Uniden BC9000XLT User Manual

Table of Contents

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

Included with the BC9000XLT........3

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

Getting Started....................6

Base Installation ...................6

What is Scanning?..................7

Searching.........................7

Banks and Channels ................8

Setting the Squelch .................8

Using the Rotary Tuner .............10

Programming Channels ...........11

Programming By Manual Entry .......12

Programming With the Rotary Tuner

Use these controls: ................13

Programming with Search ...........14

Programming With AUTO STORE ....17

Deleting a Programmed Frequency....19

Transferring a Programmed Frequency. 19 Programming Channels with Alpha

Characters .......................20

To Delete Alpha Characters .........22

The Scan Mode ..................24

Scanning All Programmed Channels and

Banks...........................24

Turning Banks ON or OFF...........25

Locking Out Channels ..............26

Using Priority Scan ................28

The Search Mode.................29

Beginning a Search ................29

Scrolling Frequencies During a Search . 30

Using Turbo Search................31

Using Search Delay................31

Locking Out Frequencies............32

Unlocking a Frequency .............32

Unlocking All Frequencies ...........33

Birdies ..........................33

Additional Scanner Features .......34

Scanning Weather Channels.........34

Using Data Skip...................34

Changing the Frequency Step........35

Setting the Signal Mode.............36

Using Signal Attenuation ............37

Preventing Accidental Programming...38 Using COUNT to Monitor Channel Activity

................................38

Displaying Bank Memory Status ......40

Using Auto Recording ..............41

Viewing Scanner Status Information ...42

Display Light .....................44

Using Hi-Cut .....................44

CTCSS Operation.................45

Installing the CTCSS Board..........45

Using CTCSS ....................47

To Change the CTCSS Tone Frequency

................................48

CTCSS Tone Frequencies...........49

Care and Maintenance.............50

Troubleshooting .................51

Optional Accessories and Replacement

Parts ...........................52

Specifications ...................53

1

Introduction

The BC9000XLT is a sophisticated information radio with automatic scanning capabilities. You can use it at home as a base unit, or install in your vehicle as a mobile unit.

The BC9000XLT can store frequencies such as, police, fire/emergency, marine, air, weather, and other broadcasts into 20 banks of 25 channels each. The new Rotary Tuner feature enables rapid and easy selection of channels and frequencies. And with AUTO STORE, you can automatically program any channel.

With the BC9000XLT, you can scan all 500 channels with Turbo Scan. In the Search Mode, you can choose super fast Turbo Search. In addition, the BC9000XLT has AUTO SORT – an automatic frequency sorting feature for faster scanning within each bank.

Types of Communication

You will be able to monitor communication such as:

Police and fire department (including paramedics)

n

NOAA weather broadcasts

n

Business/industrial radio

n

Motion picture and press relay

n

Utility

n

Land transportation frequencies, such as trucking firms, buses, taxis, tow trucks, and railroads

n

Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands

n

Air band

n

Public Service 800 MHz band

And many more in the 25-1300 MHz range. (Note: Cellular telephone frequencies cannot be received.)

Where to Obtain More Information

The Bearcat Radio Cluband other similar hobby clubs have publications, information on computer bulletin boards, and even contests for the radio enthusiast. See the enclosed pamphlets for more information. Additional information is also available through your local library.

2

Included with the BC9000XLT

Operating Guide

(OMBC9000XLT)

XLT9000

E

C B

H C L

J

E

D

U Q

S

I

C

N

E

A

H

M U

B

CH

L VO

G

A

EQ

R

K

F

C

F

O

L

Auto Scanner

F F

M

3

F MO I

z

H

6

K 5 2

MW

T

F

U

ID

N

z

9

C

R

-

H

I

B

K

5

S

5

.

12

E

2 M

1

zH

A

8

H

BC XLT9000

K

z

0

H

5

4

K 5

0

R

7

CL

AL ANU M

TWINTURBO

FT I

A

SCAN

ALPH

AUX STATUS

D MSH T E N

SEN M U

PRITURBO CTCSS DATA

L/O DELAY ATT

CO

D L

G

O H

PRO

AUTO

T I

SRC

EXTSP

LIM

LINE

OPERATINGGUIDE

MEM SHIFT

COUNT AUX STATUS

PROG SEND ALPHA

HOLD

SRC AUTO

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

TWINTURBO

MANUAL

SCAN

PRI TURBO CTCSS DATA

L/O DELAY ATT

Betty Bearcat

Starter

Frequency

Guide

AC Adapter

(AD580U)

