Uniden BC355N User Manual
BC355N
SCANNER
OWNER’S MANUAL
1
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PRECAUTIONS
Before you use this scanner, please observe the following:
Warning
Uniden America Corporation does not represent this unit to be
waterproof. To reduce the risk of re, electrical shocks, or damage
to the unit, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture.
** These products contain Uniden proprietary information.
Software, control codes, protocols and other such related matter
may be the copyrighted work of Uniden America Corporation.
© Copyright 2009-2012, Uniden America Corporation. All Rights
Reserved.
© 2012 Uniden. This product contains Uniden proprietary
information.
Uniden ® is a registered trademark of Uniden America Corporation.
Bearcat ® is a registered trademark of Uniden America Corporation.
Close Call ® is a registered trademark of Uniden America
Corporation.
2
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 o, 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.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SCANNING LEGALLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
ABOUT YOUR NEW BC355N SCANNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
FEATURE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
BAND PLANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
USA Band Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Canada Band Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
INCLUDED IN YOUR SCANNER PACKAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
INSTALLING THE BC355N SCANNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
FOR HOME USE DESKTOP INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
FOR MOBILE USE INCAR INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Temporary Mobile Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Permanent Mobile Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Permanently Mounting the BC355N Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Permanently Connecting the
Mobile Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SCANNER OPERATION OVERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
BC355N FRONT PANEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
BC355N REAR PANEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
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USING YOUR BC355N SCANNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SET UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Adjusting Squelch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
OPERATING MODES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SCAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SPECIAL NOTES FOR SCANNING PD/FD/EMG
AND AIR/MRN BANKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Scanning Service Bank Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Searching Band Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SCREENS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SCANNING BANKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SEARCHING BANDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
SPECIAL FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
LOCK OUT CHANNELS / FREQUENCIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Types of Lock Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Temporary Lock Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Permanent Lock Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Lock Out Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Lock Out Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
CLOSE CALL ® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Close Call Priority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Close Call Do Not Disturb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Close Call Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Setting Up Close Call Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Setting
C ‐ C.bAnd Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
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Setting C ‐ C.ALEt Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Setting
C ‐ C.PS Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Close Call Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
PRIVATE BANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Programming Frequencies and Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Programming a Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Deleting a Programmed Frequency
(programming “000.0000”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
PROGRAM LOCK FEATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
CLEAR ALL MEMORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
GENERAL PRODUCT CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
LOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
CLEANING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
REPAIRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
BIRDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
WARRANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
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SCANNING LEGALLY
Your scanner covers frequencies used by many dierent groups,
including police and re 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:
• Telephone conversations (cellular, cordless, or other private
means of telephone signal transmission)
• Pager transmissions
• Any scrambled or encrypted transmissions
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act
(ECPA), you are subject to nes 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
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manufactured so they are not easy to modify to pick up these
transmissions. Do not open your scanner’s case to make any
modications 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 ocials by
traveling to the scene of an incident without authorization.
ABOUT YOUR NEW BC355N SCANNER
The BC355N comes with 6 Service banks for monitoring police,
re/emergency medical services, marine, air, weather, and CB
frequencies. In addition, the BC355N has 13 separate band
searches.
You can also save up to 300 frequencies that are scanned along
with the preset frequencies. So whenever you encounter a newly
activated local frequency for any service category, you can add it
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to the bank for that category. This gives you quick access to the
frequencies you want to hear.
FEATURE SUMMARY
The BC355N is a compact mobile/base scanner and one of the
most user-friendly communication products available today. The
BC355N features include:
• Turbo search – Allows your BC355N to search 180 steps per
second. (5 kHz step band only)
• Seven Banks – 6 preprogrammed Service banks and one
standard, programmable Private bank. These banks include:
» POLICE: 1,769 Factory-programmed Police
frequencies with 100 open channels (shared with
FIRE/EMG), allowing you to program additional
police frequencies into this bank.
» FIRE/EMG: 280 Factory-programmed Fire/EMG
frequencies plus an additional 100 (shared with
POLICE) open channels for you to program local re/
EMG frequencies into this bank.
Note: The Police and Fire/EMG banks share a single
key – PD/FD/EMG. Pressing this key will toggle between
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the banks. Additional information is provided in later
sections.
» AIR: 2,280 Factory-programmed frequencies
which covers the complete AIR band, 118.000 to
136.9916 MHz. 100 open channels (shared with
MRN) for user frequencies are also included.
» MRN: 90 Factory-programmed frequencies which
cover the complete Marine band. 100 open channels
(shared with AIR) for user frequencies are also
included.
