Uniden SC200 User Manual

SC200

200-Channel

Programmable

Twin Turbo

Hand-Held

Sports

Scanner

OPERATING GUIDE

Precautions

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

WARNING!

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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.

IMPORTANT!

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Be sure to use only the supplied earphone, or a stereo
headset of the proper impedance (32W). Use of an
incorrect earphone or stereo headset may be potentially
hazardous to your hearing.

WARNING:

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Set the volume to a comfortable audio level coming
from the speaker before plugging in the supplied
earphone or a stereo headset of the proper impedance
(32W). Otherwise you might experience some
discomfort or possible hearing damage if the Volume
suddenly becomes too loud because of the Volume
Control or Squelch Control setting. This may be
particularly true of the type of earphone that is placed in
the ear canal.

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NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERY WARNING

·

This equipment contains a Nickel-Cadmium Battery.

·

Cadmium is a chemical known to the State of
California to cause cancer.

·

The Nickel-Cadmium Battery contained in this
equipment may explode if disposed of in a fire.

·

Do not short circuit the battery.

·

Do not charge the Nickel-Cadmium Battery used in
this equipment with any other AC Adapter/Charger
other than the one designed to charge this battery
(AD-70U). Using another charger may damage the
battery, or cause the battery to explode.

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Nickel-Cadmium Battery Disposal

Nickel-Cadmium Batteries Must Be Disposed Of
Properly. Read the Nickel-Cadmium Battery Disposal
package insert for important information.

Uniden® and Bearcat® are registered trademarks of
Uniden America Corporation.

Sportcat™ is a proprietary trademark of
Uniden America Corporation.

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Contents

About Your New SportCat

What is Scanning?
What is Searching?
What is CTCSS and CDCSS?
Important Notice
Types of Communication
Where to Obtain More Information
Unpacking

Feature Highlights
Controls and Indicators

Top View
Front View

Setup

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Installing the Battery Pack
Mounting the Flexible Antenna
Installing the Belt Clip

Using the Earphone...........................16

Operation Overview............................17

Programming Channels ........................19

Programming By Manual Entry ..................19

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

Programming with Search......................20

Programming Channels with Alpha Characters......21

Alert Beep Setting ............................22

Scanning ....................................23

Bank Scanning ..............................23

Priority Scan
Delay
Locking Out Channels
Looking for “Locked Out” Channels
Weather Channel Scanning

Searching

Band Search
Limit Search
VFO Search
Search Skip Frequency

CTCSS/CDCSS Operation

Programming CTCSS Tone/CDCSS Tone
Searching for CTCSS Tone/CDCSS Tones
Using Tone Search
Using CTCSS Tone or CDCSS Tone Search While
Searching
Changing a CTCSS/CDCSS Tone
Erasing a CTCSS/CDCSS Tone

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Remote Interface

Connecting the Scanner
Scanner to PC
Scanner to Scanner
Clone Mode

Care and Maintenance

Replacing the Battery Pack
Location
Cleaning
Repairs
Birdies
Proper Care of your Scanner

Technical Specifications

CTCSS/CDCSS Tone Frequencies (Hz)

Optional Accessories and Replacement Parts
Troubleshooting
One Year Limited Warranty

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About Your New SportCat

The SportCat™ is a state-of-the-art information radio with
automatic scanning capabilities. It can store frequencies
such as sporting events, police, fire/emergency, and other
communications into 10 banks of 20 channels each.
And you can scan all 200 channels at super fast Turbo
Scan speed.

What is Scanning?

Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most two-way
communications (listed below) do not transmit continuously.
The SportCat scans programmed channels at the rate of
nearly 100 CH 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. Or, you can select an
optional delay so the scanner stays on the channel for 2
more seconds after the transmission stops, waiting for
another transmission, before resuming scanning.

While the SportCat is scanning channels, it is in “SCAN
Mode”. When you stop the scanning with , it is in
“MANUAL Mode”.

What is Searching?

The SportCat can search each of 12 preprogrammed
bands to find active frequencies. This is different from
scanning, because you can search for frequencies that
have not been programmed into your SportCat. You can
also search within the range of frequencies you have
programmed before. You can set the direction of searching
as well as the speed. The Turbo Search feature, new for
Uniden scanners, can search VHF bands at up to 3 times
the normal speed.

