHz
  • Steps - 5.0kHz,6.25kHz,7.5kHz,8.33kHz,10.0kHz,12.5kHz,15.0kHz,20.0kHz,25.0kHz,50.0kHz,100.0kHz
  • Modes - AM/WFM/FM/NFM +(WFM Broadcast)
  • Close Call with DoNotDisturb option
  • Included accessories: antenna, charger, rechargeable batteries


Dynamic Memory Channels

Uniden's dynamic memory system means that what would be previously considered as a 'Bank' is definable in size so that no empty channels occur and no memories are wasted. Similarly, groups can be defined within 'Systems' to allow even more flexibility. 'Quick Keys' are then used to easily select the groups you are interested in so a custom scan routine can quickly be devised to suit specific needs. Another advantage of this is that each channel has effectively a 48 character alphatag. It no longer becomes necessary to describe each channel in full as it is already qualified under a System and Group heading. This is similar in effect to a hierarchical structure as used in computer file systems and urls. A maximum of 200 Systems can be defined.


Search Banks

The UBC3500XLT has up to 10 definable search ranges. This can allow scanning of a range of frequencies between two which the user defines but will also ignore frequencies which have been locked out. Parameters for this are

  • Edit Name - A 16 character alphatag is assignable for each scan bank.
  • Edit Search Limit - Upper amd lower search limits can be set.
  • Set Delay Time - 1,2,3,4,5 and off can be set.
  • Set Modulation - A modulation mode can be assigned to each Search Bank, or Auto which defaults to the current default band plan.
  • Set Attenuator - The attenuator can be set on a bank by bank basis.
  • Set Data Skip - Designed to detect and ignore data signals
  • Set Step - Any available step can be set or Auto used which refers to the default bandplan.
  • Search with Scan - Allows the search range to be included in the scan routine and its Hold Time to be defined.

Steps and Frequency Resolution

The UBC3500XLT claims in its specifications to be able to deal with 6.25kHz steps although its frequency only gives four decimal places. To my knowledge, it is incapable of tuning exactly to 6.25kHz offset channels as for instance used with PMR446 radios although in practice, this does not affect the listening quality.