BC9000XLT

BRI DIM OFF

12

AM NFM WFM

5

4

5KHz 12.5 KHz 25KHz

8

7

CLR 50KHz HI-CUT

0

3

6

9

E

Material

Other

Printed

A

FBGCHDI

FREQ

CHAN

LOCK

BC XLT9000

E

J

SQUELCH

VOLUME

OFF

Telescoping Antenna

(AT124)

n

Read this Operating Guide thoroughly before you use the scanner.

n

Immediately fill out and mail the supplied Registration Form.

n

If any of the above items are missing or damaged, contact the place of purchase immediately.

3

Feature Highlights

Twin Turbo Scan/Search

n

– This lightning-fast technology enables the BC9000XLT to scan up to 100 channels per second and search up to 300 steps per second (in 5kHz steps). Because the frequency coverage is so large (see ÉSpecifications,Ê page 53, for band listing), a very fast scanning system is essential. That is why we combined our latest technology ä Turbo Scan and Search ä into the BC9000XLT.

RotaryTuner Control

n

– Turn the large Rotary Tuner to select

the desired frequency or channel.

500 Channels

n

– You can program each of these memory

channels to store one frequency.

20 Banks

n

– Each bank contains 25 channels, useful for storing

similar frequencies in order to maintain faster scanning cycles.

25 - 1300 MHz

n

– Indicates the range of frequencies that can be searched within the bands of your scanner. (Note: The frequency coverage is not totally continuous between 800-900 MHz.)

n

10 Priority Channels

– You can assign one Priority channel for each of the 10 banks, A-J. This allows you to keep track of activity on your most important channel(s) while monitoring other channels for transmissions.

n

Auto Store

– Automatically stores all active frequencies within

the specified bank(s).

n

Auto Sorting

– Programmed frequencies are automatically

sorted within each bank for faster scanning.

n

Auto Recording

– This feature lets you record channel activity

from the scanner onto a tape recorder.

n

Scan/Search Delay—In the Scan or Search Mode, causes the scanner to remain on a frequency two seconds after the last transmission to wait for a possible reply.

n

Direct Channel Access—Allows you to manually select a specific channel without scanning.

n

Direct Frequency Programming—Allows you to program a specific frequency into a channel without searching.

n

Frequency Transfer—Lets you transfer a frequency into an empty channel, or replace the frequency in the current channel.

n

Programmable Alpha Characters—You can program channels 1 - 250 with 16 alpha characters for easy reference.

4

Variable Frequency Steps (Increments)—In the search or

n

Manual Mode, lets you change the steps between frequencies. Channel/Frequency Lockout—Lets you temporarily remove

n

channels or frequencies from the scanning or search cycle. Signal Attenuation—Reduces the scanner’s sensitivity for

n

unusually strong signals often found on the WFM (wide frequency modulation) bands.

Data Skip—Lets you set the scanner to automatically continue

n

searching or scanning when it encounters an unmodulated or data signal.

Enter Lock—Temporarily disables programming keys to

n

prevent accidental programming. External Speaker Jack—Allow you to connect an external

n

speaker or earphone for custom listening. See “Included with your Scanner” on page 3, and “Optional Accessories & Replacement Parts” on page 52.

Line, and AUX Jacks—Allow you to connect a tape recorder.

n

Display Light—Lets you view the display more easily in dark or low-light conditions.

5

Getting Started

L

Auxillary

Standard

120V

AC Wall Outlet

AC Adapter/

AC Adapter/ Charger

Charger

Charger (AC580U)

(AC580U)

DC 13.8V

Jack

DC13.8V

AUX

Plug

Auxillary Jack

Jack

OFF ON

ENTER LOCK

Base 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 “ the antenna to its full height. For frequencies higher than 406 MHz, shortening the antenna may improve the reception.

4. If you need a better viewing angle, flip the folding legs down to raise the front of the scanner.

Antenna

Jack

ANT

Off-On/

Off-On/ Enter-Lock

Enter-Lock

Enter-Lock Switch

Switch

ANT

” connector. Extend

Telescoping

Telescoping Antenna

Antenna

For use with an optional external speaker:

Plug the external speaker into the “

EXT SP

” jack

located on the front of the scanner.