Note: The Air and MRN banks share a single key – AIR/
MRN. Pressing this key will toggle between the banks.
Additional information is provided in later sections.
» WX: 7 Factory-programmed Weather frequencies
covering NOAA Weather Service.
» CB: 40 Factory-programmed frequencies
covering CB communications.
» PRIVATE: 100-channel, fully user-programmable
bank.
• Search Bands (13) – Press BAND to select a band to search.
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BAND PLANS
Your BC355N can operate using either the common band steps
used in the USA or Canada. To select a band plan:
USA: Press UP while powering on the scanner.
Canada: Press DOWN while powering on the scanner.
The scanner remembers your setting if you power o. However,
if you clear memory by turning on the scanner and pressing and
holding PROG and L/O, the scanner is set to the USA band plan.
USA Band Plan
FREQUENCY (MHz)
LOWER UPPER
25.0000 27.9950 5.0 AM
28.0000 54.0000 5.0 NFM
108.0000 136.9916 8.33 AM
STEP
(kHz)
MODE SERVICE
Petroleum Products & Broadcast
Pickup
CB Class D Channel
Business & Forest Products
10 Meter Amateur Band
VHF Low Band
6 Meter Amateur Band
Aircraft Band
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FREQUENCY (MHz)
LOWER UPPER
137.0000 150.7700 5.0
150.7750 150.8125 7.5
150.8150 154.4525 7.5
154.4562 154.4787 7.5
154.4825 154.5125 7.5
154.5150 154.5250 5.0
154.5275 154.5350 7.5
154.5400 154.6075 7.5
154.6100 154.6475 7.5
154.6500 157.4475 7.5
157.4500 157.4650 5.0
157.4700 163.2450 7.5
163.2500 173.2000 12.5
173.2037 173.2100 6.25
173.2150 173.2200 5.0
173.2250 173.3875 12.5
173.3900 173.3962 6.25
173.4000 174.0000 5.0
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STEP
(kHz)
MODE SERVICE
Military Land Mobile
2 Meter Amateur Band
NFM
Military Land Mobile
VHF High Band
Federal Government
FREQUENCY (MHz)
LOWER UPPER
406.0000 419.9875 12.5 NFM
420.0000 449.9875 12.5 NFM
450.0000 469.9875 12.5 NFM
470.0000 512.0000 12.5 NFM
806.0000 823.9875 12.5 NFM
849.0125 868.9875 12.5 NFM
894.0125 956.0000 12.5 NFM
* This scanner cannot decode digital TV transmissions.
STEP
(kHz)
MODE SERVICE
Canada Band Plan
Federal Government
70 cm Amateur Band
UHF Band
UHF “T” Band*
800 Band
FREQUENCY (MHz)
LOWER UPPER
25.0000 27.9950 5.0 AM
28.0000 54.0000 5.0 NFM
STEP
(kHz)
MODE SERVICE
Petroleum Products &
Broadcast Pickup
CB Class D Channel
Business & Forest Products
10 Meter Amateur Band
VHF Low Band
6 Meter Amateur Band
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FREQUENCY (MHz)
LOWER UPPER
108.0000 136.9916 8.33 AM Aircraft Band
137.0000 174.0000 5.0 NFM
406.0000 419.9875 12.5 NFM Federal Government
420.0000 449.9875 12.5 NFM 70 cm Amateur Band
450.0000 469.9875 12.5 NFM UHF Band
470.0000 512.0000 12.5 NFM UHF “T” Band*
806.0000 823.9875 12.5 NFM
849.0125 868.9875 12.5 NFM
894.0125 956.0000 12.5 NFM
* This scanner cannot decode digital TV transmissions.
STEP
(kHz)
MODE SERVICE
Military Land Mobile
2 Meter Amateur Band
Military Land Mobile
VHF High Band
Federal Government
800 Band
Frequency Band Sensitivity (Nominal) 12 dB SINAD
25.000 - 27.995 0.4 µV
28.000 - 54.000 0.3 µV
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Frequency Band Sensitivity (Nominal) 12 dB SINAD
137.000 - 174.000 0.2 µV
406.000 - 512.000 0.3 µV
108.000 - 136.9916 0.4 µV
806.000 - 956.000 0.4 µV
Frequency Band Hum and Noise (Nominal)
25.000 - 27.995 48 dB
28.000 - 54.000 36 dB
137.000 - 174.000 36 dB
406.000 - 512.000 35 dB
108.000 - 136.9916 48 dB
806.000 - 956.000 35 dB
Frequency Band Close Call Sensitivity (Nominal)
25.000 - 54.000 450 µV
137.000 - 174.000 150 µV
406.000 - 512.000 130 µV
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Frequency Band Close Call Sensitivity (Nominal)
108.000 - 136.9916 200 µV
806.000 - 956.000 450 µV
INCLUDED IN YOUR SCANNER PACKAGE
• BC355N Scanner
• Telescoping Antenna
• Flexible Window-Mount Mobile Antenna
• AC Adapter
• Vehicle Power Adapter
• DC Power Cord for hard-wiring power from your car to your
scanner.
