Uniden UBCD396T User Manual

Download

UBCD396T

Owner's Manual

OWNER'S MANUAL

Precautions

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

EARPHONE WARNING!

Be sure to use only a monaural earphone with this scanner. You can also use an optional 32 stereo headset. Use of an incorrect earphone or stereo

headset might be potentially hazardous to your hearing. The output of the phone jack is monaural, but you will hear it in both headphones of a stereo headset.

Set the volume to a comfortable audio level coming from the speaker before plugging in the monaural earphone or a stereo headset of the proper

impedance (32 ). 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 might be particularly true of the type of earphone that is placed in the ear canal.

Precautions

WARNING!

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

®® ® ®

Astro , DPL , Digital Private Line , Motorola ,

®®®

PL , PRIVACY PLUS , Private Line , SMARTNET ,and SMARTZONE are registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc.

LTR is a registered trademark of E.F. Johnson Co. EDACS is a registered trademark of M/A-COM Private Radio Systems Inc.

Other trademarks used throughout this manual are the property of their respective holders.

®®

Important:

If you use the supplied AC adaptor to power the scanner but have not installed batteries in the scanner, never turn the scanner off by disconnecting the AC adaptor or unplugging it from the AC outlet.

This might corrupt the scanner’s memory. Always use to turn the scanner off before disconnecting AC power.

Precautions

Contents

Introduction ...............................................................................................7

Feature Highlights .................................................................................. 8

About This Manual ............................................................................. 13

Using the Multifunction Scroll Control .............................................13

Entering Text ................................................................................. 13

How the Scanner’s Controls Are Represented in

This Manual ....................................................................................14

Understanding Scanning ...................................................................... 16

Understanding the Scanner’s Memory .............................................. 16

What is Scanning? ............................................................................ 16

What is Searching? ........................................................................... 17

What is CTCSS/DCS? ...................................................................... 17

Conventional Scanning ..................................................................... 19

Simplex Operation ......................................................................... 20

Repeater Operation ....................................................................... 20

What is Trunk Tracking? ................................................................... 20

Trunked Scanning ............................................................................. 21

Types of Trunking Systems ................................................................ 22

Motorola Trunking .......................................................................... 22

EDACS Trunking ........................................................................... 24

LTR Trunking ................................................................................. 25

I-Call (Motorola/EDACS) .................................................................. 26

Where To Get More Information ........................................................ 26

Information On The Internet .......................................................... 26

Included With Your Scanner ................................................................. 27

Setting Up Your Scanner ...................................................................... 28

Using Internal Batteries ..................................................................... 28

Using Rechargeable Batteries ........................................................... 29

Removing the Display Sticker ............................................................ 30

Using AC Power ................................................................................ 30

Connecting the Antenna .................................................................... 31

Connecting an Optional Antenna ................................................... 31

Connecting an Earphone/Headphone ............................................... 31

Connecting an Extension Speaker .................................................... 31

Attaching the Belt Clip ....................................................................... 32

Attaching the Wrist Strap ................................................................... 32

A Look At The Keypad ....................................................................... 32

A Look At The Display ....................................................................... 35

Using Menu ........................................................................................37

Using Func ........................................................................................ 37

Basic Operation ..................................................................................... 38

Turning On the Scanner and Setting the Squelch ............................. 38

Scanning Systems ............................................................................. 39

Selecting Systems to Scan ................................................................ 40

Selecting System Channel Groups .................................................... 41

Locking/Unlocking Systems .............................................................. 41

Locking/Unlocking Channels ............................................................. 41

ID Scan/ID Search Mode .................................................................. 42

Temporarily Holding On a System ..................................................... 42

Holding On a Channel ...................................................................... 42

Quickly Storing an ID During ID Search ............................................ 43

Quick-Storing Channels or Talk Group ID’s ...................................... 43

Quickly Recalling Channels .............................................................. 44

Monitoring Trunking Activity .............................................................. 44

Toggling Channel Alpha Tags ............................................................ 44

Using the Menu ...................................................................................... 45

Programming Systems Menu ............................................................ 47

Contents

Other Settings ............................................................................................ 49

Displaying System Information ................................................................. 49

Viewing Memory Used ........................................................................... 49

Viewing the Firmware Version ................................................................

Adjusting the Key Beep ............................................................................

Locking/Unlocking the Keypad and Scroll ................................................

Turning Power Save On or Off ................................................................. 50

Priority Scan ............................................................................................. 50

Using the Backlight ................................................................................... 50

Setting the Audio AGC .............................................................................. 51

Adjusting the Display Contrast .................................................................. 51

Initializing the Scanner’s Memory ............................................................. 52

Connecting Your Scanner to a Personal Computer .................................. 52

Using the Cloning Options ........................................................................ 53

Wired Cloning ........................................................................................ 53

On-Air Cloning ....................................................................................... 54

Programming Radio Systems ...................................................................56

Programming Conventional Systems ........................................................57

Entering/Editing Conventional Channel Groups .....................................57

Entering/Editing Conventional Channels ................................................58

Programming Motorola Systems .............................................................. 59

Setting System Frequencies .................................................................. 60

Setting Modulation ..................................................................................61

Setting Attenuation .................................................................................61

Entering/Editing Motorola Channel Groups ............................................62

Entering/Editing Motorola Channels .......................................................62

Programming EDACS Systems ................................................................ 63

Setting System Frequencies ................................................................. 64

Entering/Editing EDACS Channel Groups ............................................. 65

Entering/Editing EDACS Channels ........................................................ 65

Programming LTR Systems ...................................................................... 66

Setting System Frequencies .................................................................. 67

Entering/Editing LTR Channel Groups .................................................. 67

Entering/Editing LTR Channels/Talkgroups ........................................... 68

Programming/Editing Optional Settings ................................................. 70

System-Level Settings .............................................................................. 70

Editing the System Name ...................................................................... 70

Editing the System Quick Key ............................................................... 71

Setting System Lockout ......................................................................... 71

Setting the System Hold Time ............................................................... 72

Setting the Channel Delay Time .............................................................72

Setting ID Scan/Search (Trunked Systems Only) .................................. 73

Setting the Band Plan

(Motorola P25 and VHF/UHF Systems Only).......................................74

Editing the Fleet Map (Motorola Systems Only) .....................................75

Setting the Motorola Status Bit (Motorola Systems Only) ...................... 76

Setting the End Code Operation (Motorola Systems Only) ................... 77

Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only) ..............................77

Setting Emergency Alert (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only) ........... 78

Setting Control-Channel Only (Motorola Systems Only) ........................78

Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies .......................................................79

Clearing All Locked-Out IDs ...................................................................79

Adjusting the P25 Level (Motorola and Conventional Systems Only) ....79

Setting the EDACS ID Format (EDACS Systems Only) .........................80

Setting System Attenuation (Trunked Systems Only) ............................ 81

Deleting Systems ................................................................................... 81

Copying Systems ................................................................................... 81

Group-Level Settings ................................................................................ 82

Entering/Editing the Group Name .......................................................... 82

Setting the Group Quick Key ..................................................................83

Setting Group Lockout ............................................................................83

Deleting Groups ......................................................................................83

49 49 49

Contents

Channel-Level Settings.............................................................................. 84

Editing the Channel Name...................................................................... 84

Editing Frequencies (Conventional Channels Only) ...............................85

Setting Channel Priority (Conventional Channels Only) .........................85

Setting Channel Alert ..............................................................................86

Editing the Talk Group ID (Trunked Channels Only) .............................. 86

Setting CTCSS/DCS (Conventional Channels Only).............................. 87

Setting the System Frequency Modulation ............................................ 88

Setting Channel Attenuation (Conventional Channels Only) ................. 88

Setting Channel Lockout ........................................................................ 89

Deleting Channels ................................................................................. 90

Copying/Pasting Channels .................................................................... 90

Searching and Storing .............................................................................. 91

Service Search ..........................................................................................91

Quick Search ............................................................................................ 92

CTCSS/DCS Search ................................................................................. 92

Custom Search ......................................................................................... 93

Editing a Custom Search Range ........................................................... 94

Editing a Service Search ....................................................................... 95

Auto Search and Store ............................................................................. 96

Selecting a System............................................................................... 97

Storing a Conventional System ............................................................ 97

Storing a Trunked System .................................................................... 98

Optimizing P25 Performance .................................................................. 99

Using the Close Call Feature .................................................................. 100

Setting Close Call Options ...................................................................... 101

Close Call Hits ........................................................................................ 103

Search and Close Call Options .............................................................. 104

Managing Locked-Out Frequencies ........................................................ 104

Unlocking All Frequencies ................................................................... 104

Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies .................................................... 104

Searching for Subaudible Tones ............................................................ 104

Screening Out Broadcast Sources ......................................................... 105

Finding Repeater Output Frequencies .................................................... 106

Setting the Maximum Auto Store Value .................................................. 107

Setting the Modulation Type ................................................................... 107

Setting Attenuation ................................................................................. 107

Setting Data Skip .................................................................................... 108

Setting the Delay Time ........................................................................... 109

Setting the Search Frequency Step ........................................................ 109

APCO 25 Threshold Level Settings ........................................................ 109

Using Tone-Out ........................................................................................ 110

Fire Tone-Out Introduction ...................................................................... 110

Setting Tone-Out Standby ................................................................... 110

Setting Up Tone-Out ............................................................................ 110

Care and Maintenance ............................................................................. 113

General Use ............................................................................................ 113

Location .................................................................................................. 113

Cleaning ................................................................................................. 113

Repairs .................................................................................................... 114

Birdies ..................................................................................................... 114

Contents

Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 115

Specifications .......................................................................................... 119

Optional Accessories .............................................................................. 122

Appendix .................................................................................................. 123

Preset Fleet Maps ................................................................................... 123

User Defined Fleet Maps ........................................................................ 125

Type I Programming Information ......................................................... 125

Size Code Restrictions ........................................................................ 126

Planning ....................................................................................................127

Collecting Information ............................................................................. 127

Filling Out The Conventional System Worksheet ................................... 129

System Name and Quick Key .............................................................. 129

Group Name and Quick Key ................................................................ 129

Frequency-Alpha Tag-Priority-CTCSS/DCS ........................................ 129

Filling Out The Motorola Worksheet ....................................................... 130

System Name and Quick Key .............................................................. 130

System Type ........................................................................................ 130

System Frequencies ............................................................................ 131

Fleet Map (Type I or Type I/Type II Hybrid Only) ................................ 131

Band Plan (VHF or UHF Only) ............................................................ 131

Group Name and Quick Key ................................................................ 131

Talk Group ID-Alpha Tag-Alert ............................................................ 131

Filling Out the LTR and EDACS Worksheet ........................................... 132

System Name and Quick Key .............................................................. 132

System Frequencies and LCN ............................................................. 132

Group Name and Quick Key ................................................................ 132

Talk Group ID-Alpha Tag-Alert ............................................................ 132

Conventional System Worksheet ........................................................... 133

Motorola System Worksheet .................................................................. 134

LTR/EDACS System Worksheet ............................................................. 136

Warranty ....................................................................................................138

Contents

Introduction

Your UBCD396T scanner is a state-of-the-art scanner radio with TrunkTracker IV™ and automatic scanning capabilities. You can store frequencies such as police, fire/emergency, marine, air, amateur, and other communications into the scanner. You can carry it with you wherever you go. You can use the scanner’s scroll control to quickly select channels and frequencies, and you can automatically program channels in a system using the AutoStore feature.

Use your scanner to monitor:

• Analog and digital trunked public safety systems (unencrypted only) *

• Police and fire departments (including rescue and paramedics)

• Business/Industrial radio and utilities

• Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands

• Air band

• Railroad UHF CB Radio

• CB Radio

•

Your scanner can monitor the following bands.

87.9875

136.9875

224.9000

12.5

* Motorola ® Astro ® , SMARTNET ® ,SMARTZONE ®, and PRIVACY PLUS ® , M/A-COM Private Radio Systems Inc. EDACS ® Wide, Narrow, and SCAT, and E.F. Johnson Co. LTR systems.

Introduction

Feature Highlights

General

Close Call™ RF Capture Technology

the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions. See “Using the Close Call Feature” on Page 100 for more information.

Dynamically Allocated Channel Memory

scanner’s memory is organized so that it more closely matches how radio systems actually work, making it easier to program and use your scanner and determine how much memory you have used and how much you have left.

