Uniden BC895XLT User Guide

CONTENTS

Precautions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

BC895XLT Controls and Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Important Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What is Scanning? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What is Searching? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What is CTCSS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What is Trunk Tracking? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Feature Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Where to Obtain More Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Information on the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Computer Control of Your BC895XLT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Included with Your Scanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Installing Your

For Home Use (Desktop Installation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Adapter Safety Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

For Mobile Use (In-Car Installation). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Setting the Squelch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Using the VFO Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Programming using Manual Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Programming using the Rotary Tuner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Programming using AutoStore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Transferring a Programmed Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Duplicate Frequency Alert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Deleting a Stored Frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Preventing Accidental Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Programming Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Scanning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Setting the Delay Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Channel Lockout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Lockout in Manual Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Lockout in Scanning Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Lockout Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Restoring a Locked Out Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Restoring All Locked-Out Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Priority Scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Changing the Priority Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Tape Recording Channel Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Weather Channel Scanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Weather Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Testing the Weather Alert Siren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Searching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Setting a Search Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Search Hold Feature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Data Skip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Channel Skip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Storing Search Frequencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

CTCSS Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Searching for CTCSS Tones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Changing a CTCSS Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

BC895XLT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Erasing a CTCSS Tone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

CTCSS Tone Frequencies (Hz) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Trunk Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Types of Trunking Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Setting the Squelch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Programming Trunking Frequencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Searching a Trunked Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

ID Hold Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

ID Lockout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Restoring a Single ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Restoring all IDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Searching Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Channel Activity Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Scan Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Deleting a Stored ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Fleet Map Programming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Selecting Trunking Programming Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Selecting a Preset Fleet Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Programming a Fleet Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Restoring Default Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Programming a Hybrid System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

General Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Birdies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Preset Fleet Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

User Defined Fleet Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

One Year Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

2

Introduction

The

BC895XLT

scanning capabilities. You can store frequencies such as police, fire/emergency, marine, air,
amateur, and other communications into 10 banks of 30 channels each. Use it at home as a base
unit, or install it in your vehicle as a mobile unit. The Rotary Tuner enables rapid and easy selection
of channels and frequencies, and with
available bank. In addition, your new scanner has
feature which provides faster scanning within each bank.

Use your new scanner to monitor:

800 MHz Trunked Public Safety Systems
Police and Fire Departments (including rescue and paramedics)
NOAA Weather Broadcasts
Business/Industrial Radio
Utilities
Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands
Air band

is a brand new state-of-the-art radio with

AutoStore

, you can automatically program channels in an

AutoSort

Frequency Range Steps Transmission

29.0-29.7 MHz 5 kHz 10 Meter Amateur Band

29.7-50.0 MHz 5 kHz VHF Low Band

50.0-54.0 MHz 5 kHz 6 Meter Amateur Band
108-137 MHz 12.5 kHz Aircraft Band
137-144 MHz 5 kHz Military Land Mobile
144-148 MHz 5 kHz 2 Meter Amateur Band
148-174 MHz 5 kHz VHF High Band
216-225 MHz 5 kHz VHF High Band
225-400 MHz 12.5 kHz UHF Air Band
406-420 MHz 12.5 kHz Federal Land Mobile
420-450 MHz 12.5 kHz 70cm Amateur Band
450-470 MHz 12.5 kHz UHF Standard Band
470-512 MHz 12.5 kHz UHF “T” Band
806-956 MHz 12.5 kHz Public Service “800”

Band

TrunkTracking™

and automatic

, which is an automatic frequency-sorting

3

This scanning radio has been manufactured so that it will not tune to the radio frequencies
assigned by the FCC for cellular telephone usage. The Electronic Communications Privacy
Act of 1986, as amended, makes it a federal crime to intentionally intercept cellular or
cordless telephone transmissions or to market this radio when altered to receive them.

The installation, possession, or use of 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.

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 Operating Guide, could void your
authority to operate this product.

About this Manual

The screen displays used in this manual are representations of what might appear when
you use your scanner. Since the actual displays depend on the frequencies and user ID’s
for your area, as well as the settings you select, you may notice some differences between
what is in this manual and what your scanner displays.

Important Notice

4

Terminology

What is Scanning?

Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way communications do not transmit
continuously. The
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.

BC895XLT

scans programmed channels until it finds an active frequency.

