Easier to Read BC246T Manual

As you have found out by now, this is a whole different animal as far as scanners go. I have tried to write my manual to follow the menu sequences as close as possible so you can find things a little easier in the radio.

First of all, finally, Uniden has come out with a handheld scanner that uses batteries instead of the dreaded battery pack. Again, the manual is like trying to set a watch made in China. It took me a while just to figure out how to turn the thing on (page 41??). My biggest gripe is that it doesn't follow the menus of the radio. So, I have written this manual for myself so I can actually use the scanner and will share it with you.

It does have some cool new features: Close Call, Dynamic Memory, an adjustable Hold (scan time) for each system, Auto Store (actually an old feature brought back), and the ability to hold about 1600 (tagged) channels. You can store up to 200 different systems (if there is enough memory). The 'quick keys' allow you to scan any combination of systems. There doesn't seem to be a limit to how many priority channels you can program. It has a very bright display and the sound quality is great for a 'mini' scanner. When 'tone search' is enabled for searching or for a channel, it will search for CTCSS and DCS tones, not just one or the other. The Close Call and Weather Alert features will run in the background while scanning or searching. I have also been able to enter partial IDs for Motorola (type I,IIi) and LTR systems, not just in EDACS systems. And, of course, computer upload/download/clone and control. An AC adapter, computer cable, and batteries come with the scanner. The firmware is supposed to be upgradeable for re-banding.

Now the annoying stuff. Dynamic Memory has it's drawbacks because you have to build everything then program it. No military air band. Press and hold for 2 seconds to turn the scanner on?? There is too much stuff that is only in the menu; you should be able to access more features (like unlocking a channel) with just the keypad. One thing to remember is that IDs go into channels also (no more scan lists). Does not show the frequency and the text tagged of the channel; but you can select one or the other. Alpha tagging is best left to the software (arc246 highly recommended). Scans multiple trunking systems relatively slow even with the hold time set to 0 (especially if you have a lot of IDs programmed). The channels and IDs aren't numbered so they can be hard to find if you have a lot of them in a group. There is no 'per channel' delay; you must set the delay for the whole system (all groups, all channels).

An overview of the features can also be view at my Trunking Radio Comparison Chart page.

It is also recommended that you download and install the latest firmware upgrade for the scanner if you don't have it. See checking Firmware Version.

For those of you who are new to trunking, dynamic memory, or haven't had a scanner in the last 10 years it is a good idea to read the respective sections on those topics. You really have to know how trunking works in order to program a trunking system. It won't do you any good to try to program a trunking system unless you know what the radio needs and is going to do with the data (control channel, IDs, LCN order, etc).

I will assume you know how to obtain the basic information from the original manual such as following safety procedures, putting the batteries in, connecting the antenna, finding specs, etc. and concentrate on the main functions of the scanner.

I hereby absolve myself from anything that happens to anyone or the scanner as a result of the information you will be reading. You are welcome to copy and/or print these pages and use them in the scanning hobby as long as don't change them or charge anyone money for them.

Check back often as this document will be updated and revised from time to time.

Main Features

Contents

Multi-System Trunking - follows conversations on analog Motorola, W/N/SCAT EDACS, and LTR trunked radio systems in VHF/UHF, 800 MHz, and 900 MHz bands. The scanner can scan both conventional and trunked systems at the same time.

Close Call RF Capture Technology - you can set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions.

Dynamically Allocated Channel Memory - organized into 'Systems', 'Groups' (within systems), and channels (within groups). As many channels as memory allows. Typically about 1600 channels with alpha tags.

Preprogrammed Systems - your scanner is preprogrammed with systems with the 25 most populated counties in the US.

Quick Keys - you can set the scanner so you can select a system (or multiple systems) or a group (or multiple groups) by pressing a single key. This makes it easy to listen to or quickly turn off those systems or groups you don't want to scan.

10 Service Searches - frequencies are preset in separate public safety, news, amateur radio, marine, railroad, air, CB radio, FRS/GMRS, racing, and special (itinerant) searches, to make it easy to find specific transmissions.

10 Custom Searches - lets you program up to 10 custom search ranges.

Quick Search - lets you search from the currently-tuned frequency if you are searching a conventional system.

Frequency/ID Auto Search and Store - scanner can be set to automatically store all active frequencies from a service or limit search in a conventional system you select or automatically store all new talk group IDs into a trunked system you select.