For use with an optional tape recorder:

PROG SEND ALPHA

HOLD

SRC AUTO

Be sure to use a tape recorder with

LIMIT

LINE

LIMIT

microphone and remote input jacks.

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

2. Connect a cable from the RCA-type “AUX” jack on the back of the scanner to the recorder’s “REMOTE” jack.

(See “Using Auto Record,” page 41.)

For use with an optional CTCSS Tone Board:

See “CTCSS Operation, “ page 45.

6

EXT SP

PRI

What is Scanning?

Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way communications (listed below) do not transmit continuously. The BC9000XLT scans programmed channels at the rate of up to 100 channels per second 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, and no response is detected, the scanning cycle resumes until another transmission is received.

SCAN

CHANNELS

1 345 9102 678

Frequency

Locked Out

(L/O)

Frequency

Not

Entered

An optional DELAY can be set so that the scanner stays on the channel for 2 more seconds, waiting for another transmission before resuming scanning.

Searching

Scanning and searching are similar in that they both involve finding active frequencies within a group of frequencies. The difference is Scanning looks only at a group of programmed frequencies that are stored in the scanner’s channels and grouped into banks.

Searching looks at all the frequencies within a pre-selected range of frequencies.

If you find an interesting frequency while searching, you can store it in a channel for easier access later. See “Programming with Search” on page

14. The main purpose of the Search function is to help you find active frequencies to program into memory.

7

Banks and Channels

BC9000XLT organized in your scanner.

A

channel

channels in the BC9000XLT are numbered 1 - 500. A channels. The BC9000XLT has 20 banks with 25 channels in each. The banks are useful for storing similar frequencies in order to maintain faster scanning cycles.

You can turn each bank on or off to control whether its channels are included during scanning. When you turn off a bank, its channels are not erased, but are only temporarily excluded from scanning. You can also temporarily

Banks

and

channels

are the way stored frequencies are

is a memory location where you store a frequency. The

bank

is a group of

lock out

individual channels within a bank during scanning.

Setting the Squelch

Use these controls:

MEM SHIFT

COUNT AUX STATUS

PROG SEND ALPHA

HOLD

SRC

AUTO

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

TWIN TURBO

SCAN

PRI TURBO CTCSS DATA

L/O DELAY ATT

MANUAL

ON/OFF/VOLUME and SQUELCH Controls

1. Press muntil you do not hear a signal. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable listening level.

BRI DIM OFF

12

AM NFM WFM

5

4

5KHz 12.5 KHz 25KHz

8

7

CLR 50KHz HI-CUT

0

A

FBGCHDI

FREQ

3

6

9

E

BC XLT9000

CHAN

LOCK

Bank A ch 22

L/O 000.0000MHz

OFF

E

J

SQUELCH

VOLUME

8

2. Think of the Squelch Control as a gate. Turn SQUELCH fully counterclockwise. This raises the “Squelch Gate” so high that no signals can get through.

SQUELCH

VOLUME

3. 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

4. Turn SQUELCH back counter clockwise just until the hiss stops. Now the “Squelch Gate” allows only strong signals through.

SQUELCH

VOLUME

9

Using the Rotary Tuner

FREQ

CHAN

Channel LED Mode Selector

Frequency LED

LOCK

Rotary Tuner Lock LED Lock Key

Rotary Tuner and Controls

This unique feature allows easy, rapid, and precise selection of frequencies and channels in the BC9000XLT.

Frequency/Channel Mode Selector - Press to switch between channel or frequency mode. When the CHAN LED is on, you can step rapidly through channels with the Rotary Tuner. When the FREQ LED is on, you can tune quickly and accurately through frequencies with the Rotary Tuner.

Rotary Tuner - Use the Rotary Tuner to step through channels or frequencies, depending on the setting of the Frequency/Channel Mode Selector. Turn the knob clockwise to step up, counter clockwise to step down.

Lock Key/LED - The LED lights when the Rotary Tuner is locked. Press LOCK to enable the Rotary Tuner.

10

Programming Channels

Before you can scan, you must program the channels within a bank. You can store one frequency per channel, up to 500 channels. These are the banks and their associated channels:

Bank Channel Number Bank Channel Number

A 1-25 1 251-275 B 26 -50 2 276 - 300 C 51-75 3 301-325 D 76 - 100 4 326 - 350 E 101 - 125 5 351 - 375 F 126 - 150 6 376 - 400 G 151 - 175 7 401 - 425 H 176 - 200 8 426 - 450 I 201 - 225 9 451 - 475 J 226 - 250 0 476 - 500

Auto Sort

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.