Pre-Programmed Systems

come pre-programmed with local systems (for Australian and NZ Emergency Services for example) as a complementary start.

100 Quick Keys –

can quickly select systems and groups by using the keypad. This makes it easy to listen to or quickly lock out those systems or groups you don’t want to scan.

9 Service Searches - frequencies are preset in separate Police, Marine, Railroad, Air, CB Radio, UHF CB Radio, Racing, TV Broadcast, and FM Broadcast searches, to make it easy to search and scan for specific transmissions.

You can set the scanner so you

- Your UBCD396T may

- You can set

- Your

Lockout –

frequency, or channel while scanning. If you lock out a system or group, any channels belonging to that system or group are also locked out.

You can lock out up to 200 frequencies. The scanner skips locked-out frequencies while using the Close Call feature or while searching.

CTCSS and DCS Squelch Modes –

interference from stations not using the mode you select.

Feature Highlights

You can lock out any system, group,

prevent

Analog and Digital Audio AGC –

Helps automatically balance the volume level between different radio systems.

Fire Tone-Out Standby –

Lets you set the scanner to alert you if a two-tone sequential page is transmitted. You can set up to 10 settings (transmit frequency, tone frequencies) then select one for standby monitoring.

Broadcast Screen –

Sets the scanner so it ignores Close Call ™ or search hits on known broadcast frequencies including pager frequencies.

Custom Screen –

Lets you input up to 10 frequency ranges that the scanner will ignore during Close Call™ or search operation.

Dropout Delay –

You can set whether the scanner pauses at the end of a transmission to wait for a reply. You can set the delay time for each system you scan, and while searching and using the Close Call ™ feature.

Attenuator –

You can set the scanner’s attenuator to reduce the input strength of strong signals by about 18 dB.

Repeater Reverse –

You can set the scanner so it switches to the input frequency on a conventional repeater system.

Channel Alert –

You can set the scanner so it alerts

you when there is activity on any channel you specify.

Memory Check –

Lets you see at a glance how much

total memory is left.

Scan and Search Operation –

Lets you include selected service searches or custom search ranges during normal scan operation.

Custom Alerts –

For each alert in the scanner (such as channel alert, Close Call alert, emergency alert), you can select from 9 different tone patterns and also set the alert volume level independently from the main volume level.

Feature Highlights

Automatic Channel Step –

Accepts frequencies on any valid channel step, even if it does not fall within the band plan’s default step.

Frequency Step –

Lets you select a frequency step (5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz) for manual mode and chain search mode. The scanner’s auto step feature lets you set the scanner so it automatically chooses the correct step.

Quick Recall –

Lets you quickly select a specific

channel by choosing the system, group, and channel.

Scan/Search Delay

– You can set the scanner so it remains on a frequency up to 5 seconds after the last transmission to wait for a possible reply.

Text Tagging –

You can name each system, group, channel, talk group ID and custom search range, using up to 16 characters per name.

Unique Data Skip –

Allows your scanner to skip

unwanted data transmissions and reduces birdies.

Duplicate Frequency Alert –

Alerts you if you try to enter a duplicate name or frequency already stored in a system.

Memory Backup –

If power is lost or disconnected, the scanner retains the frequencies you programmed in its memory.

Trunk Tracking

Trunk Tracker IV ™ Operation –

unencrypted conversations on analog Motorola, Motorola Astro 25 (APCO 25), EDACS, EDACS SCAT, and LTR trunked radio systems, including systems in VHF, UHF, 800MHz Standard, 800MHz Splinter, and 900 MHz bands. The scanner can scan both conventional and trunked systems at the same time.

Feature Highlights

Follows

Control Channel Only Scanning –

If the scanner is set to scan Motorola trunking frequencies, you can set it so it scans using only control channel data. You do not have to program voice channel frequencies into memory in this mode as long as all possible control channels are programmed.

Adaptive Digital Threshold –

Automatically sets the

digital decode threshold for APCO 25 systems.

Service Search –

the scanner’s preprogrammed frequencies.

Custom Search –

search ranges. You can search any of these ranges simultaneously.

CTCSS/DCS Search –

CTCSS or DCS tones. You can identify up to 50 CTCSS tones and 104 DCS tones.

Quick Search –

tuned frequency if you are searching a conventional system.

Lets you quickly select and search

Lets you program up to 10 custom

Lets the scanner search for

Lets you search from the currently-

Auto Store

Frequency AutoStore –

active frequencies into the selected conventional system.

Automatically stores all

Talk Group ID AutoStore –

Automatically stores all

new talk group ID’s into a channel group you select.

Priority

Priority Scan –

activity on your most important channel(s) while monitoring other channels for transmissions.

Priority Plus –

only the priority channels

Priority channels let you keep track of

You can set the scanner so it scans

Feature Highlights

Backlight and Power

Display and Keypad Backlight –

Makes the display and keypad easy to see in dim light. You can adjust the back light so it turns on when you press a key, when squelch breaks during a transmission, or manually.

Low Battery Alert –

The scanner alerts you if the

batteries need to be recharged or replaced.

Battery Save –

You can set the scanner so it reduces the amount of power it needs if there are no transmissions.

Key Controls

Key Lock –

help prevent accidentally changing the scanner’s programming.

You can deactivate the scanner’s keys to

PC Control and Cloning

PC Control –

and from your scanner and your personal computer, and control the scanner using a computer. This helps you find frequencies listed on the Internet and load them into the scanner. Free PC control and programming software will be available at the UBCD396T web page at www.uniden.com.au (for Australia) or www.uniden.co.nz (for New Zealand).

You can transfer programming data to

Clone Mode –

You can clone all programmed data, including the contents of the scanner’s memory, menu settings, and other parameters from one UBCD396T scanner to another UBCD396T scanner.

On-Air Cloning –

You can clone all programmed data over the air from a PC to one or more UBCD396T scanners.

Feature Highlights

About This Manual

The screen displays used in this manual are representations of what might appear when you use your scanner. Since what you see depends on the frequencies and user IDs for your area and the settings you select, you might notice some differences between what is in this manual and what appears on your scanner.

Using the Multifunction Scroll Control

The scroll control on top of the UBCD396T lets you easily control channel selection, volume, and squelch, and how information appears on the display.

To adjust menu settings, change channels in Hold mode, and resume scanning:

scroll control.

Simply rotate the

To change the scanner’s volume:

scroll control once, then rotate it. and

Briefly press the

VOLUME LEVEL

the current volume level appear on the display.

To adjust the squelch:

While holding down on the left side of the scanner, briefly press the scroll control once then rotate it. and the

SQUELCH LEVEL

current squelch level appear on the display.

To change the display mode:

While holding down

, briefly press the scroll control twice. Extended receive information, usually applicable to digital scanning, appears on the display. Then briefly press the scroll control again to return to the original display.

Entering Text

To enter a letter, turn the scroll control until the character you want appears, To enter a number, press a number key. To enter a decimal point, press .

To move the cursor to the left, press /4. To move the cursor to the right, press 6/ .

To clear a character, press twice. To clear all characters, press three times.

To accept an entry, press down on the scroll control or

press .

Feature Highlights

How the Scanner’s Controls Are Represented in This Manual

To help navigate the scanner’s menus, the steps shown in this manual show the displays you see and the keys you press or control you operate to get a desired result.

This example shows you how to use the scanner’s menu to edit an existing system name. It shows you the key to press to select a menu option and the option you see when you press . It also instructs you to turn the scroll control (shown as ) to view a series of choices then press the scroll control (shown as ) to select a choice .

()

Edit Name

Program System

Select the system

Edit Name

Follow these steps to enter/edit the system name.

1. The first character of the system name is covered

by a cursor. Rotate the scroll control to select the character you want.

()

Program System

2. Press on the keypad to select the next

6/>

character. The cursor moves to the next character. To move the cursor to a previous character,

</4

press .

Feature Highlights

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have entered the

system name. Then press down on the scroll control or press to accept the setting.

Hints:

• Each system name can be up to 16 characters.

Abbreviate as necessary to fit.

• The default system names include the following

letter in the 16th position to indicate the system type:

= Motorola

= EDACS

=LTR

= Conventional

• Press twice to delete the current character.

• Press three times to clear the entire alpha tag.

To get the most from this manual, review the contents to become familiar with the basic functions available. If you are new to scanning or trunk tracking, be sure to read “Understanding Scanning” on Page 16 for a quick background on the technology. The first thing you’ll need to do is install batteries in the scanner. Then you need to connect the included antenna to the scanner. See “Setting Up Your Scanner” on Page 28 if you need any help doing this.

Feature Highlights

Understanding Scanning

Understanding Scanning This section provides you with background on how scanning works. You don’t really need to know all of this to use your scanner, but some background knowledge will help you get the most from your UBCD396T.

Understanding the Scanner’s Memory

Your scanner’s memory is organized in an architecture called memory. This type of memory is organized differently and more efficiently than the bank/channel architecture used by traditional scanners. Dynamic Allocated design matches how radio systems actually work much more closely, making it easier to program and use your scanner and determine how much memory you have used and how much you have left.

Instead of being organized into separate banks and channels, your scanner’s memory is contained in a pool. You simply use as much memory as you need in the pool to store as many frequencies, talk group ID’s, and alpha tags as you need. No memory space is wasted, and you can tell at a glance how much memory you have used and how much remains.

Dynamic Allocated Channel

With a traditional scanner, when you program it to track a trunked system, you must first program the frequencies. Since you can only program one trunking system per bank in a traditional scanner, if there were (for example) 30 frequencies, the remaining channels in the bank are not used and therefore wasted. Also, since some trunked systems might have hundreds of talk groups, you would have had to enter those types of systems into multiple banks in order to monitor and track all the ID’s.

What is Scanning?

Unlike standard AM or FM radio stations, most twoway communications do not transmit continuously. Your UBCD396T scans programmed channels until it finds an active frequency, then stops on that frequency and remains on that channel as long as the transmission continues. When the transmission ends, the scanning cycle resumes until the scanner receives another transmission.

Understanding Scanning

What is Searching?

The UBCD396T can search 9 service search ranges and up to 10 bands together to find active frequencies. This is different from scanning because you are searching for frequencies that have not been programmed into the scanner. When you select frequency bands to search, the scanner searches for any active frequency within the lower and upper limits you specify. When the scanner finds an active frequency, it stops on that frequency as long as the transmission lasts. If you think the frequency is interesting, you can program it into the scanner’s memory. If not, you can continue to search.

What is CTCSS/DCS?

Your scanner can monitor systems using a Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) system, which allow squelch to open only when the tone you have programmed with a specific frequency is received along with a transmission.

CTCSS and DCS are subaudible tone signaling systems sometimes referred to as PL or DPL (Motorola’s trademarked terms for Private Line and Digital Private Line respectively). CTCSS and DCS are used only for FM signals and are usually associated with both amateur and commercial two-way frequencies. These systems make use of a special subaudible tone that accompanies a transmitted signal.

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

Understanding Scanning

CTCSS and DCS are also used in areas that receive interference where there are several stations with output frequencies close to each other. When this occurs, you might hear multiple communications on the same frequency. The stations might even interfere with each other to the point where it is impossible to clearly receive any of the stations. A scanner equipped with CTCSS and DCS (like your scanner) can code each received frequency with a specific CTCSS or DCS frequency. Then, when you receive multiple signals, you only hear the transmission with the CTCSS or DCS tone you programmed. If you do not receive the correct tone with a signal, the scanner’s squelch remains closed and you hear nothing.

You can search for the following CTCSS frequencies and DCS codes.

CTCSS Frequencies (Hz)

67.0 69.3 71.9 74.4 77.0 79.7

82.5 85.4 88.5 91.5 94.8 97.4

100.0 103.5 107.2 110.9 114.8 118.8

123.0 127.3 131.8 136.5 141.3 146.2

151.4 156.7 159.8 162.2 165.5 167.9

171.3 173.8 177.3 179.9 183.5 186.2

189.9 192.8 196.6 199.5 203.5 206.5

210.7 218.1 225.7 229.1 233.6 241.8

250.3 254.1

DCS Codes (Octal)

023 025 026 031 032 036 043 047 051 053 054 065 071 072 073 074 114 115 116 122 125 131 132 134

143 145 152 155 156 162 165 172

Understanding Scanning

174 205 212 223 225 226 243 244 245 246 251 252 255 261 263 265

266 271 274 306 311 315 325 331 332 343 346 351 356 364 365 371 411 412 413 423 431 432 445 446 452 454 455 462 464 465 466 503

506 516 523 526 532 546 565 606 612 624 627 631 632 654 662 664 703 712 723 731 732 734 743 754

Conventional Scanning

Conventional scanning is a relatively simple concept. Each group of users in a conventional system is assigned a single frequency (for simplex systems) or two frequencies (for repeater systems). Any time one of them transmits, their transmission always goes out on the same frequency. Up until the late 1980s, this was the primary way that radio systems operated.