Priority/Priority Plus Scan - priority channels let you keep track of activity on your most important channel(s) while monitoring other channels for transmissions and you can scan just the priority channels.

Pager/UHF TV Screen - you can set the scanner so it ignores hits generated by common UHF or pager frequencies or while using the close call or search features.

CTCSS/DCS Search - lets you search for CTCSS and DCS tones when it finds an active frequency in search and close call modes.

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.

Adjustable Hold (Scan Time) per System - allows you to adjust the length of time spent scanning each system.

CTCSS and DCS Tone Decode - decodes and displays Continuous Tone Code Squelch System tones being transmitted and plays Digital Coded Squelch being received. Also, a tone code only receive option (per channel).

Text Tagging - you can name each system, group, channel, talk group ID, custom search range, and SAME group, using up to 16 characters per name.

Adjustable Channel/Frequency Step - allows you to set the step (5, 6.25, 7.5, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz) of each conventional channel or search band or select auto mode.

Channel Alert - you can set the scanner so it alerts you when there is activity on any channel you specify.

Adjustable Scan/Search Delay - from 1 to 5 seconds or off (per channel or band).

Attenuator - you can set the scanner's attenuator to reduce the input strength of strong signals by about 18 dB per channel, search band, close call band, or trunked system.

Repeater Reverse - tells the scanner to try to switch to the repeater if an input frequency is found.

Data Skip - allows your scanner to skip unwanted data transmissions and reduces birdies on conventional systems.

Duplicate Frequency Alert - alerts you if you try to enter a duplicate name or frequency already stored in the scanner.

SAME Weather Alert - (with programmable FIP codes) lets your scanner alert you when a SAME weather alert is transmitted on a NOAA weather channel. The scanner also displays the alert type.

Search Lockouts - you can lock out up to 200 frequencies in search or close call search.

PC Control/Clone - you can transfer data to and from your scanner or another scanner and your personal computer, and control the scanner using a computer.

Low Battery Alert - the scanner alerts you if the batteries need to be recharged or replaced.

Battery Saver - you can set the scanner so it reduces the amount of power it needs if there are no transmissions.

Key Lock - you can deactivate the scanner's keys to help prevent accidentally changing the scanner's programming.

Understanding Dynamic Memory

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The scanner's memory is organized in an architecture called Dynamic Allocated Channel 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 and make it easier to determine how much memory you have used and how much you have left. No memory space is wasted.

Since you can only program one trunking system per bank in a traditional scanner, and lets say you only have 10 banks, you can only store 10 trunking systems. Also, since some trunked systems might have hundreds of talk groups you wish to monitor, you might have to enter those systems into multiple banks in order to monitor all the ID's.

Instead of being organized into separate banks and channels, the scanner's memory is contained in a pool. You build the systems and groups then use as much memory as you need in the pool to store frequencies, talk group ID's, and alpha tags. With all previous scanners, you selected banks to scan that had channels stored in them. With this scanner, you select 'Systems' to scan that have channel 'Groups' stored within the 'Systems'. Conventional systems have frequency groups and trunking systems have ID groups (no more scan lists). The trunking frequencies go into a 'system editor', not a system or a group.

You can store as many as 200 'Systems' and you can have as many as 20 groups per 'System' with up to 200 frequencies or IDs in each 'Group' (if you have enough memory). The manual says up to about 2500 total channels but with alpha tags you get about 1600.

Understanding Quick Keys
'Quick Keys' are used to turn systems and groups on and off (enable or disable for scanning). This is not the same as locking out or unlocking systems or groups (which you can also do). They are just the number keys on the scanner but once programmed to system(s) or group(s) they become the 'Quick Key' for the system(s) or group(s). There are 10 'System Quick Keys' (0-9) and 10 and 'Group Quick Keys' (0-9). System quick keys work like bank keys-press them to turn systems on or off. To turn groups on and off for each system you have to press and hold Func then the number key (when scanning each system). You can also have systems and groups that are not programmed to quick keys that will always be scanned (unless you lock them out).

You can program one or more 'Systems' to any system quick key or, program one or more systems with no quick key. You can also program one or more 'Groups' to any group quick key or, program one or more groups with no quick key. If you have a single system or group you want to turn on or off once and a while, program it to its own quick key.

