Table of Contents
Welcome! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Types of Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Included With Your Scanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
6 |
Fast Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7 |
Power ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
7 |
How Squelch Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Setting the Squelch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Scanning the Alert Monitor Frequency Banks . . . . . . . 9
Selecting the State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Selecting a Frequency Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Scan Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Warning Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Alert Tone Volume. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Muting the Alert Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
One Moment Mute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Continuous Mute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
12 |
Canceling Mute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
12 |
Warning Light Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
12 |
Power On Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
13 |
Priority Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Scanning Fire, News, Weather and Private
Frequency Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Scan Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Frequency Lockout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lockout Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Restore a Locked Out Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Restore All Locked-Out Frequencies . . . . . . . . 17
Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
18 |
CB Channel Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
19 |
Hold/Resume While Searching . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
19 |
Data Skip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
20 |
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Programming Frequencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Clearing a User-Programmed Frequency . . . . . 23
Memory Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Memory Back-up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Mobile Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Connecting the Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Base Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Tips and Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Scanner Care & Maintenance Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Optional Accessories and Replacement Parts . . . . . 33
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
1
Welcome!
Congratulations on your purchase of the BCT7 Highway Communications System & Scanning Radio! State-of-the-art engineering and advanced electronics provide you with a preprogrammed information radio designed for easy operation and dependability.
With the BCT7 Scanning Radio, you can listen to thousands of Highway Patrol, police, and DOT frequencies, as well as Fire, News, Weather, CB and Private frequencies you program.
Plus, the new built-in technology sounds an alarm when you are within an approximate 3 mile radius of a Highway Patrol unit!
Best of all, you don’t have to program any frequencies. Just set the BCT7 for your state, and the scanner will do the rest. Please read this Operating Guide thoroughly before attempting to operate the unit.
What are Highway Patrol Warning Alerts?
Most highway patrol vehicles on the road today are equipped with a secondary radio system known as a “mobile extender” or “vehicular repeater.” Whenever the dispatcher transmits to any vehicle in the district, every “mobile extender” in every car within the district is activated.
Using a constant PRIORITY check of specific frequencies in each state, the BCT7 recognizes and alerts you to transmissions from “mobile extender” radios as well as from car-to-car, aircraft-to-car and other special-purpose frequencies. You receive an audible (beep tone) and visual (flash of warning light) alert whenever you are within an approximate three mile radius of many Highway Patrol/State Police units.
2
What is Scanning?
Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way communications (listed on the page 5) do not transmit continuously. The BCT7 scans programmed channels at the rate of nearly 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, the scanning cycle resumes until another transmission is received.
While the BCT7 scans channels, it is in Scan mode. When you stop scanning with H, it is in Manual mode.
What is Searching?
The BCT7 can search 12 bands to find active frequencies. This gives you the opportunity to find new frequencies that have not been programmed.
While the BCT7 searches for active frequencies, it is in Search mode. When you stop the search with H, it is in Search Hold mode.
Where to Get More Information
Because your BCT7 is fully pre-programmed, you do not need to enter frequencies into the radio. However, should you desire to enter specific frequencies which have not been factory pre-programmed, the BCT7 provides this capability.
For publications which list frequencies around the United States, call the enclosed Mr. Scanner 800 number.
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.
3
Features
Pre-programmed frequencies specific to each state (except Hawaii). 
Pre-programming by the following categories:
-Highway Patrol/State Police
-Local Police and County Sheriffs
-State Departments of Transportation (DOT)
-Fire and Emergency Medical Services
-News Media
-Weather (continuous NOAA weather and Canadian Coast Guard broadcasts)
100 channels of user-programmable frequencies available
-Program frequencies into each of the above banks, or
-Program your own bank of 25 Private frequencies
Highway Patrol Priority Alert
-Receive audible and visual alert when within three miles of many Highway Patrol/State units
CB Search - Search all 40 CB channels
Band Search Search through 12 bands of radio spectrum for frequencies.
26 MHz - 956 MHz - Scan these frequency ranges with your BCT7. (Note: the frequency coverage is not totally continuous.)
Data Skip - Skip certain data signals and unmodulated transmissions.
Memory Backup - In case of a power failure, user-programmed frequencies are retained in memory for approximately 30 days.
4
Types of Communications
Monitor communications such as:
Highway Patrol, police and fire department (including paramedics)
Aircraft
NOAA weather broadcasts
Business/industrial radio
Motion picture and press relay
Utility
Land transportation frequencies, such as trucking firms, buses, taxis, tow trucks, and railroads
Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands 
And many more in the following 12 Bands:
Frequency Range
29.0-30.0 MHz
30.0-50.0 MHz
118-137 MHz
137-144 MHz
144-148 MHz
148-174 MHz
406-420 MHz
420-450 MHz
450-470 MHz
470-512 MHz
806-956 MHz
26.965-27.405 MHz
Transmission
10 Meter Amateur Band VHF Low band
AM Aircraft
Military Land mobile
2 Meter Amateur Band VHF High Band
Federal Govt. Land Mobile 70 cm Amateur Band UHF Standard Band
UHF “T” Band
Public Service Band except Cellular Band Citizens Band
5
Included With Your Scanner
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Operating Guide |
WARNING |
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BCT 7 |
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Mobile Mounting Bracket |
Assembly Kit |
(MB007) |
Telescoping Antenna |
AC Adapter |
(AT124) |
(AD140U) |
If any Items are missing or damaged, immediately contact your place of purchase.