Even today, there are many 2-way radio users who operate using a conventional system:

• Aircraft

• Amateur radio

• UHF/PRS users

• Broadcast AM/FM/TV stations

• Many business radio users

When you want to store a conventional system, all you need to know is the frequencies they operate on. When you are scanning a conventional system, the scanner stops very briefly on each channel to see if there is activity. If there isn’t, the scanner quickly moves to the next channel. If there is, then the scanner pauses on the transmission until it is over.

Understanding Scanning

Simplex Operation

Simplex systems use a single frequency for both transmit and receive. Most radios using this type of operation are limited to line-of-sight operation. This type of radio is frequently used at construction job sites, and with inexpensive consumer radios such as UHF/PRS radios. The range is typically 1-12 km, depending upon the terrain and many other factors.

Repeater Operation

Repeater systems use two frequencies: one transmits from the radio to a central repeater; the other transmits from the repeater to other radios in the system. With a repeater-based system, the repeater is located on top of a tall building or on a radio tower that provides great visibility to the area of operation. When a user transmits (on an input frequency), the signal is picked up by the repeater and retransmitted (on an output frequency). The user’s radios always listen for activity on the output frequency and transmit on the input frequency. Since the repeater is located very high, there is a very large line of sight.

Typical repeater systems provide coverage out to about a 40-km radius from the repeater location.

What is Trunk Tracking?

Your UBCD396T is designed to track the following types of trunking systems.

• Motorola Astro (APCO 25) trunking systems.

• Motorola Type I, Type II, Type IIi hybrid,

SMARTNET, and PRIVACYPLUS analog trunking systems, which are extensively used in 800 MHz communication systems.

• LTR trunking systems

• EDACS SCAT trunking systems

• EDACS trunking systems

Understanding Scanning

When tracking these types of systems, you might want to remember that your scanner can track more than one trunking system at a time and scan conventional and trunked systems at the same time.

Conventional scanning is a simple concept. You enter a frequency used by someone you want to monitor into your scanner’s memory. For example, the police in your area might transmit 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.

However, as the demand for public communications has increased, many public radio users do not have enough frequencies to meet their needs, creating a serious problem. Trunking radio systems help solve this problem.

Trunked Scanning

While conventional scanning worked great while there were only a few groups wanting to use the frequencies, with the advent of smaller, lower-cost radios more and more agencies and businesses wanted to take advantage of the utility of 2-way radio. As a result, the bands that were used most became full, so new users were not able to take advantage of the technology as quickly as they wanted.

Trunking solved this frequency shortage by allowing multiple groups to use the same set of frequencies in a very efficient way. While each type of trunking system operates a little differently (see the next few sections), they all work on the same basic premise: even in a system with a lot of users, only a few users are ever transmitting at any one time.

Instead of being assigned a frequency, as with conventional systems, each group is assigned a talk group ID. A central computer controls the frequency

Understanding Scanning

each group operates on...and this frequency selection is made each time a user transmits. So, while on a conventional system queries, replies, and follow-ups are all on a single frequency, they could each be on completely different frequencies on a trunked system. This semi-random frequency assignment made monitoring such a system impossible prior to Uniden’s invention of the TrunkTracker scanner.

Not only does your UBCD396T scan channels like a 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 are a new scanner enthusiast, you might 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 are already an experienced scanner operator, you might want to go to “Programming Motorola Systems” on Page 59, “Programming EDACS Systems” on Page 63, or “Programming LTR Systems” on Page 66 now.

Types of Trunking Systems

Trunking systems divide a few frequencies among many different users, but the way that each system does this is slightly different. This section describes some of the technical data behind Motorola, EDACS, and LTR trunked radio systems.

Motorola Trunking

While there are different types of Motorola trunking systems, they all use the same basic trunking method. The system consists of one control channel (or as many as 4 per system but only one is active at any one time), plus one or more voice channels (typically 10, 20, or 28 total channels). When a user presses Push To Talk (PTT) to transmit, their radio first sends their talk group information to the control channel.

Understanding Scanning

The computer then assigns that talk group to a specific voice channel and transmits that data over the control channel. All radios in that talk group switch over to the assigned voice channel and the user can begin speaking. This all typically takes place in about a second... the person transmitting hears a beep from their radio when the channel is assigned and then it is OK to start talking.

The systems in use are:

Motorola Type I –

the radios send the radio ID, the fleet and subfleet talk group ID to the control channel each time they transmit. To program a Type I system, you need to know the system’s fleet map. The most common fleet maps are included in “Preset Fleet Maps” on Page 123. You can also find fleet map resources on the web.

Motorola Type II –

the radios only send the radio ID and radio channel code to the control channel. The central computer keeps a database of radio ID’s and which talk group is assigned to which channel code for each radio, so with this system the user’s radio sends only about 1 /3 the data as a Type I system with each transmission. Type II systems do not use Fleetsubfleet talk groups; instead they use a 5-digit ID for each talk group.

Type IIi Hybrid —

these systems support a mix of both Type I and Type II users. Like Type I systems, you must know the system’s fleet map to ensure proper tracking.

Motorola ASTRO 25 (APCO 25) –

these radios are similar to Type II systems, but send only the radio ID and radio channel code to the control channel, transmitting voice in digital form.

Understanding Scanning

EDACS Trunking

EDACS trunking works in much the same way as Motorola trunking with a couple of major differences. In an EDACS system, each frequency used by the system is assigned a Logical Channel Number (LCN) so that less data needs to be transmitted by the control channel. Also, talk groups are assigned in an Agency-Fleet-Subfleet (AFS) hierarchy. Also, there is one variation of EDACS called SCAT that your UBCD396T can monitor.

Logical Channel Numbers –

each frequency used by the system is assigned an LCN. This information is programmed into each user radio. When a user presses PTT, their radio sends their AFS information to the control channel. The computer then assigns that talk group to a channel and sends the LCN so that all other radios in that talk group will switch to the correct channel. To program an EDACS system in your scanner, you will need to know both the frequencies used by the system and the LCN for each frequency.

Agency-Fleet-Subfleet –

talk group ID’s for EDACS systems are assigned in a way that makes it easy to see at a glance the affiliation of the user. Each radio is assigned a 2-digit agency identifier from 00 – 15. For example, 01 might be used by the police, 02 by the ambulance service, 03 by the fire department, and so on. Each agency is then subdivided up to 16 times to provide fleet identification, and then 8 more times to identify subfleets.

For example, the complete AFS for the Police Department West District’s dispatch channel might be 01-062. 01 identifies the agency as the police department, 06 identifies the fleet as the West district, and 2 identifies the subfleet as the dispatch channel. While these assignments are somewhat arbitrary and vary from system to system, there are many resources on the web for finding the assignments for most systems. Because of the logical hierarchy of the

system, your UBCD396T lets you assign

AFS wildcard ID’s that let you, for example, use only one ID memory to identify all units in either an agency or a

Understanding Scanning

EDACS SCAT – EDACS SCAT (Single Channel

Autonomous Trunking) systems operate on a single channel and alternate control data with analog voice traffic. While your UBCD396T cannot track ID’s in this system, it can eliminate the control data so that all you hear is the voice transmissions when you monitor this type of system.

LTR Trunking

LTR (Logic Trunked Radio) systems are trunking systems used primarily by business or private communications service providers, such as taxicabs, delivery trucks, and repair services. These systems encode all control information as digital subaudible data that accompanies each transmission, so there is no separate control channel. Users on an LTR system are assigned to specific talk groups, which are identified by the radio as six digit numbers.

These numbers are in the form AHHUUU, where:

A = Area code (0 or 1) H = Home repeater (01 through 20) U = User ID (000 through 254)

When the scanner receives a transmission on a channel set to the LTR mode, it first decodes the LTR data included with the transmission. In the ID search mode, the scanner stops on the transmission and displays the talk group ID on the display. In the ID scan mode, the scanner only stops on the transmission if the LTR data matches a talk group ID that you have stored in the talk group ID list and have not locked out. LTR systems are frequently programmed so that each radio has a unique user ID.

Understanding Scanning

I-Call (Motorola/EDACS)

I-calls are direct unit-to-unit transmissions that are not heard by other system users. Your UBCD396T can receive I-call transmissions. See “Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only)” on Page 77 for more information about monitoring I-call transmissions.

Where To Get More Information

By itself, this manual only provides part of what you need to know to have fun scanning – how to program and use the scanner. Other sources provide additional information.

Information On The Internet

The Internet is a great source for current frequencies and information about scanning. Many web sites have lists of frequencies for your area. You can use a search engine to find and use them.

Make a list of the agencies you want to listen to, then look up the frequencies and systems used by those agencies. Here are a few useful sites:

For Australia visit www.uniden.com.au, select any scanner product then click on "Scanner Frequency".

For New Zealand visit www.nzscanners.org.nz

For more information about Uniden and our products, visit www.uniden.com.au (Australia) or www.uniden.co.nz (New Zealand).

Understanding Scanning

Included With Your Scanner

Connection

Cable

Wrist Strap

AC Adaptor

Batteries

Scanner

(with antenna

attached)

Belt Clip

BNC/SMA Adaptor

OWNER'S MANUAL

Owners Manual

and other

printed

material

If any of these items are missing or damaged, immediately contact your place of purchase.

UBCD396T

OwnersManual

Included With Your Scanner

Setting Up Your Scanner

These guidelines will help you install and set up your new scanner:

• If your scanner receives interference or electrical

noise, move the scanner or its antenna away from the source.

• To improve the scanner’s reception, use an

optional external 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 50-75 coaxial cable for lead-in. A mating plug might be necessary for the optional antennas.

• Use an optional mono earphone or mono headset

with proper impedance (32 ) for private listening. Read the precautions on the inside front cover of this Owners Manual.

• Do not use the scanner in high-moisture

environments such as the kitchen or bathroom.

• Avoid placing the scanner in direct sunlight or near

heating elements or vents.

Using Internal Batteries

You can power your scanner using three alkaline or rechargeable AA batteries.

Before installing batteries, set the switch in the battery compartment to match the type of batteries you will use. Select for non-rechargeable battery types and for rechargeable battery types. See also “Using Rechargeable Batteries” on Page 29 when you use rechargeable batteries.

1. Remove the battery cover and set the battery

switch.

Setting Up Your Scanner

ALKALINE

Ni-MH

2. Install 3 AA batteries,

matching the polarity symbols (+ -).

WARNING!

Set to for use only with

ALKALINE/Ni-MH Ni-MH

rechargeable batteries. Never attempt to recharge non-rechargeable batteries. Non-rechargeable batteries can get hot and can even burst if you try to recharge them.

3. Replace the cover.

When flashes and the scanner beeps every 15 seconds, replace the batteries.

Using Rechargeable Batteries

You can also use three rechargeable batteries to power your scanner. Before you use rechargeable batteries, you must charge them. The scanner has a built-in circuit that lets you recharge batteries while they are in the scanner. To charge the batteries, set

ALKALINE/ Ni-MH

, install the batteries in the scanner, and

NI-MH

connect the supplied AC adaptor to the scanner's DC 6V jack (see “Using AC Power” on Page 30).

inside the battery compartment to

WARNING!

Do not connect the AC adaptor to the scanner if non-rechargeable batteries (such as alkaline batteries) are installed in the scanner and

ALKALINE/Ni-MH NI-MH

is set to , or if you are unsure of the switch's position. Non-rechargeable batteries can get hot and can even burst if you try to recharge them. Before you use rechargeable batteries for the first time, charge them for 14 hours to bring them to a full charge. Discharged batteries take about 14 hours to fully recharge.