My advice is to program everything to quick keys so you don't have to remember what to turn off/on or what to unlock/lockout. There are no indicators in the display showing systems/groups with no quick key so you won't know if they are being scanned unless you see (or don't see) them scroll by in the display.

Conventional Simplex and Repeater Systems

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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 GMRS/FRS radios. The range is typically 1-8 miles, depending upon the terrain and many other factors.

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 25-mile radius from the repeater location.

Understanding CTCSS/DCS

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Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) are two methods used to prevent interference by other radio communications. Your scanner can receive transmissions that use these codes (or more commonly referred to as tones).

CTCSS and DCS systems all use some form of coded squelch. Coded squelch techniques involve the transmission of a special 'code' signal along with the audio of a radio transmission. A receiver with coded squelch only activates when the received signal has the correct 'code'. This lets many users share a single frequency, and decreases interference caused by distant transmitters on the same channel. In all major metropolitan areas of the United States, every available radio channel is assigned to more than one user. Public safety radio systems on the same frequency are usually set up at a distance of 40 miles apart, or more. This means that you may hear transmissions from a distant system when your local system is not transmitting. By programming the CTCSS tone for a local channel the scanner will not stop on transmissions from the distant system. With few exceptions, such as the VHF Aircraft and Marine bands, almost every other VHF or UHF radio system uses some form of coded squelch. By far, CTCSS is the most popular mode among non-trunked systems.

CTCSS codes appear according to the EIA standard CTCSS tones and range from 67.0 Hz to 254.1 Hz. CTCSS codes are displayed directly as a frequency.

DCS codes are similar to CTCSS codes, except they might be transmitted as either tones or digital codes. Although there are as many as 4096 DCS codes, only about 100 are actually used.

When your scanner receives a CTCSS transmission, C appears in the display in front of the frequency of the tone. When your scanner receives a DCS transmission, DCS appears in the display in front of the 3-digit code.

The 'Scanning Reference' site has a very good page explaining CTCSS and DCS here.

Understanding Trunking

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Trunking systems let a large group of 2-way radio users (or even different groups of 2-way radio users) efficiently use a set of frequencies. Instead of selecting a specific frequency for a transmission, the user’s radio selects a programmed trunking bank in the system when that user presses their PTT (push to talk) button. The trunking system automatically transmits the call on the first available frequency, and also sends (on a different frequency called a Data or Control channel) a code that uniquely identifies that transmission as a talkgroup ID (here after referred to as just ID). So when you are trunking a system, you are listening to active IDs transmitting in the system (each using the first available frequency in the system). Thus, trunking systems in general, allocate a few frequencies among many different users.

This trunking scanner trunks the three main types of systems; Motorola, Ericsson EDACS, and E.F. Johnson LTR systems. This scanner will not trunktrack the newer digital systems.

When you program a Motorola or EDACS frequencies into the scanner, one frequency is the data channel, and the rest are the frequencies shared by all the users. The data is continually transmitted to the field units and has a sound similar to listening to a boat engine over the phone (in manual mode; you won't hear this when you are trunking the system). This data channel is also a good check to see if you can trunk the system. If you can't hear a data channel when you step through the trunking frequencies (in manual mode), you either don't have all the frequencies or are too far away to receive the system. Motorola systems are limited to a maximum of 28 frequencies per system, Ericsson EDACS systems are limited to 25 frequencies per system.

LTR systems work a little differently. These systems encode all trunking information as digital subaudible data that accompanies each transmission. LTR systems typically do not have a dedicated control channel. Each repeater has its own controller, and all of these controllers are synchronized together. Even though each controller monitors it's own channel, one of the channel controllers is assigned to be a master that all controllers report to. Each of these controllers sends out a data burst approximately every 10 seconds so that the subscriber units know that the system is there. This data burst is not sent at the same time by all the channels, but happens randomly throughout all the system channels. If you listen to the frequencies of a LTR system in manual mode (not trunking), on every channel in the system you will hear this data burst that will sound like a short blip of static like someone keyed up and unkeyed a radio within about 500 msec. LTR systems are limited to 20 frequencies per system.

Since the trunking system might send a call and its response on different frequencies, it is difficult to listen to trunked communications using a regular scanner. This scanner lets you select and monitor the data channel frequency sent with a 2-way radio transmission within the trunking bank, so you can hear calls and responses for users and more easily "follow" conversations than with a conventional scanner.