Choosing a Programming Method

With the BC9000XLT, there are five ways to program a channel:

n

Manually selecting a channel and frequency, using the numeric keypad

n

Using the Rotary Tuner to select a channel and frequency

n

Searching a band to find active frequencies, and then storing them into channels

n

Using the Auto Store feature to automatically program channels

n

Transfer a programmed frequency from another channel

11

Programming By Manual Entry

Use these keys :

MEM SHIFT

COUNT AUX STATUS

PROG SEND ALPHA

HOLD

SRC

AUTO

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

TWIN TURBO

MANUAL

SCAN

PRI TURBO CTCSS DATA

L/O DELAY ATT

MANUAL

Scan and Numeric Keys

1. Select a frequency.

Example: Program

482.7625 MHz into Channel 1.

2. Press mto enter the Manual Mode.

BRI DIM OFF

12

AM NFM WFM

5

4

5KHz 12.5 KHz 25KHz

8

7

CLR 50KHz HI-CUT

0

A

FBGCHDI

FREQ

3

6

9

E

BC XLT9000

CHAN

LOCK

Bank A ch 22

L/O 000.0000MHz

E

J

SQUELCH

VOLUME

OFF

3. Enter the channel number, then press m.

4. Enter the frequency. Then press e .

Example: 482.7625

If you make a mistake, press ? twice to erase.

Bank A P ch 1

L/O 000.0000MHz

Bank A P ch 1

L/O 482.7625MHz

12

If an error is made during programming, or if the frequency is out of range, this screen appears. Enter a

Bank A P ch 1 OUT OF BAND

valid channel or frequency number. If the frequency is stored in another

channel, the display will indicate the original channel for that frequency.

Bank A ch 1

DUPLICATE CH 230

To program more channels, repeat steps 3 and 4.

Press e to store the same frequency into the selected channel. Or, select another channel. Or, press ? twice to clear.

Programming With the Rotary Tuner

Use these controls:

CHAN

LOCK

BC XLT9000

OFF

E

J

SQUELCH

VOLUME

MEM SHIFT

COUNT AUX STATUS

PROG SEND ALPHA

HOLD

SRC

AUTO

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

TWIN TURBO

MANUAL

SCAN

PRI TURBO CTCSS DATA

L/O DELAY ATT

MANUAL

BRI DIM OFF

12

AM NFM WFM

5

4

5KHz 12.5 KHz 25KHz

8

7

CLR 50KHz HI-CUT

0

A

FBGCHDI

FREQ

3

6

9

E

Scan, Numeric Keys, and Rotary Tuning Controls

1. Press mto enter the Manual Mode. OR Press LOCK, then turn the Rotary Tuner.

Note: Make sure the LOCK LED is out.

2.

Press CHAN, then turn the knob.

Example: Channel 52

Turn right to step up through channels, left to step down through channels.

Note: The channel selection flashes on the display, indicating that the

frequency displayed is not programmed in that channel.

Bank B ch 49

L/O 000.0000MHz

Bank C ch 52

L/O 000.0000MHz

13

3. Select a frequency.

Example: 123.7750

4. To tune in the frequency, select FREQ with the Rotary Tuner Mode Selector then turn right to

12. 5KHz ch 52

AM 123.7750MHz

step up, left to step down.

5. Press e to program the channel.

Bank C ch 52

123.7750MHz

To program more channels with the Rotary Tuner, repeat steps2-5.

Programming with Search

The Search feature lets you search for active frequencies in a range you choose and store any or all of those frequencies into channels.

For more information about searching, see “The Search Mode," page 29. Use these keys:

CHAN

LOCK

BC XLT9000

OFF

E

J

SQUELCH

VOLUME

MEM SHIFT

COUNT AUX STATUS

PROG SEND ALPHA

HOLD

SRC AUTO

SRC

AUTO

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

TWIN TURBO

MANUAL

SCAN

PRI TURBO CTCSS DATA

L/O DELAY ATT

MANUAL

BRI DIM OFF

12

AM NFM WFM

5

4

5KHz 12.5 KHz 25KHz

8

7

CLR 50KHz HI-CUT

0

A

FBGCHDI

FREQ

3

6

9

E

Search, Scan, Numeric, and Bank Keys,

and Rotary Tuning Controls

Note: Be sure to set SQUELCH before you begin a search. See

“Setting the Squelch," page 8.