Setting Up Your Scanner

If an AC adaptor is connected to the scanner, the scanner checks the condition of the installed batteries. If the scanner is turned off and the batteries require a full charge, appears on the display. Then, appears as the batteries

Pre-Charging

Normal Charging

are recharged. When the batteries are fully charged,

Charge Complete

appears.

If no batteries are installed in the scanner,

Battery

installed batteries, appears. If the installed batteries are batteries but

ALKALINE/Ni-MH ALKALINE

appears. If there is a problem with the

Battery Error

Ni-MH

is set to ,

Charge Off

appears and the scanner does not charge the batteries.

Removing the Display Sticker

Before you use the scanner, remove the protective plastic sticker over the display.

Using AC Power

You can power the scanner using the supplied 6V, 800 mA AC adaptor.

To use the scanner on AC power, plug the adaptor into on the right side of the scanner, then plug the AC adaptor into a standard AC outlet.

6V 800 mA

If rechargeable batteries are installed and

Ni-MH NI-MH

is set to , the adaptor powers the

ALKALINE/

scanner and recharges the installed batteries at the same time.

WARNING!

To prevent damage to Ni-MH batteries, never charge them in an area where the temperature is above 113°F (45°C) or below 32°F (0°C).

Setting Up Your Scanner

Connecting the Antenna

To attach the supplied flexible antenna to the connector on the top of your scanner, simply screw it onto the scanner's SMA connector.

Connecting an Optional Antenna

The scanner's SMA connector makes it easy to connect a variety of optional antennas, including an external mobile antenna or outdoor base station antenna.

Note: Always use 50- or 75-ohm, RG-58, or RG-8, coaxial cable and the supplied BNC/SMA adaptor to connect an outdoor antenna. If the antenna is over 15 metres from the scanner, use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable. Cable loss increases with higher frequency.

Connecting an Earphone/Headphone

For private listening, you can plug a 1 /8-inch (3.5mm) mini-plug earphone or headphones (not supplied) into the headphone jack on top of your scanner. This automatically disconnects the internal speaker. See “Earphone Warning” at the front of the manual for important information about using an earphone/ headphone.

Connecting an Extension Speaker

In a noisy area, an optional amplified extension speaker, positioned in the right place, might provide more comfortable listening. Plug the speaker cable's 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) mini-plug into your scanner's jack.

WARNING!

Never connect anything other than an earphone or the recommended amplified extension speaker to the scanner’s headphone jack. This might damage the scanner.

Setting Up Your Scanner

WARNING!

Never connect any part of the headphone jack to the antenna jack or connect the radio to an installation where the antenna and audio connection are grounded. This might damage the scanner.

Attaching the Belt Clip

To make your scanner easier to carry when you are on the go, use the supplied belt clip. Rotate the scanner upside down to remove it from the clip.

Attaching the Wrist Strap

To keep your scanner safely close at hand, use the supplied wrist strap. Push the small loop on one end of the wrist strap through the lug on the right side of the scanner, then thread the other end of the wrist strap back through the small loop to secure it.

A Look At The Keypad

Your scanner's keys have various functions labeled on the key tops and below the keys.

To select the function labeled on a key, simply press the key. To select the function labeled below a key, hold down on the left side of the scanner then press the key. appears on the display.

Setting Up Your Scanner

If your scanner's keys seem confusing at first, the following information should help you understand each key's function.

Key Name Description

Hold/ Hold –

frequency search when pressed. Resumes the scan or the frequency search when pressed again.

+–

Close Call feature on or off (see "Setting Close Call Options” on Page 101).

Scan/srch Scan –

channels.

+ srch –

or quickly accesses the search menu.

L/O L/O –

selected channel or skip a specified frequency.

Press and hold for more than 2 seconds to unlock all channels in a system or all frequencies in a Search mode. Lets you also exit a menu.

Holds the scan or the

Quickly turns the

Scans the stored

Starts quick search

Lets you lock out a

+ L/O –

Press quickly to lock and unlock a selected system in Scan or Scan Hold mode and review search lockout frequencies in Search or Search Hold mode.

Setting Up Your Scanner

Key Name Description

– Turns the display backlight on or off. Press and hold for more than 2 seconds to turn the scanner on or off.

the keypad.

1-9, 0 1-9, 0

enters quick key numbers, and selects a custom search range in Custom Search mode.

Selects systems by quick key in scan mode.

by quick key in scan mode.

1/pri 1 –

mode in scan hold mode.

– Locks and unlocks

– Enters a frequency,

+ 1-9, 0

– Selects groups

Enters a 1.

+ pri –

Selects the priority

</4 4 –

6/> 6

Setting Up Your Scanner

Enters a 4.

– Moves the active character to the left while editing data.

– Enters a 6.

– Moves the active character to the right while editing data.

Key Name Description

7/rcl 7

no/rev

E/yes/att E

– Enters a 7.

– Displays a series of

+ rcl

prompts to quickly select a specific channel in the scan hold mode.

– Enters a decimal point or dash in a frequency or talk group ID, enters or selects an extended 2-digit Quick Key, enters an “i” for I-Call input.

At a prompt, answers “No.”

+ rev

– Monitors the currently-tuned frequency’s reverse frequency.

– Press to select input and menu items, to quickly edit a channel in Scan Hold Mode, and store a frequency into memory in Scan Hold mode.

At a prompt, answers “yes.”

+att

– Turns the scanner’s attenuator on or off for the current channel (for conventional systems) or system (for trunked systems).

A Look At The Display

The display has indicators that show the scanner's current operating status. The display information helps you understand how your scanner operates.

- appears with a number to show the currently-

Sn:

selected System Quick Key number. n appears to show the first digit of the Quick Key number. For example, if System Quick Key 75 is selected, appears. The currently active system indicator flashes.

Setting Up Your Scanner

S7:

ATT

- appears when the attenuation feature is turned on. See “Setting System Attenuation (Trunked Systems Only)” on Page 81.

PRI

- appears when the priority feature is turned on (see “Priority Scan” on Page 50).

- appears when you lock the keypad (see “Locking/Unlocking the Keypad and Scroll” on Page 49).

- alerts you when the battery power gets low.

GRP

- shows the currently activated group or selected group Quick Key number, appears with numbers(0-9).

The currently active group indicator flashes.

AM/FM/NFM/WFM

- appears to show the type

of transmission.

L/O

- appears when you manually select a channel you locked out or a skip frequency.

- appears when you hold down to select a function.

- appears when the scanner is set to a Close Call feature mode (see “Using the Close Call Feature” on Page 100).

SCAN

DSKP

HOLD

- scrolls while the scanner is scanning.

- appears when data skip is turned on.

- appears while the scanner is set to scan or search hold mode.

- appears if priority is turned on

ATT

- appears if the attenuator is turned on.

SCR

- appears when one or more broadcast screen bands are turned on.

REP

- appears when repeater find is turned on.

P25

- appears when an APCO P25 digital voice transmission is being received.

- appears to show signal strength (0 to 5)

Setting Up Your Scanner

LNK

- appears when data on a voice channel is being received.

DAT

- appears when data on a control channel is being received.

ENC

- appears when APCO P25 encrypted data is being received on a voice channel.

Using Menu

Press on the left side of the scanner to enter the menu. See “Using the Menu” on Page 45 for more information about the scanner’s menu options.

Using Func

To select the function labeled below a key on the front of the scanner, hold down on the left side of the scanner, then press that key. To hold on a system while scanning or temporarily stop on a channel while searching, press . To select a system in Scan or Scan Hold mode, hold down and rotate the scroll control.

Setting Up Your Scanner

Basic Operation

Turning On the Scanner and Setting the Squelch

Note:

Make sure the scanner's antenna is connected

before you turn it on.

1. Press and hold for about 2 seconds to turn on the scanner.

2. Briefly press the scroll control once. and a

VOLUME LEVEL

number appear on the display.

3. While appears, rotate the scroll

4. While holding down on the left side of the

5. While appears, rotate the scroll

VOLUME LEVEL

control to set the volume to a comfortable listening level.

Note:

If you do not press any key or turn the scroll control within about 10 seconds, disappears. If this happens, simply press the scroll control again.

scanner, briefly press the scroll control once.

SQUELCH LEVEL

display.

SQUELCH LEVEL

control to set the squelch to the level you want.

Note:

If you do not press any key or turn the scroll control within about 10 seconds, disappears. If this happens, briefly press the scroll control while holding down .

and a number appear on the

Brisbane

VOLUME LEVEL

SQUELCH LEVEL

Basic Operation

Scanning Systems

To begin scanning programmed systems, press Scan. The UBCD396T scans all unlocked systems in all activated quick-key groups and any searches unlocked for search and scan.

Notes:

• If no systems are programmed, or all systems are

locked out, an error message appears. Program a system or select a system to scan.

• When scanning multiple systems, the UBCD396T

scans systems according to the assigned quick key. Systems assigned to quick key 1 are scanned first, then 2, 3, 4, etc. Systems not assigned to a quick key are scanned last, then unlocked searches. Within a quick key, systems are scanned in the order they were assigned.

• Within a system, channels are scanned according

to the assigned channel group, with the same priority as described above for systems.

• The UBCD396T scans a system for the duration

you set using the System Hold Time option (see “Setting the System Hold Time” on Page 72). For trunked systems, the scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, the current transmission ends, and the channel delay expires. Conventional systems operate similarly, but all unlocked channels are scanned at least one time regardless of the hold time setting.

• Each search range is searched for the amount of

time you set using the “Set Hold Time” option. See “Setting the System Hold Time” on Page 72 for more information.

Basic Operation

Selecting Systems to Scan

To select systems to scan, press then press the

Scan

quick key assigned to the system or systems you want to scan. For quick keys 0-9, press the quick key’s number. For quick keys 10-99, press then press the quick key’s 2-digit number. To stop scanning the system(s), press (if the quick key is a 2-digit quick key) then the number button or buttons again.

The Sx: (system) indicators on the display show the systems that are currently selected.

Basic Operation

To select or lock out a system that is not assigned to a key, press and hold while you rotate the scroll control until the desired system is selected. Then, continue to hold and press to either lock out

L/O

or unlock the system.

Selecting System Channel Groups

Within a system, you can assign groups of channels to a group quick key (see “Setting the Group Quick Key” on Page 83).

Follow these steps to activate or deactivate a channel group within a system while scanning.

1. Press to hold on the system (or hold down then rotate the scroll control to select the

system).

2. Continue to hold and press the number key

corresponding to the channel group you want to activate or deactivate.

Locking/Unlocking Systems

Follow these steps to lock out a system so that it does not scan even if its quick key is selected.

1. While holding down , rotate the scroll control

to select the system.

2. Continue to hold down and press to lock

out the system. appears.

System Locked

L/O

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to unlock a system you

have previously locked.

System Unlocked

appears.

Locking/Unlocking Channels

Follow these steps to lock out a channel so that it does not scan even if its system and channel group are selected.

1. While holding down , rotate the scroll control

to select the system where the channel is stored.

Basic Operation

2. Release then press within 2 seconds

Hold

to hold on the system.

3. Rotate the scroll control to select the channel you

want to lock or unlock.

4. Press to lock or unlock the channel.

L/O

You can also lock out an active channel by pressing L/O while the scanner is stopped on the channel.

ID Scan/ID Search Mode

While you are scanning a trunked system, the scanner can be in either ID Scan or ID Search mode:

• ID Scan – the scanner only stops on talk group

ID’s that you have programmed into the system

• ID Search – the scanner stops on any unlocked

talk group that becomes active.

To toggle between ID Scan and ID Search, press then press within 2 seconds while the scanner is

Scan

scanning the system.

If the scanner does not scan the system long enough for you to easily do this, press while the scanner is scanning the system (or press then rotate the scroll control to select the system). Then, release

and press Scan within 2 seconds.

Temporarily Holding On a System

To temporarily hold on a system, press and hold . To hold on a different system, continue to hold and rotate the scroll control to select the system. Normal scanning resumes 2 seconds after you release .

Holding On a Channel

To hold on a channel, press while the channel is active. To select a different channel, rotate the scroll control. If you scroll past the beginning or end of the current system, the scanner selects channels in the

Basic Operation

Hold

previous or next system. To resume scanning, press Scan.

Quickly Storing an ID During ID Search

To quickly store an active talk group ID during ID search, press . You see:

Quick TGID Save?

To save the ID into a channel, press . Otherwise, press . If you press , the scanner stores the ID into a channel group called in the current system.