When the SportCat is searching for active frequencies, it is
in “TURBO SEARCH Mode” or “TWIN TURBO SEARCH
Mode”. When you stop the search with , it is in
“SEARCH HOLD Mode”.

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What is CTCSS and CDCSS?

The term “Continuous-Tone-Controlled-Squelch-System”
(herein referred to as CTCSS) and “Continuous Digital­Controlled-Squelch-System” (herein referred to as CDCSS)
shall define a system where the radio receiver (s) are
equipped with tone or data responsive devices which allow
audio signals to appear at the receiver audio output, select
voice processing such as scrambling, select between voice
or data, or control repeater functions, only when a carrier
modulated with a specific tone or data pattern is received.

CTCSS and CDCSS are used for many purposes. In many
cases, CTCSS and CDCSS are 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.

CTCSS and CDCSS are 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 and CDCSS, you can code each
received frequency with a specific CTCSS and CDCSS
frequency. Then, when multiple signals are broadcast, you
will only hear the transmission with the CTCSS tone or
CDCSS 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 and CDCSS tone for
each transmitter (or repeater) is usually done through the
cooperative setting of standards by local frequency
allocation groups.

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Important Notice

This scanning radio has been manufactured so that it

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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

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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

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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.

Types of Communication

You will be able to monitor communication such as:

Automobile, boat, and marathon races

»

Golf tournaments

»

Traffic information

»
» Police and fire department (including rescue and

paramedics)

»

NOAA and Canadianweather broadcasts (10
preprogrammed channels)

»

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

»

Marine and amateur radio.

»

Aircraft

»

Public Service 800 MHz band

And many more in the following 12 Bands:

RANGE

(MHz)

29.0000-29.9950 5

30.0000-49.9950 5

50.0000-54.0000 5

108.0000-136.9875 12.5

137.0000-143.9950 5

144.0000-147.9950 5

148.0000-174.0000 5

406.0000-419.9875 12.5

420.0000-449.9875 12.5

450.0000-469.9875 12.5

STEP

(kHz)

BAND SUBJECT

NFM 10 Meter Amateur Band
NFM VHF Low Band
NFM 6 Meter Amateur Band

AM AM Aircraft
NFM Military Land Mobile
NFM 2 Meter Amateur Band
NFM VHF High Band
NFM Federal Govt.

NFM 70 cm Amateur Band
NFM UHF Standard Band

Land Mobile

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RANGE

(MHz)

470.0000-512.0000

806.0000-823.9875

849.0125-868.9875

894.0125-956.0000

Important!

Telephone Band.

The

STEP

(kHz)

12.5

12.5

12.5

12.5

SportCat

BAND

NFM
NFM

NFM
NFM

will not tune within the Cellular

SUBJECT

UHF “T” Band
Public Service

“800” Band

Where to Obtain More Information

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

Unpacking

Carefully check the contents against this list:

SportCat Twin Turbo Sports Scanner

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Rubber Antenna

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AC Adapter/Charger (AD-70U)

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Earphone

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Belt Clip with 2 Screws

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n Battery (BP-180)

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Remote Cable

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This Operating Guide

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Frequency Directories Order Form and Betty Bearcat
Club Information

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SportCat Frequency Guide

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Nickel-Cadmium Battery Disposal Notice

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Product Registration Form

If any items are missing or damaged, call the Uniden parts
department at the number below.

Please read this Operating Guide thoroughly before
operating the scanner.

Uniden Parts Department
[phone]
Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time
Monday to Friday
We can also be reached on the web at
www.uniden.com

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Feature Highlights

Twin Turbo Scan & Search —This lightning-fast

◆

technology enables the SportCat to scan nearly 100
channels per second. Search speed is selectable
between 100 and 300 steps per second. (300 steps
per second only in bands with 5 kHz steps.) Because
the frequency coverage is so large (see previous
section for band listing), very fast scanning and
searching are essential.

200 Channels You can program each of these

◆

memory channels to store one frequency.
12 Bands, 10 Banks Includes 12 Bands, with

◆

Aircraft and 800 MHz. 10 Banks of 20 channels each
are useful for storing similar frequencies in order to
maintain faster scanning cycles.

