Cancelling/re-setting startup configuration on BCD325P2

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RTracey

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As a newbie, not sure whether to post this here or on the Uniden forum, thought I'd start here.

For the startup keys, assuming I have 9 systems/sites (each with a different startup key), and I want to scan only system/site 4, I hold down the "4" key and power on the unit. Apparently, the scanner also remembers this state the next time you turn it on. However, if next time I want to scan just system/site 6, I'm presuming I'll just hold down the "6" key and power on the unit.

The question - what if I want to go back to scanning all systems/sites - how do I cancel the previous startup key? Thanks!
 
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Neither did I. I only use startup keys to enable the groups I want to monitor/to begin with when I power the scanner on..
 

hiegtx

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I read that manual Doc, I didn't see the answer to my question.
Take a look at the last comment about Startup keys from the Easier to Read Manual:

Also, you can't cancel Startup Configuration, i.e. have your scanner startup with all systems unlocked they way they were before you used a Startup Configuration (unless you reset your systems, sites, and search ranges to 'no startup key').

That's the downside of using Startup keys. Either manually go in and reset everything, or wait till you can connect to your PC & reload the file. That is what I did with my 396XTs. I make a regional trip fairly often, so I set three startups:
One for my metro area when I started out, a second for the counties and systems I passed thru enroute, and a third for what I could hearwhen I spent the day at my destination. Once I got back home, I'd just connect the scanner to my PC & reload my normal metro scanning file.

Depending on how many systems, channels, etc you have (in other words, how much of the scanner's memory is being used), you could duplicate your systems, but set them to a Startup key of zero, 0. You'd still have up to 9 usable keys for combinations of systems, but starting up as zero has all of them on. (The other systems, with a key of 1 to 9 would be disabled, so you would not be scanning the same system more than once.)

This is where the database scanners thex36HP and SDS series scanners have the edge, because you can have multiple Favorites lists, with a different mix of systems on each one.
 

lu81fitter

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On my 996P2, I just enable/disable systems as I go. It's a max of 3 buttons being pushed for each system. If I want system 8, I simply push "8". If I want system 17, I push ".17". I think its the same on the 325P2.
 
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That's the downside of using Startup keys. Either manually go in and reset everything, or wait till you can connect to your PC & reload the file.
I just had to do that after tinkering with it.

As I said, I only use the startup keys to turn on initial systems I want to monitor.

Good info , Steve!
 

RTracey

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Thanks guys, very much appreciate the help! It’s a little surprising that a scanner with such varied functionality (to me anyways) has what seems such a fundamental flaw. I’m going to have to give this some more thought to see which suggestion will work best for me.

Steve, just to be sure I have this correct, if you reload the scanner, that puts it in a state where it doesn’t startup on a specific system, i.e., remember the last startup key used?
 

hiegtx

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Thanks guys, very much appreciate the help! It’s a little surprising that a scanner with such varied functionality (to me anyways) has what seems such a fundamental flaw. I’m going to have to give this some more thought to see which suggestion will work best for me.

Steve, just to be sure I have this correct, if you reload the scanner, that puts it in a state where it doesn’t startup on a specific system, i.e., remember the last startup key used?
That's correct.

If you reload your programming file, then all systems are unlocked, and the scanner does not "remember" any startup key previously used.

Depending on how many systems you're trying to specify, you could use quick keys to turn individual systems on or off at will.
 

hiegtx

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On my 996P2, I just enable/disable systems as I go. It's a max of 3 buttons being pushed for each system. If I want system 8, I simply push "8". If I want system 17, I push ".17". I think its the same on the 325P2.
You're talking about quick keys on individual systems, which is completely different than the use of Startup keys.StartupKeys < UnidenMan4 < TWiki
 

RTracey

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Thanks again Steve. Yeah, I’m thinking the quick keys might be the better approach for me, but I’ll need to think about it/play around a bit. Just wanted to be sure I could restore the scanner to “normal” if I messed with the startup keys, now I know I can.
 

Blackink

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I use quick keys for my Conventional Systems. Where I live, I only need to use 0-9. I have them set up for Weather, Fire, State Police, local police in surrounding counties, Fish & Game, Fire & EMS, Local Ambulance (although this includes hospitals in surrounding counties/cities), Miscellaneous (Misc. includes local airport, Road Crews and unknowns), VTac Emergency, and Search results.
I don't have them all turned on: VTac Emergency, Weather, and Search results are off.

I don't load any Talk Groups, nothing to hear as far as I'm concerned.
 

lu81fitter

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You're talking about quick keys on individual systems, which is completely different than the use of Startup keys.StartupKeys < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

You are correct. I do use Quick Keys. I've never used start up keys. It seems much simpler to me. I simply enable the system I want to hear. The 996 will restart every time I start the car. It would be a pain to try to press the keys every time. The 325 may not have that problem if you're running on batteries.
 

lu81fitter

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I program my radio by the state police districts here and use that district number for the QK. When I press "8", it scans every agency in District 8. I also have a BCT15X running at the same time, set up the same way. One for analog, one for digital.
 

hiegtx

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You are correct. I do use Quick Keys. I've never used start up keys. It seems much simpler to me. I simply enable the system I want to hear. The 996 will restart every time I start the car. It would be a pain to try to press the keys every time. The 325 may not have that problem if you're running on batteries.
Just to be clear, you do not need to press the Startup key number every time the scanner boots up.

Once you have activated a startup key, the scanner will remember that & use that same configuration every time it starts up, unless, at some point you select a different startup. If you do, it will, instead, remember the last selection until changed once again, or startup key utilizatyion is disabled.
 

lu81fitter

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hiegtx. Good info. Thank you for that. I usually travel from home to my job, which may pass through many jurisdictions. Therefore, I always just lock/unlock as I go. It becomes routine. I don't always work in the same place, so my listening habits vary. Sometimes I'm around the Joliet area, sometimes Rockford, sometimes Peoria, sometimes Quad Cities.... (in IL of course) You get the idea. I always adjust the radio for where I'm headed. I don't do separate start up keys.
 

paulmohr

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It will remember the quick key settings too when you turn it off and back on. So lets say you only listen to 1 and 2 and shut the rest off. It will start back up however you left it. If you want other ones just toggle them on and off as you use them.
 
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