Qck Save Grp

Quick-Storing Channels or Talk Group ID’s

1. Hold on an existing channel in any system.

2. Enter the frequency or talk group ID you want to

store (press twice to enter hyphens in talk group ID’s).

3. To quick-store the channel or talk group ID, press

. Otherwise, press .

If you enter a frequency then press , the scanner stores it in the group in a system

Qck Save Cnv Sys

called . These are created if they do not exist. Then, the scanner prompts you to save other channel settings.

If you enter a talk group ID then press , the scanner stores it into a channel group named in the current system. If the talk group ID’s format is not the type used by the current system, the scanner displays an error message and does not save the talk group ID.

Qck Save Grp

Basic Operation

If you pressed No in Step 3, the scanner prompts you to select the system and the group where you want to store the frequency or talk group ID.

Quickly Recalling Channels

1. Press to hold on any channel.

2. Press + . The scanner prompts you to

Hold

Rcl

select the system where the channel is stored.

3. Rotate the scroll control to select the system, then

press . The scanner prompts you to select the

channel group where the channel is stored.

4. Rotate the scroll control to select the group, then

press . The scanner prompts you to select a channel.

5. Rotate the scroll control to select the channel,

then press to hold on that channel.

Monitoring Trunking Activity

To monitor trunking activity, press Hold then turn the scroll control to select the control channel frequency (for a Motorola or EDACS system) or any system frequency (for an LTR system). Active talk group ID’s appear on the second line of the display. For Motorola systems, the scanner will show the System ID on the top line of the display. For EDACS systems, the scanner will show the site ID on the top line of the display.

Toggling Channel Alpha Tags

To change the display so the channel and frequency or Talk Group ID appear instead of the alpha tag, press + 5.

Basic Operation

Using The Menu

The scanner’s menu lets you select options that let you set up and use the scanner.

To use the menu, press on the left side of the scanner. To select a menu item, rotate the scroll control clockwise or counterclockwise. The currentlyselected menu item is highlighted with a bar on the display. When the menu item you want to select is highlighted, briefly press the scroll control to select it. To back up a level, press . To exit the menu mode, press again or the L/O key.

This table shows the scanner’s menu structure. To find information about a particular menu setting in this manual, go to the page number shown in parentheses next to the setting.

Not all of the options shown in this table may

Note:

appear at the same time. To view all available options on any screen, rotate the scroll control.

New System

104 105 92 106 107 109 88 107 107 108 109 79

91 95 93 94 97

Note: the actual Select System submenu display will depend on what is programmed into the scanner.

Using the Menu

101 101 101 101 101 101

50 50 50 50

114 114

53 54

50 49 50 51 51 52 49

Using the Menu

Programming Systems Menu

This table shows the scanner’s systems menu structure. This menu lets you program new systems or change existing systems. To find information about a particular menu setting in this manual, go to the page number shown under or next to the setting.

To use the systems menu, press then briefly press the scroll control. To back up a level, press . To exit the menu mode, press again or press

[L/O].

Not all of the options shown in this table may

Note:

appear at the same time. To view all available options on any screen, rotate the scroll control.

70 71 57 81 81

70 71 67 61 80 62 81 81

70 71 67 80 62 81 81

Using the Menu

70 71 67 61 80 67 81 81

Using the Menu

Other Settings

Displaying System Information

Viewing Memory Used

Settings

See Scanner Info

% Memory Used

A bar showing the percent of memory used appears. Press any key to return to the previous menu.

Viewing the Firmware Version

Settings

See Scanner Info

Firmware Version

Press any key to return to the previous menu.

Adjusting the Key Beep

Settings

Adjust Key Beep

- the scanner automatically sets the key beep to

Auto

match the master volume setting level you select.

Level1-15

beep level. You can choose any of 15 different key beep levels.

- the scanner turns the key beep off.

Off

the scanner lets you select a key

Locking/Unlocking the Keypad and Scroll

Press and hold down then press//to lock or unlock the keypad. and (if the keypad is locked) or (if the keypad is unlocked) appears. This does not affect the volume setting. The scroll control still controls the volume when you lock the controls.

Keypad Lock On

Off

Other Settings

Turning Power Save On or Off

Settings

Set Battery Save

• The scanner goes into low-power mode when

you monitor a conventional channel that has no activity.

Off

• Power save is off.

Priority Scan

Set Priority

Or, while holding on any channel, press

+ 1/Pri

to select one of these priority modes:

Off

• Normal scanning

• While scanning a conventional system, the

scanner interrupts every 2 seconds and checks the priority channels in each unlocked conventional system. Priority channels in lower priority key numbered systems (starting from 1) have highest priority. PRI appears when you select this mode.

Plus On

• The scanner only scans priority

channels in unlocked conventional systems. PRI flashes when you select this mode.

Using the Backlight

Settings

Set Backlight

10 sec

• The backlight stays on for 10 seconds

after you press .

30 sec

• The backlight stays on for 30 seconds

after you press .

Squelch

• The backlight turns on when the

squelch opens then stays on for 5 seconds.

Other Settings

• The backlight turns on when any key

Keypress

is pressed then stays on for 10 seconds.

• The backlight turns on when you

Infinite

press then stays on until you press again.

Pressing any key while the backlight is on extends the backlight period. Pressing while the backlight is on turns off the backlight.

Setting the Audio AGC

Settings Set Audio AGC

This setting helps balance the audio level you hear as you listen to different radio sources so you can hear them at a similar volume. Use this setting if you listen to an audio source that has natural changes in audio level for which you want to compensate.

Analog

Rotate the scroll control to select. This setting lets you set the audio AGC for receiving analog channels.

• Press the scroll control to select. Audio AGC is

turned on.

• Press the scroll control to select. Audio AGC

Off

is turned off.

Digital

Rotate the scroll control to select. This setting lets you set the audio AGC for receiving digital channels.

• Press the scroll control to select. Audio AGC is

turned on.

• Press the scroll control to select. Audio AGC

Off

is turned off.

Adjusting the Display Contrast

Settings

Adjust Contrast

Contrast1-15

to the contrast level you select.

the scanner adjusts the display

Other Settings

This setting controls the display’s contrast (how light or dark it appears). Use this setting to change the contrast for different viewing conditions. There are 15 contrast settings. You see the change in contrast as you scroll through the settings.

Initializing the Scanner’s Memory

Important!

This clears data you have entered. You cannot restore user programmed data that has been deleted.

To initialize the scanner’s memory, turn off the scanner. Then, press 2, 9, and Hold while turning it on.

You can restore factory programmed data when you next see:

Restore Preprogram List?

Yes or “ ” for No.

Press “ ” for

E yes

Connecting Your Scanner to a Personal Computer

To connect your scanner to a personal computer, you must first set the scanner’s baud rate (the rate at which data is transferred between the scanner and the computer, in bits per second (bps).

Important!

your scanner and your computer, make sure the batteries are fresh or fully charged. If the scanner loses power while you are transferring data, its memory might be corrupted and all information programmed in the scanner might be erased.

Before you start transferring data between

Hint:

If you have trouble transferring data between your scanner and your computer, try setting the baud rate to a slower setting.

Other Settings

Use the included connection cable to connect your scanner to another UBCD396T scanner or your personal computer.

Settings

PC Control

Lets you set the baud rate your scanner

uses to communicate with a personal computer.

• The baud rate is not set.

Off

• The baud rate is set to 9600 bps.

9600 bps

• The baud rate is set to 19,200 bps.

19200 bps

• The baud rate is set to 38,400 bps.

38400 bps

• The baud rate is set to 57,600 bps.

57600 bps

• The baud rate is set to 115,200 bps.

115200 bps

Using the Cloning Options

Lets you set your scanner as a master (source) or slave (recipient), letting you transfer programming to or from another UBCD396T scanner. See "Wired Cloning" on Page 53 (below) and "On-Air Cloning" on Page 54.

Wired Cloning

Xfer Information

Wired Clone

• Sets the scanner to be the source

Master

scanner.

• Sets the scanner to be the recipient

Slave

scanner.

To clone (copy) data directly from one UBCD396T scanner to another UBCD396T scanner, you must first connect the scanners to each other using the included connection cables and a DB9 null modem adaptor and DB9 gender changer (neither included), available at most computer stores. Then you must set one scanner as the source and the other as the destination.

Plug the smaller end of each of the included connection cables into on the right side of each scanner. Then connect the other end of the cables together using the null modem connector and gender changer.

Remote

Other Settings

Then set the scanner containing the programming you want to transfer as the master scanner, then set the other scanner as the slave scanner.

(Master scanner)

(Slave scanner)

Clone Master Press SCAN Key

Clone Slave Press SCAN Key

When you are ready to clone the scanner, press on the slave scanner first, then on the master scanner. The master scanner checks the connection between the two scanners, then transfers its data to the slave scanner.

When the transfer is complete, appears on both scanners. If the transfer did not work,

Complete

Error

appears on the master scanner.

On-Air Cloning

You can clone (copy) data from a PC to a UBCD396T scanner. This is useful if you want to quickly program 20 or more UBCD396T scanners at the same time.

Note:

On-air cloning is practical if you are programming more than 10 scanners at the same time. Otherwise, we recommend you use wired Programming.

Xfer Information

On-Air Clone

• Start on-air cloning.

Start Cloning

• Lets you set the frequency where

Set Frequency

your scanner receives the cloning broadcast.

• Lets you set the cloning

Set Modulation

broadcast’s modulation type.

To clone (copy) data from a PC to the scanner, you need a transceiver, a PC that has an audio input, and a cable to connect your PC’s sound card to the transceiver. Follow the directions supplied with the Uniden Advanced Scanner Director Software (available online at www.uniden.com.au (for Australia) or www.uniden.co.nz (for New Zealand)) to construct a cable and use on-air cloning.

Other Settings

When you are receiving the cloning broadcast and are ready to clone the scanner, select

Start Cloning

on the scanner. The scanner receives the data from the transmission

When the transfer is complete, appears. If the transfer did not work, appears.

Complete

Error

Other Settings

Programming Radio Systems

To get the most out of your UBCD396T you can organize frequencies into programmed radio systems.

Programming radio systems is completed in two major steps. Don't skip either step!

1. Plan the system.

2. Program the system into your scanner according

to the plan you prepared in Step 1.

To make planning easier, planning worksheets are included in the back of this manual for each system type. Copy the worksheets (or download this manual from the Uniden website and print extra sheets), then use them to plan out how you will program the scanner.

Important!

Before you start programming your scanner, make sure the batteries are fresh or fully charged. If the scanner loses power while you program it, its memory might be corrupted which will require you to reinitialize it (see "Initializing the Scanner’s Memory" on Page 52). All information programmed in the scanner, including preprogrammed systems, might be lost.

General Notes

• You can store up to 400 systems.

• Trunking systems can have up to 200 channels

Each. The number of conventional system channels you can have is limited only by the amount of scanner memory remaining.

• You can store up to 20 channel groups per system.

• Total channels are limited to about 6000 (3000 is

Typical).

Programming Radio Systems

Programming Conventional Systems

Program System

New System

Conventional

Confirm? Yes=”E” / No=”.”

The scanner creates an empty conventional system, with a default name of .

is a number that increments as you add new systems. indicates that this is a conventional system.

Refer to the appropriate section to set system-wide options:

• See "Editing the System Name" on Page 70

• See “Editing the System Quick Key” on Page 71

• See “Setting System Lockout” on Page 71

• See “Setting the System Hold Time” on Page 72

• See “Setting the Channel Delay Time” on Page 72

• See “Deleting Systems” on Page 81

• See “Copying Systems” on Page 81

• See “Entering/Editing Conventional Channel

Groups” on Page 57(below)

System n C

Entering/Editing Conventional Channel Groups

To enter channels in a conventional system, first set up a channel group (or groups) to hold the channels. Then, enter the channel and channel parameters in the group(s).

Setting Up a Channel Group

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

New Group

Programming Radio Systems

The scanner creates a group with a default name of

Group n. n

increments by one for each new group you create within a system. Refer to the appropriate section to set group-wide options:

• See “Entering/Editing the Group Name” on

Page 82

• See “Setting the Group Quick Key” on Page 83

• See “Deleting Groups” on Page 83

• See “Setting System Lockout” on Page 71

• See “Entering/Editing Conventional Channels” on

Page 58 (below)

Entering/Editing Conventional Channels

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

New Channel

Refer to the appropriate section to change a channel Setting:

• See “Editing the Channel Name” on Page 84

• See “Editing Frequencies (Conventional Channels

Only)” on Page 85

• See “Setting Channel Priority (Conventional

Channels Only)” on Page 85

• See “Deleting Channels” on Page 90

• See “Copying/Pasting Channels” on Page 90

Note:

The scanner automatically sets the step to

match the input frequency.