29 MHz - 956 MHz Indicates the range of

◆

frequencies that can be searched within the bands of
your scanner.

Note: The frequency coverage is not totally

(

continuous from 29.0 MHz to 956 MHz.)

10 Priority Channels You can assign

◆

Channel in each Bank. Assigning priority channels
allows you to keep track of activity on your most
important channel(s) while monitoring other channels
for transmissions. (Priority Channels are initially set in
the first channel in each Bank.)

◆

Weather Channels Lets your scanner function as a
weather information radio.

◆

Memory Backup The stored channels are retained
in memory permanently.

◆

Programmable Alpha Characters You can program
up to 200 channels with alphabetical characters for
easy reference.

◆

Band Search You can search within the
preprogrammed bands.

◆

Limit Search You can search within a specific range
of frequencies.

◆

VFO Search You can search by using the
VFO control.

◆

Alert Beep If the SportCat finds a transmission on a
channel you have preset, it beeps twice.

◆

Auto Light The SportCat can turn on its backlight
automatically when it finds a transmission if this
function is activated.

one

Priority

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CTCSS/CDCSS (Continuous Tone Controlled

◆

Squelch System), (Continuous Digital Controlled
Squelch System). When activated, the SportCat will
only tune to a frequency if the associated CTCSS tone
or CDCSS tone you have programmed is included
with the transmission. You can also use this feature to
search for a CTCSS tone or CDCSS tone when
monitoring a transmission.

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Controls and Indicators

Top View

Antenna
Connector

Earphone
Jack

SQUELCH
Control

ON-OFF/
VOLUME
Control

VFO Control Use this control to select channels in

Connect the rubber antenna to the BNC
connector and turn clockwise until it locks.

Plug the supplied earphone into this jack
for private listening. When the earphone
is connected, the internal speaker
is disconnected.

Note the warning on page 16.
Adjust this control to set the scan threshold

and to eliminate the background rushing
noise heard in the absence of an incoming
signal. See the Operation Overview Section
for adjustment procedures.

Use this control to turn the scanner on or
off, and to adjust the volume.

Manual mode, select the band for Band
Search, and select frequencies in
Band/Limit Search mode. You can also use
this to program Alpha Name characters and
CTCSS/CDCSS Data.

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Front View

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1. LCD DISPLAY — The liquid crystal display (LCD)
shows the current channel and frequency. It also
displays the mode, status, and bank indicators.

P

A. Priority Channel Indicator —

the scanner stopson a Priority Channel.

B. Channel Number — Indicates the current

channel that the scanner is on.

C. Memory Bank Numbers — Each Memory Bank

consists of 20 channels that you can select or
deselect during scanning operation, using the
numeric keypad. When you select a Bank, its
number appears on the display. When you
deselect a Bank, its number disappears from
the display. When you press to stop
scanning, only the Bank of the current
channel appears.

D. Bank Indicator — Appears with the Bank

Numbers (1~10).

E. Frequency Indicator — Indicates the frequency

being received by the scanner, or Alpha
Name, etc.

F. Low Battery Indicator — Appears on the

display when the Battery Pack is low and
needs recharging.

G. Mode/Function Indicators —

appears when

(Only the
active mode(s)/function(s) are displayed
during operation.)

SCAN Indicates SCAN and WEATHER

SCAN HOLD.

SEARCH Indicates SEARCH Mode. Flashes

when in TURBO SEARCH Mode.

PRIORITY IndicatesPRIORITYSCAN

isactivated.

HOLD Indicates MANUAL and

WEATHER SCAN HOLD or
SEARCH HOLD Mode.

DELAY Indicates DELAY is activated.
L/O In MANUAL Mode, indicates the

channel shown is “Locked Out”.
In SEARCH HOLD Mode,
indicates the frequency shown
is “Locked Out”.

WX Indicates WEATHER SCAN Mode.

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ATT Appears when the Attenuator

function is set.
Indicates the keypad is locked.
Appears when the display mode is

Alpha Name mode.

CTCSS Appears when the Subaudible

Tone function is turned on and a
CTCSS tone is associated on the
display channel.