Trunkscanning (ID scan mode) is basically scanning IDs that are programmed into ID locations (same concept as frequencies into channels). You can then trunkscan just the programmed IDs. Trunking (ID search mode) is searching for IDs in a system (same concept as searching for frequencies in a band).

Radio Reference.com has an excellent page explaining the various types of trunking systems in more detail here.

Understanding IDs

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Motorola IDs come in two formats: Type I and Type II. Each format displays and uses talk group IDs in slightly different ways.

Type II IDs are identified by a 5-digit number.

Type I IDs are in the format FFF-SS where FFF is the fleet and SS is the sub-fleet. Type I systems are usually organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets. For example, a valid fleet/subfleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department might be 000-12, where 000 identifies all police IDs and 12 identifies the Detective division. To properly trunk a Type I system, you have to program the fleet map for the system.

Type I/II hybrid systems use both fleet-subfleet and 5-digit formats for talk group IDs.

EDACS IDs come in two formats: AFS and Decimal.

AFS IDs are in the form AA-FFS where AA is the agency, FF is the fleet, and S is the sub-fleet. EDACS systems are organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets and agencies. For example, a valid agency/fleet/subfleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department in an agency might be 06-101, where 06 identifies the agency (Police), 10 identifies the Police division (East side), and 1 identifies the Detective division.

Decimal IDs are shown as a decimal number from 0 to 2047.

You can find a chart showing Decimal and AFS IDs here: Conversion Chart.

I-Call IDS (Motorola/EDACS only) are direct unit-to-unit transmissions that are not heard by other system users. I-call IDs are usually 6-digit numbers (ex: 700152).

LTR IDS are in the format A-HH-UUU where A is the area code (0 or 1), HH is the home repeater (01-20), and UUU is the user ID (000-254).

Terms Used in this Document

Contents

Channel- a frequency or talkgroup ID location.

Searching- the process of searching for frequencies in quick search, service search, close call autostore, or custom search.

Scanning- the process of stepping through conventional channels in groups, which are in programmed 'systems'.

Trunktracking (ID search mode)- the process of searching for talkgroup IDs in trunked systems, in programmed 'systems'.

Trunkscanning (ID scan mode)- the process of scanning talkgroup IDs in ID groups, in programmed 'systems'.

You search for frequencies in frequency bands.

You scan programmed channels in groups (in programmed 'systems').

You trunktrack for IDs in programmed trunking 'systems'.

You trunkscan programmed IDs in ID groups (in programmed trunking 'systems').

Hold Mode- the mode the radio is in when it’s just on, holding on a channel.

Menu Mode- used for programming frequencies, IDs, trunking frequencies/systems/fleet maps, and other 'system' settings.

Scan Mode- the mode the radio is in when scanning and/or trunking.

Search Mode- the mode the radio is in while doing a quick search, service search, search and store, close call autostore, close call search, or custom search.

Turning on the Scanner/Setting the Squelch

Contents

1. Turn Sql fully counterclockwise.
2. Press and hold

for about 2 seconds to turn on the scanner, then turn Vol clockwise until you hear a hissing sound.
3. Turn Sql clockwise until the hissing stops.

The only thing you will be able to scan right out of the box are the preprogrammed systems in the scanner (quick key 9). You will, however, be able to do a service search, custom search, weather search, search and store, close call search, or close call auto store.

Keypad and Knob Controls

Contents

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 Func on the left side of the scanner (

appears in the display) then press the key.

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

Key

Function(s)

Hold/

Holds on a frequency or channel. Func+Hold turns close call on or off.

Scan/Srch

Scans the stored channels. Func+Scan/Srch starts quick search or quickly accesses the search menu.

L/O

Lets you lock out a selected channel or skip a specified frequency. Func+L/O locks or unlocks a selected system in scan or scan hold mode and review search lockout frequencies in search or search hold mode. Press and hold for more than 2 seconds in scan hold mode to unlock all channels in a conventional system.

Turns the display backlight on or off. Func+

Locks and unlocks the keypad.

Press and hold for more than 2 seconds to turn the scanner on or off. Press quickly to cancel a prompt.