Programming Radio Systems

Programming Motorola Systems

Program System

New System

MOT

Next, rotate the scroll control to select the type of Motorola system you want to program, then briefly press the scroll control to select it.

P25

• - Use for Motorola Astro APCO 25 Digital

systems in any band

800MHz Standard

• - Use for 800 MHz systems

that use the standard band plan

800MHz Splinter

• - Use for 800 MHz systems

that use the splinter band plan (typically near international borders)

Note:

Splinter systems have frequencies below 866 MHz that end in 0. For example, 851.0250 would be the frequency of a splinter system.

900MHz Band

• - Use for 900 MHz systems

VHF band

• - Use for VHF systems

UHF band

• - Use for UHF systems

Confirm? Yes=”E” / No=”.”

Note:

The scanner creates an empty MOT system, with a default name of "System n M." "n" is a number that increments as you add new systems, "M" indicates that this is a MOT system.

Next, refer to the appropriate section to set systemwide options. For most settings, you can accept the default. However, for the items in , you

bold

must enter information in order for your scanner to scan the system.

• See “Editing the System Name” on Page 70

• See “Editing the System Quick Key” on Page 71

• See “Setting System Lockout” on Page 71

• See “Setting the System Hold Time” on Page 72

• See “Setting the Channel Delay Time” on Page 72

• See “Setting ID Scan/Search (Trunked Systems Only)” on Page 73

• See "Setting the Band Plan (Motorola P25 and VHF/UHF Systems Only)" on Page 74

• See “Editing the Fleet Map (Motorola Systems Only)” on Page 75 (

Type II Hybrid systems

must be set up for Type I and

)

Programming Radio Systems

• See“Setting the Motorola Status Bit (Motorola

Systems Only)” on Page 76

• See “Setting the End Code Operation (Motorola

Systems Only)” on Page 77

• See “Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems

Only)” on Page 77

• See “Setting Emergency Alert (Motorola and

EDACS Systems Only)” on Page 78

• See “Adjusting the P25 Level (Motorola and

Conventional Systems Only)” on Page 79

• See “Setting Control-Channel Only (Motorola

Systems Only)” on Page 78

• See “Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies” on

Page 79

• See “Setting System Attenuation (Trunked

Systems Only)” on Page 81

• See “Deleting Systems” on Page 81

• See “Copying Systems” on Page 81

• See “Setting System Frequencies” on Page 64

• See “Entering/Editing Motorola Channel Groups”

on Page 62

Setting System Frequencies

Program System

Select the system

Set Frequencies

New Frequencies

Input a system frequency, then press the scroll control.

To enter additional frequencies, press , use the scroll control to select , then repeat

New Frequency

the above.

If you select Control Channel Only mode (see

Note:

“Setting Control-Channel Only (Motorola Systems Only)” on Page 78), you only need to enter the frequency(s) that can be assigned as the control channel. Most frequency lists usually indicate which of

Programming Radio Systems

the frequencies are the control channel frequencies. Otherwise, you must enter all of the frequencies.

Setting Modulation

Program System

Select the system

Set Modulation

Auto

- the scanner uses the default modulation for

the frequency band.

- the scanner uses FM (frequency modulation) for

the frequency band.

NFM

- the scanner uses narrowband FM for the

frequency band.

Note:

The default setting is .

Auto

This setting controls the modulation method used for the frequency band. In most cases, if you leave this

Auto

set to , the scanner automatically selects the correct modulation type for the system you are Programming.

Setting Attenuation

Program System

Select the system

Set Attenuator

This setting controls whether the attenuator will be on or off for the current system. Select your setting then press the scroll control.

Off On

Notes:

• Turn on this setting if you are near strong signal

- the attenuator is off.

- system frequencies are attenuated by about 18 dB.

sources. Attenuation can help reduce interference And desensitization that strong signals create.

Programming Radio Systems

• You can also turn this setting on or off by holding

on a trunked system, then pressing + .

Entering/Editing Motorola Channel Groups

To enter channels in a system, first set up a channel group (or groups) to hold the channels. Then, enter the channel and channel parameters in the group(s).

Setting Up a Channel Group

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

New Group

The scanner creates a group with a default name of

Group nn. nn

group you create within a system. Next, refer to the appropriate section to set groupwide options:

• See “Entering/Editing the Group Name” on

Page 82

• See “Setting the Group Quick Key” on Page 83

• See “Deleting Groups” on Page 83

• See “Copying Systems” on Page 81

• See “Entering/Editing Motorola Channels” on

Page 62

• See “Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems

Only)” on Page 77

increments by one for each new

Entering/Editing Motorola Channels

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

New Channel

Programming Radio Systems

Enter a talk group ID

You can enter I-Calls by pressing then the

Note:

I-Call number. You can enter the I-Call wild card by pressing then .

Refer to the appropriate section to change a channel setting:

• See “Adjusting the P25 Level (Motorola and

Conventional Systems Only)” on Page 79

• See “Editing the Channel Name” on Page 84

• See “Editing the Talk Group ID (Trunked Channels

Only)” on Page 86

• See “Setting Channel Lockout” on Page 89

• See “Deleting Channels” on Page 90

• See “Copying/Pasting Channels” on Page 90

To program another channel within the same group, press , then repeat the above. To create another channel group and enter more channels, press three times, then proceed from “Entering/Editing Motorola Channel Groups” on Page 62.

Programming EDACS Systems

Program System

New System

EDCS

Confirm? Yes=”E” / No=”.”

Next, rotate the scroll control to select the type of EDACS system you want to program, then briefly press the scroll control to select it.

WIDE

• - Use for wideband EDACS systems

NARROW

• - Use for narrowband EDACS systems

SCAT

• - Use for EDACS SCAT (Single Channel

Autonomous Trunking)

Confirm? Yes=”E” / No=”.”

The scanner creates an empty EDACS system, with a default name of .

System n E

Programming Radio Systems

is a number that increments as you add new

systems. indicates that this is an EDACS system.

Next, refer to the appropriate section to set systemwide options. For most settings, you can accept the default. However, for the items in , you

bold

must enter information in order for your scanner to scan the system.

• See “Editing the System Name” on Page 70

• See “Editing the System Quick Key” on Page 71

• See “Setting System Lockout” on Page 71

• See “Setting the System Hold Time” on Page 72

• See “Setting the Channel Delay Time” on Page 72

• See “Setting ID Scan/Search (Trunked Systems

Only)” on Page 73

• See “Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems

Only)” on Page 77

• See “Adjusting the P25 Level (Motorola and

Conventional Systems Only)” on Page 79

• See “Setting the EDACS ID Format (EDACS

Systems Only)” on Page 80

• See “Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies” on

Page 79

• See “Setting Channel Attenuation (Conventional

Channels Only)” on Page 88

• See “Deleting Systems” on Page 81

• See “Copying Systems” on Page 81

• See “Setting System Frequencies” on Page

64 (below)

• See “Entering/Editing EDACS Channel Groups”

on Page 65

Setting System Frequencies

Program System

Select the system

Set Frequencies

New Frequency

Programming Radio Systems

Input a system frequency, then press the scroll control. The scanner then prompts you to enter the LCN for the entered frequency. Enter the LCN, then press the scroll control.

To enter additional frequencies, press , use the scroll control to select New Frequency, then repeat the above.

Note:

The scanner only accepts a single frequency

and no LCN for SCAT systems.

Entering/Editing EDACS Channel Groups

To enter channels in a system, first set up a channel group (or groups) to hold the channels. Then, enter the channel and channel parameters in the group(s).

Setting Up a Channel Group

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

New Group

The scanner creates a group with a default name of

Group nn. nn

group you create within a system.

increments by one for each new

Next, refer to the appropriate section to set groupwide options:

• See “Entering/Editing the Group Name” on

Page 82

• See “Setting the Group Quick Key” on Page 83

• See “Deleting Groups” on Page 83

• See “Editing the Channel Name” on Page 84

• See “Setting Group Lockout” on Page 83

Entering/Editing EDACS Channels

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Programming Radio Systems

Select the group

Edit Channel

New Channel

Enter a talk group ID

You can enter I-Calls by pressing then the

Note:

I-Call number. You can enter the I-Call wild card by pressing then .

Refer to the appropriate section to change a channel setting:

• See “Editing the Channel Name” on Page 84

• See “Setting Channel Lockout” on Page 89

• See “Editing the Talk Group ID (Trunked Channels

Only)” on Page 86

• See “Deleting Channels” on Page 90

• See “Copying/Pasting Channels” on Page 90

Programming LTR Systems

Program System

New System

Confirm? Yes=”E” / No=”.”

The scanner creates an empty LTR system, with a default name of .

is a number that increments as you add new

systems. indicates that this is an LTR system.

System n L

Next, refer to the appropriate section to set systemwide options. For most settings, you can accept the default. However, for the items in , you

bold

must enter information in order for your scanner to scan the system.

• See “Editing the System Name” on Page 70

Programming Radio Systems

• See “Setting the System Hold Time” on Page 72

• See “Editing the System Quick Key” on Page 71

• See “Setting the Channel Delay Time” on Page 72

• See “Setting ID Scan/Search (Trunked Systems

Only)” on Page 73

• See “Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies” on

Page 79

• See “Setting Channel Attenuation (Conventional

Channels Only)” on Page 88

• See “Deleting Systems” on Page 81

• See “Copying Systems” on Page 81

• See “Setting System Frequencies” on Page

67 (below)

• See “Entering/Editing LTR Channel Groups” on

Page

67 (below)

Setting System Frequencies

Program System

Select the system

Set Frequencies

New Frequency

Input a system frequency, then press the scroll control. The scanner then prompts you to enter the LCN for the entered frequency. Enter the LCN, then press the scroll control.

To enter additional frequencies, press , use the scroll control to select , then repeat

New Frequency

the above.

Entering/Editing LTR Channel Groups

To enter channels in a system, first set up a channel group (or groups) to hold the channels. Then, enter the channel and channel parameters in the group(s). Menu Menu

Programming Radio Systems

Setting Up a Channel Group

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

New Group

The scanner creates a group with a default name of

Group nn. nn

increments by one for each new

group you create within a system.

Next, refer to the appropriate section to set groupwide options:

• See “Entering/Editing the Group Name” on

Page 82

• See “Setting the Group Quick Key” on Page 83

• See “Setting Group Lockout” on Page 83

• See “Deleting Groups” on Page 83

• See “Entering/Editing LTR Channels/ Talkgroups”

on Page 68 (below)

Entering/Editing LTR Channels/ Talkgroups

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

New Channel

Enter a talk group ID

Refer to the appropriate section to change a channel setting:

• See “Editing the Channel Name” on Page 84

• See “Setting Channel Lockout” on Page 89

• See “Editing the Talk Group ID (Trunked Channels

Only)” on Page 86

• See “Deleting Channels” on Page 90

• See “Copying/Pasting Channels” on Page 90

Programming Radio Systems

To program another channel within the same group, press , then repeat the above.

To create another channel group and enter more channels, press four times, then proceed from “Setting Up a Channel Group” on Page 68 .

To direct-enter LTR talkgroups, follow the steps under “Quick-Storing Channels or Talk Group ID’s” on Page 43.

Programming Radio Systems

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

This section details the instructions for each of the optional programming steps referred to in “Programming Radio Systems” on Page 56. Use the instructions in the appropriate section to enter or edit a setting.

System-Level Settings

These settings apply to the entire system.

Editing the System Name

Program System

Select the system

Edit Name

To enter a letter, turn the scroll control until the character you want appears. To enter a decimal point, press . To move the cursor to the left, press or hold and rotate the scroll control to the left. To move the cursor to the right, press or hold

6/>

and rotate the scroll control to the right.

</4

To clear a character, press twice. To clear all characters, press 3 times.

To accept an entry, press or press down on the

scroll control.

Hints:

• Each system name can be up to 16 characters. Abbreviate as necessary to fit.