CDCSS Appears when the Subaudible

Tone function is turned on and a
CDCSS tone is associated on the
display channel.

2. Press to start scanning all programmed

SCAN

channels that are not locked out. (
across the display during scanning.)

3. In SCAN and WX or SEARCH Mode, press

HOLD

to stop scanning. (
In Manual mode, press to step up
the channel.

4. NUMERIC KEYPAD — Use these keys to program a
channel for scanning. Also use to access a channel
directly with . During SCAN Mode, use these
keys to select or deselect any of the 10 memory
banks. (Only the selected bank indicator(s) appear
on the display.)

You cannot deactivate all 10 banks at the

Note:

appears on the display.)

moves

same time.

Key Bank Channel

11-20
221-40
341-60
461-80
5 81 - 100
6 101 - 120
7 121 - 140
8 141 - 160
9 161 - 180

10 181 - 200

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5. Press and hold /
The VFO knob allows you to toggle through the
bands. Then press /
band search.

6. Press to stop Band serch, Limit search and WX
scan. Also, press it to move to next higher channel or
frequency. Press and hold to change the
search direction to upper side.

7. In Limit search, input the frequency and press
to program the lower/higher frequency. Press
to stop Band search, Limit search, and WX scan.
Also, press it to move to next lower channel or
frequency. Press and hold to change the
search direction to lower side.

8. Press /
you program frequencyor Alpha characters. Press and
hold /
Manual mode.

9. Use /
programming a frequency into a channel. If you
make an entry error, press /

key to erase the entry, and start over. Also, use

CLR

/

10. Press tostore a displayed frequency and
CTCSS/CDCSS Data and Alpha characters into any
displayed channel.

11. Press to“Lock Out” or prevent scanning of the
displayed channel, including Priority Channels.

L/O

appears on the display.) To unlock a channel,

(
press again. can be used for Scan or
SEARCH Modes.

12. There are 10 Preprogrammed NOAA and Canada
weather channels. Press /
NOAA and Canada weather channel in your area.

WX

appears on the display in Weather Mode. If you
want to set or reset the Attenuator function, press and
hold /

ALERT

ALERT

CLR

to enter the decimal point when

to clear the error message display.

ATT

.

BAND

to change thedisplay mode when

to set theAlert Beep function in

to start Limit search.

BAND

again to start

CLR

before the

ATT

to find the active

13

Press /

13.

automatic 2-second delayduring scanning or searching
for active frequencies. (When delay is activated,
appears on thedisplay.) In this mode, when the
scanner monitors anactive frequency, searching or
scanning will notresume until transmission stops for
2 seconds.

Press and hold /
on the display. This disables the keypad and VFO
control and prevents any accidental key entries. To
enable the keypad, press and hold /
until disappears from the display.

14. While Scanning, press /
PRIORITY SCAN function. (
display.) While Searching, press /
toggle between 100 steps and 300 steps per second.
(When in TURBO SEARCH is activated. SEARCH
flashes on the display.)

15. Press to turn the Subaudible tone Mode on/off.
Press and hold to turn the Subaudible tone
search on/off.

16. Press to turn the LCD Back light on and off.
Press and hold for 2 seconds to make the
scanner turn the LCD Back Light on when a
transmission is found (Auto Light function).

KEYLOCK

KEYLOCK

to turn ONor OFF the

until appears

KEYLOCK

TURBO

PRIORITY

to activate the

appears on the

TURBO

DELAY

to

14

Setup

The SportCat comes with a rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium
Battery Pack. When fully charged, this Battery Pack will
supply up to 12 hours of dependable use. (With the
Squelch control in “closed” position.)

Before using the SportCat for the first time, or whenever
the LOW BATTERY Indicator appears on the LCD display,
you should fully charge the Battery Pack.

Note:

When the Battery Pack is low, the Low Battery
Indicator will start to blink. After about 10 minutes, the
scanner will shut itself off to prevent the battery from
becoming completely discharged.

Before charging, you must first install the Battery Pack
according to the steps below.

Installing the Battery Pack

1. Open the cover.

2. Insert the battery pack.

3. Replace cover and

press down until it
clicks into place.

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