• Bracket
• Screw
• This Owner’s Manual
• Other Printed Materials
If any of these items are missing or damaged, immediately contact
your place of purchase or Uniden Customer Hotline at: 1-800-2971023 during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
Optional Accessories
The following optional accessories for your BC355N are available:
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Mobile Mounting Bracket (Model MB-007) – For mobile use (Incar Installation); use it to install the BC355N in your car.
External Speaker (ESP20, ESP12, or ESP5) – To increase speaker
volume in noisy environments.
Contact your local Uniden Dealer or the Uniden Parts Department
by calling: (800) 554-3988 during regular business hours Monday
through Friday. We can also be reached on the web at www.
unidendirect.com.
INSTALLING THE BC355N SCANNER
FOR HOME USE DESKTOP INSTALLATION
1. Insert the DC plug end of the AC Adapter into the DC 13.8V
jack on the rear panel.
2. Plug the AC Adapter into a standard 120V AC wall outlet.
3. Plug the Telescoping Antenna into the ANT connector. Extend
the antenna to its full height. For frequencies higher than 406
MHz, shortening the antenna may improve the reception.
Use the desktop stand (fold out from bottom of unit) for a better
viewing and operating angle.
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Helpful Hints
• If strong interference or electrical noise is received, relocate
the scanner or its antenna away from the source.
• If you are operating the scanner in a fringe area or need to
improve reception, use an optional antenna designed for
multi-band coverage. (You can purchase this type of antenna
at a local electronics store.)
• If the optional antenna has no cable, use 50-70 ohm coaxial
cable for lead-in. A mating plug may be necessary for the
optional antennas.
FOR MOBILE USE INCAR INSTALLATION
Temporary Mobile Installation
A Vehicle Power Adapter is provided for an easy, temporary power
supply.
Warning: Do not use the Vehicle Power Adapter in a
positive ground vehicle.
1. Plug one end of the Vehicle Power Adapter into the vehicle’s
accessory power jack and the other end into the DC 13.8V jack
on the back of the scanner.
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2. Connect the mobile antenna plug into the ANT connector on
the rear panel. For more information on antenna installation,
please refer to the instruction guide that came with your
mobile antenna.
Permanent Mobile Installation
Permanently installing the BC355N scanner into a vehicle involves
two main steps - physically installing the scanner and physically
connecting the power supply. It does not matter which is installed
rst; perform these procedures in an order that is most appropriate
for your vehicle’s conguration.
Permanently Mounting the BC355N Unit
1. Select a location in your vehicle to mount the BC355N unit.
Avoid any locations that could interfere with your driving. In a
passenger car, the ideal location is underneath the dashboard
on the passenger side.
2. Use the mounting bracket (optional) as a template for
marking the location of the mounting screws.
Note: If there are screws already holding the dashboard,
you may be able to use the same screw holes to mount the
bracket.
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3. Drill the necessary holes and secure the mounting bracket in
place using the screws provided.
CAUTION: Do not drill into air bags. Do not drill if what is
behind the dashboard is unknown.
4. Mount the scanner to the bracket only after the wiring has
been connected to the rear panel.
Permanently Connecting the Mobile Power Supply
CAUTION: If you are not experienced in connecting
accessories to the vehicle fuse box, please see your
automotive dealer for advice on proper installation.
1. Check the vehicle battery connections to determine which
battery terminal (positive or negative) is grounded to the
engine block or chassis. Most of today’s vehicles use a
negative ground. If your vehicle has a negative ground, follow
Steps 2 and 3. Otherwise, skip to the Caution in Step 3.
2. Connect the RED wire of the DC power cord to the accessory
contact in your vehicle’s +13.8 VDC fuse box.
3. Connect the BLACK wire of the DC power cord to the negative
side of the vehicle (usually the chassis).
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Caution: In vehicles with a positive ground, the RED wire
connects to the chassis and the BLACK wire connects to
the accessory contact in the fuse box.
4. Insert the DC plug into the DC 13.8V jack on the back panel.
SCANNER OPERATION OVERVIEW
BC355N FRONT PANEL
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