• The default system names include the following letter in the 16th position to indicate the system type:

= Motorola

= EDACS

=LTR

= Conventional

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Editing the System Quick Key

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set Quick Key

After selecting this option, select any number from 0-99 to assign the system to a quick key or press to assign the system to no quick key, then press .

Hints:

• Access single-digit system Quick Keys by pressing the single digit on the keypad during scanning. Access two-digit system Quick Keys by pressing then both digits.

• You can assign as many systems to the same quick key as you want.

• To be scanned, a system’s quick key must be activated and the system must be unlocked.

Setting System Lockout

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set Lockout

This setting controls whether the system is scanned when its quick key is enabled. Rotate the scroll control to select your setting, then press .

Lockout Unlocked

Note:

- the system is not scanned

- the system is scanned

You can also lock or unlock a system by holding

and rotating the scroll control to select the

system, then pressing + L/O.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Setting the System Hold Time

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set Hold Time

This setting controls how many seconds the scanner scans a system before moving to the next unlocked system. Enter a value from 0-255, then press to save the setting.

Notes:

• This setting is available only when a control channel exists in a trunked system.

• If you select 0, the scanner stays on the system for a minimal time (only long enough to check current system activity).

• The default setting is 2 seconds for each system.

• For conventional systems, all unlocked channels will be scanned at least once regardless of this setting.

• The scanner moves to the next system after the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires.

• Due to the control method for these system types, the scanner always scans LTR and EDACS SCAT systems for at least 1 second.

Setting the Channel Delay Time

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set Delay Time

This setting controls how many seconds the scanner waits after a transmission ends before resuming

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

scanning. Enter a value from or , then press or the scroll control.

1-5 Off

Notes:

• The default setting is 2 seconds for each system.

• This setting applies to all channels within the system.

Setting ID Scan/Search (Trunked Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

ID Scan/Search

This setting controls how the system will be scanned. Select your setting, then press .

ID Scan

- the scanner only stops on channels you

have programmed into the system.

ID Search

- the scanner stops on any transmission

for unlocked talk group ID's.

You can also change this setting by pressing

Note:

while scanning the system.

Scan

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Setting the Band Plan (Motorola P25 and VHF/UHF Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Edit Band Plan

For Motorola VHF/UHF system

To properly track Motorola VHF and UHF trunked Systems, the user must enter what is known as the base, the spacing frequencies and offset channels for each System.

Follow these steps:

1. Scroll to the Band Plan table entry you want to edit and press .

2. Enter the base frequency and press .

3. Select the step frequency and press .

4. Enter the channel offset and press .

Repeat 1-4 for additional table entries.

Notes:

If Band Plan 1 is set 0 for the Base Frequency, Band Plan 2 and Band Plan 3 are also cleared. If Band Plan 2 is set 0 for the Base Frequency, Band Plan 3 is cleared too. You can input the following frequency for the base frequency. VHF system :

136.0000 - 174.0000 MHz UHF system : 406.0000 -

512.0000 MHz Or, the channel offset can be input from 380 to 759.

For Motorola P25 Systems

The UBCD396T includes two operation modes for P25 systems: explicit mode and implicit mode channel assignment. Explicit mode systems include all information needed to determine voice frequencies on the control channel. The scanner automatically sets the band plan sent from the repeater. In implicit mode you must supply the system’s band plan for the scanner to correctly determine voice frequencies. Follow these steps:

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

1. Scroll to the Band Plan table entry you want to edit

and press .

2. Enter the base frequency for the table entry and

press .

3. Enter the spacing for the table entry (in kHz) and

press .

Repeat 1-3 for additional table entries.

Notes:

· For Explicit mode systems, leave all entries blank.

· There is no way to determine the correct entries using the scanner (other than trial and error). You must get this information from another source. Uniden Australia and Uniden NZ do not have this information.

Editing the Fleet Map (Motorola Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Edit Fleet Map

For Motorola Type I systems, you must enter a system fleet map in order for the scanner to properly track and display talk group ID's. The fleet map is usually included in the same resource that provided system frequencies and talk group ID lists.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Rotate the scroll control to select the fleet map:

Preset

(see “Preset Fleet Maps” on Page 123). Press to

- select from the 16 most common fleet maps

select.

Custom

Enter the size code for each block. Press to select.

- allows you to enter a custom fleet map.

Notes:

• If you don't know the fleet map for your Motorola

Type I system, check the Internet. This information is commonly posted on sites such as those we reference in “Where To Get More Information” on Page 26.

• The default setting of no fleet map is the correct

setting for Motorola Type II systems.

Setting the Motorola Status Bit (Motorola Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set Status Bit

Motorola analog systems use talk group ID's in multiples of 16. ID numbers that fall between these ID's indicate special status flags for the system. This setting determines how the scanner will handle ID's that are not multiples of 16. Select your setting then press .

Ignore

- the scanner rounds all received ID's down

to the next interval of 16.

- the scanner treats all received ID's as unique

Yes

ID's.

The default setting is .

Note:

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Ignore

Setting the End Code Operation (Motorola Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set End Code

This setting determines how the scanner handles the transmission end code sent by most Motorola systems. Select your setting then press .

Yes

- the scanner immediately returns to the control

channel when it detects the end code.

Ignore

channel until the carrier drops.

Note:

- the scanner does not return to the control

The default setting is .

Yes

Setting I-Call (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set I-Call

This setting determines how your scanner treats Icalls while ID Searching.

- the scanner tracks I-calls. Press to select.

Off

- the scanner ignores I-calls. Press to select.

Only

- the scanner only tracks I-calls and ignores

other radio traffic on the system. Press to select.

The default setting is .

Note:

Off

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Setting Emergency Alert (Motorola and EDACS Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Emergency Alert

Off

- the scanner does not alert you to emergency

transmissions.

Alert1-9

notify you of the emergency transmission. You can choose any of 9 different beep types.

Set Level

Auto

- the scanner automatically sets the emergency

alert beep to the master volume level.

Level1-15

hear to the level you select.

- the scanner sounds an alert beep to

- the scanner adjusts the volume you

Setting Control-Channel Only (Motorola Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Set C-Ch Only

This setting determines the frequencies you need to enter for Motorola systems. Select your setting, then press .

Off

- you must enter all voice and control channel

frequencies.

- you only need to enter control channel

frequencies.

The scanner defaults to .

Note:

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Reviewing Locked Out Frequencies

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Rvw ID: Srch L/O

The scanner displays the first locked-out frequency and prompts you to unlock the frequency. Press to unlock the frequency. Or, rotate the scroll control or press to select a different frequency. To exit the review, press .

Clearing All Locked-Out IDs

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Clr All L/O IDs

The scanner prompts you to confirm deletion. To confirm and delete all locked-out IDs in the selected system, press . Otherwise, to cancel, press .

Adjusting the P25 Level (Motorola and Conventional Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

Adjust P25 Level

This setting determines some system-specific parameters for digital channels. In most cases, setting

Auto

this to provides the best performance. However, you can also manually set the digital decode threshold. This setting affects all channels in the current system.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

- the scanner automatically adjusts the digital

Auto

decode threshold to match the transmission you are hearing when it receives a strong signal and has a high decode rate.

Manual

- lets you manually adjust the digital decode threshold. To manually adjust the P25 level, select Manual .

Default

- sets the digital decode threshold to the default value. Use this setting to return to the value that usually provides adequate performance. This is handy is you have manually adjusted the value to a setting that prevents proper decoding.

This setting has no effect on how these

Note:

systems are received.

Setting the EDACS ID Format (EDACS Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Sys Option

EDCS ID Format

EDACS talk group ID's are commonly provided in one of two formats: AFS and Decimal. This setting determines how you enter EDACS ID's and how the scanner displays them.

AFS Format

- the scanner uses AFS format for talk

group ID's

Decimal Format

- the scanner uses decimal format

for talkgroup ID's

Notes:

• The scanner defaults to AFS (agency, fleet,

subfleet) format - the format used in most EDACS systems.

• See “EDACS Trunking” on Page 24 for more

information about the AFS format.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Setting System Attenuation (Trunked Systems Only)

Program System

Select the system

Set Attenuator

This setting controls whether the attenuator will be on or off for the current system. Select your setting then press .

Off

- the attenuator is off.

- system frequencies are attenuated by about 18

dB.

Notes:

• Turn on this setting if you are near strong signal

sources. Attenuation can help reduce interference and desensitization that strong signals create.

• You can also turn this setting on or off by holding

on a trunked system, then pressing + .

Deleting Systems

Program System

Select the system

Delete System

The scanner prompts you to confirm deletion. To confirm, press . To cancel, press .

Notes:

• Deleted systems cannot be restored. You must

re-enter them.

• You cannot restore preloaded systems.

Copying Systems

To copy a system including all settings, groups, and channels:

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Program System

Select the system

Copy System

New Sys Name?

Enter a name for the copied system, then press .

Group-Level Settings

The settings in this section apply to all of the channels stored in the current group.

Entering/Editing the Group Name

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Name

Follow these steps to enter/edit the group name.

1. Rotate the scroll control to select the first letter.

2. Press and hold down then rotate the scroll

control once to select the next letter.

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have entered the

system name. Then press or press down on the scroll control to accept the setting.

Hints:

• Each group name can be up to 16 characters.

Abbreviate as necessary to fit.

• The group and system name alternate in the top

line of the display when the scanner stops on a channel.

• Press twice to delete the current character.

• Press three times to clear the entire alpha tag.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Setting the Group Quick Key

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Set Quick Key

After selecting this option, press - to assign the

group to a quick key or press to assign the system to no quick key, then press .

Hints:

• You can assign as many groups to the same quick

key as you want.

• A group’s quick key must be activated to be

scanned.

Setting Group Lockout

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Set Lockout

This setting determines whether the scanner will scan this group when it is enabled. Select your setting, then press .

Lockout Unlocked

- the group is not scanned.

- the group is scanned.

Note:

The default setting is .

Deleting Groups

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Unlocked

Select the group

Delete Group

The scanner prompts you to confirm deletion. To confirm, press . To cancel, press .

Note:

Deleted groups cannot be restored. You must

re-enter them.

Channel-Level Settings

These settings affect only the channel you are programming.

Editing the Channel Name

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Edit Name

Follow these steps to enter/edit the channel name.

1. Rotate the scroll control to select the first letter.

2. Press and hold down then rotate the scroll

control once to select the next letter.

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have entered the

channel name. Then press or press down on the

scroll control to accept the setting.

Hints:

• Each channel name can be up to 16 characters.

Abbreviate as necessary to fit.

• The channel name appears on the second line of

the display when the scanner stops on a channel.

• If you do not enter a channel name, the scanner

displays the frequency (for conventional systems)

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

or the talk group ID (for trunked systems) when it stops on a channel.

• Press twice to delete the current character.

• Press three times to clear the entire alpha tag.

• Channel names take up extra memory. To

maximize channels, use channel names only where necessary.

Editing Frequencies (Conventional Channels Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Input Frequency

Input the frequency, then press the scroll control. To change the frequency you entered, turn the scroll control to select , then press the scroll control.

Edit Frequency

Setting Channel Priority (Conventional Channels Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Set Priority

This setting controls whether the scanner treats the channel as a priority channel while scanning. Select your setting, then press .

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

- when you turn on the Priority feature, the channel

will be scanned every 2 seconds. appears.

Off

- the channel will not be treated with priority.

The default setting is .

Note:

Off

Setting Channel Alert

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Set Alert

Off

- the scanner does not alert you to emergency

transmissions.

Alert1-9

notify you of the emergency transmission. You can choose any of 9 different beep types.

Set Level

Auto

- the scanner automatically sets the emergency

alert beep to the master volume level.

- the scanner sounds an alert beep to

Level1-15

- the scanner adjusts the volume you

hear to the level you select.

Editing the Talk Group ID (Trunked Channels Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Select the talk group ID

Edit TGID

To edit the talk group ID, enter the talk group ID you want using the number keys on the keypad. Then press down on the scroll control to accept it.

Setting CTCSS/DCS (Conventional Channels Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Set CTCSS/DCS

This setting controls how a subaudible CTCSS or DCS is used for the channel. Select your setting, then

press .

- any signal opens squelch.

Off

- the scanner searches for and displays any CTCSS or DCS tone that accompanies the transmission.

