BCT15 vs. BCT15X
- Thread starter k1mri
- Start date
- Status
Off the top of my head...
Number tags to quickly navigate to your favorite channels. volume offset to increase or decrease the volume on a certain channels. I haven't used the BCT15, but do have a few of the Xs due in tomorrow.
Ben
Number tags to quickly navigate to your favorite channels. volume offset to increase or decrease the volume on a certain channels. I haven't used the BCT15, but do have a few of the Xs due in tomorrow.
Ben
You can find what you need here in the Wiki: BCT15X - The RadioReference Wiki
The updates in Bold are the changes in the "X" over the BCT15.
The updates in Bold are the changes in the "X" over the BCT15.
bchris
Member
BCT15 Sensitivity
I recently purhased a BCT15x to replace my BCT15, due to my brother's offer to purchase my older one. Both scanners were modified by me to 'integrate' a Garmin GPS using only 1 small cable from the external GPS to inside the scanner, w/ zero connectors.
I spent countless hours programming the older scanner to be exactly like I thought he would want it, including the GPS parameters for every system and trunking site in Utah, where we live. (I ended up filling 2492 out of the available 2500 channels- I started w/ my '346 file, making the '15 file 237% full, and finally got it down to 99%). Today I took a 300 mile round-trip through different areas of Utah. It's really fun to watch the systems switch in and out automatically as I drive.
Now to the real issue at hand.
With both scanners side-by-side on my dashboard, the newer BCT15x had far superior sensitivity than the older one. The difference was like night and day. Someone earlier in this thread indicated that the published sensitivity numbers were the same, and I did verify that. It is true.
I had one outside antenna and one rubber-duck, so several times I switched antennas. The x was still better than the non-x, no matter which antenna was used. My trip consisted of multiple 800Mhz trunking sites, as well as many 150-155 Mhz conventionals. Same results.
Has anyone else seen that much difference with the old vs new models, despite what the numbers are saying? My fear is that I am selling my brother a scanner that is not working properly. He is completely trusting me to give him a nice, properly working, programmed scanner. Do I need to send it in for service? Is there something I can do to 'align it' properly? Or is it already working properly?
Any Advice from anyone?
--bc
I recently purhased a BCT15x to replace my BCT15, due to my brother's offer to purchase my older one. Both scanners were modified by me to 'integrate' a Garmin GPS using only 1 small cable from the external GPS to inside the scanner, w/ zero connectors.
I spent countless hours programming the older scanner to be exactly like I thought he would want it, including the GPS parameters for every system and trunking site in Utah, where we live. (I ended up filling 2492 out of the available 2500 channels- I started w/ my '346 file, making the '15 file 237% full, and finally got it down to 99%). Today I took a 300 mile round-trip through different areas of Utah. It's really fun to watch the systems switch in and out automatically as I drive.
Now to the real issue at hand.
With both scanners side-by-side on my dashboard, the newer BCT15x had far superior sensitivity than the older one. The difference was like night and day. Someone earlier in this thread indicated that the published sensitivity numbers were the same, and I did verify that. It is true.
I had one outside antenna and one rubber-duck, so several times I switched antennas. The x was still better than the non-x, no matter which antenna was used. My trip consisted of multiple 800Mhz trunking sites, as well as many 150-155 Mhz conventionals. Same results.
Has anyone else seen that much difference with the old vs new models, despite what the numbers are saying? My fear is that I am selling my brother a scanner that is not working properly. He is completely trusting me to give him a nice, properly working, programmed scanner. Do I need to send it in for service? Is there something I can do to 'align it' properly? Or is it already working properly?
Any Advice from anyone?
--bc
I have also noted the X to be more sensitive, and also more prone to be overloaded but that comes hand in hand
I dont think his radio needs service .. unless you dont pick u pa control channel at all
I dont think his radio needs service .. unless you dont pick u pa control channel at all
bchris
Member
Bct15
Thank you for the feedback, torontokris, I really appreciate it.
--Brent Christensen
.
Thank you for the feedback, torontokris, I really appreciate it.
--Brent Christensen
.
bchris
Member
Follow-up on Prev BCT15 Post
As a follow-up to this previous post... The BCT15 continued to have reduced sensitivity to the point where it was pretty much un-useable. Having nothing to lose, I took off the covers for the 3rd time, but this time I was more agressive on pushing and pulling on connections, etc. There is a VERY TINY and short coax cable connecting the inside of the BNC antenna connector to the PCB. The solder joint on the center of the coax was not actually connected to the center pin of the BNC, it was just touching and looked connected. I repaired that solder joint and it works perfect now. The reception is now 'about the same' as my newer BCT15X.
.
--bc
As a follow-up to this previous post... The BCT15 continued to have reduced sensitivity to the point where it was pretty much un-useable. Having nothing to lose, I took off the covers for the 3rd time, but this time I was more agressive on pushing and pulling on connections, etc. There is a VERY TINY and short coax cable connecting the inside of the BNC antenna connector to the PCB. The solder joint on the center of the coax was not actually connected to the center pin of the BNC, it was just touching and looked connected. I repaired that solder joint and it works perfect now. The reception is now 'about the same' as my newer BCT15X.
.
--bc
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