SCAN

CHANNELS

1 3 4 5 9 102 6 7 8

Frequency

Locked Out

(L/O)

Frequency not

entered

What is Searching?

The

BC895XLT

scanning because you are searching for frequencies that have not been programmed into your
scanner. When you select a frequency band to search, the scanner searches for any active
frequency within the lower and upper limits specified. When an active frequency is found, the
scanner stops on that frequency as long as the transmission lasts. If the frequency is interesting,
you can program it into one of the banks. If not, you can continue your search.

can search each of its 14 bands to find active frequencies. This is different from

What is CTCSS?

Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) is a subaudible tone signaling system
sometimes referred to as
usable only for FM signals and is usually associated with both amateur and commercial two-way
repeaters. This system makes use of a special subaudible tone which accompanies a transmitted
signal. A set of 38 standard tones has been established by the the Electronics Industry Association.

CTCSS is used for many purposes. In many cases, CTCSS is used to restrict access to a
commercial repeater, so that only those units which transmit the correct tone along with their signal
can “talk to the repeater.” You may also need to have your scanner coded correctly to “hear” the
repeater.

PL

(Motorola’s trademark term standing for

Private Line

). CTCSS is

CTCSS is also used in areas of high interference where there are several stations with output
frequencies in close proximity with one another. When this occurs, you may hear multiple
communications at the same time. The stations could even interfere with each other to the point
where it is impossible to clearly receive either one. When your receiver, in this case a scanner, is
equipped for CTCSS, you can code each received frequency with a specific CTCSS frequency.
Then, when multiple signals are broadcast, you will only hear the transmission with the CTCSS tone
you have programmed. If you do not receive the correct tone with a signal, the squelch of your
scanner remains closed and you will not hear anything.

Establishment of the CTCSS tone for each transmitter (or repeater) is usually done through the
cooperative setting of standards by local frequency allocation groups.

5

What is Trunk Tracking?

Conventional scanning is a simple concept. You enter a radio frequency in your scanner’s memory
which is used by someone you want to monitor. For example, the police in your area may broadcast
on 460.500 MHz , the fire department on 154.445 MHz, the highway department on 37.900 MHz,
etc. So when your scanner stops on a frequency, you usually know who it is, and more importantly,
you can stop on a channel and listen to an entire conversation. This type of scanning is easy and
fun.

As the demand for public communications has increased, many public radio users don’t have
enough frequencies to meet their needs, and this has created a serious problem. Trunking radio
systems solve this problem.

In a trunked radio system, which contains up to 29 different frequencies, radio users are divided into
groups, often called talk groups, and these talk groups are assigned specific IDs. When someone in
a talk group uses their radio, a brief burst of data is broadcast before each transmission. The
trunking system computer uses this data to temporarily assign each radio in a talk group to an
available frequency. If the group using a frequency stops broadcasting or pauses between replies
for a few seconds, they are removed from the frequency so another talk group can use it.

Sharing of the available public service frequencies, or trunking, allows cities, counties, or other
agencies to accommodate hundreds of users with relatively few frequencies. On the other hand,
following a conversation on a trunked system is difficult, if not impossible, because when there’s a
short break during the conversation you’re monitoring, it’s possible that the talk group will be
assigned to a completely different frequency in the trunked system. This type of scanning is difficult
and frustrating.

TrunkTracker™

conventional scanner, it actually follows the users of a trunked radio system. Once you know a talk
group’s ID, you won’t miss any of the action.

If you’re a new scanner enthusiast, you may want to read the first part of this manual and use your
scanner in conventional mode before you begin trunk tracking. Understanding scanning
fundamentals and terminology will make trunk tracking much easier. If you’re already a
sophisticated scanner operator, you may want to go to

changes this! Not only does your new

BC895XLT

Trunk Tracking

scan channels like a

on page 38 now.

6

Feature Highlights

Trunk Tracking – Follow 800 MHz trunked public safety and public service systems just as
if conventional two-way communications were used.

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

10 Banks – Each bank contains 30 channels, large enough for even the largest trunked
systems or useful for storing similar frequencies to maintain faster scanning cycles.

Signal Strength Meter – Your scanner has a signal strength meter, which displays the
relative strength of an active transmission, using up to five separate indicators.