CTCSS

- the scanner only opens squelch if the CTCSS tone you select is also present with the signal. The scanner then prompts you to enter or scroll to the desired tone.

- the scanner only opens squelch if the DCS tone

DCS

you select is also present with the signal. The scanner then prompts you to enter or scroll to the desired tone.

Set Lockout

- the scanner does not stop on the channel if the tone you select is present. The scanner prompts you to select a CTCSS or DCS tone.

Notes:

• The scanner will not detect or decode P25 signals

if you turn on CTCSS/DCS search.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

• The default setting is .

• See “What is CTCSS/DCS?” on Page 17 for a

complete list of CTCSS and DCS tones.

Off

Setting the System Frequency Modulation

Srch/CloCall Opt

Set Modulation

- the scanner uses the default modulation for

Auto

the frequency band.

- the scanner uses AM (amplitude modulation) for

the frequency band.

- the scanner uses FM (frequency modulation) for

the frequency band.

- the scanner uses narrowband FM for the

NFM

frequency band.

- the scanner uses wideband FM for the

WFM

frequency band.

Note:

The default setting is .

Auto

This setting controls the modulation method used for the frequency band. In most cases, if you leave this set to , the scanner automatically selects the

Auto

correct modulation type for the system you are programming.

Setting Channel Attenuation (Conventional Channels Only)

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Select the channel

Set Attenuator

This setting controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on this channel. Select your setting, then press .

- the channel is attenuated by about 18 dB.

- the channel is not attenuated.

Off

Notes:

• The default setting is .

• For trunked systems, the attenuation is a system-level

setting.

• You can also toggle this setting by holding on the

channel and pressing and .

Off

Setting Channel Lockout

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Set Lockout

This setting determines whether the scanner will scan this channel when its system and group are enabled. Select your setting, then press .

Lockout Unlocked

Notes:

- the channel is not scanned.

- the channel is scanned.

• The default setting is .

Unlocked

• You can also lock or unlock a channel by selecting

it while scanning or holding, then pressing .

L/O

See “Basic Operation” on Page 38.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Deleting Channels

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Delete Channel

The scanner prompts you to confirm deletion. To confirm, press . To cancel, press .

Deleted channels cannot be restored. You must

Note:

re-enter them.

Copying/Pasting Channels

To copy a channel including all settings:

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Copy Channel

The scanner copies the channel into a copy buffer. To paste the channel into the same or another system:

Program System

Select the system

Edit Group

Select the group

Edit Channel

Select the channel

Paste Channel

Then, if necessary, edit the channel you copied to give it a unique name and other settings.

Note: The paste option appears only if you have previously copied a channel from a system of the same type you are currently editing.

Programming/Editing Optional Settings

Searching And Storing

Service Search

Service Search lets you quickly select and search the scanner’s preprogrammed search ranges. During service search, the scanner searches starting with the lowest frequency in the search range you select to the highest frequency in the range.

Search for ...

Service Search

Select the service search type

The following search bands appear.

• Air

• CB Radio

• UHF CB Radio

• Racing

• TV Broadcast

• FM Broadcast

• Police

• Marine

• Railroad

The scanner searches the service you selected, stopping on any transmission it finds and displaying the frequency. Turn the scroll control to change the search direction. An arrow appears, showing the current search direction.

To hold searching, press To resume searching, press then press . Or, press . To lock out a frequency found while searching, press

Locked Out

. resumes service search.

L/O

Notes:

Hold.

Scan/Srch Hold

Searching and Storing

• If all frequencies in the search band you selected

are locked out, appears and the

All Locked!

scanner does not search the band.

• If the service you select uses channels (such as

TV Broadcast or Marine), the scanner displays the service channel number.

Quick Search

Quick Search lets you search from the currently-tuned frequency if you are scanning a conventional system or sets the system to ID search if you are scanning a trunked system.

If you are on a conventional system or channel, press

Scan/Srch

and to start quick search.

””

Search? Yes = E / No = . Qck Search Hold

Press to start quick search or No to go to the search

” ” appears.

appears if you press .

Quick

Hold

menu.

CTCSS/DCS Search

CTCSS/DCS Search lets you search for CTCSS or DCS tones when it finds an active frequency in search and Close Call modes. You can identify up to 50 CTCSS tones and 104 DCS codes.

Note:

The scanner will not detect or decode P25

signals if you turn on CTCSS/DCS search.

Srch/CloCall Opt

CTCSS/DCS Search

Turning this option on lets the scanner search for CTCSS/DCS tones. If the scanner detects the tone, it displays the tone’s frequency and DCS code. Select your setting, then press the scroll control.

- CTCSS/DCS search is turned on.

- CTCSS/DCS search is turned off.

Off

Searching and Storing

Custom Search

Custom Search lets you program and search 10 custom search ranges. You can search any of these ranges simultaneously and select each custom search range you set. During custom search, the scanner searches starting with the lowest frequency in the search range you select to the highest frequency in the range.

Notes:

• Search ranges are preset. See “Editing a Custom

Search Range” on Page 94 to change the range.

• You cannot turn off all custom search ranges.

Search for ...

Scan/Srch

Custom Search

The scanner starts custom search of the custom search range you selected, stopping on any transmission it finds and displaying the frequency. Turn the scroll control to change the search direction. An arrow appears, showing the current search direction.

To turn search ranges on or off, press and . To hold searching, press . To resume searching, press then press or again.

Hold

Scan/Srch Hold

0 1-9

To lock out a frequency found while searching, press

. appears and the scanner

L/O

Locked Out

resumes custom search.

If you turn off the active custom search range, the scanner skips to the next custom search range and continues searching.

Note: If all frequencies in all active custom search ranges are locked out, appears and

All Locked!

the scanner does not stop.

Searching and Storing

Editing a Custom Search Range

You can edit up to 10 custom search ranges. The names of the custom search ranges appear on the display. The default custom search range names appear as , and so on.

Edit Custom

Select your setting, then press the scroll control.

Custom 1 , Custom 2

Search for ...

+ Scan/Srch

Edit Name

- lets you edit the custom search range’s

name.

Edit Srch Limit

- lets you view and select the frequency ranges to search. The scanner prompts you to enter the upper and lower search limits.

Set Delay Time

- lets you set the amount of time the scanner will delay before continuing to search after a transmission ends.

Set Modulation

- lets you set the custom search range’s modulation type.

Set Attenuator

- lets you set whether the scanner will attenuate reception by 18dB during search.

Set Data Skip

- lets you set whether the scanner

will skip data transmissions during search.

Set Step

- lets you set the custom search range’s

step (the gap between frequencies).

Set C-Ch Only

- lets you search for a Motorola control channel. If it finds one, the scanner scans the system.

Adjust P25 Level

- adjusts the digital decode threshold to match the transmission you are hearing when it receives a strong signal and has a high decode rate.

Search with Scan

- sets whether the scanner

includes the custom search during scanning.

Searching and Storing

If unlocked, the scanner first scans all selected systems, then searches the selected service searches for the selected hold time (0-255 seconds).

Editing a Service Search

You can change the way service search works for each service.

Search for ...

+ Scan/Srch

Edit Service

Select your setting, then press the scroll control.

Set Delay Time

• This setting determines how

long the scanner waits after a transmission ends before resuming quick search or Close Call operation. Select your setting, then press the scroll control.

Off

The scanner resumes immediately when

the transmission ends.

1-5sec

The scanner waits the set amount of time after the transmission ends before resuming.

Note:

The default setting is .

2 sec

• Set Attenuator This setting controls the attenuator for search operation. Select your setting, then press the scroll control.

Off

The attenuator is off.

Reception is attenuated by about 18 dB.

Note:

Turn on this setting if you are near other strong signal sources. Attenuation sometimes helps to reduce interference and desensitization that strong signals create.

Search with Scan

• This setting controls how

search with scan works.

Searching and Storing

• Set Lockout This setting controls whether

the system is scanned when its quick key is enabled. Rotate the scroll control to select your setting, then press the scroll control.

Locked

Unlocked

Note:

- the system is not scanned

- the system is scanned

You can also lock or unlock a system by pressing , selecting the system, then pressing + .

• This setting controls how

Set Hold Time

L/O

many seconds the scanner scans a system before moving to the next unlocked system. Enter a value from 0-255, then press the scroll control to save the setting.

Notes:

• If you select 0, the scanner stays on the

system for a minimal time (only long enough to check current system activity).

• The default setting is 2 seconds for each

system.

• For conventional systems, all unlocked

channels will be scanned at least once regardless of this setting.

• The scanner moves to the next system after

the hold time expires, any current transmission ends, and the channel delay time expires.

Auto Search and Store

Your scanner’s Auto Store feature lets you search for new frequencies in custom search ranges or within a service search range on a conventional system, or new talk group ID’s on a trunked system.

Searching and Storing

Selecting a System

To store frequencies or talk group ID’s you find during Auto Store, you must first select a system where the frequencies or talk group ID’s will be stored.

Search for ...

+ Scan/Srch

Search and Store

Select the system where you want to store the frequencies or talk group IDs

If no systems are programmed,

No System Stored

appears. If you have already stored too many systems, appears.

Over Limit

Storing a Conventional System

You can store frequencies into the system you selected in “Selecting a System”. Otherwise, the scanner stores frequencies in a new group it creates.

1. Follow the steps under “Selecting a System” on

Page 97 (above). A search option appears.

2. Turn the scroll control until the type of search you

want appears, then press the scroll control to select it. A search band appears.

If all systems are locked out, All Locked! appears and the scanner does not store any frequencies.

When you select a search range, the scanner looks for active frequencies within that range and

AND STORE

appears on the display’s lower line and the system name and search range name appear on the display’s upper line. When the scanner finds an active transmission, it checks to see if the frequency has already been stored in the system. If the frequency has already been stored, the scanner continues to search. If the frequency has not been stored, it stores the frequency into a group named

Searching and Storing

Storing a Trunked System

You can store talk group ID’s into the system you selected in “Selecting a System”. Otherwise, the scanner stores talk group ID’s in a new group it creates.

Trunked system search and store does not

Note:

work if an EDACS SCAT system is selected, a system with no frequency is selected, the selected system is locked out or the quick key to which the system belongs is turned off, and the group you selected to store found talk group ID’s contains more talk group ID’s than the maximum set in Max Auto Store.

To store a trunked system, follow the steps under “Selecting a System” on Page 97. The scanner enters ID Search and Store mode.

If the selected system is locked out,

System Locked

appears and the scanner does not store any frequencies.

When you select a search range, the scanner looks for active talk group ID’s within that range and

SEARCH AND STORE

appears on the display’s lower

line and the system name and search range name appear on the display’s upper line. When the scanner finds an active talk group ID, it checks if the talk group ID has already been stored in the system. If it has, the scanner continues to search. If the talk group ID has not been stored, it stores the talk group ID into a group named , then resumes

Found Channels

searching. The scanner creates this group if it does not already exist.

Searching and Storing

Optimizing P25 Performance

You can optimize the scanner’s performance with digital APCO 25 systems. Follow these steps for each system where you can hear APCO 25 traffic.

Notes:

• These steps work only when you can clearly

receive the system. If you are in a weak-signal area or receive interference, these steps will not work. These steps do not compensate for weak signals or signals subject to interference.

• If you set an incorrect decode threshold level in

Step 5, the scanner might stop decoding all digital signals in the system. If this happens, change the setting to a value between 8 and 12 then repeat these steps.

1. Make sure the system's P25 Level option is set to

Auto (see “Adjusting the P25 Level (Motorola and Conventional Systems Only)” on Page 79).

2. Hold on an active digital channel on the system.

3. While holding down , briefly press the scroll

control twice. The next to last line on the display now shows the digital error rate and the AUTO decode threshold start level (0-20). The last line on the display shows the decode threshold levels for the system.

4. Allow the scanner to monitor channel activity for

several minutes. The error rate should drop for each transmission and the threshold levels should automatically adjust to a more optimal setting. Then, once the threshold level settles to a stable setting, make a note of the values. This is the system's optimum decode threshold.

5. While holding down , rotate the scroll control

to set the AUTO decode threshold start level to a setting that most closely matches the system's optimum decode threshold. Now, when the scanner stops on a system, it will use this threshold as the starting point for automatic optimization.

6. While holding down , briefly press the scroll

control to exit this mode.

Optimizing P25 Performance

Uniden UBCD396T User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual