Uniden BC45XLT User Manual

BC45XLT

Programmable

Hand-Held

Scanner

UBZZ01313ZZ

Operating Guide

Function Keys

8

9

1

2
3
4

5
6
7

10

11

12

13

14

1. Scan Mode

2. Manual Mode

3. Search

4. Search Hold

5. Lock/Light

6. Select

7. Weather

8. Display

9. Numeric Keypad

10. Enter
11 . Squelch

12. Priority

13. Lockout/Skip

14. Speaker

Controls and Indicators

15 16

17

2322

24

18 19 20 21

15. Phone Jack

16. On/Off Volume Control

17. Chain Search Indicator

18. Frequency Display

19. Squelch Indicator

20. Keypad Lock Indicator

21. Low Battery Indicator

22. Priority Channel Indicator

23. Channel Indicator

24. Function Indicators

Precautions

Before you use this scanner, please read and observe the following:

Earphone Warning!

Be sure to use only the recommended optional monaural earphone
(EP009). You may also use a 32Ω stereo headset. Use of an incorrect
earphone or stereo headset may be potentially hazardous to your
hearing. The output of the Phone jack is monaural, but you will hear it
in both headphones of a stereo headset.
Set the Volume to a comfortable audio level coming from the speaker
before plugging in the monaural earphone or a stereo headset of the
proper impedance (32Ω). Otherwise you might experience some
discomfort or possible hearing damage if the volume suddenly
becomes too loud because of the Volume Control or Squelch Switch
setting. This may be particularly true of the type of earphone that is
placed in the ear canal.

WARNING!

Uniden does not represent this unit to be waterproof. To reduce the
risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose this unit to rain or
moisture.

CAUTION!

Changes or modifications to this product not expressly approved by
Uniden, or operation of this product in any way other than as detailed
by this Reference Guide, could void your authority to operate this
product.

IMPORTANT!

The installation, possession, or use this scanning radio in a motor
vehicle may be prohibited, regulated, or require a permit in certain
states, cities, and/or local jurisdictions. Your local law enforcement
officials should be able to provide you with information regarding the
laws in your community.

General Battery Warning!
Do not short-circuit any battery.
Do not discard batteries in a fire; they may explode.

®

Uniden
Corporation.

and Bearcat®are registered trademarks of Uniden America

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

What is Scanning? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

What is Chain Searching? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Types of communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Feature Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Where to Obtain More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Included with Your Scanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Installing the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Low Battery Indication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Turn the Scanner On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Squelch Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Key lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Duplicate Frequency Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Programming Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Scanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Channel Lockout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Lockout in Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Locking a Channel While Scanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Lockout Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Restore a Locked Out Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Restore All Locked-out Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Priority Scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Changing the Priority Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Chain Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Setting a Search Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Chain Search ON/OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Search Hold Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Channel Skip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Storing Search Frequencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Weather Scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Birdies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Accessories and Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

One Year Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

1

Introduction

The BC45XLT Scanner is a sophisticated information radio that
allows you to monitor 10 different frequency bands and the
NOAA weather information broadcasts. It is a state-of-the-art
radio with scanning capabilities, and it can save up to 20
different frequencies in memory.

What is Scanning?

Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way
communications do not transmit continuously. The BC45XLT
scans programmed channels until it finds an active frequency.

Scanning stops on an active frequency and remains on that
channel as long as the transmission continues. When the
transmission ends, the scanning cycle resumes until another
transmission is received.

What is Chain Searching?

You can program five different personal search bands in your
new scanner. You simply select a Chain Search location,
define the search range, and begin your search.

The scanner looks for active communications in the range
you’ve specified, so you can locate frequencies in your area
which may not be listed in your Betty Bearcat Starter
Frequency Guide.

You can set your scanner to search up to all five Chain Search
bands at once, or you can turn off those search bands you do
not want. This gives you complete control of the search
function.

2

Types of Communications

Monitor communications such as:

• Police and fire department (including rescue and

paramedics)

• NOAA weather broadcasts (preprogrammed channels)

• Business/industrial radio

• Motion picture and press relay

• Utilities

• Land transportation frequencies, such as trucking firms,

buses, taxis, tow trucks, and railroads

• Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands

• And more in these bands:

Frequency Range Transmission

29-29.7 MHz 10 Meter Amateur Band

29.7-50 MHz VHF Low Band
50-54 MHz 6 Meter Amateur Band

137-144 MHz Military Land mobile
144-148 MHz 2 Meter Amateur Band
148-174 MHz VHF High Band
406-420 MHz Federal Govt. Land Mobile
420-450 MHz 70 cm Amateur Band
450-470 MHz UHF Standard Band
470-512 MHz UHF “T” Band

3

Feature Highlights

• 20 Channels – Program one frequency into each channel.
You must have at least one channel programmed to use the
Scan mode.

• 29 MHz-512 MHz – Search these frequency ranges with
your scanner. (The frequency coverage is not continuous
from 29 MHz to 512 MHz.)

• Chain Searching – You can define five different personal
search bands, and search up to all five chain locations at
once.

• Priority Channel Scanning – Allows you to designate a
priority channel which is monitored every two seconds when
Priority Scanning is selected.

• Manual Channel Access – Go directly to any channel.

• Memory Backup – Frequencies programmed in channels
are retained in memory.

• Weather Scan – Allows you to scan from 7 preprogrammed
NOAA channels to find your local weather station.

• Preset Two-Second Delay – Scanner waits two seconds
after transmission stops before resuming scanning.

• LCD Back Light – An orange LCD light remains on for 15
seconds when is pressed.

4

Where to Obtain More Information

Before using your scanner, you must program frequencies into
available channels. The Betty Bearcat Starter Frequency
Guide lists typical frequencies used around the U.S.A. and
Canada that you may program into your new scanner.

If the frequencies listed in the starter guide do not work in your
area, call the Bearcat Frequency Hotline [phone]
(Hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday
through Friday) or you may want to visit their website at:
www.bearcat1.com/free.htm

The Bearcat Radio Club and other similar hobby clubs have
publications, information on computer bulletin boards, and
even contests for the radio enthusiast.

You may also contact the Uniden Parts Dept. [phone]
(Hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Monday
through Friday) or visit our website at: www.uniden.com

5

Included with Your Scanner

If any of these items are missing or damaged, immediately
contact your place of purchase or Uniden Parts Dept. at:
[phone], 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central Time Monday
through Friday.

• Rubber Antenna (AT410) • BC45XLT Operating Guide

•Betty Bearcat Starter
Frequency Guide

• Registration Card

6

Setup

These are helpful guidelines when using your new scanner.

•If your scanner receives interference or electrical noise,

move the scanner or its antenna away from the source.

•If you 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.)

•Use an optional earphone or stereo headset with proper

impedance for private listening. Read the precautions on the
inside front cover of this Guide.

Installing the Batteries

1. Open the cover.

2. Insert batteries.

7