CTCSS – (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) When activated, your scanner will
only tune to a frequency if the associated CTCSS tone you have programmed is included
with the transmission. You can also use this feature to search for a CTCSS tone when
monitoring a transmission.

14 Bands – Includes 14 bands, with Aircraft and 800 MHz.
29 MHz-956 MHz – Your scanner covers an extensive frequency range so that you can

monitor most of the transmissions in your area.

Note: The frequency coverage is not continuous and excludes the cellular band.

10 Priority Channels – You can assign one priority channel in each bank. Assigning a

priority channel allows you to keep track of activity on your most important channel(s) while
monitoring other channels for transmissions.

VFO Control – (Variable Frequency Oscillator) Turn the large Rotary Tuner to select a
desired frequency or channel.

AutoStore

Weather Alert – Lets your scanner function as a severe weather warning radio.

AutoSort

scanning.
Unique Data Skip – Allows your scanner to skip unwanted data transmissions and reduces

birdies.
Memory Backup – If power is lost or disconnected, the frequencies programmed in your

scanner are retained in memory.
LCD Back Light – Use

backlight.
Auto Recording — Automatically record channel activity during scanning onto a tape

recorder.
Scan/Search Delay – In the Scan or Search Modes,

on the frequency two seconds after the last transmission to wait for a possible reply.

– Automatically stores all active frequencies within the specified bank(s).

– Programmed frequencies are automatically sorted within each bank for faster

to select one of three different settings for the display

M

causes the scanner to remain

Y

7

Where to Obtain More Information

Before using your scanner, you must program frequencies into available channels. The

Bearcat Frequency Guide

program into your new scanner.
To order a copy of the frequency guide, call the enclosed Mr. Scanner (800) Number. A Uniden

representative should be able to order you a copy of Betty Bearcat for your area and provide you
with sample frequencies. You can also use the enclosed order form to purchase a local frequency
list.

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

lists frequencies used around the U.S.A. and Canada that you may

Betty

Information on the Internet

For more information about Uniden and our other products, visit

www.uniden.com

.

Computer Control of Your BC895XLT

Your scanner can be operated using a personal computer and specialized scanner-control software
available through third-party vendors. Uniden America Corporation does not provide support for the
software or cables offered through these third-party vendors.

8

Included with Your Scanner

If any of these items are missing or damaged, immediately contact your place of purchase or
Uniden Customer Service at: [phone], 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central, Monday through
Friday.

STEP AUX DIAL

WX ALRT/RMT SEND

HOLD

AUTO

SRC

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

MANUAL

SCAN

PRI TRUNK DATA

L/O DELAY CTCSS

2

1

4

5
8

7

0

Telescoping Antenna AC Adapter

BC895XLT

91-120 121-15061-9031-601-30

C

DE

BA

181-210 211-240 241-270 271-300151-180

G

F

3
6
9

HI

CHAN

FREQ

FREQ/CHAN

LOCK

J

SQUELCH

VOLUME

E

BC 895XLT

L
IA

D
X
U

A

P
E
T

D

S

N
E

S
T
M
/R

T
R

L
A
X
W

SCAN

D
L
O

H

PRI

AUTO

SRC

L/O

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

UDZZ01818ZZ

BC895XLT

91-120 121-15061-9031-60

DE

C

271-300

J

BA

1-30

211-240 241-270

HI

SQUELCH

181-210

G

CHAN

151-180

F

FREQ

FREQ/CHAN

LOCK

3

2

1

6

5

MANUAL

4

9

8

ATA

7

E

TRUNK D

0

CTCSS

DELAY

Operating Guide

Trunk Tracking Scanner

VOLUME

Owner’s Manual

Programmable100-Channel Base Scanner

BC XLT860

Now is the time for all good men to
come to the aid of the party.

Four score yeas ago our fathers set
forth a new nation conceived in
Liberty and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are

created equal. The quick brown
fox jumped over the garden wall.
Now is the time fo4r all good men to

come to the aid of the party.

Programmable100-ChannelBase Scanner

BC XLT860

Now is the time for all good men to
come to the aid of the party.
Four score yeas ago our fathers set
forth a new nation conceived in

Programmable100-Channel BaseScanner

BC XLT860

Liberty and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are

Now is the time for all

created equal. The quick brown

good men to come to the

fox jumped over the garden wall.

aid of the party. Four

Now is the time fo4r all good men to

score yeas ago our

come to the aid of the party.

fathers set forth a new

100

CH

A
N
N
E

nation conceived in

L

BAN

D

M
H
zSCAN

N
IN

G
R
ADIOBCXLT12 800 860

Now is the time for all good men to

Liberty and dedicated to

TWINTURBO

DATABANK

come to the aid of the party.

12345678910

the proposition that all

P

100

SCANPRIORITYSRCH HOLDDELAY L/O

888.8888

WXAIR

Four score yeas ago our fathers set

men are created equal.

1

S
Q

1-10

U
E
L
CH

2

11-2
0

3

2

T

1

U

-3

4

RB

0

O

3

/

1

-4

forth a new nation conceived in

P

0

R
IORIT

5

The quick brown fox

Y

4
1

-5
0

D

A

6

TA

AUTO

5
1

-6

7

WE

0

6

A

1

T

-7

H

0

E

LIM

R

IT

8

7
1

S

-8

E

0

A

Liberty and dedicated to the

R
CH

9

8
1

jumped over the garden

-9

HOLD

0

.

VOLUM

DE

0

L
AY

E

9
1

-10
0

E

LOCKOUT

proposition that all men are

S

C
A
N

wall. Now is the time fo4r

M

OF
A
N

F
U

A
L

created equal. The quick brown

all good men to come to

fox jumped over the garden wall.

the aid of the party.

Now is the time fo4r all good men to

come to the aid of the party.

Now is the time for all
good men to come to the

Now is the time for all good men to

aid of the party. Four

come to the aid of the party.

score yeas ago our

Four score yeas ago our fathers set

fathers set forth a new

forth a new nation conceived in

nation conceived in

Liberty and dedicated to the

Liberty and dedicated to

the proposition that all
men are created equal.
The quick brown fox
jumped over the garden

wall. Now is the time fo4r
all good men to come to

Trunking Frequency

Guide and Other Printed

Material

Starter Frequency Guide

9

Installing Your BC895XLT

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. You might also try changing the height or angle of the telescoping
antenna.

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.) 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.

Use the included earphone or an optional stereo headset with proper impedance for private
listening. Read the precautions on the inside front cover of this Guide.

Do not use the scanner in high-moisture environments such as the kitchen or bathroom.
Avoid placing the unit in direct sunlight or near heating elements or vents.

For Home Use (Desktop Installation)

DC12V

Off-On/

Enter-Lock

Switch

OFF ON

ENTER

LOCK

Auxiliary

Jack

AUX

REMOTE

Remote

Jack

Antenna
Jack

Telescoping
Antenna

ANT

DC 13.8V

Power Jack

Plug

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.

4. Use the desktop stand for a better viewing and operating angle.

10

Adapter Safety Feature

The AC Adapter included with this scanner may be equipped with a polarized line plug — a plug
with one blade wider than the other. This plug will fit into a power outlet only one way. If you are
unable to insert the adapter’s plug into an outlet, try reversing the plug.

For use with an optional external speaker:

Plug the external speaker into the
front of the scanner.

EXT SP

jack located on the

SRC

HOLD

AUTO

LIMIT

LINE

EXT SP

For use with an optional tape recorder:

Your tape recorder must have both a microphone and remote input jacks to work with your scanner.
To connect the recorder to the scanner, follow these steps:

Remote

Ear

Mic

2

1

DC12V

STEP

WX

ALRT/RMT

HOLD

SRC AUTO

LIMIT

OFF ON

ENTER

LOCK

AUX

DIM

SEND

EXT SPLINE

TRUNKTRACKER

SCAN MANUAL

PRI

TRUNK

L/O

DELAY

AUX

REMOTE

DATA

CTCSS

1. Connect a cable from the LINE jack on the front of your scanner to the microphone input of
the tape recorder.

2. Connect a cable from the RCA-type AUX jack on the back of your scanner to the tape
recorder’s remote jack.

For use with optional computer controlled software:

Your scanner can be operated using a personal computer and specialized scanner-control software.
To use the computer controlled feature, press and hold
to the information provided with your optional computer controlled software.

Press

again to cancel the computer controlled feature.

r

11

until you hear two short beeps, then refer

r

For Mobile Use (In-Car Installation)

Mounting the Radio

1. Select a location in your vehicle to mount your
interfere with your driving. In a passenger car, the ideal location is underneath the dashboard
on the passenger side.