Number Keys

Enters a frequency, selects system quick key numbers, and selects a custom search range in custom search mode. Func+Number key selects group quick keys in scan mode.

Func+1/Pri

Selects the priority mode in scan hold mode.

Func+2/WX

Selects the weather menu in Hold mode.

Func+</4

Moves the active character to the left while editing data.

Func+6/>

Moves the active character to the right while editing data.

Func+7/Rcl

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

No(.)/Rev

Enters a decimal point or dash in a frequency or talk group ID, enters an "i" for I-Call input. Func+No(.)/Rev monitors the currently-tuned frequency's reverse frequency.

E/Yes/Att

Press to select input and menu items, to quickly edit a channel in scan hold mode, and store a frequency into memory in search hold mode or ID in ID search mode. At a prompt, answers Yes. Func+E/Yes/Att turns the scanner's attenuator on or off for the current channel (for conventional systems) or system (for trunked systems).

Navigating the Menu

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The scanner's menu lets you select options that let you set up and use the scanner. To use the menu, press the Menu button on the left side of the scanner. In most cases, the current menu position appears on the upper line of the menu. Menu items and a place to input information appear on the lower line of the menu. To select a menu item, turn the scroll control on top of the scanner clockwise or counterclockwise. When the menu item you want to select appears, press E/Yes or press the scroll control down to select it. To back up a level or return to the previous level, press Menu. To exit the menu mode, press L/O or Scan. To see a complete outline of the menu go here.

A Look at the Display

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The display has indicators that show the scanner's current operating status. The display information helps you understand how your scanner operates. The dark area shown above the icons in this illustration is the text display area. Information about the currently tuned frequency appears here.

In Scan Mode:

The first line will show the system name.
The second line will scroll "SCAN", "ID-SCAN", or "ID-SEARCH".

SYS shows the system quick keys that are turned on for scanning.

ATT will appear if the (currently scanned) trunked system is attenuated.

PRI will appear if the priority feature is on and blinks when the priority plus mode is selected.

will appear if the keylock is on.

will appear and blink (with a tone) if the battery is low.

GRP shows the group quick keys that are turned on for scanning for each system.

appears when you hold down Func to select a function.

will appear if the Close Call Feature is on.

Receiving (or Holding) Mode:

The first line will alternate between the system name and the group name in the system (and 'Scan Hold' if in Hold mode).
The second line displays the frequency (or text tag if programmed).
The CTCSS or DCS tone will blink at the right of a conventional channel (if a tone is received with the channel set to tone search mode).

SYS shows the currently active system quick key and blinks.

ATT will appear if the conventional channel is attenuated.

PRI will appear if the priority feature is on and blinks when the priority plus mode is selected.

will appear if the keylock is on.

will appear and blink (with a tone) if the battery is low.

GRP shows the currently active group quick key and blinks.

AM/FM/NFM will show the receive mode of the channel.

appears when you hold down Func to select a function.

will appear if the Close Call Feature is on.

In Search (or Holding) Mode:

The first line will show the name of the service or custom search or 'Quick Search' (and alternate 'Search Hold' if in Hold mode).

The second line displays the frequency (and channel in Marine search) with the search direction (or will scroll 'SEARCH' if No(.) is pressed).
'SEARCH AND STORE' will scroll in the display during auto search and store and close call auto store.

The third line (custom search) displays the search ranges turned on for searching and the currently active search range blinks.

will appear if the keylock is on.

will appear and blink (with a tone) if the battery is low.

The fourth line displays the receive mode of the search.

will appear if the Close Call Feature is on.

Note: No Icons will appear in the display to tell you if weather alert priority or the battery save feature is on or off.

Receive Bands and Default Step Sizes

Contents

Frequency Range	Step	Mode	Band	Frequency Range	Step	Mode	Band
25-26.960	5	AM	Petroleum	162-174	12.5	NFM	Federal Government
26.965-27.405	5	AM	CB	216-224.980	20	NFM	1.25 Meter Ham
27.410-27.995	5	AM	Business	400-405.9875	12.5	NFM	Misc
28-29.800	20	NFM	10 Meter Ham	406-419.9875	12.5	NFM	Federal Trunked
29.700-49.990	10	NFM	VHF Low	420-449.9875	12.5	NFM	70 cm Ham
50-54	20	NFM	6 Meter Ham	450-469.9875	12.5	NFM	UHF Standard
108-136.975	25	AM	Commercial Air	470-512	12.5	NFM	UHF TV
137-143.9875	12.5	NFM	Military Land Mobile	806-823.9875	12.5	NFM	Public Service
144-147.995	5	NFM	2 Meter Ham	849.0125-868.9875	12.5	NFM	PS Trunked
148-150.7875	12.5	NFM	Military Land Mobile	894.0125-956	12.5	NFM	UHF Hi, 33-cm Ham
150.800-161.995	5	NFM	VHF High	1240-1300	25	NFM	UHF Hi, 25 cm Ham