14

1. Select a frequency range. See page 53, or see the included Betty Bearcat Starter Frequency Guide. Example: 450.000MHz to 456.000 MHz

2. Press m.

3. Enter the frequency and press lto enter the lower limit of the search range.

Example: 450.000 MHz

4. Enter the frequency and press lto enter the upper limit of the search range.

Example: 456.000 MHz

5. Press S to begin the search function. To exit search, press m.

The scanner stops on the first active frequency it finds.

NFM 450.0000MHz NFM 000.0000MHz

NFM 450.0000MHz NFM 456.0000MHz

SRC NFM 12 .5 KHz

SRC NFM 12 . 5 KHz

450.3750MHz

n

To program the frequency, press h to stop searching. Then, proceed to step 6a, 6b, or 6c.

n

If you do not want to program the frequency, press S to continue searching.

MHz450.3750

6a.Program the frequency into the

current channel. Press e .

6b.Program the frequency into

another channel:

1. Presshto stop the search.

12.5KHz ch 53

NFM 450.3875MHz

Bank D ch 53

450.3875MHz

12.5KHz ch 53

NFM 450.3875MHz

15

2. Press N to enter the Transfer Mode.

3. Enter the channel number.

Example: Channel 200.

4. Press h.

5. Press e to Program the frequency.

Enter Bank or ch

450.3875MHz

200

450.3875MHz

Bank H ch200

000.0000MHz

(Display flip-flops)

450.3875MHz

Bank H ch200

450.3875MHz

6c. Program the frequency into the first open channel of another bank.

1. Press hto stop the search.

12.5KHz ch 53

NFM 450.3875MHz

2. Press N to enter the Transfer Mode.

Enter Bank or ch

450.3875MHz

3. Choose a bank.

Example: Press D .

Bank I

P

ch201

450.3875MHz

4. Press e .

Bank I

P

ch201

450.3875MHz

16

Programming With AUTO STORE

This procedure searches a frequency range and automatically stores active frequencies into empty channels of the selected bank(s).

Note: Be sure to set SQUELCH before you begin a search. See “Setting the Squelch” on page 8.

Use these keys:

CHAN

LOCK

BC XLT9000

OFF

E

J

SQUELCH

VOLUME

MEM SHIFT

COUNT AUX STATUS

PROG SEND ALPHA

HOLD

SRC AUTO

SRC

AUTO

LIMIT

EXT SP

LINE

TWIN TURBO

MANUAL

SCAN

PRI TURBO CTCSS DATA

L/O DELAY ATT

MANUAL

BRI DIM OFF

12

AM NFM WFM

5

4

5KHz 12.5 KHz 25KHz

8

7

CLR 50KHz HI-CUT

0

A

FBGCHDI

FREQ

3

6

9

E

Programming, Search, Scan, Mode, Numeric, and Bank Keys

and Rotary Tuning Controls

1. Select a frequency range. See page 53, or see the Betty Bearcat Starter Frequency Guide.

Example: 810.000 MHz to

856.000 MHz

2. Press m.

3. Enter the frequency and press lto enter the lower limit of the search range.

Example: 810.000 MHz

NFM 450.0000MHz NFM 810.0000MHz

4. Enter the frequency and press l to enter the upper limit of the search range.

Example: 856.000 MHz

NFM 810.0000MHz NFM 856.0000MHz

17

5. Press U to enter the Auto Store Mode.

Bank ABCDEFGHIJ

1234567890

6. Select the bank(s) for programming. The selected bank indicator(s) stop blinking.

Example:

D .

7. Press U to begin the Auto Store.

The LED on the U key flashes.

Note: You hear no audio during Auto Store. Note: If the bank you chose is already fully programmed, a double

Searching frequencies

Press C and

beep sounds. Choose another bank.

Bank AB EFGHIJ

CD

1234567890

1 2.5KHz STOch 54

NFM MHZ810.0625

Storing an active frequency.

1 2.5KHz STOch 54

NFM 810.1125MHZ

Search resumes.

1 2 .5KHz STOch 55

NFM MHZ810.2000

To stop Auto Store, press m, s ,orP . You can change these functions during Auto Store:

Frequency Step (See page 35.) Turbo Search (See page 31.) Signal Mode (See page 36.)

8. The unit tells you when Auto Store is complete.

Store CD end

18

Uniden BC9000XLT User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual