BCT-15 questions

[MichaelN]

Although I've been an active scanner for many years, it's all been with hand-helds (AOR8000, Pro-95). My primary listening is done on the aviation and MilAir freqs.

I'm considering buying a BCT-15, I'm happy with an analog for aviation listening vs digital . I live in Central Florida, so the area is relatively flat, but I live in a community that does not allow outside antennas.

Can someone recommend a good mobile antenna for the car and a good base antenna for inside the attic. Also, what about coax? What about good computer control software?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Hi Mike - your questions tend to open an awful lot of possible answers, so let's start with the basics first. 2 things;

a. Anything in blue - both here and in our wiki - is a link on one kind or another

b. We have an extensive wiki section - the largest of its kind in the scanner world - with so many links it's hard to keep track of it sometimes. Unlike a web page this is a user supported (and editable) area. To access it, just float your mouse over Wiki in the blue toolbar under the logo, and a pulldown will pop up. From here on out, if something is in bold, you can find it off of one of the links in this pulldown.

OK so far? Let's start. Pick up a cerveza or two - it's time for a little reading;

• Let's talk a little about the BCT15. Unlike your other scanners, it uses a memory scheme called Dynamic Memory Allocation. In simple terms, it means you must allocate systems and groups - notice I didn't say banks, as they don't exist here - from an existing pool of channels. To get started with this, select FAQs and click on the Uniden DMA FAQ . At the bottom of this article is a link to the 'Easier to Read' manuals. Download it, and read through the FAQ. You may not need to use all the features but with this new breed of scanners it behooves you to be informed

• Antennas - you are going to have to be a bit more specific about how high or tall your attic is. There are many antennas that are broadbanded enough that include the UHF milair bands (not many at all that just specialize in the AM Aircraft and UHF milair bands - but hold on, we'll get to that in a minute). As for your car, once again, it's likely you will need something broadbanded enough to cover the spectrum. Here are just a few links to get you started, as a point of reference. We have many scanner related antenna links - see the Antennas article then click on Scanner Antennas. DPD productions has VHF and milair specific antennas, and they also sell a 1/4 wave VHF air antenna that should work well enough on the UHF milair spectrum. Here are just a few links on the subject;
  
  DPD Productions - VHF Air Band Antennas
  
  AOR MA500 Mobile Scanner Antenna
  
  Mobile Antenna Comparison - Intercept
  
  Comtelco All-Band Low-Profile Scanner Antenna

• Software - let's stick with the freeware stuff for now. I'd recommend FreeScan - it's user guide is located in the Software link. I would imagine you will need a USB-serial cable for the scanner - and you might want to mention whether you do have an available serial port on your PC...

• Coax - the better the antenna the less the loss. If all you are interested in is milair, your requirements aren't quite as stringent as someone who want to hear trunking as well. The antennas article has several articles on the subject

That should be enough for now - take a good draft of your cerveza and start reading....73 Mike

 

[MichaelN]

Thank you very much for the extensive help info.

I started a search on BCT-15 earlier and was a bit overwhelmed with all the threads (was a bit short on time), however, I will certainly continue with with your suggestions.

To answer your question:

I could probably fit some sort of discone antenna in the attic...between 5-6' in height.

Again, thanks,
Mike

PS It's a small world...I moved from Bel Air, Maryland to Florida in '05. One of my children lived near Glen Burnie.