Entering Text

Contents

To program text you must first program the system, group, channel, custom search, or SAME group. There are links there to refer you back here when you have finished programming.

To enter a letter, turn the scroll control until the character you want appears.
To enter a number, press a number key. (entering numbers will move to the cursor to the right).
To enter a decimal point, press No(.)
To move the cursor to the right, press and hold Func then press 6> or rotate the scroll control to the right.
To move the cursor to the left, press and hold Func then press <4 or rotate the scroll control to the left.
To clear a character or enter a space, press No(.) twice.
To clear all characters, press No(.) 3 times.
Press E/Yes when finished to exit.
Return to Programming Systems, Copying a System, Program New Channel, Creating a Group, Edit a Custom Search, or Program A SAME Group.

Planning Systems

Contents

Planning your systems will be very important even if you do have the software. Organizing your quick keys will be the hardest part of the planning. You can assign quick keys and copy and paste most of the freqs, alpha tags, and IDs easily with the software.

Unless you live in a big city, most people can get everything they scan into the scanner. I like to scan by general interest so I set my system quick keys accordingly; 1-Public Safety systems, 1-Trunked PS systems, 2-Air, 2-Air Trunked systems, 3-Military, 3 Military Trunked systems, 4-Federal, etc. Then I will nest my groups (ex: Fire, Police, EMS) within the conventional systems, (Fire IDs, Police IDs, EMS ID within trunked systems) and give them all group quick keys. Unless you always want a group or system on, assign it a quick key; it's easier to turn the quick key off than to lockout or unlock the group or system (IMHO). If you do live in a big city, you might want to get the BCD396T with more channels, quick keys, and digital capabilities because you'll need it eventually.

So, you have to figure out which systems and groups to assign to your quick keys so you can scan them without a table of contents and with some sort of logic you can remember. Use the worksheets below to help you plan your systems and groups.

Worksheets

Contents

I have put together complete worksheets ready to print to help you plan your systems, Close Call, and search, etc. settings. Even if you don't fill them out, they are a good check list for programming. If you don't have Excel you can download and install a viewer here.

Excel worksheets

Programming Systems

Contents

You have to create systems first, create groups in the systems, create channels in the groups, then program your frequencies or IDs into the channels. Or, you can Quickstore freqs and Quickstore IDs (after you program the trunking system). Trunking IDs go into trunking system groups and conventional frequencies go into conventional system groups. You can only store one trunking system per 'system'. You can store up to 200 systems, up to 20 groups per system, and up to 200 channels or IDs per group. Total channels are limited to about 2500. Channels that have text tags use more memory than those that do not. If you use a text tag for every channel, total channels are reduced from 2500 (1600 is typical). Also, remember that conventional frequencies and IDs are considered as channels.

One suggestion; assign every group and every system to a quick key. You can assign as many systems you want to a system quick key and as many groups you want to a group quick key. That way you can just turn systems and groups on and off and not have to worry about locking them out. If you don't assign a system or group to a quick key, you have to lock it out if you don't want to scan it.

Use the worksheets to help you program your systems and groups.

Contents

To Create a new Conventional system, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.

At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/Yes.
At 'Select System Type' scroll to 'Conventional' and press E/Yes. At 'Confirm?' press E/Yes.
At 'Edit Name' press E/Yes. See Entering Text.
Then see Editing System Options to customize the system.
Then see Creating Groups.
Then see Programming Channels to program frequencies.

Contents

To Program a new Motorola system, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.

At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/Yes.
At 'Select System Type' scroll to 'MOT' and press E/Yes.
Scroll to the type of Motorola system you want to program and press E/Yes.

Use '800MHz Standard' for 800 MHz systems that use the standard band plan (most systems).
Use '800MHz Splinter' for 800 MHz systems that use the splinter band plan (typically systems near the international borders).