2. Use the optional mounting bracket as a template for marking the location for the mounting
screws.

BC895XLT

. Avoid a location that could

Note: If there are screws already holding the dashboard, you can use the same screw holes
to mount the bracket.

3. Drill the necessary holes and secure the mounting bracket in place using the screws provided
with the bracket.

4. Mount the radio to the bracket only after the wiring has been connected to the rear panel.

Connecting the Antenna Plug

Connect the optional mobile antenna plug into the
information on antenna installation, please refer to the instruction guide that came with your
antenna.)

ANT

connector on the rear panel. (For more

Connecting the DC Power Cord

If you are not experienced in connecting accessories to the vehicle fuse box, please see your
automotive dealer for advice on proper installation before completing the steps below.

Temporary Power Cord Installation:

Warning: Do not use the cigarette lighter power cord in a positive ground vehicle.

Use the optional Cigarette Lighter Power Cord for an easy, temporary installation.
Plug one end of the Cigarette Lighter Power Cord into the cigarette lighter jack, and the other end

into the DC 13.8V jack on the back of the scanner.

Permanent Power Cord 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 the steps below. Otherwise, please see
your automotive dealer for advice on installing negative ground accessories in your vehicle.

2. Connect the RED wire of the optional 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).

4. Insert the DC plug into the DC 13.8V jack on the back of the scanner.

12

Basic Operation

Note: You can fold out the Front Cover to see the Controls and Indicators while reading this

Guide.

Setting the Squelch

To set the squelch, you must be in the Manual mode, and you should not be receiving a signal on
your scanner.

1. Press

2. Adjust

until you do not hear a signal.

m

VOLUME

to a comfortable listening

level.

3. Think of the Squelch Control as a gate. Turn

SQUELCH

fully counter-clockwise. This raises the

“Squelch Gate” so high that only very strong signals can get through.

SQUELCH

MEDIUM SIGNALS

WEAK SIGNALS

VOLUME

NOISE

VOLUME

STRONG SIGNALS

4. Turn

SQUELCH

fully clockwise until you hear a hiss. This lowers the “Squelch Gate” so that

everything gets through—noise, weak signals, and strong signals.

SQUELCH

VOLUME

13

STRONG SIGNALS

MEDIUM SIGNALS

WEAK SIGNALS

NOISE

5. Turn

SQUELCH

back counter-clockwise just until the hiss stops. Now the “Squelch Gate”

allows only clearer signals through.

Using the VFO Control

Rotary Tuner

SQUELCH

VOLUME

FREQ

CHAN

LOCK

STRONG SIGNALS

MEDIUM SIGNALS

WEAK SIGNALS

NOISE

Frequency LED
Channel LED

Mode Selector
Rotary Tuner

Lock LED
Lock Key

Use the Rotary Tuner for the following:

Rapidly and precisely selecting either frequencies or channels
Selecting a CTCSS tone during CTCSS Programming
Scrolling through Scan and Lockout Lists in the Trunking Mode.

Frequency/Channel Mode Selector

Press to switch between channel or frequency mode. When the
rapidly through channels with the Rotary Tuner. When the
and accurately through frequencies with the Rotary Tuner.

CHAN

LED is on, you can step

FREQ

LED is on, you can tune quickly

Lock Key/LED

Press the LOCK key to enable or disable the Rotary Tuner. When the LOCK LED is on, the Rotary
Tuner is locked. This prevents accidentally changing the displayed channel and frequency when
monitoring a broadcast.

14

Programming

The

BC895XLT

frequency. The channels are divided into ten 30-channel banks, useful for storing similar
frequencies in order to maintain faster scanning cycles.

Each time you store a frequency, the list of scanning frequencies in the bank is automatically sorted
by frequency number. This unique Auto Sort feature enables faster scanning. When you manually
step through a bank, however, frequencies are sorted according to channel number.

