Uniden BC355N User Manual

4.5 (4)

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 fire, 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 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.

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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 (In-Car 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.bAndOptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

5

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 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:

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 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

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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 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.

ABOUT YOUR NEW BC355N SCANNER

The BC355N comes with 6 Service banks for monitoring police, fire/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 fire/ 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 off. 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)

STEP

MODE

SERVICE

LOWER

UPPER

(kHz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Petroleum Products & Broadcast

 

 

 

 

Pickup

25.0000

27.9950

5.0

AM

CB Class D Channel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business & Forest Products

 

 

 

 

10 Meter Amateur Band

28.0000

54.0000

5.0

NFM

VHF Low Band

 

 

 

 

6 Meter Amateur Band

108.0000

136.9916

8.33

AM

Aircraft Band

 

 

 

 

 

11

FREQUENCY (MHz)

STEP

MODE

SERVICE

LOWER

UPPER

(kHz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Military Land Mobile

 

 

 

 

 

154.5400

154.6075

7.5

 

2 Meter Amateur Band

154.6100

154.6475

7.5

NFM

Military Land Mobile

154.6500

157.4475

7.5

VHF High Band

 

157.4500

157.4650

5.0

 

Federal Government

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

FREQUENCY (MHz)

STEP

MODE

SERVICE

LOWER

UPPER

(kHz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

800 Band

849.0125

868.9875

 

12.5

NFM

 

 

 

 

 

 

894.0125

956.0000

 

12.5

NFM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* This scanner cannot decode digital TV transmissions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Band Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FREQUENCY (MHz)

 

STEP

MODE

SERVICE

 

 

 

LOWER

UPPER

 

(kHz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Petroleum Products &

 

 

 

 

 

Broadcast Pickup

25.0000

27.9950

 

5.0

AM

CB Class D Channel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business & Forest Products

 

 

 

 

 

10 Meter Amateur Band

28.0000

54.0000

 

5.0

NFM

VHF Low Band

 

 

 

 

 

6 Meter Amateur Band

13

FREQUENCY (MHz)

STEP

MODE

SERVICE

 

 

 

LOWER

UPPER

(kHz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

108.0000

136.9916

 

8.33

AM

Aircraft Band

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military Land Mobile

 

 

 

 

 

2 Meter Amateur Band

137.0000

174.0000

 

5.0

NFM

Military Land Mobile

 

 

 

 

 

VHF High Band

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Government

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

800 Band

849.0125

868.9875

 

12.5

NFM

 

 

 

 

 

 

894.0125

956.0000

 

12.5

NFM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* This scanner cannot decode digital TV transmissions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

15

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: 1-800-297- 1023 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 (In-Car 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 first; perform these procedures in an order that is most appropriate for your vehicle’s configuration.

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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Uniden BC355N User Manual

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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