At 'Confirm?' press E/Yes.
At 'Edit Name' press E/Yes. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Set Frequencies' and press E/Yes.
At 'New Frequency' and press E/Yes.
At 'Input Frequency' enter the frequency and press E/Yes.
At 'Edit Frequency' press Menu to return to 'Sel Frequency', scroll to 'New Frequency', and press E/Yes to program the rest of the trunking frequencies. Press Scan to exit.
Then see Editing System Options to customize the system.
Then see Creating Groups.
Then see Programming Channels to program IDs.

Contents

To Program a new EDACS system, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.

At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/Yes.
At 'Select System Type' scroll to 'EDCS' and press E/Yes.
Scroll to 'WIDE', NARROW' and press E/Yes. At 'Confirm?' press E/Yes.

Note: EDACS Wide is the same as EDACS Standard. EDACS Narrow is the same as EDACS Networked.

At 'Edit Name' press E/Yes. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Set Frequencies' and press E/Yes.
At 'New Frequency' and press E/Yes.
At 'Input Frequency' enter the frequency and press E/Yes.
At 'Input LCN' enter the LCN number and press E/Yes. See Finding EDACS LCN Order.
At 'Edit Frequency' press Menu to return to 'Sel Frequency', scroll to 'New Frequency', and press E/Yes to program the rest of the trunking frequencies. Press Scan to exit.
Then see Editing System Options to customize the system.
Then see Creating Groups.
Then see Programming Channels to program IDs.

Contents

To Program a new LTR system, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.

At 'Select System' scroll to 'New System' and press E/Yes.
At 'Select System Type' scroll to 'LT' and press E/Yes. At 'Confirm?' press E/Yes.
At 'Edit Name' press E/Yes. See Entering Text.
Scroll to 'Set Frequencies' and press E/Yes.
At 'New Frequency' and press E/Yes.
At 'Input Frequency' enter the frequency and press E/Yes.
At 'Input LCN' enter the LCN number and press E/Yes. See Finding LTR LCN Order.
At 'Edit Frequency' press Menu to return to 'Sel Frequency', scroll to 'New Frequency', and press E/Yes to program the rest of the trunking frequencies. Press Scan to exit.
Then see Editing System Options to customize the system.
Then see Creating Groups.
Then see Programming Channels to program IDs.

Contents

To Edit the System Name, press the Menu button. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.

At 'Select System' scroll to the system that you want to assign a name to and press E/Yes.
At 'Edit Name' press E/Yes. See Entering Text.
Press Scan to exit.

To set the Attenuator for a trunked system: This setting controls whether the attenuator will be on or off for the system. Turn on this setting if you are near strong signal sources. Attenuation can help reduce interference by about 18 dB. The default setting is off.

While scanning the system, press the Func then E/Yes(Att).
Or, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.
At 'Select System' scroll to the system you want to attenuate and press E/Yes.
Scroll to 'Set Attenuator' and press E/Yes.
Scroll to On or Off and press E/Yes.
Press Scan to exit.

To Delete a system, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.

At 'Select System' scroll to the system you want to delete and press E/Yes.
Scroll to 'Delete System' and press E/Yes.
At 'Confirm Delete?' press E/Yes.
Press Scan to exit.

To Copy a system, press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes.

At 'Select System' scroll to the system you want to copy and press E/Yes.
Scroll to 'Copy System' and press E/Yes.
At 'New Sys Name?' enter the name of the new copied system. See Entering Text.
Press Scan to exit.
Copying a system will copy all settings for the system including quick key assignments.

Edit System Options Menu

Contents

Once you have your Systems built you can configured your System options.

To Edit Conventional System Options:
Press Menu. At 'Program System' press E/Yes. At 'Select System' scroll to the system that you want to edit and press E/Yes.
Scroll to 'Edit Sys Option' and press E/Yes.
Scroll to the options below and press E/Yes. Press Scan/Srch to return to scanning when done with editing.

Set Quick Key	Edit Band Plan (VHF/UHF Motorola only)	Set Emergency Alert (Moto/EDACS only)
Set Lockout	Edit Fleetmap (Moto 800MHz Type I only)	Set C-Ch Only (Motorola only)
Set Hold Time	Set Status Bit (Motorola only)	<