Select one of the following ways to program your scanner:

Manually select a channel and frequency, using your numeric keypad
Use the Rotary Tuner to select a channel and frequency
Use the Auto Store feature to automatically program the channels
Transfer a programmed frequency from another channel

Programming using Manual Entry

1. Select frequencies from your starter guide.

has 300 memory channels, each of which can be programmed to store one

2. Press

to stop scanning.

m

3. Select a channel.

a. Enter the channel number.
b. Then press

m

SCAN

.

b

PRI TRUNK DATA

L/O DELAY CTCSS

MANUAL

2
5
8
0

3
6
9
E

1

4

a

7

15

4. Enter the frequency.

a. Enter the frequency number.
b. Then press

e

.

SCAN

PRI TRUNK DATA

L/O DELAY CTCSS

MANUAL

2
5
8
0

3
6
9

b

E

1

4

a

7

Note: To clear a mistake while entering the frequency, press

If you enter a frequency which is outside
the scanner’s frequency bands, a
distinctive beep sounds.

The display will flash for a moment and
then reset itself, or you can press

.

and go back to the previous step.
See the Table on page 3 for information

concerning the frequency bands covered
by your scanner.

Programming using the Rotary Tuner

1. Press

If the green

2. Press

3. Use the Rotary Tuner to select the
channel you want to program.

to stop scanning.

m

LOCK

LED is on, press

FREQ/CHAN

until the green

LOCK

CHAN

to unlock the Rotary Tuner.

LED lights.

twice, and start over.

.

4. Press

FREQ/CHAN

until the red

FREQ

lights.

5. Use the Rotary Tuner to select the
frequency you want to program

Note: You can also enter the frequency
on your keypad.

LED

16

6. Press

to program the frequency into

e

the channel you selected.

Programming using AutoStore

SCAN

PRI TRUNK DATA

L/O DELAY CTCSS

MANUAL

4
7

2
5
8
0

3
6
9
E

1

To use this feature, you must set up a search range. Once the search begins,

AutoStore

will
automatically program active frequencies into the available channels of the bank(s) you select. For
more information about your scanner’s search feature, see

1. Press

to stop scanning.

m

Searching

on page 30.

2. Using your keypad, enter the lower
frequency of your search range. For
example, enter 155.000 MHz.

3. Press

i

.

4. Using your keypad, enter the higher
frequency of your search range. For
example, enter 157.000 MHz.

5. Press

6. Press

All the banks begin flashing and

i

U

.

.

AUTO

displays.

7. Select the bank(s) you want programmed
during

AutoStore

.

The bank indicators selected will stop
flashing.

If you select a bank with no available
channels,

FULL

displays for two seconds
before your scanner resets. You must
either delete frequencies in the bank or
select a different bank.

17

8. Press

S

to start

AutoStore

.

You can press
increment during

PressPuntil you select the increment you
want. If you select the default step
increment for the frequency band you’re
searching, the indicator stops flashing.

AutoStore

available channels in the selected bank(s)
have been programmed.

9. Press

Note:

m

to the manual mode.

If you want to exit AutoStore before all the available channels are programmed, you must
press

m

to change the step

P

AutoStore

stops automatically when all

to exit AutoStore and return

twice.

.

Transferring a Programmed Frequency

Except for frequencies stored in priority channels, you can send any frequency to another channel
by following these steps.

You cannot transfer a frequency which is
stored in a priority channel.
for two seconds and then your scanner
resets. If you want to transfer the
frequency stored in a priority channel, you
must designate another channel in the
bank as the priority channel. For more
information about Changing a Priority
Channel, see page 26.

1. Select the channel with a frequency you
want to assign to a different channel.

Error

will flash

P

18

2. Press

N

.

All the bank indicators start flashing. If
you have programmed CTCSS tones,
they also display when you press

N

.

Use these steps to transfer to the first available channel in another bank:

3. Select the bank where you want to send
the frequency.

For example, press

D

.

The bank’s lowest available channel
begins flashing, waiting to be
programmed.

4. Press

to transfer the frequency to

e

the new channel.

The old channel is now empty.

5. To cancel the transfer before it’s complete, press either

Use these steps to transfer to a specific channel:

3. Using your keypad, enter the channel
where you want to send the frequency.

For example, press

4. Press

h

.

94

.

SCAN

PRI TRUNK DATA

L/O DELAY CTCSS

Norm

MANUAL

.

2
5
8
0

3
6
9
E

1
4
7

The display will alternate between the
frequency you’re transferring and the
frequency in the new channel. If the
channel you select is not programmed,
then only the new channel number will
flash.

AND

19