Read this Operating Guide thoroughly before operating the scanner. 
Complete and immediately mail the Registration Form in this Operating Guide.
6
Fast Start
Note: Fold out the illustration from the front cover to see the controls and LCD display while reading this guide.
Power ON
1. Turn the volume knob clockwise.
VOL |
PUSH |
ALERT |
Turn |
The scanner performs a self-test: the Warning Light flashes and the Alert Tone beeps loudly.
Warning
Light
WARNING
MUTE
HOLD/RESUME
FIRE/NEWS
STATE HIGHWAY
2.The currently selected state (e.g., TX for Texas) appears and scanning starts.
7
How Squelch Works
Think of “SQUELCH” as a gate. If the gate is too low (squelch too low), everything (all noise as well as signals) gets through.
If the gate is set too high (squelch too high), nothing gets through.
If the gate is set just right (squelch set properly), just the desired signals get through.
Setting the Squelch
No signal should be present when setting Squelch.
Press H to stop scanning. If needed, press < or >
until you do not hear a signal.
Turn until hiss heard.
This lowers the “squelch gate,” allowing all signals and noise to get through.
Turn just until hiss stops. This raises the “squelch gate,”
allowing only strong signals to get through.
Turn |
SQ |
PUSH |
FLASH |
Turn |
SQ |
PUSH |
FLASH |
In the city, you may want to adjust Squelch even further counterclockwise to decrease the range of the Warning Alert. This prevents the alert from sounding unnecessarily due to farther, less important sources.
8
Scanning the Alert Monitor Frequency Banks
The Alert Monitor works with the Highway Patrol, Police, and Department of Transportation (DOT) frequency banks. Frequencies are preprogrammed at the factory on a state-by-state basis.
Selecting the State
Press S to select the state you |
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To step forward through the states |
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are operating in. Press and hold |
(A - W), press S and, within two |
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S to scroll rapidly. |
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seconds, press < repeatedly. To |
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step backward through the states |
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(W -A), press S and, within
two seconds, press > repeatedly.
To scroll rapidly, press S and hold > or <.
Selecting a Frequency Bank
Press G to monitor Highway |
Press P to monitor Police |
Patrol frequencies. |
frequencies. |
Press P again to monitor DOT frequencies.
HIGHWAY
HIGHWAY appears in the display and scanning begins two seconds later.
POLICE flashes in the display and scanning begins two seconds later. HIGHWAY flashes, because those frequencies are scanned, too.
DOT flashes in the display and scanning begins two seconds later. HIGHWAY flashes because those frequencies are scanned, too.
9
When the BCT7 receives communications, scanning stops, the active bank type replaces the state code, and the frequency displays.
Active Bank indicators: HP - Highway Patrol PO - Police
DT - DOT
When the transmission ends, a built-in two second delay feature holds the scanner on that frequency for a response. If there is no response, scanning resumes.
Scan Hold
When scanning stops on a desired |
To resume scanning, press H. |
frequency, press H to hold on that |
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frequency as long as you like. |
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Note: While in the HOLD mode, the alarm circuit is inactive.
To scan the other frequency banks, see “Scanning the Fire, News, Weather, and Private Frequency Banks,” page 14.
10
Warning Alert
The BCT7 alerts you when Highway Patrol/State Police units using mobile extenders are within an
approximate three mile radius. |
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1. The Warning Light flashes and |
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2. The active bank indicator |
the Alert Tone beeps five times |
replaces the state name, and |
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when a signal is received. |
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the frequency displays until the |
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transmission ends. |
Warning
Light
Flashes
WARNING
MUTE
3.The Warning Light glows steadily for approximately three minutes. Then, if no other mobile extender transmissions are received, the light goes out.
HOLD/RESUME
FIRE/NEWS
STATE HIGHWAY
4.If more transmissions are
received before three minutes have passed, the Warning Light flashes and the Alert Tone sounds twice.
Alert Tone Volume
Push the VOLUME control knob to select Loud, Medium, or Soft.
The Alert Tone beeps to confirm your choice.
VOL |
PUSH |
ALERT |
Push In |
11
Muting the Alert Tone
One Moment Mute |
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Continuous Mute |
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Press M during the Warning |
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Press and hold M for two |
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Alert. The Alert Tone stops and |
seconds to turn Continuous Mute |
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alarm cycle is finished. |
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continuously. No Alert Tones will |
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Flashes |
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WARNING
MUTE
HOLD/RESUME
FIRE/NEWS
STATE HIGHWAY
Canceling Mute
To cancel Mute,
1.Press and hold M for two seconds. You hear two beeps and the MUTE LED goes out.
2.Change states or frequency banks. The Mute LED goes out after scanning starts.
3.Turn the scanner off and on.
Note: Mute only works in the Highway, Police, and DOT frequency bands.
Warning Light Adjustment
The Warning Light has three settings: Bright, Dim, and Off.
Press SQUELCH to select Bright, |
If you select OFF, the FLASH icon |
Dim or Off. The WARNING light |
in the display reminds you the |
flashes and the alert tone beeps. |
Warning Light is off. |
Press In |
SQ |
PUSH |
FLASH |
WARNING: You can turn off the Warning Light and completely mute the Alert Tone at the same time. This deactivates the Warning Alert.
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